Originally Posted by speedtv

After dangling with the idea of a possible switch to Formula 1 earlier this year, MotoGP star Valentino Rossi will make a return to what he’s long defined as his favorite four-wheel sport as the Italian will contest the New Zealand round of the World Rally Championship in a privately-entered Subaru Impreza.

Although the 27-year-old has contested several minor rallies before, the New Zealand event on November 15-17 will mark only his second venture into the WRC – he previously contested (and crashed out) of the 2002 British rally in a Peugeot.

"Valentino has entered Rally New Zealand privately in his own name," Subaru managing director Richard Taylor revealed to the WRC’s official website. "He will however be driving a car supplied by us. In fact, [it is] the car which [factory driver] Chris Atkinson drove in Germany this year.

"There's still a little bit of work to do on the details and it may be run alongside the Subaru team. But it will certainly not be an SWRT[Subaru World Rally Team]-liveried car."

Rossi currently lies second in the 2006 MotoGP standings, 12 points behind American Nicky Hayden.