Valentino Rossi – crowned MotoGP World Champion for an incredible sixth time in Motegi at the weekend courtesy of his 70th premier-class victory – has confessed that after returning to the top of the motorcycling after a two-year absence, he would like to get back behind the wheel of Ferrari's Formula 1 car again.

The Italian has tested for the Scuderia on a number of occasions – most recently at Valencia in Spain in early 2006 – and for a while it was mooted that he may make the switch across to four wheels by racing one of the scarlet machines in F1.

Though he has admitted that he has 'some regrets, because I am still curious to know what I could have done' [see separate story – click here], Rossi acknowledges that any grand prix outing now will be purely for fun rather than a second, post-motorcycling career.

“I'd like to drive a Ferrari again,” the 29-year-old replied to Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, when asked what he would like as a reward for his latest title glory. “Not a road car, but Formula 1.”

Rossi was keen to point out that should such an opportunity indeed present itself, 'it would be a simple desire, with no future in it', and with two years remaining on his Yamaha MotoGP contract he confessed that 'to start in Formula 1 at 31 could be too late'.

Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali remarked that nothing was out of the question, having remained in close contact with the man from Urbino since his first test with Ferrari in 2004, F1SA affirms.

“He's great,” Domenicali enthused. “Everything can be done.”

Rossi last week confirmed that he would be participating in Wales Rally GB – the British round of the World Rally Championship – for the second time in early December [see separate story – click here], despite having crashed out of his maiden appearance on the event after just 17 kilometres back in 2002.