Valentino Rossi has revealed that he will use his outing on the Rally New Zealand this weekend in order to gauge whether or not he has 'good potential' to do rallying full-time in the future.
Speaking prior to the start of the penultimate round of the 2006 FIA World Rally Championship, only his second outing in the WRC, the Italian added that his main aim is to enjoy himself and to get to the finish in his privately entered 2005-spec Subaru Impreza - something he failed to do on the Rally GB back in 2002, when he crashed out after just 17 kilometres.
"I already have some small experience with the Subaru and last year I raced at Monza, but it was not a real rally," he said. "I had a test in Wales last week to understand the car but the real test is tomorrow [Friday] to cover some kilometres in the car and understand it. The first target is to have fun and reach the end.
"For me it is difficult; I don't know if it will be better or worse in New Zealand [than in Wales – his other WRC outing], but it will be very fast. The Subaru is always good to drive and a good experience and I want to come here because it is a good rally to understand the car on gravel. The pace notes are good, the recce is good; two long days but I am happy. I have spent a lot of time with Carlo [Cassina – his co-driver] - four-to-five years. Tomorrow the car may become more difficult; I must start slow and get better.
"I want to understand a real WRC rally and look to the future when I stop bike racing [in the MotoGP championship]. I need to know if I like it - and if I have good potential for the future."
Asked where he hopes to finish, he is not expecting miracles: "I will fight for the podium for sure!" he joked. "No, I don't know if it is possible to maybe finish in front of someone from the WRC. I will start 11th [on the road] and maybe this is my place, but if I can go faster it is better. I must not make mistakes early on and must understand my speed and position."
"Rallying is my great passion after motorcycling, because my father also did a lot of rallying after he finished with bikes," he added. "I have a passion for this sport."
