Rossi ninth in class at Nurburgring

A Ferrari team that included MotoGP star Valentino Rossi finished ninth in class during the Blancpain Endurance Series event at the Nurburgring on Sunday.

Rossi drove for the first part of the race, handing over the #46 Kessel Racing 458 Italia to best friend Alessio 'Uccio' Salucci, with Andrea Ceccato taking over for the final stint.

The trio were classified 19th and one lap down by the end of the three hour race, and were ninth in the Pro-Am class.

"I enjoyed it a lot," said Rossi, shortly after stepping out of the car. "We decided I should do the first hour. I did okay. The rhythm was quite good, but unfortunately the safety car meant I had to stop a bit earlier than we had planned."

The race marked Rossi's second Blancpain appearance of the season. The remaining round clashes with Rossi's MotoGP commitments, but he hopes to return in 2013.

"We will try to organise something for next year. I still have some margin to improve and I need more kilometres in the car," said Rossi.

Rossi and Uccio had qualified tenth and finished 18th during their debut in a wet opening round of the series at Monza in April.

Nine time world champion Rossi will be back in MotoGP action this coming weekend at Aragon in Spain.

The Italian superstar will return to Yamaha, from Ducati, at the end of this season.