Rossi, the showman of MotoGP and eight times World Champion will line up behind five times FIA World Rally Champion Loeb at 6pm on Thursday 4th December for the ceremonial start outside Cardiff City Hall.
The 29 year old Italian - nicknamed "The Doctor" - will be driving a 130 mph Ford Focus World Rally Car in the livery of Stobart VK M-Sport and displaying the Pudsey Bear logo, in support of BBC's 2008 Children in Need appeal. This will be his second attempt at Rally GB (debut in 2002) and his third World Championship rally.
Loeb, whose mascot is "Scratch", is the most successful driver in the history of rallying after winning an unprecedented fifth FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) title for Drivers. Along with co-driver Daniel Elena and his Spanish team-mates (Dani Sordo/Marc Martí), the 34 year old Frenchman now has his sights on winning the FIA WRC Manufacturers crown for Citroen. This year he has won 10 of the previous 14 WRC rounds, bringing his tally of outright WRC wins to 46 - another record. Surprisingly, from six starts in a Citroen WRC car he has yet to win Rally GB.
Although Rossi (carrying 46 on his rally plates - to match his racing number) is unlikely to beat Loeb over the closed road special stages over Forestry Commission and Military land in mid and South Wales, Ford team boss Malcolm Wilson says he has the potential to finish in the top 10 of the three-day, 892 mile rally.
Coincidently, Rossi (with Ferrari) and Loeb (with Red Bull) have recently tested Formula One cars - both setting impressive times and confirming their position as perhaps the most talented drivers of their generation.
Both are expected to have spectators cheering and blasting air horns inside the Millennium Stadium which hosts the timed Cardiff Stage at 6 pm on the evening of Saturday 6th December.
Latest Rossi news: Rossi on the new 2009 FIAT Yamaha was fastest at the recent two day winter test at Jerez. The majority of his MotoGP rivals were there. He commented, "Now we can look forward to holidays and Wales Rally GB where I hope we can have lots of fun".
For further information please contact John Horton, National Press Officer,
Telephone: 0121 378 2828. Mobile: 07778 282899. Email: wrgb@jhmm.co.uk
PR.10. 28.11.2008.
Editors notes on Wales Rally GB;
Copyright-free images from the 2007 Wales Rally GB can be downloaded from; www.worldrallypics.com/walesrallygb/
www.walesrallygb.com is the official website and provides regular news updates and a link to copyright-free images.
Since its inception in 1932 the rally has been run 63 times; this year's event will be the 64th edition. Enforced stoppages have included World War 2, Suez Crisis (1957) and Foot and Mouth (1967).
For 2008 Wales Rally GB has become the first round of the World Rally Championship to offset all its carbon emissions, including all spectator travel. The event has been awarded CarbonNeutral® event status, confirming that the event's carbon footprint is now 'net zero'.
Wales Rally GB is the British and final round of the 15-round FIA World Rally Championship (WRC). It is one of only four events that have retained their unbroken World Championship status since the WRC was established in 1973.
Cardiff first hosted the rally in 2000 and the Welsh Assembly Government has been the main sponsor of the event since 2003. The City and County of Swansea has provided the Service Park since 2001.
WRGB is the finale of the Tesco 99 Octane British Rally Championship (rounds six and seven) and the eighth and final round of the FIA Production World Rally Championship.
Wales Rally GB is held annually and is the UK's biggest motor sport event. It is organised and promoted by International Motor Sports Ltd (IMS), the commercial arm of the Berkshire-based Motor Sports Association (MSA), the governing body for all UK motor sport.
Access to all 19 special stages is by ticket. Buying tickets in advance gives best value for money:
• by calling the ticket hotline on 0844 847 2251
• online via the official website: www.walesrallygb.com
• or in person from Ticketline, 47 Westgate Street, Cardiff, CF10 1TL
Details on high quality hospitality packages can be obtained from Alyson Beach at Viking Hospitality, telephone: +44 (0)2920 766661 or e-mail: hospitality@walesrallygb.com.
Note to Radio Stations:
During the rally, a free of charge Radio service - featuring both professional and amateur drivers - will be provided by Cardiff-based Lloyd Bell Productions. For details please contact either Sam Lloyd (07811 210170) or Rupert Bell (07774 463348) or email info@lloydbell.co.uk.
Note to Picture Editors:
If you have drivers or co-drivers in your area taking part in on the event, copyright-free hi-res photographs will be available at the latest from Saturday 6th December onwards from: www.worldrallypics.com/walesrallygb
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