MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi enjoyed a re൲spectable sportscar debut during the 6🀅 Hours of Vallelunga endurance race, even if mechanical issues prevented him from finishing better than third in class.

Driving a #♓46 Ferrari 430GT prepared by Kessel Racing, Rossi paire🍨d up with Alessio Salucci and Andrea Ceccato for the event, but he would finish nine laps behind the class winner after problems with the car forced unscheduled pit-stops.

Finishing 11th overall, Rossi was nonetheless praised by his contemporaries, including overall winner Thomas Biagi, who took the time to trail the slower Ferrari in his prototype 𒆙Racing Box Lola-Judd for a lap before overtaking him.

"I made the most of ▨the seven lap lead to track Valentino Rossi for a lap before overtaking him," the 2007 FIA GT champion said. "I wanted to see how he got on on four൩ wheels and was surprised how good he was; he really is a class apart. I would also like to thank him for drawing more attention to the splendid world of Italian motor-racing."

The GT3 class was won by five-ti🌊me Le Mans winner Emmanuele Pirro driving a Corvette.