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

Driving a #46 Ferrari 430GT prepared by Kessel Racing, Rossi paired up with Alessio Salucci and A🦹ndrea Ceccato for the event, but he would finish nine laps behind the classꦐ winner after problems with the car forced unscheduled pit-stops.

Finishing 11th overall, Rossi was nonetheless praised by his contemporar♉ies, including overall winner Thomas Biagi, who took the time to trail the slower Ferrari in his prototype Racing 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 four wheels and was surprised how good he was; he really is a class apart. I would also like to thank him for drawi🐼ng more attention to the spꩲlendid world of Italian motor-racing."

The GT3 class was won by five-time Le Mans winner Emmanuele Pirro dri꧅ving a Corvette.