Valentino Rossi withdraws from Gulf 12 Hours sportscar race

UPDATE: Valentino Rossi's last-minute replacement David Cleto Fumanelli set the fastest lap time in his qualifying session for Saturday's Gulf 12 Hours at Abu Dhabi's Yas Marina circuit.

But with the lap times of all three drivers averaged to determine the grid line-up, the VR46 Ferrari will start from fourth overall and second in the Pro-Am class after Fumanelli's team-mate's Luca Marini and Alessio Salucci were each classified ninth in their qualifying sessions.

Valentino Rossi has withdrawn from this weekend's Gulf 12 Hours sportscar race in Abu Dhabi after close contact with a person who tested positive for Covid 19.

Rossi had been due to make his first race appearance since retiring from MotoGP at the end of last season, driving alongside brother Luca Marini and VR46 team director Alessio Salucci in a Kessel-run Ferrari 488.

The trio previously won the Pro-Am class on their 2019 Gulf 12 Hours debut at the same Yas Marina circuit, then finished fourth overall and second in the GT3 Pro-Am class at last year's race in Bahrain.

Rossi's place in the team has been taken by experienced Italian racer David Cleto Fumanelli, who took the VR46 car to the fastest time in Friday morning's final free practice session.

Qualifying takes place later today (Friday) with the 12 Hour race - split into a day and then night race, each lasting 6 Hours - on Saturday.

Although making clear that his racing future is in sportscars, Rossi is yet to announce which championship(s) he will compete in this season, having tested an Audi GT3 car for the WRT team at Valencia in December.