Motorbike riders, car fans

Fonsi Nieto and Valentino Rossi, SEAT riders for one day
Motorbikes are their profession, but racing cars are a true passion for the two world championship leaders, Valentino Rossi and Fonsi Nieto. After an invitation of SEAT Sport, both riders went to the brand’s testing track in the town of Martorell, very close to Barcelona to enjoy driving 300 HP cars. Fonsi and Valentino have had three different opportunities for testing. They were able to drive both Córdoba WRC Evo3 that took part in last year’s Spanish Rally Championship, driven by Salvador Cañellas and Marc Blázquez, and the León Supercopa, which is the protagonist of the Supercopa SEAT León with the Repsol colours on Spanish circuits. At their arrival in Martorell none of them lost time, taking turns driving the cars: the asphalt rally car driven last year by Cañellas and the gravel rally car with corresponding characteristics, driven this year by Dani Solà in the Spanish Championship. ‘I’ve had a lot fun – said Rossi – and, even if the feeling is completely different depending on the car, I’ve had the possibility to appraise the power of the engine and the spectacular behaviour. I already knew the WRC because I took part in the Race of Champions in the Canary Islands, and I’m really impressed by the León Supercopa. It’s been a fantastic experience and I thank SEAT for the opportunity. This weekend I’ll enjoy the León Cupra R they have put at my disposal’. Fonsi Nieto had no doubt evaluating his experience at the steering wheel: ‘Driving on gravel is more spectacular, with no doubt it’s more fun; cars have a noble behaviour so it’s easier to drive very fast. On asphalt, you have to drive in a different way, more precisely and you can feel the real power of the engine’. Once their experience on four tyres was over, both riders went back to the Circuit de Catalunya to continue preparing the GP of Catalunya, sixth round of the season, which promises to be a very exciting event.