Former MotoGP rider Loris Capirossi to try out sports car racing

Published Dec. 1, 2015 11:37 a.m. EST

John Dagys

Loris Capirossi will make his four-wheeled endurance racing debut later this month, having been confirmed as part of Kessel Racing’s lineup in the Gulf 12 Hours.

The 42-year-old Italian will join Alexis De Bernardi and Niki Cadei at the wheel of a Kessel Racing Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 for the around-the-clock enduro at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit on Dec. 11.

Capirossi, who retired from professional two-wheeled competition in 2011, joins fellow MotoGP stars Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo in having driven for the Swiss Kessel squad, with Lorenzo having taken part in last year’s Gulf 12 Hours.

Kessel, meanwhile, has confirmed the driver lineups for its two additional Ferraris, with factory driver Davide Rigon joining Michal Broniszewski and Giacomo Piccini in a Pro-class car and Vadim Gitlin, Michael Lyons and Marco Zanuttini set to team up in a 458 in the Gentlemen class.

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