Valentino Rossi at the Monza Rally

Once again Valentino Rossi is swapping two wheels for four this weekend when he'll be racing a Ford Fiesta WRC in the Monza Rally.

Rossi has won the Monza rally in 2006 and 2007 and last year finished runner up to Sebastien Loeb.  Other entries include Jorge Lorenzo and Andrea Dovizioso in Citroën DS3 WRC cars as well as Loris Capirossi, Alex de Angelis and Rinaldo Capello.

The Monza Rally show is an all tarmac affair and takes place over 9 special stages all within the confines of the Monza circuit.

These pictures were taken at Thursday's practice day.