RACING legend Valentino Rossi is hoping to be as hot on four wheels as he is on two - after announcing that he wants to be a rally driver when he retires.

The six-time MotoGP world champ, who currently has a two-year deal with Yamaha, has said he will switch to rallying - if anyone will have him.

"I do hope to switch to four wheels, I think it's too late for Formula One, but I hope to have the second part of my career in a car," said Italian Rossi, 30.

"I had my chance to go into Formula One at the end of 2006, I spoke a lot with Ferrari. I had a serious plan to be the test driver in 2007 and then start to race in 2008, but I decided to stay with bikes - so it meant me and Formula One were finished.

"It's always been my great passion. I grew up beside my father, who also drove rally cars so I hope when I finish with bikes I have another 10 years with the car.

"The World Rally Championship is the main option, I have a great relationship with Ford so maybe it will be Ford. In the summer of 2010 I will decide."

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CARROLL'S F1 DREAM

THE luck of the Irish could be coming to Formula One next season as A1GP ace Adam Carroll looks set to join the grid.

Carroll is hoping fellow countryman and Lola Racing Cars owner Martin Birrane - who announced this week he is looking to join F1 in 2010 - will pluck the youngster for an all-Irish team.

Lola, whose name has been involved in motorsport since the 1960s, said cost-cutting measures have tempted them to consider returning to the sport after the FIA announced it will be capping budgets next season to an attractive £30million per team.

Ireland's Carroll, who is currently battling it out for the for the A1GP, crown said: "My focus is the A1 but Formula One has always been my dream. We have been talking to a few teams and hopefully we can pull something off."

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WAIT OVER FOR LIM

AS the saying goes - good things come those that wait - and that is certainly true for A1GP rookie Aaron Lim.

The 23-year-old has paid his dues after languishing in obscurity for nearly two seasons as a test driver during A1GP practice sessions - but has finally landed a race seat with Team Malaysia.

The youngster, who will make his race debut in the penultimate round at Brands Hatch next month, said: "I've waited a long time for this. Now it has been confirmed, I'm excited, but nervous, at the same time.

"I love driving the A1GP car and working with a professional racing team, so to be given the chance to race for my country in this series is a dream come true.

"I'm probably making my debut at one of the more difficult tracks on the A1GP calendar as Brands Hatch is renowned as one of the most challenging circuits. It is also very much part of the history and heritage of motorsport, so it's quite a special place to be racing there.

"I will also be preparing for the race weekend by spending some time on the A1GP simulator in Modena."

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BRIATORE TAKES IT ON THE CHIN

BOSS - Flavio Briatore

RENAULT F1 boss and self-styled playboy Flavio Briatore has slashed his OWN pay in a bid to keep team costs down.

The multi-millionaire, who also part-owns Queens Park Rangers football club with long-term pal and F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone, has reduced ALL staff wages as part of his long-term cost-cutting scheme.

Briatore, who made mass redundancies at the Renault F1 factory last season, is watching the pennies after Dutch bank and title sponsor ING announced it would be leaving F1 at the end of the year.

"We are cutting the costs in the entire team, not just my salary, the top people, myself and Bob Bell and Pat Symonds have a cut of about 20 per cent, the second level have cut 10 per cent and everybody else has a cut of five per cent," he said at Bahrain this weekend.

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