The 27-year-old, deposed as champion in motorcycling's top category last month after a five-year reign, drove the car used by ex-Formula One champion Hakkinen in this year's German touring car championship (DTM).

"I'm here because I'm a great fan of racing cars and I follow always DTM," the charismatic Italian said at the Hockenheim circuit.

"I asked Mercedes if it's possible to try the car and they said yes."

Rossi, who lost his MotoGP crown to American Nicky Hayden, was linked to a switch to Formula One with Ferrari and tested several times with the glamour team before deciding this year to stay on two wheels.

He has driven a Maserati sportscar and is also competing in next week's Rally of New Zealand, a round of the world championship, in a privately-entered Subaru.

Rossi is committed to riding for his Yamaha team in MotoGP next season but has not ruled out switching to four wheels eventually.

"In the future I am sure that I will do car racing, but maybe not Formula One," he said in June.

The last motorcycle world champion to compete in the DTM series was Venezuelan Johnny Cecotto, who made his debut with Mercedes in 1988 after winning the 350cc title in 1975.

"His times were very good," Mercedes motorsport vice-president Norbert Haug told Reuters. "He's a natural talent, obviously, an icon of the sports world.

"There is no background to this. He just wants to try out different cars, who knows what the future brings."

Reuters