Alonso to drive in charity karting race in Brazil

© AP Photo/Paco Paredes

Felipe Massa says Ferrari teammate Fernando Alonso will drive in the charity karting race he hosts every year in Brazil.

It will be the first time Alonso participates in the “Internacional Challenge of the Stars” organised by Massa, who says he is also close to announcing that seven-time Formula 1 champion Michael Schumacher and MotoGP star Valentino Rossi will compete.

Schumacher has twice won the charity race, which will take place from Jan 12-13 in the southern Brazilian city of Floriano­polis.

F1 driver Jaime Alguersuari won the event last year. Other drivers who competed in 2011 included Rubens Barrichello, Nelson Piquet Jr., Jerome D’Ambrosio, Helio Castroneves and Tony Kanaan.

The money from ticket sales goes to local charities.