McRae takes Care with 550 Maranello.

Confirming speculation that he is closer to securing a ride in this year's Le Mans 24 Hours, Colin McRae this week joined forces with Ferrari endurance specialists Care Racing to test one of its potent Ferrari 550 Maranellos.

Having lost his WRC ride with Citroen, the former world champion announced his intention to branch out into different areas of motorsport and, having already taken in his first Dakar Rally in January, has now switched his sights to competing in another of the motorsport world's most famous marathons.

Through Care Racing's founder, and colleague in the rallying world, Frederic Dor, McRae took his first laps in a contemporary sportscar at a wet and blustery Snetterton circuit on Monday, piloting a six-litre V12-engined Prodrive-prepared 550 Maranello GTS. He was joined at the circuit by Swedish sportscar and touring car ace Rickard Rydell, who shook down the Ferrari and passed on his previous experiences of the car.

It was too wet to record any competitive times for either driver, but the Scot was very upbeat about the prospect of an endurance debut in June.

"Le Mans is one of the great races of the world and would be a big motorsport challenge for me," he said, "I wanted to do a few of these different things this year and this would be an ideal opportunity for me to experience Le Mans. It's one race every driver would love to have a go at.

"To be able to do Le Mans with a Ferrari is just that bit extra, with it being probably the most famous name in racing. It would be very special. I've known Frederic a long time through rallying and, when I found out what he had done with the 550s, we just moved it on from there."

The team confirmed that no race contract has yet been signed, but admitted that discussions are ongoing.