1997 title rivals can't shake racing bug

They may both have left Formula One in 2006, but former championship rivals Michael Schumacher and Jacques Villeneuve are no closer to shaking the motor racing bug.

Schumacher, the record-holding seven time world champion, recently contested a weekend of club racing at his own Kerpen kart track, and last week was back on the saddle of a two-wheeled racer.

Germany's Bild newspaper reports that the 40-year-old German travelled in his own private jet to the Sachsenring, to test his Honda Superbike in view of returning soon to the German IDM championship.

French Canadian Villeneuve, meanwhile, has signed up to contest a round of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series stock car race at the Autodrome St Eustache oval on July 11.

"For Jacques, this is not a question of money," track owner and race promoter Alan Labrosse said. "He's a racer at heart.

"With no big rides immediately available to him, if he wants to have a good time and an opportunity is there, as it is now, that's what he's going to do."

The 38-year-old, who beat Schumacher to the F1 drivers' title in 1997, has also contested rounds of the stock car Sprint Cup, Nationwide and truck series since leaving the world of Grands Prix.