MotoGP superstar Valentino Rossi, one of the drawcards of Rally New Zealand, arrives in the country on Tuesday.

The five-time MotoGP champion lands at Auckland International Airport at 7:40am, several days after the other competitors for this week’s event.

He is ranked 64 on the Forbes list of the Top 100 celebrities in 2006.

Rally New Zealand general manager Paul Mallard says Rossi is certainly arriving like a celebrity.

He gets straight on a helicopter and will be whisked to the first stage where his team will have his Subaru warmed up and ready for him to jump in to start reconnaissance.

Mallard concedes the late arrival shows Rossi is probably just here for a bit of fun during his off season rather than being too competitive, but who knows what will happen.

It will be Rossi’s first WRC appearance for four years.

Reconnaissance takes place around Hamilton over the next two days before the rally starts with a shakedown and ceremonial opening on Thursday.