WEC / IMSA

BMW M Motorsport ready to put Valentino Rossi in the Hypercar

WEC
IMSA
12 Jan. 2023 • 13:30
by
lmercier
Valentino Rossi is back in GT3 this year, but the Italian driver could eventually join the main class with BMW.
Photo : BMW

 Ever since he entered GT racing full-time, and even before that, Valentino Rossi has made no secret of his desire to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and that he would like to test an LMP2 prototype, which his GT3 team WRT can offer him. During our multiple exchanges with the motorbike champion during the 2022 season, the Italian showed himself ready to take up the challenge of LMP2 and even beyond.

 

Promoted to BMW M Motorsport driver this year, his test in proto could well be in the BMW M V8 LMDh, as Andreas Roos stated this week. Without giving full details of a possible ride, the BMW M Motorsport boss told the media that it could happen at the end of the year. Before that, Valentino Rossi will compete in the 24 Hours of Dubai this weekend in a BMW M4 GT3. This is followed by the Bathurst 12 Hours and another full season in GT World Challenge Europe.

 

"The BMW M4 GT3 is a good car, but a GTP prototype is on a different level," said Andreas Roos. "Giving Valentino the chance to test the car will certainly be possible at some point. If that happens, the test will certainly take place later in the year because at this stage we have quite a lot of work with the IMSA programme in GTP."

 

With BMW M Team WRT coming into Hypercar next season in the WEC, having Valentino Rossi in its ranks could be a possibility. "The first goal for Valentino is to be part of the GT3 programme," Roos continues. "Vale has never driven in a hypercar prototype, so we'll have to see how he behaves with this type of car. Once the tests are over we will see what the next steps are." 

 

Valentino Rossi is competing in his second full-time GT3 season this year.

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