MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi will stay with WRT in 2023 and will complete a GT programme with BMW: It’s a “win-win situation” for the carmaker
Nine-time motorbike world champion Valentino Rossi will continue to race in GT3 in 2023, still for Belgian racing team WRT, but then with BMW instead of Audi. This was confirmed by BMW motorsport boss Andreas Roos on the sidelines of the DTM season finale in Hockenheim, after Rossi tested a WRT BMW M4 GT3 in Barcelona at the beginning of October.
“He certainly wouldn’t be testing a BMW if it wasn’t for BMW next year,” said Roos. “So we can already say that he will be in a WRT BMW next year.” In which race series Rossi will compete with WRT has not yet been announced. However, anything other than a continuation of the programme in the GT World Challenge Europe would be a surprise.
In this context, Roos makes a point of noting that Rossi’s place with WRT (there is no contractual link with BMW) was not just because of his high profile worldwide, however. “He is not seen as a marketing tool by WRT or by us, but as a racing driver,” the BMW motorsport boss holds.
Team boss: Rossi is not doing this just for fun
Nevertheless, Roos admits that Rossi as a driver is “a nice treat” in the wake of the deal with WRT, who have switched from Audi to BMW after many years and will also field the LMDh works team in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) from 2024.
“Of course he is a huge multiplier for us, with which we generate a great outward reach,” says Roos. “On the other hand, you also have to say that Valentino has proven this year in the GT World Challenge that he is building up the speed bit by bit. It’s not like he’s driving at the very back. Therefore, it’s a win-win situation for us.”
WRT team principal Vincent Vosse also stresses that Rossi doesn’t see GT racing as just a pastime after his two-wheeled career ends. “He only wants to be in motorsport when he is competitive. He doesn’t do it just for fun,”
Starting in the Pro class was a challenge
According to Vosse, Rossi’s progress in his first full season in a GT3 car is not appreciated enough in part because many people don’t realise how competitive and heavily contested a race series like the GT World Challenge is.
“To compete with Vale in the Pro class was a challenge. And we can say that we have achieved incredible things. When you see how strong he finished the season, how good he was at the end in Valencia, you saw how fast he learned,” said the team boss. “He is working very hard. He achieved his goal and mine, and that was to be competitive.”
BMW man Roos also takes his hat off to Rossi’s performance in his first year in GT3: “For going straight from two-wheelers into top-class race cars, he has already delivered a very good performance,” he says. “I was surprised myself that he was at a good level relatively quickly.”
“Becoming world champion so many times in MotoGP doesn’t just happen. It takes a lot of hard work. And when you have worked so much over the years, you automatically take that to four wheels,” Roos continued. “I can imagine that he puts a lot of work into it. “
