Valentino Rossi has plenty of experience on the Losail International Circuit, albeit from a different sport – but that still helps him, as the BMW rider says
No one in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) paddock has more experience of the Losail International Circuit than Valentino Rossi. He knows the circuit in Lusail near Doha like the back of his hand from his MotoGP days
And although the track was slightly rebuilt in 2023 and driving a car is very different to driving a motorcycle, his experience helps him, as he explained to Endurance-Info: “The lines are different with a GT car than with a motorcycle. But with the tires, for example, it’s very similar. When you’re driving, the feeling is very similar.”
“The way you talk to the engineers is also the same,” continues the 45-year-old. “It’s very similar in that respect. But the races are obviously very different. That’s the most important point.”
He is referring primarily to the race distance: “In MotoGP, it’s all about 40-minute races, without a break. Here in the long races, you have to take care of the tires, there is a strategy and you are also challenged in the pits with the rider changes. I really appreciate that.”
Rossi has made a change in tires. Until now, he was used to Pirelli tires from the SRO GT3 series. Now he drives with Goodyear tires in the LMGT3. “It’s a shame that I can’t drive on Michelin, but the Goodyear tire is good,” he says.
“Coming from Pirelli, it’s obviously different. The grip is different, especially at the front. That’s why we have to work on the balance of the car. It’s unusual to change tire manufacturers from one championship to the next. But it’s an important experience. “
The long curves of the Losail International Circuit are a matter of course in the motorcycle world, but on four wheels they are a special feature. After all, race tracks for cars were deliberately designed with tight bends for decades in order to create overtaking opportunities. This is only slowly being abandoned
Qualifying with a moment of shock
Rossi sees no reason why good racing should not be possible on the Losail International Circuit: “It’s just as good for car racing. I came here in 2003, more than 20 years ago, and the first meter of asphalt was laid on the first day. There was no racetrack back then. It’s great to see the new facility. I like this track.”
For the WRT-BMW 46 (Al Harthy/Rossi/Martin), the opening week of the WEC has not yet been too successful. With the exception of the Aston Martin, all GT3 cars with front engines are struggling on the track
In qualifying, Rossi’s team-mate Ahmad Al Harthy (in LMGT3 the amateur has to drive qualifying) almost retired when a loss of power occurred on the BMW M4 GT3. At the last second, he made it into the top 10 and thus into the Hyperpole.
However, he only managed ninth place on the grid. Nevertheless, it will be interesting to watch the race, as the pairing of Rossi, Al Harthy and Maxime Martin is considered on paper to be one of the strongest in the Pro-Am class
