MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi will contest the 2022 GT World Challenge Europe with Team WRT on an Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II
The cat is out of the bag: Valentino Rossi, nine-time world champion in motorbike racing, will contest the full GT World Challenge (GTWC) Europe in 2022. The Italian will compete for Team WRT in an Audi R8 LMS GT3.
The GTWC Europe consists of ten rounds, five each of which count towards the Sprint and Endurance Cup. The sprint weekends feature two 60-minute races with driver changes, while the endurance races run over three, six or 24 hours. The season highlight is the 24 Hours of Spa.
“Everyone knows I’ve always been a big fan of motor racing and I’ve always had an interest in competing on four wheels after finishing my MotoGP career,” said the 42-year-old, who will of course be competing with the number 46 car.
“Now I am completely focused on a top level automotive programme with a professional approach. Team WRT is a perfect fit for me and I’m looking forward to my new commitment.”
Rossi tested an Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II in December 2021, the latest evolution of the car, which only makes its official debut this year. WRT will announce its teammates at a later date.
GTWC commitment on a different level to 12h race
Already in the past years, Rossi has repeatedly sniffed GT3 air and participated several times in the “Gulf 12 Hours”, which took place either in Abu Dhabi or Bahrain. He had to skip the 2022 race in Abu Dhabi because he had contact with a person infected with Corona and had to go into quarantine.
However, these races were usually a pastime during the winter. The GTWC engagement is being raised more professionally. “We all know that Vale is a great champion in motorbike racing. Above all, he is an extremely professional athlete who wants to be as successful as possible in this new challenge. That’s exactly why we wanted to work with him,” said WRT Team Principal Vincent Vosse.
The Valencia test was extremely positive for both sides, he adds. He is referring mainly to the working methods and technical feedback, without going into further detail.
The commitment also means that Valentino Rossi will miss at least seven MotoGP races. His own racing team, VR46, will be competing there. However, seven out of ten GTWC races collide with a round of the Motorcycle World Championship.
Ratel: “Huge vote of confidence” for GT racing
Naturally, Rossi brings unprecedented glamour to GTWC Europe, which for years had traded as the successor to the GT1 World Championship under the name “Blancpain GT Series” and has since been rebranded thanks to new sponsors.
“I am delighted to welcome Valentino Rossi to GTWC Europe 2022,” said Stephane Ratel, founder of SRO Motorsports Group and creator of the GT3 class. “It is extremely exciting to see the start of his new chapter in GT racing after his glorious career in motorbike racing over more than two decades.”
Having landed a contender of the stature of Valentino Rossi is a “huge vote of confidence” in GTWC and GT racing in general, he adds. “He will breathe a whole new energy into the paddock. I’m looking forward to seeing him on track this year.”
The focus on Rossi is also likely to lead to the team’s withdrawal from the ADAC GT Masters. WRT, for example, wanted to continue in the German GT Championship with only two cars. That has now become even less likely due to the new customer Rossi. The team has not entered itself in the provisional entry list.
