Heartbreak at COTA: Valentino Rossi’s #46 WRT BMW Crippled by Late Breakdown in Lone Star Le Mans

Valentino Rossi's COTA WEC race thwarted by last-minute mechanical failure

The #46 BMW from WRT encountered technical problems just 15 minutes before the conclusion of the Lone Star Le Mans

The #46 WRT BMW LMGT3, with drivers Valentino Rossi, Ahmad Al Harty, and Maxime Martin, had to pull out of the Austin World Endurance Championship race just 15 minutes before it concluded.

In the opening segment of last Sunday's Lone Star Le Mans at the Circuit of the Americas, the car emblazoned with MotoGP icon Rossi's renowned #46 swiftly advanced from 15th to fifth place in its class.

Al Harty secured a solid position for the car during his stint, with teammates Rossi and Martin keeping up the fast pace.

As the race was coming to an end, the car, positioned within the top five, experienced a hydraulics problem with only 15 minutes remaining and had to withdraw.

"The weekend experienced a mix of positive and negative moments," stated Vincent Vosse, the head of the WRT team.

"Naturally, we are disappointed with the outcome, yet there are several encouraging aspects to consider."

“In the first half of the race, we were the only team able to match the Ferrari's pace in the Hypercar category, which was a very encouraging sign.”

“From this point forward, we must master performing flawlessly until the race concludes.

"However, let's remain optimistic and turn our attention to the upcoming race in Fuji, scheduled for two weeks from now. The results in the LMGT3 category have been disheartening."

"We did our best with vehicle #31. Vehicle #46 experienced a technical problem, specifically with the power steering, but we will conduct a deeper investigation to determine the exact cause."

"Our rivals outperformed us, causing us to lose more points to the top two teams. We need to figure out how to do better at Fuji."

The #27 Aston Martin from Heart of Racing secured victory in the LMGT3 category at COTA, whereas the other WRT vehicle, #31, finished in fifth place.

The #83 AF Corse Ferrari, driven by former Formula 1 driver Robert Kubica, along with Robert Shwartzman and Yifie Ye, secured a clear victory and first place in the Hypercar category.

Rossi's debut season in the WEC has had its ups and downs. The #46 car managed to secure a podium finish at Imola, but has not been able to achieve a similar result since then.

In anticipation of the weekend, Rossi believed that his previous experience at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) from his MotoGP career, spanning from 2013 to 2021, would be advantageous.

"I am consistently quicker and more proficient on familiar tracks with my bike," Rossi mentioned to Sportscar365.

"You are able to bring a lot of knowledge with you. You are familiar with the track, the optimal lines, and you understand where the bumps and grip points are."

"However, the GT is distinct in many ways. You have the flexibility to take various lines and make significant cuts."

"However, ultimately, the course remains unchanged. Therefore, being familiar with the track while on the bike offers a significant benefit."

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