Heartbreak at COTA: Valentino Rossi’s #46 WRT BMW Forced to Retire 15 Minutes from End in Lone Star Le Mans

Valentino Rossi's participation in the COTA WEC race was thwarted by a late mechanical failure. The #46 WRT BMW encountered problems just 15 minutes before the conclusion of the Lone Star Le Mans.

The #46 WRT BMW LMGT3 vehicle, piloted by Valentino Rossi, Ahmad Al Harty, and Maxime Martin, withdrew from the Austin World Endurance Championship race 15 minutes before it concluded.

The vehicle emblazoned with MotoGP icon Rossi’s renowned #46 surged from 15th place to 5th during the initial segment of last Sunday's Lone Star Le Mans at the Circuit of the Americas.

Al Harty positioned the car well during his stint, and his teammates Rossi and Martin kept up the fast pace.

As the race was nearing its end and the car was holding a position within the top five, a hydraulics problem emerged with just 15 minutes remaining, compelling the team to withdraw.

"The weekend experienced a mix of positives and negatives," stated Vincent Vosse, head of the WRT team.

“While we're disappointed with the outcome, there are still several positives to acknowledge.

“We were the only team able to match the Ferrari's pace in the Hypercar class during the first half of the race, which was a significant positive for us.”

"We must now master this until the race concludes, ensuring we avoid any errors."

"However, let's remain optimistic and look ahead to the next race scheduled to take place in two weeks at Fuji. The outcome in the LMGT3 category has been less than satisfactory."

"We did our best with vehicle #31. Vehicle #46 experienced a technical malfunction, specifically a problem with the power steering. We will conduct a thorough investigation to determine the root cause of this issue."

"The teams we competed against outperformed us, leading to a further loss of points to the top two contenders. We need to strategize on ways to enhance our performance for the upcoming event in Fuji."

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

The #83 AF Corse Ferrari, driven by former Formula 1 driver Robert Kubica, Robert Shwartzman, and Yifie Ye, claimed an overall win and first place in the Hypercar category.

Rossi's debut season in the World Endurance Championship has seen varied results. The #46 car achieved a podium finish at Imola, but has not managed to repeat this success in subsequent races.

Rossi believed that his previous experience riding at COTA during his MotoGP career from 2013 to 2021 would benefit him as the weekend approached.

Rossi mentioned to Sportscar365 that he consistently performs quicker and more efficiently on familiar tracks when riding his motorcycle.

“You are able to transfer a lot of information. You’re familiar with the track, understand the racing lines, and know the locations of the bumps and areas with good grip.”

"Certainly, when it comes to the GT, it stands out in some ways. For instance, you can take more shortcuts and create various driving lines."

"Ultimately, the course remains unchanged. Therefore, being familiar with it while riding the bike is beneficial."

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