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

Valentino Rossi’s participation in the COTA WEC race was thwarted by a late breakdown

The #46 WRT BMW experienced mechanical problems just 15 minutes before the conclusion of the Lone Star Le Mans

The #46 WRT BMW LMGT3 vehicle, with drivers Valentino Rossi, Ahmad Al Harty, and Maxime Martin, withdrew from the Austin World Endurance Championship race just 15 minutes before the finish.

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

During his stint, Al Harty positioned the car well, and teammates Rossi and Martin upheld that strong performance.

As the race was nearing its end, the vehicle, which was among the top five, encountered a hydraulic problem with just 15 minutes remaining, leading to its withdrawal from the competition.

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

"Naturally, we're disappointed with the outcome, but there are also several positives to consider."

"We were the sole competitors able to match the Ferrari's pace in the Hypercar category during the first half of the race, which was a significant positive aspect."

“We must now master the process and ensure we avoid errors until the race concludes.”

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

"We did our best with car #31. Car #46 experienced a technical problem, specifically with the power steering. We will conduct a thorough investigation to determine the exact cause of the issue."

"Our rivals outperformed us, resulting in another points loss to the top two teams. We need to figure out a way to enhance our performance at Fuji."

The Heart of Racing team's Aston Martin, car number 27, clinched victory in the LMGT3 category at the Circuit of the Americas, whereas the other WRT entry, car number 31, secured a fifth-place finish

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

Rossi's debut season in the World Endurance Championship has had its ups and downs. The #46 car managed to secure a podium finish at Imola, but hasn't been able to achieve similar success in subsequent races.

Before the weekend began, Rossi believed that his previous experience racing at COTA from 2013 to 2021 in MotoGP would be an advantage for him.

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

“You can transfer a lot of knowledge. You’re familiar with the track, the racing lines, where the bumps are, the areas with grip, and all the details.”

“Undoubtedly, when it comes to the GT, it’s distinct in certain aspects. You have the ability to cut corners significantly and take alternative racing lines.”

"In the end, the course remains unchanged. Therefore, being familiar with the track while riding the bike is a significant benefit."

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