Heartbreak at COTA: Valentino Rossi’s WRT BMW #46 Forced to Retire Late 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 issues just 15 minutes before the Lone Star Le Mans concluded.

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

The vehicle adorned with MotoGP icon Rossi’s well-known #46 surged from 15th place in its category to fifth during the initial segment of last Sunday’s Lone Star Le Mans at the Circuit of the Americas.

During his stint, Al Harty positioned the car favorably, a performance level that was consistently upheld by his teammates Rossi and Martin.

As the race drew to a close, the car was in the top five but had to withdraw with just 15 minutes remaining due to a hydraulics problem.

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

"Certainly, we are dissatisfied with the outcome, yet there are several positive aspects to consider."

"We were the only team able to match the Ferrari's pace in the Hypercar category during the first half of the race, which was a significant achievement."

"At this point, we need to master completing the race flawlessly."

“However, we should remain optimistic and turn our attention to the upcoming race in Fuji, scheduled for two weeks from now. The outcome in the LMGT3 category has been less than satisfactory.

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

"Our rivals outpaced us, causing us to lose more points to the top two contenders. We need to figure out how to enhance our performance in Fuji."

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

The #83 AF Corse Ferrari, driven by former Formula 1 driver Robert Kubica, Robert Shwartzman, and Yifei Ye, secured an outright win and claimed the top spot in the Hypercar category.

Rossi's debut season in the World Endurance Championship has had its ups and downs, with the #46 car securing a podium finish at Imola but not being able to achieve similar success afterward.

As the weekend approached, 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.

Rossi mentioned to Sportscar365 that he consistently performs faster and better on the track when he's familiar with it and riding a motorcycle.

"You can transfer a lot of knowledge. You understand the track, the optimal paths, the locations of the bumps, and where the grip is best."

"Certainly, the GT is quite distinct in some aspects. It allows for significant shortcuts and varied racing lines."

"However, ultimately the track remains unchanged. Therefore, being familiar with the track while riding the bike is quite beneficial."

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