Heartbreak for Rossi: Late Breakdown Derails #46 WRT BMW at COTA WEC

Valentino Rossi's participation in the COTA WEC race was thwarted by a mechanical failure late in the event. 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 just 15 minutes before it concluded.

During the initial segment of last Sunday's Lone Star Le Mans at the Circuit of the Americas, the vehicle displaying MotoGP icon Rossi's renowned #46 impressively advanced from 15th to 5th place in its category.

Al Harty placed the car in a competitive spot during that phase, and teammates Rossi and Martin kept up the fast pace.

As the race approached its final moments, the car, which had been holding a position within the top five, encountered a hydraulics problem with just 15 minutes remaining and had to withdraw from the competition.

"The weekend experienced its share of highs and lows," stated WRT team leader Vincent Vosse.

"While the outcome is disappointing, there are also several positive aspects to consider."

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

"We must master this skill and execute it flawlessly until the race is finished."

"But let's stay optimistic and look ahead to the next race happening in two weeks at Fuji. The outcome in the LMGT3 category has been disheartening."

"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 competitors ended up ahead of us, causing us to lose more points to the top two teams. We need to figure out how to enhance our performance at Fuji."

The #27 Heart of Racing Aston Martin clinched the LMGT3 class victory at COTA, whereas the other WRT vehicle, #31, secured fifth place.

The #83 AF Corse Ferrari, driven by former Formula 1 driver Robert Kubica, Robert Shwartzman, and Yifie Ye, secured a decisive win and the highest accolades in the Hypercar category.

Rossi’s debut year in the WEC has been a blend of successes and challenges, with the #46 car securing a podium finish at Imola but not yet managing to achieve this again.

As the weekend approached, Rossi believed that his experience from his MotoGP days, where he had raced at COTA from 2013 to 2021, would be advantageous.

Rossi mentioned to Sportscar365 that he consistently performs quicker and more efficiently on a motorcycle when he is familiar with the track.

"You can bring a lot with you. You're familiar with the track, understand the racing lines, and know where the bumps and grip points are."

"Certainly, the GT stands out in several ways. You have the flexibility to take shortcuts and choose varying paths."

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

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