### Heartbreak for Rossi: Late Breakdown Halts #46 WRT BMW’s Charge at Lone Star Le Mans

Valentino Rossi's participation in the COTA WEC race was thwarted due to a late mechanical failure. The #46 WRT BMW encountered issues 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, had to withdraw from the Austin World Endurance Championship race just 15 minutes before it concluded.

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

Al Harty secured a competitive spot for the car during his shift, and his teammates Rossi and Martin continued to uphold that impressive speed.

As the race was nearing its end, with just 15 minutes remaining, the car, which had been holding a position within the top five, encountered a hydraulics problem and had to drop out.

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

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

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

"From now on, we must master doing this flawlessly until the race concludes."

"However, let's stay optimistic and concentrate on the upcoming race at Fuji in two weeks. The outcome in the LMGT3 category has been less than satisfactory."

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

"Our rivals outpaced us, resulting in a further loss of points to the top two competitors. We need to figure out how to enhance our performance for the Fuji event."

The #27 Aston Martin from Heart of Racing secured victory in the LMGT3 category at COTA, whereas the last WRT car, numbered #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, claimed overall victory 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 has not been able to achieve similar success in subsequent races.

As the weekend approached, Rossi believed that his previous experience racing at COTA from 2013 to 2021 during his MotoGP career would be advantageous.

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

"You can bring a lot of experience with you. You're familiar with the track, understand the optimal racing lines, and know where the bumps and areas with good grip are located."

"However, when it comes to the GT, there are definitely some distinct differences. You have the ability to take various lines and make significant cuts."

"Ultimately, the course remains unchanged. Thus, being familiar with it while riding the bike is a significant benefit."

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