Heartbreak for Valentino Rossi as #46 WRT BMW Retires Late in COTA WEC Race Due to Mechanical Failure

Valentino Rossi's participation in the COTA WEC race was thwarted by a breakdown towards the end

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

The #46 LMGT3 car from WRT BMW, piloted by Valentino Rossi, Ahmad Al Harty, and Maxime Martin, withdrew from the Austin World Endurance Championship race just 15 minutes before it was set to conclude.

The vehicle displaying MotoGP icon Rossi’s iconic #46 surged from 15th place to fifth during the initial phase of last Sunday’s Lone Star Le Mans at the Circuit of the Americas.

Al Harty secured a solid position for the car during his stint, and his teammates Rossi and Martin continued to uphold that impressive speed.

As the race was nearing its conclusion, the car, which was positioned within the top five, encountered a hydraulics problem with only 15 minutes remaining and had to withdraw.

“There were both positive and negative moments over the weekend,” stated Vincent Vosse, the head of the WRT team.

"Naturally, we are disappointed with the outcome, but there are also a number of positives 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."

"At this point, we need to figure out how to complete the race flawlessly."

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

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

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

The #27 Heart of Racing Aston Martin secured the victory in the LMGT3 category at COTA, whereas the other WRT vehicle, #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, clinched an outright win and secured the top spot in the Hypercar class.

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 the same result in subsequent races.

Before the weekend began, Rossi believed that his previous experience racing at COTA during his MotoGP career from 2013 to 2021 would benefit him.

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

“You’re able to bring a lot with you. You’re familiar with the track, understand the optimal paths, and are aware of where the bumps and grip points are.

"Undoubtedly, the GT differs significantly in certain aspects. It allows for more cutting and offers various line options."

“In the end, the course remains unchanged. Therefore, being familiar with it while riding the bike is definitely beneficial.”

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