Moto GP
Heartbreak for Valentino Rossi: Late Breakdown Halts #46 WRT BMW’s Stellar Run at 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 mechanical problems just 15 minutes before the conclusion of the Lone Star Le Mans event.
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 its conclusion.
Last Sunday, during the opening section of the Lone Star Le Mans at the Circuit of the Americas, the vehicle with MotoGP icon Rossi's renowned #46 surged from 15th place to fifth in its category.
During that segment of the race, Al Harty placed the car in a favorable position, and team-mates Rossi and Martin kept up the impressive speed.
With just 15 minutes left in the race and positioned among the top five, the car encountered a hydraulics problem and had to withdraw.
"There were both positive and negative moments over the weekend," stated Vincent Vosse, the head of the WRT team.
“While the end result is disappointing, there are still several encouraging aspects to consider.”
"We were the sole competitors able to match the Ferrari's pace in the Hypercar class during the first half of the race, which was a highly encouraging aspect."
"We need to master doing this flawlessly through to the finish line."
"However, let's maintain a positive outlook and concentrate on the upcoming race in Fuji, set to take place in two weeks. The outcome in LMGT3 has been less than satisfactory."
"We did our best with vehicle #31. Car #46 experienced a technical issue, specifically with the power steering. We plan to investigate further to pinpoint the exact cause of the problem."
"Our rivals outperformed us, causing us to fall further behind the top two competitors. We need to figure out ways to enhance our performance in Fuji."
The Heart of Racing Aston Martin with car number 27 secured victory in the LMGT3 category at COTA, whereas the other WRT vehicle, number 31, finished in fifth place.
The #83 AF Corse Ferrari, driven by former Formula 1 driver Robert Kubica, Robert Shwartzman, and Yifei Ye, claimed an outright victory and the top spot in the Hypercar class.
Rossi's debut season in the WEC has had its ups and downs, with the #46 car achieving a podium finish at Imola but not managing to repeat that success since then.
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 informed Sportscar365 that he consistently performs at a higher speed and quality when he's familiar with the track and riding his motorcycle.
"You can transfer a lot of knowledge. You're familiar with the track, understand the racing lines, and know the locations of bumps and areas with good grip."
“However, from one perspective, the GT is quite distinct. It allows for significant shortcuts and varied racing lines.
"Ultimately, the course remains unchanged. Therefore, being familiar with the track while riding the bike is beneficial."
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