Valentino Rossi Gears Up for New Challenge: Testing BMW’s LMDh WEC Car in Bahrain After Impressive GT Racing Stint

Motorcycle racing icon Valentino Rossi set for BMW LMDh WEC vehicle trial in Bahrain

Former nine-time world champion to experience prototype WEC equipment

Motorcycle racing icon Valentino Rossi is set to take a World Endurance Championship prototype car for a spin in Bahrain, as he gets behind the wheel of the BMW LMDh vehicle for a test drive next month

Following his departure from MotoGP in late 2021, Rossi pursued a new path in motorsports by entering the realm of GT Racing.

Rossi competed in the full 2022 GT World Challenge Europe season driving for WRT in an Audi, then transitioned to using BMW equipment in 2023.

The Italian racer achieved his initial victory in the Sprint Cup GT World Challenge Europe series at the Misano circuit.

In 2024, he kicked off his first season in the World Endurance Championship, competing in the LMGT3 category with the WRT team.

Rossi, together with Ahmad Al Harthy and Maxime Martin, has achieved two podium finishes in the WEC by 2024, securing a second place at Imola and then clinching third at Fuji the previous weekend.

Only a single race is left in the WEC season, set to conclude with the final event in Bahrain this November.

Following the race, the customary test for newcomers is scheduled, with Rossi announcing his plans to try out an LMDh vehicle for the initial time by taking control of the WRT-operated BMW Hybrid V8.

"Rossi expressed his excitement to it.motorsport.com about the upcoming rookie test where he will get to pilot the BMW LMDh, noting his joy especially when compared to last year when he had the chance to drive the LMP2."

"Thus, the upcoming objective is to explore the characteristics of the M Hybrid V8."

"Who can say? Perhaps there's a spot in Hypercar waiting down the line. Time will tell."

Rossi had his initial experience with prototype WEC equipment during his trial of WRT's Oreca 07 LMP2 vehicle at the Bahrain rookie test the previous year.

The Italian racer is participating in both the WEC and GTWCE series in 2024, and mentioned earlier in May his anticipation of maintaining this dual participation into the next year.

Nonetheless, an impressive performance with the LMDh BMW might pave the way for Rossi to compete in prototype racing in the upcoming year.

BMW achieved its inaugural premier-class podium finish in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) with the M Hybrid V8 at Fuji the previous weekend, securing second place despite facing challenges in the car's debut season in the series.

Rossi will be absent from Misano this weekend, where he usually cheers on his VR46 Academy riders during the Emilia Romagna GP, due to his participation in the GTWCE event at Monza.

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