Valentino Rossi’s #46 WRT BMW Faces Heartbreak at COTA: Late Breakdown Halts Promising Run in Lone Star Le Mans

Valentino Rossi's WEC race at COTA was thwarted by a late malfunction.

The #46 WRT BMW encountered technical 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 with only 15 minutes remaining.

In the initial segment of last Sunday's Lone Star Le Mans at the Circuit of the Americas, the vehicle marked with MotoGP icon Rossi's renowned number 46 surged from 15th place in its category to claim the fifth position.

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

As the race was coming to an end and the car was positioned within the top five, a hydraulics problem emerged with just 15 minutes remaining, leading to its withdrawal from the competition.

WRT team leader Vincent Vosse mentioned that the weekend experienced both positive and negative moments.

"Certainly, we're disappointed with the outcome, but there are also several positive aspects we can appreciate."

“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 notably positive aspect.

"At this point, we need to master the process and carry it out flawlessly until the race is over."

"However, let's stay optimistic and turn our attention to the upcoming race in Fuji, scheduled for two weeks from now. The outcome in LMGT3 has been less than satisfactory."

“We did everything possible with vehicle #31. Unfortunately, car #46 experienced a technical problem related to the power steering. We plan to conduct a thorough investigation to determine the exact reason for the malfunction.”

"Our rivals outperformed us, meaning we've fallen further behind the top two teams. We need to figure out how to enhance our performance at Fuji."

The Aston Martin with the #27 Heart of Racing team clinched victory in the LMGT3 class at COTA, whereas the #31 WRT car finished in fifth place.

The #83 AF Corse Ferrari, driven by former Formula 1 driver Robert Kubica, Robert Shwartzman, and Yifie Ye, clinched an overall victory and secured the top spot 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 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 mentioned to Sportscar365 that he consistently performs quicker and more efficiently on the motorcycle when he's familiar with the track.

"You can bring a lot of experience with you. You're familiar with the track, understand the optimal paths, and are aware of where the bumps and grip points are."

"Certainly, the GT differs significantly in some respects. You have the ability to cut extensively and create various lines."

"But ultimately, the course remains unchanged. Therefore, being familiar with it on the bike is a significant benefit."

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