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

Valentino Rossi’s opportunity to compete in the COTA WEC race was thwarted by a last-minute mechanical failure. The #46 BMW from WRT 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 just 15 minutes remaining.

The vehicle featuring MotoGP icon Rossi’s renowned number 46 surged from 15th position in its category to fifth place during the initial phase of last Sunday’s Lone Star Le Mans held at the Circuit of the Americas.

During his stint, Al Harty positioned the car advantageously, and this strong performance was upheld by his teammates Rossi and Martin.

As the race was approaching its end, the vehicle, positioned within the top five, encountered a hydraulics problem with only 15 minutes remaining and had to withdraw from the competition.

"The weekend experienced a mix of positive and negative moments," mentioned Vincent Vosse, the head of the WRT team.

“While we are disappointed with the outcome, there are still several positive aspects to consider.”

"We were the sole competitors able to match the Ferrari's pace in the Hypercar category during the first half of the race, which was a highly encouraging aspect."

"At this point, our objective is to master doing it correctly until the race concludes, ensuring we avoid any errors."

"However, let's maintain a positive outlook and concentrate on the upcoming race in Fuji, which will take place in two weeks. The outcome in LMGT3 has been less than satisfactory."

"We made every effort with car #31. Car #46 experienced a technical malfunction, specifically with the power steering. We plan to conduct a thorough investigation to determine the root cause of the issue."

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

The #27 Aston Martin from Heart of Racing secured victory in the LMGT3 category at COTA, with the other WRT vehicle, #31, finishing in fifth place.

The #83 AF Corse Ferrari driven by former Formula 1 driver Robert Kubica, along with Robert Shwartzman and Yifei Ye, achieved an outright win and secured the top spot in the Hypercar category.

Rossi's debut season in the World Endurance Championship has had its ups and downs, with the #46 vehicle achieving a podium finish at Imola but not managing to do so again thus far.

As the weekend approached, Rossi believed his previous experience at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) from his MotoGP career, spanning from 2013 to 2021, would be advantageous.

Rossi explained to Sportscar365 that he consistently performs at a higher level and with greater speed on tracks he is familiar with when riding his motorcycle.

"You can bring a lot with you. Familiarity with the track, the racing lines, the bumps, the grip, and all the details."

“Certainly, the GT is quite distinct in certain aspects. You have the ability to take shortcuts and create alternative paths.”

“Ultimately, the track remains consistent. Therefore, being familiar with the track while riding the bike is beneficial.”

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