Valentino Rossi’s #46 WRT BMW LMGT3 Car Retires Late at Lone Star Le Mans Due to Mechanical Failure

Valentino Rossi’s participation in the COTA WEC race was thwarted by a late mechanical failure. The #46 WRT BMW encountered problems just 15 minutes before the conclusion of the Lone Star Le Mans.

The #46 WRT BMW LMGT3 car, with drivers Valentino Rossi, Ahmad Al Harty, and Maxime Martin, withdrew from the Austin World Endurance Championship race just 15 minutes before the finish.

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

During his stint, Al Harty placed the car in a competitive position, and this impressive pace was upheld by his teammates Rossi and Martin.

As the race was approaching its conclusion, the car was positioned within the top five. However, with just 15 minutes remaining, it encountered a hydraulics problem and had to withdraw from the competition.

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

“While we are disappointed with the outcome, there are definitely some encouraging aspects to consider.”

"In the first half of the race, we were the only team able to match the Ferrari [in Hypercar], which was a highly encouraging aspect."

"We need to master the process and execute it flawlessly until the race is over."

"However, let's stay optimistic and look ahead to the upcoming race in Fuji, scheduled for two weeks from now. The outcome in LMGT3 has been disheartening."

“We did our best with vehicle number 31. We encountered a technical problem with vehicle number 46, specifically an issue with the power steering. We plan to investigate further to determine the exact cause of the malfunction.

"Our rivals outperformed us, resulting in us losing more points to the top two teams. We need to figure out how to enhance our performance in Fuji."

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

The #83 AF Corse Ferrari, driven by former Formula 1 driver Robert Kubica, 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 been inconsistent. While the #46 car managed to secure a podium finish at Imola, it has not been able to achieve similar success in subsequent races.

Before the weekend, Rossi believed that his previous experience riding on the COTA track during his MotoGP career from 2013 to 2021 would be beneficial for him.

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

"You can bring a lot of knowledge with you. You’re familiar with the track, understand the best lines, and know where the bumps and grip are."

"Certainly, when it comes to the GT, it's quite distinct in some respects. You have the ability to cut corners significantly and adopt various racing lines."

"Ultimately, the course remains unchanged. Therefore, being familiar with the track while riding the bike is beneficial."

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