Valentino Rossi’s COTA Comeback Thwarted by Late Mechanical Woes in WEC Lone Star Le Mans

Mechanical Failure Derails Valentino Rossi’s COTA WEC Race

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, was forced to withdraw just 15 minutes before the conclusion of the Austin World Endurance Championship event.

During the initial phase of last Sunday’s Lone Star Le Mans at the Circuit of the Americas, the car with MotoGP icon Rossi’s renowned #46 surged from 15th place in its class to a remarkable fifth position.

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

With just 15 minutes left and while positioned within the top five, the car encountered a hydraulics problem, leading to its retirement from the race.

"The weekend was a mix of high and low points," stated Vincent Vosse, the head of the WRT team.

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

"In the first half of the race, we were the sole competitors able to match the Ferrari's pace in the Hypercar category, which was a significant achievement."

“From now on, we must master the process and ensure we complete the race flawlessly.”

"But let's stay optimistic and look ahead to the upcoming race in two weeks at Fuji. The outcome in LMGT3 has been disheartening."

"We did our best with vehicle #31. As for vehicle #46, we experienced a technical malfunction related to the power steering. We plan to conduct a thorough investigation to determine what caused this issue."

"Our rivals outpaced us, resulting in us losing more points to the top two teams. We need to figure out how to perform better in Fuji."

The Heart of Racing team, driving car #27 Aston Martin, secured victory in the LMGT3 category at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA). Meanwhile, the only WRT team car to finish was the #31,

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

Rossi's debut season in the World Endurance Championship has had its ups and downs. The #46 vehicle managed to secure a podium finish at Imola, but has yet to achieve similar success in subsequent races.

As the weekend approached, Rossi believed that his previous experience racing at COTA from 2013 to 2021 during his MotoGP career would be beneficial.

Rossi shared with Sportscar365 that he consistently performs quicker and more efficiently on familiar tracks with his motorcycle.

“You gain the ability to transport many items. You’re familiar with the course, aware of the optimal paths, and understand where the bumps and grip areas are located."

"Certainly, the GT offers a unique experience from various perspectives. You have the ability to take more shortcuts and create alternative racing lines."

"Ultimately, the course remains unchanged. Hence, being familiar with the track while on the bike is quite beneficial."

Explore Further

Breaking News

Breaking News

Site Map

Crash.Net

©1999-2024 Crash Media Group

It is prohibited to reproduce text, images, or drawings, either in whole or in part, in any manner.