Valentino Rossi’s COTA WEC Hopes Dashed by Late Mechanical Failure: #46 WRT BMW Falls Short 15 Minutes from Finish

Mechanical issues derail Valentino Rossi's race at COTA WEC

The WRT BMW car number 46 encountered 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, had to withdraw from the Austin World Endurance Championship race just 15 minutes before its conclusion.

During the initial phase of the Lone Star Le Mans held last Sunday at the Circuit of the Americas, the vehicle sporting MotoGP icon Rossi’s renowned #46 surged from 15th position in its category to fifth.

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

As the race was coming to an end with only 15 minutes left, the car that was in the top five positions encountered a hydraulics problem and had to withdraw.

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

“While we are disappointed with the outcome, there are 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 significant positive aspect."

"At this point, we need to figure out how to execute it flawlessly until the race concludes."

"However, let's remain optimistic and look ahead to the upcoming race in two weeks at Fuji. In the LMGT3 category, the outcome has been unsatisfactory."

"We managed what we could with car #31. Car #46 experienced a technical malfunction, specifically related to the power steering. We intend to conduct a thorough investigation to determine the root cause of this issue."

"Our rivals outperformed us, causing us to lose more ground to the top two contenders. We need to figure out how to enhance our performance at Fuji."

The Aston Martin #27 from Heart of Racing secured victory in the LMGT3 category at COTA, whereas the WRT team's car #31 finished in fifth place.

The #83 AF Corse Ferrari, driven by former Formula 1 driver Robert Kubica, along with Robert Shwartzman and Yifie Ye, claimed an overall win and the highest accolades 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 hasn't been able to achieve the same success in subsequent races.

As the weekend approached, Rossi believed that his previous experience at COTA from his MotoGP career, spanning from 2013 to 2021, would be advantageous for him.

Rossi explained to Sportscar365 that he consistently performs quicker and more proficiently on a motorcycle when he is familiar with the track.

"You can transfer a lot of knowledge. You understand the track, the ideal paths to take, where the bumps are, and where you can find the grip and everything else."

"However, from a certain perspective, driving the GT is quite unique. You have the ability to take various shortcuts and choose alternative racing lines."

"However, ultimately the circuit remains unchanged. Thus, being familiar with it while riding the motorcycle is definitely beneficial."

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