Valentino Rossi’s COTA WEC Hopes Dashed by Late Mechanical Failure: #46 WRT BMW’s Heartbreaking Finish at Lone Star Le Mans

Valentino Rossi's race at the Circuit of the Americas in the World Endurance Championship was thwarted by a mechanical failure just 15 minutes before the conclusion of the Lone Star Le Mans. The #46 BMW from the WRT team encountered the issue.

The WRT BMW LMGT3 car, numbered 46 and piloted by Valentino Rossi, Ahmad Al Harty, and Maxime Martin, had to pull out of the Austin World Endurance Championship race just 15 minutes before the finish.

Last Sunday at the Circuit of the Americas, the car carrying MotoGP icon Rossi's renowned #46 surged from 15th place in its class to fifth during the initial segment of the Lone Star Le Mans.

During his stint, Al Harty positioned the car favorably, and his teammates, Rossi and Martin, continued to uphold that impressive pace.

As the race was nearing its end and the car was in the top five, a hydraulics problem emerged with just 15 minutes remaining, compelling the team to withdraw from the competition.

"The weekend experienced a mix of positives and negatives," stated Vincent Vosse, the head of the WRT team.

"Certainly, we're not satisfied with the outcome, but there are also several positive aspects to consider."

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

"At this point, we need to master the process and complete the race flawlessly."

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

"We did our best with car #31. Car #46 experienced a technical problem that we identified as a power steering issue, but we will conduct a more thorough investigation to determine the exact cause."

"Our rivals outpaced us, resulting in a further loss of points to the top two contenders. We need to evaluate how we can enhance our performance at Fuji."

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

A decisive win and the highest accolades in the Hypercar category were achieved by the #83 AF Corse Ferrari, driven by former Formula 1 driver Robert Kubica, along with Robert Shwartzman and Yifei Ye.

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 results since.

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

Rossi mentioned to Sportscar365 that he consistently excels and achieves higher speeds on familiar tracks while riding his motorcycle.

"Since you can transfer many skills. You're familiar with the track, you understand the racing lines, and you know the locations of the bumps and where there is good grip."

"Definitely, the GT is quite distinct in certain aspects. You have the ability to take shortcuts and create various racing lines."

"However, ultimately, the circuit remains unchanged. Therefore, being familiar with the track while riding the bike is a significant benefit."

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