Valentino Rossi’s COTA WEC Hopes Dashed by Late Mechanical Failure in Lone Star Le Mans

Valentino Rossi’s participation in the COTA WEC race was thwarted by a last-minute mechanical failure. The #46 WRT BMW experienced 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 just 15 minutes before the finish.

Last Sunday at the Circuit of the Americas, a car sporting the iconic #46 of MotoGP legend Rossi surged from 15th place to fifth in the opening segment of the Lone Star Le Mans.

During that segment, Al Harty placed the car in a competitive spot, and teammates Rossi and Martin kept up the impressive speed.

As the race was coming to an end, the car was in the top five when, with just 15 minutes left, a hydraulics problem emerged, forcing it to withdraw.

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

"Naturally, we are disappointed with the outcome, but there are also several positive aspects to acknowledge."

"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 advantage."

“We must now figure out how to execute this perfectly until the race concludes, avoiding any errors along the way.”

"However, let's stay optimistic and concentrate on 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 made every effort with car #31. Car #46 experienced a technical malfunction, specifically a power steering problem. We plan to conduct a more thorough investigation to determine the root cause of the issue."

"Our rivals outperformed us, causing us to fall further behind the top two leaders. We need to figure out how to enhance our performance in Fuji."

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

The #83 AF Corse Ferrari, driven by former Formula 1 driver Robert Kubica, Robert Shwartzman, and Yifie Ye, clinched an outright victory and secured the top spot in the Hypercar class.

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 racing at COTA from 2013 to 2021 in MotoGP would be beneficial.

Rossi mentioned to Sportscar365 that he consistently performs quicker and more efficiently on tracks he is familiar with when riding his motorcycle.

“You can bring a lot of experience with you. You’re familiar with the track, the racing lines, and you know where the bumps and areas with good grip are.”

"Certainly, the GT is quite distinct in some respects. It allows for significant cutting and the creation of various racing lines."

"However, ultimately, the course remains unchanged. Therefore, being familiar with it while riding the bike is beneficial."

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