Valentino Rossi’s Heartbreak at COTA: Late Breakdown Derails #46 WRT BMW’s Stellar Run

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

The WRT BMW LMGT3 car with the number 46, piloted by Valentino Rossi, Ahmad Al Harty, and Maxime Martin, had to withdraw from the Austin World Endurance Championship race just 15 minutes before it concluded.

The vehicle featuring MotoGP icon Rossi's renowned #46 surged from 15th place to fifth during the initial phase of last Sunday's Lone Star Le Mans at the Circuit of the Americas.

Al Harty positioned the car advantageously during his stint, a momentum that was kept up by his teammates Rossi and Martin.

As the race approached its final moments, the car, which was positioned within the top five, encountered a hydraulics problem with 15 minutes remaining, leading to its premature retirement.

WRT team principal Vincent Vosse commented that the weekend experienced both positive and negative moments.

“While we are disappointed with the outcome, there are still several positive aspects we can appreciate.”

"For the first half of the race, we were the only team able to match the Ferrari's pace in the Hypercar category, which was a very encouraging aspect."

"At this point, we must master the process and avoid errors until we reach the finish line."

"However, let's stay optimistic and shift our attention to the upcoming race in Fuji, which is happening in two weeks. The outcome in LMGT3 has been less than satisfactory."

"We did everything possible with vehicle #31. Vehicle #46 experienced a technical malfunction, specifically with the power steering, but we will conduct a more thorough investigation to determine the underlying cause."

"Our rivals outperformed us, resulting in us losing more points to the top two teams. We need to figure out ways to do better in Fuji."

The Aston Martin with the #27 from Heart of Racing clinched the victory in the LMGT3 category at COTA, whereas the #31 WRT car secured the fifth position.

The #83 AF Corse Ferrari, driven by former Formula 1 driver Robert Kubica, Robert Shwartzman, and Yifie Ye, secured a complete win and first place in the Hypercar category.

Rossi's debut season in the WEC 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 afterward.

In anticipation of the upcoming weekend, Rossi believed that his previous experience on the track from his time in MotoGP—racing at COTA from 2013 to 2021—would be advantageous for him.

Rossi mentioned to Sportscar365 that he consistently performs at a higher speed and with greater skill on tracks he is familiar with when riding his motorcycle.

"You can bring a lot of knowledge with you. You're familiar with the track, the optimal racing lines, the locations of the bumps, and where the grip is."

"Certainly, the GT is quite distinct in some respects. You can take shortcuts and follow alternative paths."

"Ultimately, the course remains unchanged. Therefore, being familiar with it on the bike offers a significant benefit."

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