**”Valentino Rossi’s Late Breakdown Thwarts Promising COTA WEC Performance”**

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

The #46 WRT BMW LMGT3 vehicle, piloted by Valentino Rossi, Ahmad Al Harty, and Maxime Martin, withdrew from the Austin World Endurance Championship race with just 15 minutes remaining.

The vehicle featuring the iconic #46 associated with MotoGP legend Rossi surged from 15th place to fifth during the initial segment of last Sunday’s Lone Star Le Mans at the Circuit of the Americas.

During his stint, Al Harty secured a competitive spot for the car, and this momentum was upheld by his teammates Rossi and Martin.

With just 15 minutes remaining and the car positioned within the top five, a hydraulics problem emerged, leading to its withdrawal from the race.

"The weekend experienced both positive and negative moments," commented Vincent Vosse, the head of the WRT team.

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

"We were the sole contenders capable of matching the Ferrari's pace in the Hypercar category during the initial half of the race, which was a significant positive aspect."

"At this point, we need to master doing it flawlessly until the race is over."

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

"We managed to do what was possible with car #31. Car #46 experienced a technical problem, specifically with the power steering. We will conduct a thorough investigation to determine the root cause of the issue."

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

The LMGT3 category at COTA saw victory go to the #27 Heart of Racing Aston Martin, whereas the #31 WRT vehicle secured fifth place.

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

Rossi's debut season in the World Endurance Championship has had its ups and downs, with the #46 car achieving a podium finish at Imola but not managing to repeat this success in subsequent races.

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

"I consistently perform quicker and more efficiently on familiar tracks with my motorcycle," Rossi shared with Sportscar365.

"You can transfer a lot of knowledge. You’re familiar with the track, the racing lines, and you understand where the bumps and the grip are located."

“Certainly, the GT is quite distinct in several aspects. You have the ability to take shortcuts and choose various racing lines.”

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

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