Valentino Rossi’s Late Race Heartbreak: #46 WRT BMW’s Hydraulics Failure Ends Promising COTA WEC Run

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

The #46 WRT BMW LMGT3 car, 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 ended.

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

During that period, Al Harty placed the car in a favorable position, and teammates Rossi and Martin continued to uphold that impressive speed.

As the race was approaching its end and the car was holding a position within the top five, a hydraulics problem emerged with just 15 minutes remaining, leading to its withdrawal from the competition.

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

"While we are disappointed with the outcome, there are several encouraging 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 highly encouraging aspect."

“We must now master the process and execute it flawlessly through to the finish line.”

"However, let's stay optimistic and look ahead to the upcoming race in Fuji that will take place in two weeks. The outcome in the LMGT3 category has been less than satisfactory."

"We did our best with car #31. Unfortunately, car #46 experienced a technical malfunction, specifically related to the power steering. We plan to conduct a thorough investigation to determine what caused this issue."

"Our rivals outpaced us, causing us to lose more points to the top two contenders. We need to figure out how to enhance our performance in Fuji."

The Heart of Racing team, driving car #27, secured a victory in the LMGT3 category at COTA, whereas the other WRT vehicle, 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, secured an outright win and the highest accolade 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 being able to match that performance again so far.

Before the weekend began, Rossi believed that his experience from racing at COTA during his MotoGP career, spanning from 2013 to 2021, would be advantageous for him.

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

"You can transfer a lot of knowledge. You're familiar with the track, the routes, the locations of bumps, and where the grip is."

“Certainly, the GT is quite unique in several ways. For instance, you have the flexibility to take various lines and make significant cuts.”

“In the end, the course remains unchanged. Thus, being familiar with the track while riding the bike is beneficial.”

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