Valentino Rossi’s Podium Hopes Dashed by Late Breakdown at COTA WEC

Valentino Rossi's race at the COTA WEC was derailed by a late mechanical failure.

The WRT BMW #46 encountered technical problems just 15 minutes before the end of the Lone Star Le Mans.

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

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

Al Harty placed the car in a competitive spot during his stint, and teammates Rossi and Martin upheld that impressive speed.

As the race was approaching its conclusion and the car was holding a position within the top five, a hydraulics problem emerged with only 15 minutes remaining, resulting in the car having to withdraw.

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

"Naturally, we're disappointed with the outcome, but there are definitely some 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 now need to master completing it perfectly until the race concludes."

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

"We did everything possible with car #31. Car #46 experienced a technical problem, specifically with the power steering, but we will conduct a thorough investigation to determine the exact cause of the issue."

“Our rivals outperformed us, causing us to fall further behind the two leading teams. We need to figure out how to get better in Fuji.”

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

The #83 AF Corse Ferrari, driven by former Formula 1 driver Robert Kubica, alongside Robert Shwartzman and Yifie Ye, clinched an overall win and secured the highest accolade 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 the same success in subsequent races.

Before the weekend began, Rossi believed that his previous experience from racing at COTA in MotoGP from 2013 to 2021 would be beneficial.

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

"You can transport numerous items. You're familiar with the course, the paths, the locations of bumps, and the areas with good traction."

"However, the GT is certainly quite distinct in some ways. You have the ability to take various lines and make significant cuts."

"Ultimately, the course remains unchanged, so being familiar with it while on the bike is definitely beneficial."

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