Valentino Rossi’s Podium Hopes Dashed by Late Breakdown at Lone Star Le Mans

Valentino Rossi's race at the Circuit of the Americas in the World Endurance Championship was thwarted by a mechanical failure late in the event. The #46 WRT BMW encountered 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 with only 15 minutes remaining.

Last Sunday at the Circuit of the Americas, the car marked with MotoGP icon Rossi's well-known #46 surged from 15th place in its class to fifth during the initial phase of the Lone Star Le Mans.

Al Harty placed the car in a competitive spot during his turn, and his teammates Rossi and Martin continued to uphold that impressive speed.

As the race was approaching its end, with just 15 minutes remaining, the vehicle, which was among the top five, encountered a hydraulic problem and had to withdraw.

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

“Certainly, we are disappointed with the outcome, but there are also several positive aspects to consider.”

"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 highly encouraging aspect."

"At this point, we must master the process and complete the race flawlessly."

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

"We did our best with vehicle #31. There was a mechanical problem with vehicle #46, specifically related to the power steering. We plan to conduct a thorough investigation to determine the exact cause of the issue."

"Our rivals outperformed us, causing us to lose more ground to the top two teams. We need to figure out how to make improvements for Fuji."

The Heart of Racing team, driving car #27 Aston Martin, secured victory in the LMGT3 category at COTA. Meanwhile, 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 Yifei 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 on the track from his MotoGP career, where he raced at COTA from 2013 to 2021, would be advantageous.

Rossi mentioned to Sportscar365 that he consistently performs quicker and more proficiently on familiar tracks with his motorcycle.

"Since you can bring a lot of information with you, you're familiar with the track, the racing lines, the locations of the bumps, and where you'll find the best grip."

“Absolutely, the GT is distinct in several ways. It allows for significant shortcuts and variations in racing lines.”

"Ultimately, the course remains unchanged. Therefore, being familiar with the track while riding the bike offers a significant benefit."

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