Moto GP
Valentino Rossi’s WEC Hopes Dashed by Late Breakdown at COTA’s Lone Star Le Mans
Valentino Rossi's race at the COTA WEC was thwarted by a late mechanical failure.
The #46 WRT BMW encountered technical problems just 15 minutes before the conclusion of the Lone Star Le Mans.
The WRT BMW LMGT3 car, numbered 46 and piloted by Valentino Rossi, Ahmad Al Harty, and Maxime Martin, had to pull out of the Austin World Endurance Championship race just 15 minutes before it ended.
The vehicle featuring MotoGP icon Rossi's well-known number 46 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 positioned the car well, and his teammates Rossi and Martin kept up the impressive speed.
As the race was approaching its end, the car, which was among the top five, encountered a hydraulics problem with just 15 minutes remaining and had to withdraw.
WRT team leader Vincent Vosse commented that the weekend experienced various highs and lows.
"While we are disappointed with the outcome, there are definitely some encouraging aspects to consider."
"We were the only team able to match the Ferrari [in the Hypercar class] for the first half of the race, which was a significant achievement."
"At this stage, we need to master completing the race flawlessly."
"However, we should stay optimistic and look ahead to the upcoming race at Fuji in two weeks. The outcome in LMGT3 has been less than satisfactory."
"We did our best with vehicle #31. There was a technical problem with vehicle #46, specifically related to the power steering. We plan to conduct a more thorough investigation to determine what caused the issue."
"The teams we competed against ended up ahead of us, which means we fell further behind the top two leaders. We need to figure out ways to get better in Fuji."
The #27 Aston Martin from Heart of Racing secured victory in the LMGT3 category at COTA, with the #31 WRT car finishing 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 outright win and first place in the Hypercar class.
Rossi's debut season in the WEC has seen varied results; the #46 vehicle achieved a podium finish at Imola but has not managed to do so again.
Before the weekend began, Rossi believed that his previous experience racing at COTA during his MotoGP career from 2013 to 2021 would be advantageous for him.
Rossi mentioned to Sportscar365 that he consistently performs quicker and more efficiently on familiar tracks when riding his motorcycle.
"You can transport many items. You are familiar with the track, the routes, the locations of bumps, and the areas with the best grip."
"However, when it comes to the GT, it stands out in many ways. You have the flexibility to take various routes and make significant cuts."
"Ultimately, the course remains unchanged. Therefore, being familiar with the course while riding the bike is beneficial."
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