Valentino Rossi employed by BMW as factory driver

December 23, 2022

WRT

Valentino Rossi’s impressive MotoGP career came to an end in 2021. He fortunately did not sit behind the geraniums. He traded in his race bike for a race car. The Belgian Team WRT allowed him to get behind the wheel of an Audi and compete in the GT World Challenge Europe.

BMW

The WRT team is switching to BMW for the 2023 season, suddenly making Rossi a BMW M factory driver. “Last year I started car racing seriously and I just finished my first season with WRT. I got along well with the team and am happy that WRT has chosen BMW M Motorsport as its new partner. I have already been able to test twice with the BMW M4 GT3 and the feeling in that car is good. We can be competitive next season.”

Teammates

Rossi shares his new work car – a BMW M4 GT3 – with teammates Maxime Martin and Augusto Farfus. The team will again compete in the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe, but Rossi will also be at the start of the Dubai 24 Hours and the Bathurst 12 Hours, opening the Intercontinental GT Challenge season. “BMW M Motorsport has given me the chance to race next year with two very strong drivers, Maxime Martin and Augusto Farfus. I still have a lot to learn and improve, but I hope I am up to the task and fast enough to fight during race weekends.”

24 Hours of Le Mans

In addition, it seems that BMW is preparing Rossi for even bigger things. According to BMW’s press release, in addition to his commitments in the GT World Challenge Europe, Rossi is “available for other racing and test appearances in BMW M Motorsport race cars.” There is a good chance that the 43-year-old Italian may also get behind the wheel of the BMW M Hybrid V8 LMDh in the top class of the World Endurance Championship. In 2024, BMW will be back at the start of the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the first time in ages, perhaps with Rossi behind the wheel.