MotoGP legend Rossi switches full-time to GTs
Valentino Rossi will race a full campaign in GT racing in GT World Challenge Europe in 2022 as his first step after retiring from MotoGP at the end of 2021.
The 42-year-old will race for crack Audi GT team WRT in GTWCE in 2022. A switch to GT racing has long been expected for the Italian, who won nine world titles and 115 Grands Prix in MotoGP in 26 years.
It won’t be the first time Rossi has stepped into either cars or a GT3 machine, having previously completed many rally events and raced at the Gulf 12 Hours with Kessel Racing and Ferrari. He was due to race at the Abu Dhabi event again in ’22 before he was forced to isolate after coming into contact with someone who tested positive for Covid-19.
Rossi tested with WRT, which has won GT World Challenge Europe Sprint or Endurance titles in 2011, ’12, ’13, ’14, ’15, ’16, ’17, ’18, ‘20 and ’21, in December and has now committed to a full GTWCE season across 10 rounds in both the Sprint and Endurance Cups.
While none of Rossi’s team-mates have been announced by WRT yet, the squad has confirmed that both of his fellow drivers will be from the Audi factory as Rossi races in the top level Pro class, despite starting his career with a Silver ranking.
Rossi, who will race with his traditional number 46 on the car, has made no secret of his desire to race at the Le Mans 24 Hours, so a move to WRT makes sense, given the Belgian stepped up to LMP2 and Le Mans last season – winning the Blue Riband race at its first attempt.
It does not signal a complete exit from MotoGP, as Rossi’s VR46 team will step up from Moto2 to the top category with Ducati in 2022.
Speaking about the new season Rossi said: “Everybody knows that I have always been a great car racing fan and that I have always been interested in racing on four wheels once my MotoGP career would come to an end.
“Now I am completely available to devote myself to a car racing program at a high level and with the right professional approach.”
Images courtesy of Team WRT.
MotoGP
Valentino Rossi
Audi
R8
