MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi admits he nonetheless goals of racing a hypercar within the World Endurance Championship, however concedes his probabilities of doing so look slim within the quick time period.
Rossi has made no secret of his want to compete in prototype equipment, believing it higher fits his driving model than the GT3 automobiles he has been racing since his retirement from MotoGP in 2021.
The Italian obtained an opportunity to pattern the BMW M Hybrid V8 ultimately yr’s Bahrain rookie take a look at, the place he ended up only a tenth off the tempo set by Charles Leclerc’s youthful brother Arthur in a Ferrari 499P.
Nevertheless, that promising outing didn’t end in extra alternatives within the high class, with Rossi remaining within the WEC’s LMGT3 class for a second season in 2025.
The 46-year-old revealed that he spent all the yr engaged on a possible Hypercar programme for 2026, however admitted these plans are but to materialise.
“The hypercar is extra much like a bike [than a GT3] – and I take pleasure in [driving] it,” Rossi stated in Bahrain. “So from that second [in the Bahrain test], we tried to race within the hypercar this yr, but it surely was not doable.
“All throughout this season, we tried to race within the hypercar for subsequent yr, however sadly, it was not doable. It appears to be like prefer it’s tough to race within the hypercar. I do not know if it can occur – it is a disgrace.”
#20 BMW M Workforce WRT BMW M Hybrid V8: Valentino Rossi
Photograph by: Shameem Fahath
Requested if it will be doable for him to contest particular person races in Hypercar, if a full-season marketing campaign is off the desk, Rossi stated: “It may be a good suggestion, however I do not know if it is doable, as a result of often when you race with a hypercar, it is for the entire season.
“BMW has lots of drivers, lots of youthful drivers. And it is a disgrace, as a result of I really feel good with the automotive, and it may be fascinating to race there. However I do not know if it can occur subsequent yr. Anyway, I am additionally open for some races.”
Since switching to automotive racing full-time, Rossi has raced solely with Vincent Vosse’s WRT group. The Belgian squad already serves as BMW’s manufacturing unit accomplice within the Hypercar class and can increase its programme subsequent yr to tackle the working of the German producer’s parallel effort in IMSA’s GTP class.
Rossi stated this might open a door for him to contest chosen IMSA rounds, significantly the longer Michelin Endurance Cup occasions that require extra drivers. “It may be an opportunity, as a result of the WRT subsequent yr may also handle the IMSA [programme]. So possibly it may be doable. I do not know, I hope,” he stated.
Nevertheless, Rossi dominated out the prospect of getting into subsequent yr’s IMSA season-opener at Daytona, the place BMW sometimes runs 4 drivers in every GTP automotive as an alternative of the standard two.
“Daytona can be on the checklist, as a result of it is an important 24 hours [race],” he stated. “I believe for subsequent yr, it will likely be tough, as a result of January is already right here. However possibly sooner or later.”
2026 plans unsure
Rossi joined the WEC full-time following the sequence’ introduction of the LMGT3 ruleset in 2024 and devoted all his efforts on the championship this yr after bowing out of GT World Problem Europe.
Over the 16 WEC races he contested throughout the 2 seasons, he scored 4 podium finishes in his class – and got here near profitable this yr’s Imola 6 Hours within the #46 BMW M4 GT3 he shared with Kelvin van der Linde and Ahmad Al Harthy.
Rossi’s three-year deal as a manufacturing unit BMW driver expires on the finish of this yr, and whereas a contract renewal is predicted, it stays unclear which championship he’ll contest in 2026.
“We nonetheless do not know what we’ll do, which championship,” stated Rossi. “The WEC might be, for positive, an possibility We are going to see with BMW within the subsequent month. We are going to attempt to resolve what’s the finest programme.”
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