Valentino Rossi has revealed that his foremost dedication for the 2026 season will likely be GT World Problem Europe, as soon as once more as a manufacturing facility BMW rider.
The affirmation got here from Rossi himself on the sidelines of the VR46 presentation held on Wednesday in Rome, the place Motorsport.com was additionally current.
The Italian attended the VR46 launch because the founding father of the Ducati satellite tv for pc group that can as soon as once more discipline Fabio Di Giannantonio and Franco Morbidelli in MotoGP, however the event additionally introduced alternative to take inventory of his four-wheeled plans.
Having already introduced his participation in February’s Bathurst 12 Hour, the 46-year-old responded to questions on what awaits him on the wheel of the BMW’s M4 GT3 EVO.
“I will likely be racing within the GTWC and I’m very completely satisfied as a result of it’s a championship that I actually like and by which I took half at the start of my profession in automobiles,’ Rossi advised Sky Sports activities, including that he prefers the SRO-sanctioned collection to the World Endurance Championship.
“I’ve raced on this planet championship for the final two years, however I made a decision to alter as a result of the GTWC is in Europe and the races are nearer, whereas with the WEC, a lot of the occasions are outdoors Europe, involving a number of flights and lengthy journeys.
“With two little women and a household, it is troublesome to be away for thus many days, so for instance it was a selection I needed to make, however I am actually completely satisfied as a result of the GTWC is nice enjoyable.”
#46 Crew WRT BMW M4 GT3 EVO: Valentino Rossi, Kevin Magnussen, René Rast
Picture by: Eric Le Galliot
When the WEC entry record was introduced final month, Rossi was absent from WRT’s LMGT3 line-up, which led to all types of rumours, together with that he had been dropped by the Bavarian producer.
This was clearly not the case, partly as a result of his desire has all the time been to compete in occasions with solely GT3 automobiles, and with a household to maintain, making so many intercontinental journeys was placing him again within the state of affairs that had led to him retiring from MotoGP
Racing in GTWCE with Crew WRT will enable him to focus his vitality on one collection, however the different information is the renewal of his contract with BMW, in response to all those that claimed he had been let go given the expiry of his earlier settlement on the finish of 2025.
“The selection was mine, in settlement with BMW, with whom I signed a three-year renewal,” he revealed. “I had to determine what to do with them too, however I am very completely satisfied as a result of I really feel comfy on this championship.”
WRT is but to disclose its full line-ups for the 2026 GT World Problem season, which means it is unclear who will be part of ‘Vale’ in Dash and Endurance Cups.
Rossi final raced in each legs of GTWCE in 2023, earlier than combining his Endurance Cup commitments with a maiden season within the WEC’s LMGT3 class the next yr. He stepped again from GTWCE completely in 2025, outdoors of some wildcard entries, to concentrate on the world championship.
The Italian has three Dash race wins below his belt, whereas his greatest outcome within the Endurance Cup is a fourth-place end at Paul Ricard.
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