Valentino Rossi has revealed that his important dedication for the 2026 season will probably 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 may as soon as once more subject Fabio Di Giannantonio and Franco Morbidelli in MotoGP, however the event additionally offered a very good 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 probably be racing within the GTWC and I’m very pleased as a result of it’s a championship that I actually like and during which I took half firstly of my profession in vehicles,’ Rossi advised Sky Sports activities, including that he prefers the SRO-sanctioned collection to the World Endurance Championship.
“I’ve raced on the earth championship for the final two years, however I made a decision to vary as a result of the GTWC is in Europe and the races are nearer, whereas with the WEC, many of the occasions are outdoors Europe, involving a lot of flights and lengthy journeys.
“With two little ladies and a household, it is tough to be away for thus many days, so for instance it was a selection I needed to make, however I am actually pleased as a result of the GTWC is nice enjoyable.”
#46 Workforce WRT BMW M4 GT3 EVO: Valentino Rossi, Kevin Magnussen, René Rast
Photograph by: Eric Le Galliot
When the WEC entry record was offered final month, Rossi was absent from WRT’s LMGT3 line-up, which led to all kinds 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 choice has all the time been to compete in occasions with solely GT3 vehicles, and with a household to care for, 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 Workforce 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 pleased 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 a 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 12 months. He stepped again from GTWCE totally in 2025, outdoors of some wildcard entries, to deal with the world championship.
The Italian has three Dash race wins underneath his belt, whereas his finest outcome within the Endurance Cup is a fourth-place end at Paul Ricard.
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