After two seasons within the World Endurance Championship, Valentino Rossi has stepped away from the sequence, and whereas it is a loss for some followers BMW believes the sequence is greater than able to absorbing that loss.
Rossi’s raced for BMW’s buyer WRT workforce within the LMGT3 class in each 2024 and 2025, however was absent from the entry checklist this yr. The MotoGP legend had develop into a significant crowd-puller for the WEC, however opted as a substitute for a full marketing campaign within the GT World Problem Europe.
Rossi wished to race fewer weekends with the intention to spend extra time along with his household and subsequently needed to skip GTWCE occasions in 2025 — other than the 24 Hours of Spa — attributable to his WEC commitments.
Now, the Italian returns to GTWCE, the place he competes completely in opposition to different GT3 vehicles — one thing he prefers over multi-class racing. Whereas it does imply the WEC loses an icon, Andreas Roos, head of BMW M motorsport, says the championship has nothing to fret about.
“I believe the championship could be very secure,” Roos advised Motorsport sister title Motorsport-Whole.com. “In fact, a driver like Valentino Rossi is an absolute prepare horse. He has an enormous fanbase worldwide.
“He’s an icon in motorsport and two-wheeler sport. He has already confirmed what he can do in four-wheel racing. He has already gained races there.
“It is undoubtedly a loss when it comes to fan engagement. However the championship nonetheless has nice names and nice producers. I do not need to say it isn’t a loss.
“I do not need to say it is a loss to lose Valentino Rossi from a championship. However I believe the championship is a superb and secure championship with all of the producers.”
#46 Group WRT BMW M4 LMGT3: Ahmad Al Harthy, Valentino Rossi, Kelvin Van Der Linde
Photograph by: AG Photograph – Daniele Paglino
Absolutely dedicated, even with out Rossi
For BMW itself, the primary distinction is solely much less crowding across the storage, the place Rossi’s many followers usually gathered to catch a glimpse of their hero. However the German producer’s dedication to the LMGT3 class stays unchanged.
“We’re 100% dedicated,” Roos emphasised. “With our two drivers, you possibly can see that we’re critical about preventing for the M4 GT3 Evo.
“We have now already gained quite a bit, however we do not have a championship title but. There is just one you can win with the GT3. That’s our purpose.
“We have now already gained quite a bit, however we do not have a championship title but. There is just one you can win with the GT3. That’s our purpose.”
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