Seven-time MotoGP World Champion and BMW factory driver Valentino Rossi has been selected to compete for BMW in the 2024 World Endurance Championship (WEC). However, this is not the first time that Rossi will be seen piloting a race car. Before this, the 44-year-old competed in two full seasons of the GT World Challenge Europe (2022 and 2023), first in an Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo and then the BMW M4 GT3. He even has a race win to his name, claiming a victory in the GT World Challenge round at Misano this year. In fact, Rossi ventured into car racing during his MotoGP career, having competed in events like the Gulf 12 Hours in 2019 and 2020.
Sharing his thoughts on the announcement, Rossi said, “I am very excited to compete in the FIA WEC. It is the next step for me to participate in a world championship, not only in Europe but to race globally again. I am already familiar with the car after this season, but the format with three drivers from three different performance categories will be new for me. Overall, I believe we will be very well positioned.”
Adding to this, Andreas Roos, the Head of BMW M Motorsport, said, “…Valentino Rossi made a strong debut at Le Mans this season, winning immediately in the BMW M4 GT3. Overall, his first season as a BMW M works driver has been very impressive. I am convinced that he will play an important role and be a crowd favourite in the FIA WEC…”
The 2024 WEC will mark BMW’s debut season in the endurance racing series, making it one of the 14 manufacturers competing next year. For its inaugural campaign, the brand has partnered with Belgium-based Team WRT and will compete in both WEC classes. The Belgian team will field two BMW M Hybrid V8s in the prototype Hypercar class and two BMW M4 GT3s in the new LMGT3 class.
The recently released season entry list for the 2024 WEC also confirms the initial set of drivers confirmed in the team’s line-up. While Dries Vanthoor (Belgium) and Sheldon van der Linde (Republic of South America) will pilot the M Hybrid V8s, the M4 GT3s will be helmed by Augusto Farfus (Brazil) and Rossi. Rossi’s M4 GT3 will don his iconic #46 competition number.