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Valentino Rossi To Race Audi R8 LMS In World GT Challenge Europe
MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi will race in this year's World GT Challenge Europe. Rossi who retired from MotoGP at the end of last year will compete in the World GT Challenge (formerly the Blancpain GT Series) Europe in an Audi R8 LMS GT3 run by Belgium's W Racing Team (WRT).
Speaking about his entry into the World GT Challenge Europe, Rossi stated, "I am delighted to join Team WRT for a full Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS programme. Everybody knows that I have always been a great car racing fan and that I have always been interested in racing on four wheels once my MotoGP career would come to an end. Now I am completely available to devote myself to a car racing programme at a high level and with the right professional approach. Team WRT is the perfect fit I was looking for and I am anxious to start this new adventure in the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS with them."
Vincent Vosse, Team Principal of WRT added, "I am sure that a lot of fans will be as pleased as we are that Rossi is starting a new career on four wheels and that he is doing it in GT, with Team WRT and Audi. We all know what a great motorbike champion and sports figure Vale is, but most of all, he is a true racer and a very professional and competitive sportsman, eager to be as successful as possible in the new challenge he has decided to embrace. This is exactly why we really wanted to work with him. The test we made at Valencia was extremely positive for both parties, in terms of technical feedback and working approach, and we took things from there. We warmly welcome Vale in the WRT family and I am sure that we are off to a very exciting experience for both."
Rossi tested with the Belgian outfit in December driving the Audi R8 GT3 LMS. The Italian legend has now put pen to paper on a deal that will see him compete in the entire 2022 season of the World GT Challenge Europe. This year's schedule will see Rossi compete in five sprint and five endurance races including the 24 Hours of the Spa. Rossi's iconic number 46 will first be seen in his new Audi racer during the official tests at Circuit Paul Ricard on the 7th and 8th of March. Rossi's season will kick off in Imola, Italy on the 1st of April.
This is not the first time that Valentino Rossi has tried his hands at four-wheeled motorsports. The 7-time premier class MotoGP Champion tested with the Ferrari F1 team in 2006 and came within half a second of Michael Schumacher's best time. He tested Ferrari's F1 challenger again in 2008. Rossi has also tried his hand at rallying and cannot be considered a rookie in the endurance racing scene. Rossi had competed in two rounds of the Blancpain Endurance Series in a Ferrari endurance racer. He had played around with other four-wheeled machines, even trying out a NASCAR racer in 2012.
Thoughts On Valentino Rossi's Upcoming Four-Wheel Sojourn
Valentino Rossi over his storied career in MotoGP claimed multiple championships and gave many racers, many of whom were toddlers when he first started racing a run for their money. After bidding adieu to MotoGP, the iconic number 46 will be seen on an Audi R8 LMS endurance racer this year. Just how well Rossi takes to his new challenge is something the world will be watching with hopeful eyes.