Valentino Rossi will take part in Road to Le Mans, a support race for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which will be his first experience of the Circuit de la Sarthe.
Rossi is more famously known for his motorcycle racing achievements with his seven World Championships in MotoGP.
In recent years though he has been taking part in races with four wheels after he retired from Motorcycle racing in 2021, after a 25-year career on bikes.
Last season he committed full-time to the Fanatec GT World Challenge, where he took part in an Audi R8 LMS with WRT, and would go on to finish 16th overall in the championship, with a best result of fifth at Paul Ricard.
The Italian rider/ driver now will be competing in the race in a BMW M4 GT3, which has been prepared by accomplished GT and prototype racing team WRT who have experienced success such as the WEC and ELMS titles in 2021.
WRT made the switch from Audi’s GT3 program to BMWs this season as the team will be operating BMW’s LMDH cars in the WEC next season.
Rossi will be taking part in two 55-minute races around the Circuit de la Sarthe and will have to contend with 38 LMP3s and 20 cars in his own GT3 class, which will be far from an easy challenge for Rossi.
ACO president Pierre Fillon is happy to welcome a champion like Rossi:
“This year, Road to Le Mans will host a record grid. These two races will offer spectators great battles on the track. I am also very happy to welcome a champion like Valentino Rossi, who will make his debut on the legendary circuit of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. I wish him the same success he has had on two wheels!”
The other notable name on the grid for this race is one-time BTCC champion and four-time world Touring Car Champion Yvan Muller, who will take part in the #69 M Racing Ligier- Nissan in LMP3.