Valentino Rossi Announces Expanded Car Racing Program for 2024
Motorsports icon Valentino Rossi has unveiled his plans for the upcoming 2024 season, confirming an expanded car racing program that will see him compete in both the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and the Endurance Cup leg of the GT World Challenge Europe (GTWCE).
The seven-time MotoGP champion, who retired from two-wheeled racing at the end of 2021, has outlined a strategy to continue racing a WRT BMW M4 GT3 in these two premier championships. This will be only Rossi’s fourth year racing full-time in cars, but the Italian is eager to make his mark.
“I like racing the GT3 car, and for me, these two championships are the top two in the world,” said Rossi. “When you do these two, you are okay. I think eight [races in WEC] and five [in GTWCE] is a really good number.”
Rossi, who is part of BMW’s factory driver lineup, suggested that he is unlikely to reprise his appearances in the Sprint Cup segment of the 2024 GTWCE at Brands Hatch and Misano next year. Instead, his focus will be on the endurance-based events in both the WEC and the Endurance Cup.
This season, Rossi is scheduled to contest 16 events with BMW and WRT, which, combined with a handful of MotoGP rounds working with his VR46 squad, means a schedule similar to when he was still racing motorcycles. “I try to do less races, not more,” he emphasized.
The iconic Bathurst 12 Hours in February was part of Rossi’s 2024 program, but he hinted that it is unlikely he will contest the Intercontinental GT Challenge event next year, despite a podium finish in the Australian classic remaining one of his targets. A clash with the celebrations he is planning for his 46th birthday in mid-February next year is likely to preclude his participation.
Rossi also revealed that he would like to compete on four wheels at Silverstone, a circuit at which he was a winner in MotoGP in 2015. “One time I would like to race at Silverstone; I love Silverstone, so maybe British GT,” he said. “I think Silverstone would be good in a car. And also Oulton Park [another British GT venue].”
With his expanded car racing program, Rossi is set to continue his successful transition from two-wheeled to four-wheeled competition, further cementing his status as a true motorsports legend.
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