In a month’s time, MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi will take one other step in his glittering motorsports profession when he will get his first run in BMW’s LMDh prototype within the World Endurance Championship rookie check in Bahrain.
It appears inconceivable that the seven-time MotoGP world champion, who has since tried his hand at rallying and at the moment competes within the World Endurance Championship, is eligible for a rookie check, however he’ll drive the BMW M Hybrid V8 on the Bahrain Worldwide Circuit on 3 November, a day after the conclusion of the 2024 WEC season within the Gulf nation.
It might have been an altogether completely different ascent to the premier class had he fulfilled his boyhood dream of racing in Components 1. In an unique interview with Motorsport.com, Rossi, 45, speaks about his post-MotoGP racing profession – and the way he would have cherished to have raced in F1 for Ferrari – and his plans for the longer term.
“My dream was to race in automobiles and F1,” he says, “additionally as a result of my dad was a motorbike racer, however his profession was filled with accidents, so he was afraid for me. After bikes he switched to automobiles, as I’m doing now, so he pushed me to start out with karting as a result of he thought it was rather less harmful in automobiles.”
Rossi first examined a Ferrari F1 automotive at Fiorano in April 2004 and took to the monitor sporting one in every of Michael Schumacher’s spare helmets slightly than one in every of his personal. He earned the respect of Schumacher, who backed the Italian to swap codes and go from MotoGP to F1.
Rossi had an analogous mid-season shakedown at Fiorano in 2005 earlier than a significant pre-2006 season check session at Valencia, driving a V10-engined automotive, albeit detuned. This was his crack on the massive time. With Schumacher ageing, Rossi was a severe consideration for Ferrari however he was additionally in a contract yr yr himself and determined to re-sign with Yamaha to stay in MotoGP.
Valentino Rossi assessments for Ferrari
Photograph by: Mark Capilitan
He added: “I attempted to race in MotoGP as a lot as attainable as a result of I did not wish to give up once I was on the prime, I most popular to proceed till I could not take it anymore. For me, the fervour for bikes has all the time been nice and I did not wish to have any regrets about retiring prematurely once I might nonetheless give one thing. I used to be in no hurry, and as soon as my MotoGP profession was over I used to be able to get within the automotive.
“In my head I all the time had the concept of racing in a automotive as soon as the journey in bikes was over. After testing with Ferrari there was the potential of quitting earlier and shifting to F1, however I made a decision to remain in bikes and truthfully, it was the appropriate selection as a result of I knew I used to be nonetheless sturdy, whereas in automobiles it was a leap of religion.
“Nonetheless, in the course of the yr I all the time tried to seek out a while to discover ways to race within the automotive as properly. For a few years I took half within the Monza Rally Present, because it was held on the finish of the MotoGP season. At first my thought was actually to race in rallies, so I additionally did two WRC rallies, with Subaru in New Zealand 2006 and with Ford at RAC 2009.
“However I realised that rallies are one thing else and I like racing on the monitor higher. I am higher at it after which it is extra like bikes. So I attempted to determine what I might do, tried various things and GT3 appeared one of the best.
“I raced with Kessel Racing’s Ferrari within the Blancpain at Monza and Nurburgring 2012, however after that, I did not have any extra time. After I might, I raced in different occasions, such because the Gulf 12H, all the time to maintain myself energetic.”
One wonders what would have occurred had he determined to deal with F1 slightly than MotoGP following that pre-season check in 2006, however what is obvious is that there aren’t any regrets or lamenting missed alternatives. As an alternative, he’s now centered on reaching the highest of the WEC and the rookie check in Bahrain will see him take the following step. But slightly like his F1 aspirations up to now, he’s maintaining his expectations firmly in verify.
#46 Group WRT BMW M4 LMGT3: Ahmad Al Harthy, Valentino Rossi, Maxime Martin
Photograph by: JEP / Motorsport Photographs
“I might like to race in Hypercar,” he says, “as a result of it’s the MotoGP of prototypes, however it’s not a aim I’ve set. I might be fantastic with turning into a powerful driver in GT3, then in fact, if a risk emerges, I do not again down.”
Rossi is now a father and his companion Francesca Sofia Novello is anticipating their second youngster within the new yr. He has additionally spoken about limiting his racing commitments however that doesn’t imply he sees himself giving up on racing completely.
“I wish to race a minimum of one other 10 years with automobiles,” he says. “That’s the aim, then it’s true that in life there are by no means certainties, however I wish to race for a very long time.
“With these automobiles, the driving may be very technical, however bodily, even if you’re not youthful, it’s not an obstacle. That is why I believe I can go on for a number of years, primarily as a result of I take pleasure in it and have loads of enjoyable, which is vital. That is what we’re right here for!”
