MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi will return to the Gulf 12 Hours this December as part of BMW M Team WRT’s driver line-up for its debut appearance in the event.
Rossi, a nine-time motorcycle World Champion, will share the #46 BMW M4 GT3 with Dries Vanthoor and Nick Yelolly. Philipp Eng, Sheldon van der Linde and Charles Weerts compete at Yas Marina Circuit in the #32 car.
Rossi made his Gulf 12 Hours debut, and finished third overall, in 2019 at the wheel of a Ferrari, returning in 2021 to finish fourth, and he enjoys the unique atmosphere and challenge of the event.
“I’m very happy to return to the Yas Marina Circuit,” he said. “I did this race once in the past with a Ferrari and it was a great race, we finished third overall. I enjoyed it a lot, the track is fantastic.
“This year, the level of the race will be a lot higher with many fast cars and works drivers on the grid. We will see how we will perform, and I can’t wait to race the BMW M4 GT3 at the Yas Marina Circuit. That will be a lot of fun.”
This news follows Rossi’s WEC Rookie Test appearance in the Middle East last Sunday at the Bahrain International Circuit, where he sampled an ORECA 07 Gibson for the first time. In 2024 Rossi is expected to compete in FIA WEC’s LMGT3 class with WRT.
BMW M Motorsport is aiming for a double IGTC championship celebration in Abu Dhabi. It leads the manufacturers’ standings by nine points from Mercedes-AMG.
“It’s fantastic to be able to compete for titles at the end of such a long and eventful season,” said Andreas Roos, the Head of BMW M Motorsport.
“Thanks to our winning teams WRT and ROWE Racing for their efforts, to our drivers for their top performances, and to all our colleagues at BMW M Motorsport. Now we want to crown the year in Abu Dhabi with titles in the manufacturer and driver standings!”
The Gulf 12 Hours, the final round of the 2023 Intercontinental GT Challenge, will get underway at 10:45 local time on December 10th.
