Another motorsport icon has been confirmed for February’s Bathurst 12 Hour, Italian MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi set to take to the famed Mt. Panorama circuit.
The 43-year-old will get behind the wheel of Team WRT’s BMW M4 GT3 with experienced GT and Endurance specialists Maxime Martin and Augusto Farfus Jr for the February event.
It’ll be the Italian’s first time racing at the iconic circuit.
Australia is a country he’s experienced great success in, however, winning the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix at Phillip Island a record eight times.
Bathurst 12 Hour Event Director, Shane Rudzis, says the 7-time MotoGP World Champion is arguably the highest profile driver to compete in the Bathurst 12 Hour since it’s re-launch in 2007.
“Valentino Rossi is one of the biggest names in the world of motorsport and we’re proud that the LIQUI MOLY Bathurst 12 Hour will be his first experience of Mount Panorama,” he said.
“Having had so much success here on two wheels, Valentino has an enormous Australian fanbase and we are prepared for a significant increase in attention as a result of his entry.
“It’s one of the most significant driver announcements in Bathurst 12 Hour history and we are thankful to BMW, WRT, Valentino and his team for making it happen – and we can’t wait to welcome him to Mount Panorama next February.”
The switch to four wheels become more frequent this year following Rossi’s MotoGP retirement in 2021, the Italian competing for WRT in the GT World Challenge Europe Sprint and Endurance Championships, including the 24 Hours of Spa.
Belgian-based WRT have experienced recent success at Bathurst, winning the 2018 12 Hour while representing Audi. Team principal Vincent Vosse is looking forward to trying to replicate that success in a BMW.
That itself is also special, being the Australian racing debut of the BMW M4 GT3.
“It’s a very busy and exciting period for us, as we advance in the new partnership with BMW and prepare for the 2023 season,” he said.
“It’s a perfect time to show our people the BMW M4 GT3 in full race gear and announce some more elements of our 2023 race programmes.”
It’s only fitting they’ll be running with Rossi’s iconic #46.
They’ll also have a second car running in the Bathurst 12-Hour, a second M4 BMW,#32, spearheaded by 2018 winner Dries Vanthoor who is joined by 2022 DTM winner Sheldon van der Linde and 21-year-old rising star, Charles Weerts – a two-time GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup Champion from Belgium.
Today’s announcement brings even more excitement towards an already stacked event, Rossi set to grace the track with the likes of Australian legend Craig Lowndes and a range of talent still yet to be announced.
It’s expected a strong Kiwi contingent will be involved in the race.
The 2023 Bathurst 12-Hour takes place over February 3-5.
Header Image: The BMW M4 GT3 of WRT. Photographer: Brecht Decancq
