Team WRT appears to have won the battle to secure nine-time MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi’s signature for his move into sportscar racing.
The Belgian GT3 powerhouse has signed the Italian to be part of its line-up for the 2022 GT World Challenge Europe season.
Rossi will be driving one of the team’s Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evos, bearing his signature number 46 in both the Sprint and Endurance Cups.
His team-mates will be announced by the team in due course. Rossi sampled one of the team’s GT3 Audis during a test session at the Valencia circuit late last year.
I am delighted to join Team WRT for a full Fanatec GTWCE powered by AWS programme,” said Rossi. “Everybody knows that I have always been a great car racing fan and that I have always been interested in a racing on four wheels once my MotoGP career would come to an end.”
“Now I am completely available to devote myself to a car racing programme at high level and with the right professional approach.”
“Team WRT is the perfect fit I was looking for and I am anxious to start this new adventure in the GTWCE with them.”
Rossi was a hot prospect for multiple sportscar teams and manufacturers ever since he announced he would be stepping away from MotoGP at the end of the 2021 season.
He has previously raced Ferrari GT3 machinery with Kessel Racing for multiple outings in the Gulf 12 Hours, although he had to sit out this year’s edition after a close contact tested positive for COVID-19.
“I am sure that a lot of fans will be as pleased as we are that Vale is starting a new career on four wheels and that he is doing it in GT, with Team WRT and Audi,” said Team WRT boss Vincent Vosse.
“We all know what a great motorbike champion and sports figure Vale is, but most of all, he is a true racer and a very professional and competitive sportsman, eager to be as successful as possible in the new challenge he has decided to embrace.”
“This is exactly why we really wanted to work with him. The test we made at Valencia was extremely positive for both parties, in terms of technical feedback and working approach, and we took things from there.”
“We warmly welcome Vale in the WRT family and I am sure that we are off to a very exciting experience for both.”
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