Valentino Rossi to race at Le Mans in 2023 | GRR
MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi, is heading for his debut at Le Mans, though not quite at the full 24-hour enduro just yet. The 44 year-old seven-time MotoGP Championship winner will be heading to La Sarthe in June, albeit for the two 55-minute Michelin Le Mans Cup races.
Rossi will be driving a BMW M4 GT3 in the races, per his becoming a BMW factory driver. It should serve as a warmup for a potential assault on the new LM GT3 class in the main race next year when GT3 cars replace the outgoing GTE machinary.
Rossi has also been outspoken in his aspirations to eventually race for an overall Le Mans win. He’s down to test the BMW M Hybrid V8 LMH racer this year, ahead of the factory effort’s expansion into the World Endurance Championship next year, after a year contesting IMSA alone.
This is Rossi’s second full year in sportscars and his first with BMW, having raced in the GT World Challenge last year with Audi, before his team WRT switched to BMW. In the past he has also raced cars sporadically during his full-time bike career, with dalliances in rallying and enduros. He’s also had a few demonstration runs in sportscars too, having piloted the screaming Mazda 787B Le Mans-winner at the Goodwood Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard.
Frédéric Lequien, CEO of Le Mans Endurance Management, which runs the series, said: “Once again the Road to Le Mans has attracted a large entry with star names running alongside the series regulars and to have Valentino Rossi on the grid is a massive boost for the event.
ACO president Pierre Fillon added: “This year, Road to Le Mans will host a record grid. These two races will offer spectators great battles on the track. I am also very happy to welcome a champion like Valentino Rossi, who will make his debut on the legendary circuit of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. I wish him the same success he has had on two wheels!”
Photography courtesy of Motorsport Images.