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Valentino Rossi to take on Bathurst

By Thomas Miles

Date posted: 17 December 2022

The 2023 LIQUI MOLY Bathurst 12 Hour could be the biggest ever because of one man, Valentino Rossi, who going to take on Mount Panorama next year.

Rossi is the most well known figure in motorcycle racing having won seven Motogp world championships and will be flying around Australia’s famous 6.213km circuit in a factory Team WRT BMW M4 GT3 alongside highly accomplished GT racers Maxime Martin and Augusto Farfus Junior.

The BMW M4 GT3 Valentino Rossi will drive at the 2023 Bathurst 12 Hour. Images are provided by Team WRT and Photographer, Brecht Decancq

Naturally his car will be easily recognised sporting the famous yellow #46, which took the chequered flag first on 89 seperate occasions in the premier class in the motorcycle racing world.

Valentino Rossi leads Casey Stoner during their titanic battle for victory at Laguna Seca in 2008.
Photo: Martin Heath / LAT Photographic

“The Doctor” will be the highest profile driver to compete at Australia’s global endurance race since it relaunched in 2007 and will bring an enormous dose of star power with VR46 fans expected to turn in from all over the world to see how their hero goes around Mount Panorama.

Although Rossi has never raced at Bathurst, he is no stranger to success down under with a record eight Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix wins at Phillip Island between 1998 and 2014 across the three classes.

Since his emotional MotoGP retirement last year, Rossi has turned his attention to car racing and this year completed in the GT World Challenge Europe Sprint and Endurance championships for Team WRT.

Valentino Rossi performs a wheelie at Phillip Island.
Image: Gold and Goose / LAT Images

After a campaign which included the famous Spa 24 Hour race, the 43-year-old finished 21st in the championship, while he also recently tested the new BMW M4 GT3 at Circuit de Catalunya.

Bathurst 12 Hour event director Shane Rudzis cannot wait to welcome Rossi to the Mountain.

“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.”

Valentino Rossi steers the new BMW M4 GT3 around the Circuit de Catalunya-Barcelona.

GT stars to lead BMW blitz

The star power of Rossi is only one aspect of a wider BMW blitzkrieg at Bathurst, which also includes a second BMW M4 GT3 steered by Dries Vanthoor, Sheldon van der Linde and Charles Weerts.

The #36 BMW could be one of the top contenders being led by Vanthoor, who steered Team WRT to victory at the 2018 12-Hour for Audi.

His South African partner van der Linde is fresh from being crowned the 2022 DTM Champion, while Weerts is a 21-year-old Belgian rising star being a two-time GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup Champion.

Team WRT principal said the addition of Rossi to the team is just one part of the team’s burning ambition to win the Bathurst 12 Hour for BMW after the German make came close a number of times with Chaz Mostert.

“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. 

“We are extremely happy to retain and welcome heavy names such as the ones you have read above. Our first race in Dubai is basically around the corner, shortly followed by our debut as BMW M Team WRT at Bathurst. We are terribly excited at what is ahead of us and can’t wait to be hitting the track!”

The 2023 LIQUI MOLY Bathurst 12 Hour will be held at Mount Panorama from February 3-5.

For more of the latest motorsport news pick up the latest issue of AUTO ACTION.

AUTO ACTION, Australia’s independent voice of motorsport.

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