Valentino Rossi has left behind his stage as a MotoGP rider with the aim of carving out a path on four wheels. From the first moment, the Italian made it clear that he had endurance races in his sights, whether in prototypes or GT vehicles. Finally, the path taken by ‘Il Doctore’ has been that of the GT3 formula, so at this point #46 had multiple options. In the end, the vehicles under this regulation are present in the DTM, the International GT Open, the GTWC Europe, but also in IMSA or the European Le Mans Series (ELMS).
Among the many championships under GT3 regulations, Valentino Rossi has opted for the GT World Challenge Europea contest that will be contested entirely with an Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II from Team WRT, one of the benchmark teams in the specialty. Frederic Vervischofficial Audi driver, will be alongside the Italian in each and every one of the rounds of the championship, while Nico Mueller he will join both of them on endurance dates. Two riders with a renowned track record and enormous talent who will be Rossi’s teammates and mentors at the same time.
Precisely the ‘support’ that Valentino Rossi can have in a contest like the GTWC Europe, in which you compete with at least one partner, seems key in the Italian’s decision debut in this championship and not in a series like the DTM, where you compete alone and the grid is completely professional, with no room for ‘amateur’ drivers and ‘Gentleman Drivers’. Gerhard Berger himself as skipper of the DTM considers that the series was not the right place for Rossi in his first GT3 season.
In this aspect, Gerhard Berger considers that Valentino Rossi should learn the ‘trade’ in a GT3 before facing a fully professional series like the DTM: «I think he is very focused on building his MotoGP team and wants to land softly in car racing. I think that from the point of view of his idea, it is not the right time for Rossi in the DTM.. I think he is right in choosing him. We would love to have it, it would be great, but it has to fit».
Delving deeper into his idea, Berger added: «You need a competitive Valentino and to be competitive in the DTM you need a little time.. That’s why I think what he’s doing is good and then we’ll see. We didn’t have a direct conversation last year, but I have talked to the people around him. I think Rossi is busy building his team and he wants to gain experience in the car little by little before having a more extensive programme. Of course, if you want to come as a guest in Imola, we will allow it. It would be great».
Source: autosport
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Photos: GT World Challenge Europe