Rossi ‘delighted’ to join Bathurst 12 Hour winning team

MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi will start a new chapter of his racing career in 2022, committing to a full campaign in the GT World Challenge Europe with Team WRT.

The nine-time world champion, who retired from MotoGP at the end of last season, will contest all 10 rounds of the GTWCE in both the Sprint Cup and the Endurance Cups, with the championship’s leading Audi squad.

The announcement comes after the 42-year-old tested a WRT Audi last December.

The Italian driver will campaign in Audi R8 LMS for the 2022 season, sporting his emblematic number 46.

Rossi is set to tackle the iconic 24 Hours of Spa in July, with the Sprint Cup schedule commencing at Brands Hatch on April 30.

Team WRT claimed victory in the 2018 Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour, with its #37 entry of Robin Frijns, Stuart Leonard and Dries Vanthoor, after a horrific crash caused a red flag in the closing stages of the race.

“I am delighted to join Team WRT for a full Fanatec GTWCE powered by AWS programme,” Rossi said.

“Everybody knows that I have always been a great car racing fan, and that I have always been interested in 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 program at a high level, with the right professional approach.

“Team WRT is the perfect fit I was looking for and I’m anxious to start this new adventure in the GTWCE with them.”

WRT team principal Vincent Vosse said, “I am sure that a lot of fans will be as pleased as we are that Rossi is starting a new career on four wheels and that he is doing it in GT, with Team WRT and Audi."

“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.

Team WRT won the 2018 Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour

“We warmly welcome Vale in the WRT family, and I am sure that we are off to a very exciting experience for both.”

There’s no word as yet as to whether Rossi could be made available for the rescheduled Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour which is now running across May 13-15, although it is understood queries have already been made.

Tickets for the 2022 Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour go on sale next Monday, January 17 at 11am AEST through Ticketek.

The 13-event 2022 Repco Supercars Championship will commence in Newcastle in March. Tickets for the event are on sale now.

CLICK HERE to view the 13-round draft 2022 calendar.