Valentino Rossi: Hypercar Dreams and Misano Recap

The Hypercar Dream

Rossi has dreamed of competing in the Hypercar class at Le Mans for quite some time. Although he has already raced at the French endurance classic in the LMGT3 category, his ultimate goal has always been to reach the top class. Until recently, the prospect seemed increasingly realistic, but Rossi now admits that the chances of BMW entering the prototype next year are very slim.

"I hoped it would happen, but it's probably not going to because I think BMW won't be there. It's not final yet, we're still trying to change the situation, but the decision will come soon. It's a shame, but maybe I'll get the opportunity in the coming years.

Despite the disappointment, Rossi confirmed that his full focus remains on the GT World Challenge Europe, where he wants to continue developing and improving as a GT driver.

First Impressions of the Hypercar

Rossi has already had the opportunity to test the BMW M Hybrid V8, and the experience only strengthened his desire to compete at the highest level."I've had a chance to test the Hypercar and would love to race it because I liked it from the start. Meanwhile, I'm very happy with how strong the BMW is this year; this matters for both the brand and Team WRT. Everyone's pleased with our performance."
He compared the difference between a GT3 car and a Hypercar to the gap between Superbikes and MotoGP machinery.

"It's similar to the difference between a Superbike and a MotoGP bike, only even bigger. The Hypercar is much faster, has more power, better tyres, and overall there's a much larger performance gap between the two categories."

Rossi Shines at Misano

Rossi was among the fastest drivers at Misano throughout the weekend, which came as little surprise. The Italian circuit is effectively his home track, where he has countless laps of experience and where his journey in motorsport began. However, Rossi believes the circuit layout itself also plays an important role.

"BMW performs well here, our M4 suits this layout. Our car thrives in cooler conditions, so tomorrow night's race should play to our strengths. Everyone else struggles more in the heat, but BMW improves as the temperatures drop."

Rossi also made no secret of his long term ambition of becoming one of the world's best GT drivers. Already being one of the most successful riders in MotoGP history, he continues to set new goals in car racing for himself.

"My goal is to become a top GT driver. I've made good progress this year compared to last. I enjoy this championship and am closing the gap to the leaders, although I still need to improve in some areas."

He also admitted that he enjoys sprint races slightly more, as they are more similar in format to MotoGP races.

Younger Teammates Are an Advantage

Another topic discussed over the weekend was Rossi's significantly younger teammates. He spoke very positively about working alongside Max Hesse and Dan Harper, saying that having younger teammates actually benefits him. According to Rossi, they learn from each other, creating an ideal environment for development.

"Maxime and Lello are undoubtedly among the top GT drivers recently. Max is equally talented but still needs to prove himself a bit due to his youth. I'm glad to race alongside Dan because racing with young drivers keeps you fresh."

Training Never Stops

The final topic was Rossi's approach to physical preparation following his retirement from motorcycle racing. He explained that very little has changed, as he has trained every single day since his early twenties and fitness remains a fundamental part of his daily routine. He also revealed that he still occasionally rides motorcycles with the riders from his VR46 Academy and is always ready to jump back on a bike whenever the opportunity arises.

Above all, Rossi says his biggest ambition remains unchanged: to keep improving and learning every single day.