Valentino Rossi returns to the WEC and the 24 Hours of Le Mans

After hesitating about the follow-up to his involvement in GT, Valentino Rossi finally chose to maintain his commitment to the FIA ​​WEC for the 2025 season. The motorcycle legend, now converted to endurance on four wheels, will continue the adventure in the LMGT3 category of the world championship with BMW.

The German manufacturer confirmed its GT crews this Tuesday, with operation of the two BMX M4 GT3 EVO still entrusted to Team WRT, which is also its partner for the Hypercar program. The priority and announced objective is to win the LMGT3 category at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

If Valentino Rossi (classified Silver) will still share the wheel of the No. 46 with Ahmad Al Harthy (Bronze), the third man and natural leader of the crew will now be Kelvin van der Linde, who recently joined BMW as driver factory and thus succeeds Maxime Martin.

“I am very happy to continue my experience in the FIA ​​WEC, as last year was a solid first season”explains Valentino Rossi. “We had some great races, with two podiums, and we want to try to be stronger and faster.”

“We will work hard with BMW M Motorsport to improve our performance level and be more competitive in every race. It's great to race again on great circuits, which I know well from having competed there on a motorcycle. Le Mans remains good Of course the most important thing, and we were unlucky there last year, but we will fight for the podium in 2025!”

For his first participation in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2024, the Italian and his teammates were forced to retire after Ahmad Al Harty went off the track around halfway through the race.

The second BMW, bearing the number 31, will be entrusted to Augusto Farfus, Timur Boguslavskiy (Silver) and Yasser Shahin (Bronze).

Last month, BMW formalized its crews for its Hypercar program, notably with the arrival of Kevin Magnussen alongside Raffaele Marciello and Dries Vanthoor, the second LMDh prototype being shared by Robin Frijns, René Rast and Sheldon van der Linde.