"I would follow you even if you played bowls": the dedication is entirely for Valentino Rossi who today, in the 3 Hours of Imola, made his official debut driving a car in the first race of GTWC Europe 2022. And in fact the it was all waiting for the 'doctor' who stopped playing the motogp rider and launched himself into this new adventure, this time on four wheels, at the wheel of the Audi R8 GT3 LMS Evo II of the Belgian WRT Team.
The Imola circuit is everything for him, cheering from the stadium and banners to encourage the new life of the champion from Tavullia.
At the end of the race, Valentino Rossi and his crew finished in 17th place.
But it doesn't matter.
Valentino Rossi's new adventure in the world of endurance begins just over two hours after the end of the race on the Imola circuit.
Nico Müller is one of the first to enter for the pit stop one third of the way through, helping the Doctor quickly get into the # 46 Team WRT Audi.
The roar of the audience almost overpowers the roar of the car.
A discreet start for the Pesaro rider, stained by the error at the pit stop in the middle of the race, when the number 46 was betrayed in the pit lane: when he gave the wheel to his teammate Vervisch, he missed the pitch and went long.
The Doctor was thus forced to another pass, losing many positions.
Up until that moment Rossi's race had gone smoothly, without flaws, maintaining stably the 14th position throughout his stint, without making mistakes and without risking risky overtaking maneuvers.
Then, about 60 minutes after the end of the test,
the mass return to the pit lane of most of the drivers caused a misunderstanding between number 46 and his mechanics, who were late in communicating the lay-by to the champion from Tavullia.
In this way, Rossi had to make another lap, to then sell his Audi to Vervisch, who in turn returned to 23rd position, which later became 17th at the finish.
Rossi is back on track five months after his farewell to MotoGP and 26 years as the undisputed star of the world championship for the second part of his racing career at 43, Juliet's new father, but with the curiosity and desire to do well a little boy.
to then sell his Audi to Vervisch, which in turn returned to 23rd position, which later became 17th at the finish.
Rossi is back on track five months after his farewell to MotoGP and 26 years as the undisputed star of the world championship for the second part of his racing career at 43, Juliet's new father, but with the curiosity and desire to do well a little boy.
to then sell his Audi to Vervisch, which in turn returned to 23rd position, which later became 17th at the finish.
Rossi is back on track five months after his farewell to MotoGP and 26 years as the undisputed star of the world championship for the second part of his racing career at 43, Juliet's new father, but with the curiosity and desire to do well a little boy.
A completely new adventure for the Doctor called to have to learn many new things in a championship that includes 10 rounds with two distinct race formats (5 Sprint races and 5 Endurance races), as many as 52 crews on the track, over 150 riders battling on the track and 9 historic brands to compete (in strict alphabetical order, Aston Martin, Audi, Bentley, BMW, Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren, Mercedes-AMG and Porsche).
"I'm happy. I enjoyed racing today. Too bad because we were behind the safety car for a long time. The mistake in the pits? There was so much confusion" were Rossi's first words at the end of his race.
"A lot of things have happened. I learned a lot. See you next time", he added, already thinking about the next appointment.
The Imola race, for the record, was won by another Audi R8 of the WRT Team,
the one led by the trio of Dries Vanthoor, Kelvin Van der Linde and Charles Weerts.
The three drivers took turns managing the pole position conquered yesterday in the best possible way, almost never losing the leadership in an event characterized by several Safety Cars due to the numerous retirements recorded over the three hours.
Second place for the Mercedes # 88 of Raffaele Marciello / Jules Gounon / Daniel Juncadella (Akkodis ASP Racing Team) and the # 2 car of Maro Engel / Luca Stolz / Steijn Schothorst (Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed # 2).
Next appointment at Brands Hatch in May.
And it will be the first Sprint round.
For sure the 'Doctor' will want to do better.
without almost ever losing the leadership in an event characterized by several Safety Cars due to the numerous withdrawals recorded over the three hours.
Second place for the Mercedes # 88 of Raffaele Marciello / Jules Gounon / Daniel Juncadella (Akkodis ASP Racing Team) and the # 2 car of Maro Engel / Luca Stolz / Steijn Schothorst (Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed # 2).
Next appointment at Brands Hatch in May.
And it will be the first Sprint round.
For sure the 'Doctor' will want to do better.
without almost ever losing the leadership in an event characterized by several Safety Cars due to the numerous withdrawals recorded over the three hours.
Second place for the Mercedes # 88 of Raffaele Marciello / Jules Gounon / Daniel Juncadella (Akkodis ASP Racing Team) and the # 2 car of Maro Engel / Luca Stolz / Steijn Schothorst (Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed # 2).
Next appointment at Brands Hatch in May.
And it will be the first Sprint round.
For sure the 'Doctor' will want to do better.
And it will be the first Sprint round.
For sure the 'Doctor' will want to do better.
And it will be the first Sprint round.
For sure the 'Doctor' will want to do better.