Valentino Rossi testing with the BMW LMDh?

Promoted to official driver at BMW M Motorsport at the end of 2022, Valentino Rossi should soon taste the joys of the prototype.

Andreas Roos, director of motorsport at the German manufacturer, spoke on this subject during a round table organized by theIMSA this Wednesday, January 11.

« There are certainly plans to give him the chance to experience a beautiful car like the LMDh in the future, Roos confirmed. The GT3 is already a beautiful one, but the GTP (American name for LMDh. Editor’s note) is definitely on a different level. »

The legend of Moto GP with nine world titles could take the wheel of the BMW M Hybrid V8 this year. “ If that happens, it would definitely be later in the year, because right now we all have enough work to do and enough things to organize in order to be better prepared for the IMSA season. »

Andreas Roos refers here to the difficulties encountered by the Bavarian brand in order to be ready for the 24 Hours of Daytona (January 28-29).

If BMW will focus on IMSA this season, the Munich manufacturer will arrive in WEC in 2024 with Team WRT, the team with which the “Doctor” will compete in GT World Challenge Europe as well as the Intercontinental GT Challenge, starting this weekend at the 24 Hours of Dubai (January 13-15).

From there to imagine Valentino Rossi in the World ChampionshipEndurance of the FIA ​​and 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2024 in the Hypercar category if its upcoming test proves conclusive, there is only one step.

« Valentino's first goal is to be part of our driver team in the GT3 program, tempered Roos. As he has never driven a car like the LMDh before, of course we first have to see how he handles and how he feels behind the wheel. NOTWe will see from there what next steps we can take and if there is a possibility. »

« Last year he had his first full season in a GT3 car and we need to build from there, finishes Andreas Roos. He now continues with us, in the same category. Then we'll see when we get the first opportunity to give it a test and see how we can develop it from there. »

ALSO READ > Valentino Rossi, Le Mans in the sights with the BMW – WRT association?