Rossi expects 'emotional weekend' at Misano

Valentino Rossi arrives on familiar ground in Misano. For the 6th round of the GT World Challenge Europe, the 4th counting for the Sprint Cup this season, the Italian will race in his region, just 15 kilometers from his hometown, Tavullia.

The nine-time motorcycle champion will also return to a track that he knows well, having won 3 times in the category MotoGP in his previous career. The circuit is also named in tribute to his former friend Marco Simoncelli, who died racing in 2011. “It will be an emotional weekend for me, because I live very close to the circuit. I have raced at Misano many times with motorcycles, but I also have some experience with cars, having done many tests over the years. I also did some testing last winter with Team WRT and the feeling was very good. »

Points at home for Rossi?

Frederic Vervisch's partner in the No. 46 WRT only scored 2 small points in the Sprint Cup, during the event at Brands Hatch. The duo is in 17th place in the drivers' championship in the sprint competition. Rossi is counting on his experience and the fervor of the crowd to get back into the points zone. “ It's a difficult circuit, it takes time, and a few tries, to find the best line, but we'll see over the weekend. And for sure, we can expect high temperatures and lots of crowds. »

The team director, Vincent Vosse, wants to seek a good result in the province of Pesaro and Urbino. “We know Misano well and we have often obtained good results there. Hopefully this will be the case this year too, with our evolved version of the Audi R8 LMS. Misano still comes at a crucial time of the season, being the last race before the 24 Hours of Spa. (…) Of course it will be the home race for the #46 car, and a very special weekend for Vale, and we hope he makes the most of it. »

ALSO READ > Balancing of forces at Zandvoort