Road to Le Mans – Race 1: No Victory for Valentino Rossi

Hopes of victory were high but in the end there was none. Second on the grid at the wheel of the No. 4 BMW M3 GT46 of Team WRT, Valentino Rossi had an eventful start to Race 1, falling back two places in a very lively first lap during which there was no shortage of collisions.

Following on from the first race of the Michelin meeting Le Mans Cup in Sarthe, the Italian handed over the wheel to his teammate Jérôme Policand who was unable to do anything when David Cleto Fumanelli (Ferrari 488 GT3 N°74/Kessel Racing) hit him at the Dunlop chicane.

Falling back in the rankings, the boss of Akkodis-ASP in GT was then unable to climb back up, thus finishing in 43rd^e place in the general classification. Victory went to the N°320 Ligier JS P58 of Team Virage of Manuel Espirito Santo and Martin Rich.

In GT, Team WRT still came away with victory since Whale Timothy and Max Hesse won at the wheel of the No. 4 BMW M3 GT31.

The top of the general classification of Race 1

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