Ever since Valentino Rossi chose to switch to four wheels, his main goal has been to race the 24h of Le Mans.
The ‘Doctor’ has said it several times, even stating that this will most likely happen next year. Meanwhile, a sign of destiny comes with his first success on a GT3, obtained right on the Circuit de la Sarthe.
The WRT Team chose to take part in the Le Mans Cup Road To Le Mans event with two BMWs and one was the #46 on which Rossi curiously found an… opponent.
#46 Team WRT BMW M4 GT3: Valentino Rossi, Jerome Policand
Photo by: Andreas Beil
The head of the Belgian team, Vincent Vosse, has in fact convinced his old friend Jérôme Policand to share the cockpit of the M4 with Rossi, despite the Frenchman – a highly experienced ex-driver – today at the helm of the Mercedes Akkodis-ASP team. which of WRT is a rival in the GT World Challenge Europe.
Policand tried the BMW for the first time in the Paul Ricard tests before last week’s 1000Km and together with Valentino he immediately stood out on the Circuit de la Sarthe obtaining the Pole Position for Race 2, with Rossi 2nd at the start of Race 1.
The boy from Tavullia had the start of the first round and luck didn’t help the two here, who lost the leadership between adverse episodes and accidents, collapsing to 13th place.
#46 Team WRT BMW M4 GT3: Valentino Rossi, Jerome Policand
The redemption came in the second race, where Policand handed over the wheel to Rossi after the first part conducted without worries; at the restart from the Safety Car called into question to solve yet another problem due to accidents (the level certainly cannot be said to be excellent) among the LMP3s, the Pesaro made the decisive overtaking with 2 and a half laps to go.
Having put the Porsche in front of him behind him with a good move at ‘Tertre Rouge’, Rossi took the lead thanks to the penalty inflicted on the Ferrari of AF Corse at the time leading the way, celebrating a success together with Policand which, in the end, it is well deserved.
#46 Team WRT BMW M4 GT3: Valentino Rossi, Jerome Policand
Photo by: Andreas Beil
“We are delighted with this victory, the first together with BMW, but it was also a fantastic experience in preparation for next year’s 24h,” comments Rossi.
“We had a great pace right from free practice and also in qualifying, unfortunately we were a bit unlucky in Race 1, so the goal was to get on the podium in Race 2”.
“Jérôme did a great first stint and in the end we managed to win thanks to a good pace and some good overtaking. I’m really happy.”
Rossi/Policand preceded team mates Max Hesse/Tim Whale, winners of Race 1, in the BMW-WRT one-two that obviously made the top management of the Bavarian manufacturer very happy.
“We had very successful days at Le Mans with our BMW M4 GT3 together with WRT in the Road to Le Mans races – says Andreas Roos Head of BMW M Motorsport – It was also the first appearance of a BMW at Le Mans after several years With the win in the first race and the one-two in the second, we are obviously very satisfied.”
“Seeing Valentino Rossi together with Jérôme Policand, Max Hesse and Tim Whale on the podium is simply incredible. We hope to be able to build on these successes next year. This was a first step. Thank you, of course, for the commitment of all the BMW M Motorsport team, drivers and crew gave our M4 GT3 a great debut at Le Mans.”
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