Valentino Rossi To Race An Audi R8 LMS GT3 In GT World Challenge Series

Motorcycling legend Valentino Rossi is getting ready to compete in the GT World Challenge series with an Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II.

When the Italian great announced his retirement from MotoGP last year, many assumed that he would transition from two to four wheels. Well, he has done just that and will race for Belgium’s W Racing Team which has won the GT World Challenge four times over the past eight years.

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“I am delighted to join Team WRT for a full Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS programme,” Rossi said in a statement. “Everybody knows that I have always been a great car racing fan and that I have always been interested in racing on four wheels once my MotoGP career would come to an end. Now I am completely available to devote myself to a car racing programme at a high level and with the right professional approach. Team WRT is the perfect fit I was looking for and I am anxious to start this new adventure in the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS with them.”

Audi unveiled its updated R8 LM3 GT3 race car for the 2022 season in mid-2021. Power comes from a mid-mounted 5.2-liter naturally aspirated V10 pumping out 577 hp. This engine is coupled to a sequential six-speed transmission driving the rear wheels through a triple-plate racing clutch. Various other upgrades have been made to the car for 2022, including the fitment of four-way adjustable dampers, an improved traction control system, and a redesigned aerodynamic package.

This year’s GT World Challenge season will begin on March 8 at Circuit Paul Ricard with pre-season testing, while racing kicks off at Imola on April 1.