Valentino Rossi, the iconic Italian rider and nine-time world motorcycle champion, has expressed interest in further testing a Hypercar following his recent participation in the rookie test in Bahrain with BMW. This test was a significant milestone for Rossi, who recently completed his first season in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) with Team WRT, driving a BMW M4 in the LMGT3 category.

Rossi’s arrival in the WEC has been one of the championship’s main attractions, with the Italian showcasing his competitiveness by securing a fourth-place finish in the season-opening race in Qatar and a second-place finish in the 6 Hours of Imola. However, the season was not without its challenges, including retirements in Spa, Le Mans, and COTA, though the team managed to return to the podium in Fuji with a third-place finish. Rossi and his team ultimately closed the season in 14th position during the 8 Hours of Bahrain.

After completing the championship, BMW invited Rossi to test their Hypercar, the BMW M Hybrid V8, during the rookie test in Bahrain. “I was invited because I’m a very young and promising driver,” joked Rossi. Although the test does not commit him to the category’s future, the Tavullia native has expressed interest in further exploring the Hypercar world.

A Tough Decision for 2025

Rossi is still weighing his options for the 2025 season. His main priority is to balance racing with family time, aiming to participate in approximately 10 to 11 races. Among his options, he is considering either continuing in the WEC or competing in the GT World Challenge. “The goal is to race between 10 and 11 events: I’ll have to decide whether to do the GT World Challenge or the WEC,” he said. Following the Hypercar test, Rossi did not rule out competing in the category: “I don’t know if racing in Hypercar will be possible next season, but after this test, I hope to have another chance to drive the car.”

An Intense Experience in the BMW M Hybrid V8

The test was an eye-opening experience for Rossi, who completed 69 laps and was just a tenth of a second off the day’s fastest time, set by Arthur Leclerc. Rossi expressed his excitement after testing the Hypercar: “Driving a Hypercar for the first time was a special opportunity. It’s like the Formula 1 or MotoGP of prototypes. I felt comfortable from the first lap. The car has a lot of power and is very exciting, being 15 seconds faster per lap than the LMGT3. The straights feel much shorter, the tires have great grip, and you can brake hard into the corners.”

Rossi’s performance and enthusiasm did not go unnoticed by BMW and other manufacturers, who see him as a valuable asset to draw attention to the Hypercar category. While his future is still undecided, his performance in Bahrain could pave the way for new opportunities in the exciting world of Hypercars.