Valentino Rossi has confirmed that his primary commitment for the 2026 season will be the GT World Challenge Europe, following the signing of a new three-year contract with BMW Motorsport as a factory driver, bringing his full-time involvement in the World Endurance Championship to an end after two seasons.
The confirmation came during the launch of VR46 Racing Team, where Rossi attended in his role as founder of Ducati’s satellite outfit, once again fielding Fabio Di Giannantonio and Franco Morbidelli in MotoGP. The event also provided an opportunity for Rossi to clarify the strategic direction of his four-wheel racing programme.
“I will be racing in the GT World Challenge and I am very happy, because it is a championship that I really like and one that I took part in at the beginning of my career in cars,” Rossi said.
From a logistical and sporting perspective, Rossi considers the Europe-based GT World Challenge, run under the regulations of SRO Motorsports Group, to be better aligned with his current priorities than the globally spread WEC calendar. The series allows for a more stable development programme with the BMW M4 GT3 EVO while limiting long-haul travel.
“I raced in the world championship for the last two years, but I decided to change because the GT World Challenge is based in Europe, while WEC has many races outside Europe with long journeys,” he explained.
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Rossi’s absence from the LMGT3 entry list for the 2026 WEC season initially fuelled speculation regarding his status with BMW. However, the Italian made it clear that the decision was mutual and unrelated to the expiration of his previous agreement.
“The choice was mine, agreed together with BMW, with whom I signed a three-year contract renewal,” Rossi stated.
Competing in GT World Challenge Europe with Team WRT will allow Rossi to concentrate on a single championship, while maintaining a better balance between professional commitments and family life — a factor that previously influenced his decision to retire from MotoGP. Team WRT has yet to announce its full Sprint Cup and Endurance Cup line-ups for the 2026 season.
Rossi’s return to GT World Challenge Europe strengthens BMW Motorsport’s long-term GT3 programme, combining experience, technical continuity, and strategic stability. The impact is expected to be evident from the opening rounds of the 2026 season, particularly in the fight for team and manufacturer honours.
Baca Juga
Valentino Rossi memastikan fokus ke GT World Challenge Europe 2026 bersama BMW, meninggalkan WEC demi strategi karier dan keseimbangan keluarga.
Kalender FIA WEC 2026 dipertahankan delapan seri, menegaskan stabilitas regulasi Hypercar serta strategi global jangka panjang kejuaraan balap ketahanan dunia.
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