24h Le Mans
The seven-time MotoGP world champion will swap two wheels for four this weekend! He will drive a Ferrari 488 GT3 for Kessel Racing at the Gulf 12 Hours in Abu Dhabi. Will we see him at the 24 Hours of Le Mans once his motorcycle racing career is over?
After testing Lewis Hamilton’s F1 Mercedes on Monday at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Valentino Rossi will switch to endurance when he takes the wheel of a Ferrari 488 GT3 at the Gulf 12 Hours in Abu Dhabi this weekend. He will line up for Kessel Racing in the GT3 ProAM class with his brother Luca Marini and his friend and adviser Uccio Salucci. The holder of a total of nine world motorcycle titles (all categories) got to grips with the car at a practice session on 9 October in Misano. The ninth running of the Abu Dhabi endurance race will start on Saturday 14 December 2019 at 09:30 local time (GMT+4).
Last May, at the Shark Helmets Grand Prix de France at the Bugatti circuit, Rossi told French TV channel Canal+ of his desire to return to Le Mans to compete in the famous 24 Hours: “When I retire from motorcycling, I’ll be able to carry on racing in cars for another ten years […] I really love cars so I’ll try and do it. My plan is to take part in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.” The 40-year-old Italian is contracted to Yamaha until 2020.
Rossi’s passion for four wheels is nothing new. He completed several tests for Ferrari in Formula One between 2004 and 2010. He has also won the Monza Rally Show seven times in a Ford Focus and Fiesta WRC after also trying his hand in WRC.
Make a date! The 2020 French motorcycle Grand Prix will be held from 15-17 May, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans on 13-14 June.
PHOTO: The Kessel Racing Ferrari 488 GT3 that Valentino Rossi will drive at the Gulf 12 Hours.
© Gulf 12 Hours
