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Valentino Rossi to Experience BMW's LMDh Powerhouse
MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi is set to embark on a new adventure as he prepares to test the highly anticipated BMW M Hybrid V8 LMDh prototype. This will be Rossi's first time behind the wheel of an LMDh car, and it's happening at the upcoming World Endurance Championship (WEC) rookie test in Bahrain.
A Long-Awaited Test Drive
The Italian icon will get his hands on the M Hybrid V8 on November 3rd, a day after the 2024 WEC season concludes at the Bahrain International Circuit. Originally planned for 2023, the test was postponed to allow BMW to focus on developing the car for its debut season
Speaking to Autosport, Rossi expressed his excitement about the opportunity: "At the Rookie Test I'm going to try the BMW LMDh and I'm very, very happy because last year I got to drive the LMP2, so the next goal is to see what the M Hybrid V8 is like," he said. "And then who knows, maybe in the future there will be a place in Hypercar. Let's see."
A Potential Future in Hypercar?
Rossi's test in Bahrain could be a stepping stone towards a future Hypercar race seat with BMW. This sentiment was echoed by BMW motorsport boss Andreas Roos, who hinted at Rossi's participation in the test at the previous WEC round in Fuji .
The Bahrain rookie test has a history of giving talented drivers from other disciplines a taste of top-class prototypes. In 2017, two-time Formula 1 champion Fernando Alonso took the wheel of the Toyota TS050 LMP1 car at this very test before embarking on a successful campaign. Similarly, Sebastien Ogier, a World Rally Championship star, received a test in Toyota's new LMH car at the 2021 Bahrain test.
Rossi's Journey into Prototypes
Rossi, a seven-time MotoGP champion, dipped his toes into the world of prototypes last year when he drove a WRT-run Oreca 07 LMP2 during the Bahrain rookie test. This year, he transitioned to GT racing, competing in the WEC's new LMGT3 class with a BMW M4 GT3 entered by WRT.
Rossi's comments at Monza suggest that his desire to race in the top class of endurance racing, either WEC or IMSA, remains strong. With his upcoming test in the M Hybrid V8, the door to a potential Hypercar future with BMW might just be creaking open.
