BMW bringing V. Rossi to the Brickyard for SRO finale

Nine-time MotoGP world champion turned sports car racer Valentino Rossi will make his debut on four wheels at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Oct. 16-18, joining BMW and Team WRT in one of its two factory-supported entries for the Indy 8-Hour, the season finale for the SRO Intercontinental GT Challenge. Rossi will race with his iconic No. 46 on the side of the BMW M4 GT3, partnering with Intercontinental GT Challenge championship leader Kelvin van der Linde and reigning IGTC champion Charles Weerts.

BMW’s decision to pair Raffaele Marciello with Augusto Farfus in WRT’s second entry prevents the Brazilian from challenging for the crown. Instead, his Swiss co-driver is now the only contender who can beat Van der Linde, with whom he shared IGTC victories at Suzuka and the Nürburgring.

For Rossi, the event marks another milestone in his evolving career on four wheels. After 26 seasons in Grand Prix motorcycle racing, where he amassed 115 victories and 65 pole positions, the Italian legend made the switch to GT racing in 2022 with Team WRT. Since then, he has taken victories at Misano in both 2023 and 2024 in GT World Challenge Europe competition.

But Indianapolis carries a special meaning for Rossi. He raced eight times at the Brickyard during his illustrious MotoGP career, winning there on debut back in 2008. Nearly two decades later, he is making his return, this time on four wheels. Eager to add another chapter to his history, he is ready to embark on a new journey around the Speedway in hopes of returning to victory lane and giving the yard of bricks another kiss.