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MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi opens up on his next car racing ambitions
MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi expressed his desire to race on the Nurburgring Nordschleife and compete in the Suzuka 1000km event this year, considering it a personal “wish list” endeavor. Following his retirement from MotoGP in 2021, the nine-time grand prix motorcycle world champion transitioned to car racing full-time starting in 2022. During the 2024 season, Rossi ventured into the FIA World Endurance Championship after focusing initially on the GT World Challenge Europe racing series. Racing with BMW, he participated in the WEC throughout 2025 while also taking on select GT events, but in the current season, he has returned to GTWCE after departing the endurance championship.
Beginning his 2026 campaign at the Bathurst 12 Hours earlier this month, Valentino Rossi secured a podium finish for the second consecutive year at the esteemed event. Looking forward, Rossi has outlined his aspirations to compete in prestigious races such as the Nordschleife, Spa 24, and Suzuka, with the latter holding a special place in his heart due to his previous successes there. Despite focusing on GT3 racing, Rossi has not ruled out a potential return to the WEC in the Hypercar class in the future, emphasizing his enjoyment of both categories and his commitment to excelling in GT3 competitions.
