MotoGP icon Valentino Rossi experienced an unusual mishap during the recent Barcelona GT World Challenge race when the door of his BMW unexpectedly detached. The event, the penultimate round of the 2026 GT World Challenge Europe season held at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, faced challenging weather conditions that influenced the race format, with Race 2 starting grids determined by FP2 results instead of qualifying times.
Rossi, partnered with Max Hesse in the No.46 WRT BMW, finished 16th in Race 1 and began Race 2 from 15th position. However, during the latter part of the race, while running 12th, Rossi’s car lost its left-hand driver’s side door. This created a safety issue, forcing a pit stop to repair the vehicle, which ended up costing valuable positions for their team. The exact cause of the door coming off remains unclear.
Reflecting the weekend’s setbacks humorously on social media, Rossi commented, “Everything happened this weekend, eh? But only bad things! Anyway…” He is set to compete again at the final round of the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup at Portimao in October, where he will be joined by four-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen. Verstappen will make his series debut for Verstappen Racing in the No.3 Mercedes AMG, substituting for regular drivers currently involved in other championships. Verstappen, who recently triumphed at the Bahrain Grand Prix, expressed enthusiasm about sharing the track with Rossi, noting their mutual respect and friendly rivalry.
Additionally, the FIA announced Rossi’s driver grading will be upgraded from Silver to Gold for the 2027 season, though it is expected to have little effect on his upcoming plans.
Fan Take:
This unexpected setback for Valentino Rossi adds an intriguing twist to the GT World Challenge narrative, showcasing the unpredictable nature of motorsport even for seasoned champions. For racing fans, it highlights the blend of drama, skill, and resilience that keeps the sport captivating and underlines Rossi’s enduring presence as a competitive and charismatic figure in motorsport beyond MotoGP.
Source: www.crash.net
