MotoGP icon Valentino Rossi is set to compete in the 2026 Bathurst 12 Hour race as part of the WRT BMW team, marking his first event of the 2026 season. The nine-time Grand Prix Motorcycle World Champion has been with the WRT team since retiring from MotoGP and transitioning to full-time car racing in 2022.
After WRT switched to BMW vehicles in 2023, Rossi became a factory driver for the German manufacturer and debuted in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) in 2024. However, Rossi’s departure from WEC was announced earlier this month when WRT unveiled its lineup for the 2026 season. Although full details of Rossi’s 2026 racing plans remain unclear, his participation in the Bathurst 12 Hour is confirmed.
Rossi will drive the No. 46 WRT BMW M4 GT3 Evo alongside Augusto Farfus and Raffaele Marciello. He previously shared a car with Farfus at the 2023 Bathurst 12 Hour, finishing sixth, while Marciello helped the same car secure second place in the 2025 race. Charles Wierts, Rossi’s teammate at Bathurst this year, will move to the No. 32 car with Jordan Pepper and Kelvin van der Linde. The No. 89 car will be driven by Max Hesse, Maxim Austen, and Ruan Cunfang.
The 2026 Bathurst 12 Hour will be Rossi’s third recent appearance in the race, following his 2025 entries at Bathurst and the Spa 24 Hours as part of the Intercontinental GT Challenge. Rossi completed full seasons in 2023 and 2024 and is anticipated to return to full-time racing in the GT World Challenge Europe in 2026.
In 2025, Rossi reduced his GT World Challenge Europe commitments to focus more on WEC, his MotoGP team, and family time. He won the GTWCE Sprint Cup at Misano last year. Throughout his time in WEC, Rossi earned four podiums in the No. 46 BMW M4 GT3, including two second-place finishes at Imola and his best LMGT3 class result at COTA. Unfortunately, both his 24 Hours of Le Mans races ended prematurely due to mechanical failures, with the 2025 race seeing his car leading before an overnight breakdown.
Fan Take: Valentino Rossi’s move into high-profile endurance racing like Bathurst highlights his successful transition from two wheels to four and adds star power that can attract more fans to the sport. His involvement raises the competitive level and excitement, signaling a bright future for endurance racing with crossover talents from other motorsport disciplines.
