Following the conclusion of his debut FIA WEC LMGT3 campaign with WRT, MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi will take part in the series’ post-season rookie test, driving a BMW M Hybrid V8 Hypercar for the first time.
Rossi will get his first taste of prototype racing with the German brand alongside factory drivers Dan Harper and Max Hesse.
“I am thrilled that I can test the Hypercar. We have been looking for a date for a long time, and now it has finally worked out,” Rossi said. “I really wanted to do this test to get a feel for what the BMW M Hybrid V8 can do. Many thanks to BMW M Motorsport for this opportunity.
“For me, the Hypercars are the MotoGP of prototype racing. They have a lot of power and are very impressive. I am very curious to see what potential I have in the BMW M Hybrid V8.”
The trio have prepared for their Bahrain outing in the BMW M Motorsport simulator in Munich.
“I am looking forward to seeing how our three ‘rookies’ will perform,” Andreas Roos the head of BMW Motorsport said. “We are very pleased to be able to offer the three drivers this opportunity in the cockpit of the BMW M Hybrid V8.”
Hesse — who was also involved in the M Hybrid V8’s development work during the season — and Harper have previously completed an aerodynamics test with the team.
“I have already been at the wheel for an aerodynamics test, but that was really just straight-line driving,” Harper explained. “Many thanks to BMW M Motorsport for this fantastic opportunity and the trust in me.
“Honestly, I have not had any experience with prototypes or open-wheel cars in my career so this will be a big change for me. I have already noticed in the simulator how much higher the speeds are compared to the GT3.
“I’m not putting too much pressure on myself; I’m just trying to enjoy the test day as much as possible. To do this test with Max is something very special for both of us, as we have been on this path together through the BMW Junior Team from day one.”
Hesse said: “I am also very excited to be able to take this step together with Dan after all our joint steps since 2020. During the season, I sat in the BMW M Motorsport simulator very often and contributed to the further development of the BMW M Hybrid V8, so it is of course very exciting for me to now be able to compare it to the real race car.
“I think that will bring me forward personally a lot, but it will also provide us with important insights for the upcoming simulator sessions to prepare the car for the 2025 season.
“I think it’s important that we spend the entire week in Bahrain with the team and attend all the meetings. That way, we won’t be starting from scratch on test day.”