GT: Valentino Rossi to contest full-season GT World Challenge Europe in 2022

Nine-time MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi will contest the full Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS season with Team WRT, it has been announced.

Having retired from motorcycle competition at the end of 2021, Rossi tested with Team WRT in December and has now finalised an agreement with Baudoir, Belgium-based team.

Rossi will compete in both the Endurance Cup and Sprint Cup competitions, driving alongside official Audi Sport drivers.

The Italian motorcycle ace is not a newcomer to the championship, having driven in a pair of Endurance races during the 2012 season.

Valentino Rossi is looking forward to the new challenges of four-wheeled motorsport.

“I am delighted to join Team WRT for a full Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS programme,” said Rossi. “Everybody knows that I have always been a great car racing fan and that I have always been interested in racing on four wheels once my MotoGP career would come to an end.

“Now I am completely available to devote myself to a car racing programme at a high level and with the right professional approach. Team WRT is the perfect fit I was looking for and I am anxious to start this new adventure with them.”

WRT Team Principal Vincent Vosse is excited about Valentino Rossi joining the squad.

“I am sure that a lot of fans will be as pleased as we are that Rossi is starting a new career on four wheels and that he is doing it in GT, with Team WRT and Audi,” said Vincent Vosse. “We warmly welcome Vale in the WRT family and I am sure that we are off to a very exciting experience for both.”

The 2022 Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS series gets underway at Imola on April 1 – 3.