What is next for Valentino Rossi in sports car racing?
MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi made the switch from motorcycles to cars back in 2022, racing in the GT World Challenge Europe. Over the last few years, the Italian has raced in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, among other iconic endurance races. However, despite his continued progress in Sportscar racing, Rossi’s future plans are currently stuck in limbo.
Following a solid debut season in the GTWC, Rossi expanded his racing programme, competing in the World Endurance Championship and in other flagship endurance races like the Bathurst 12 Hour, a race in which he has scored two podiums.
However, at the end of 2025, it was announced by Team WRT and BMW that after two seasons, Rossi would no longer be competing in the WEC, which also meant that he would no longer compete at the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans, either.
This was devastating news to fans of the MotoGP legend, as the Italian led the race at Le Mans twice in 2024 and 2025, before the No.46 BMW was forced to retire at both events.
Rossi’s 2026 campaign consisted of competing at the Bathurst 12 Hour, as well as competing full-time in the GT World Challenge Europe, for the first time since 2024. However, it has been a difficult season for the Italian, who has just one podium to his name this year, with a third-place finish at Bathurst back in February.
In August, it was rumoured that Rossi was scheduled to race at the Nürburgring in NLS8, in order to get his licence to race around the Nürburgring Nordschleife, in preparation for the 24 Hours of Nürburgring 2027.
F1 world champion Max Verstappen famously spent time at the Nürburgring, in between Formula One races in September 2025, and managed to secure a licence to race around the Nürburgring.
This subsequently allowed the Dutchman to compete at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring earlier this year, where Verstappen unfortunately was forced to retire from the race.
Initially, it was rumoured that Rossi was going to make an attempt at getting a licence to race around the Nürburgring Nordschleife, with a target to compete at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring next season, against Verstappen.
However, it has now been confirmed by WRT Team Principal Vincent Vosse that Rossi’s NLS plans have been postponed, with his debut appearance at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring now looking unlikely for next year.
The reason behind the cancellation of his NLS plans in September is due to a scheduling conflict for Rossi, who made an appearance at MotoGP’s Misano round. With Rossi, the owner of Team VR46 Racing, and his brand remaining the biggest in MotoGP despite his retirement nearly half a decade ago, the Italian has decided to postpone his NLS and Nürburgring plans.
The 2027 NLS calendar is yet to be revealed, although Rossi could potentially make an attempt at racing in NLS10 at the start of October, and may also have a chance to race around the Nürburgring in early 2027.
However, the most likely option is that Rossi will compete in the GTWC Europe in 2027, with the Nürburgring plans being delayed until September 2027, with a potential focus on racing at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring in 2028.
This cancellation news also comes after Rossi pulled out of the WEC just last season, leaving a question mark over the Italian’s future within Sportscar racing. Back in 2021, speaking to MotoGP legend Dani Pedrosa, Rossi stated his intention to race in sportscars for around a decade.
Five years later, Rossi has become a strong competitor within Sportscar racing, having taken multiple race victories in the GTWC Sprint Cup, and podiums in the WEC and Intercontinental GT Challenge.
The Italian maestro has also tested an LMP2 car, and also tested a BMW Hypercar last season, finishing less than a tenth off the quickest time in a rookie test. Despite the excitement surrounding his progress in Sportscar racing over the last few years, the Italian has remained in GT3 machinery, and now competes in a regional European championship.
Rossi’s revised schedule over the past two seasons hints at the Italian being comfortable racing in the GTWC Europe alongside his MotoGP commitments, although it would be a huge disappointment not to see Rossi take on the 24 Hours of Le Mans again, given his previous two attempts saw the No.46 BMW squad lead the race before retiring.
The Italian’s future plans are yet to be confirmed, but it appears that Rossi’s future will be racing in GT3’s, rather than focusing on progressing through to a Hypercar drive, and the MotoGP legend also appears more focused on racing at individual endurance events such as the 24 Hours of Spa, 24 Hours of Nürburgring and Bathurst 12 Hour.
Despite some of his racing plans being stuck in limbo, Rossi runs a full racing campaign, competing in the GTWC Europe alongside Max Hesse and Dan Harper. The duo finished fourth in Zandvoort, looking to end the season on a high in the upcoming weekends at Barcelona and Portimão in 2026.
Edited by Vyas Ponnuri
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