Written by Owen Bradley, Edited by Vyas Ponnuri
Valentino Rossi is finally a podium finisher in the GT World Challenge Europe, and for the first time in his career, on four-wheels.
Rossi and teammate Maxime Martin drove a consistent, and smart first race on the Sunday morning at Brands Hatch, having qualified P20 and then slipping down to 21st. They managed to fight back to 15th on the road, and ended up finishing the race there. It is quite difficult to overtake at Brands Hatch, as the circuit is quite narrow and doesn’t have many long straights either.
For the Second Race, Rossi and Martin had managed to qualify in P5, but were later bumped up to third for the start of the race. Martin managed to keep up with the frontrunners initially. Following a Safety Car intervention after a car got beached in the gravel on the exit of Sheene Curve, WRT decided to pit the #46 car. Once Valentino Rossi jumped into the car, it was all about maintaining position.
Rossi managed to complete a great team effort from the WRT #46 crew, and Rossi was delighted with the result, as he jumped on top of the roof of the car, with the fans and teams cheering him on.
Valentino Rossi and his team had a great weekend. In addition, having got a chance to attend a private Press Conference with Rossi, he revealed the aim for race two being a step on the podium. Come Sunday, he achieved the goal, bringing home the BMW GT3 across the line, much to WRT’s delight.
This result also ensures that Rossi and Martin are now 11th in the overall GT World Challenge Europe Championship Standings.
It must also be noted that Rossi's past record on British tracks is exceptionally good. Throughout his entire MotoGP career, he took victory in Britain multiple times. And it seems as though his luck returned at Brands Hatch. This also means Rossi has been on the podium at Donington Park, Silverstone, and now Brands Hatch.
Rossi’s podium finish added on to his MotoGP team’s success from earlier in the day. The Mooney VR46 Ducati triumphed in the 1000th MotoGP race, as Marco Bezzecchi won at Le Mans, on the same day as Rossi’s first podium in the GT World Challenge.
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P.S: Thank you to MSV and SRO for giving me media accreditation.
And most importantly, Grazie Vale! For giving me a hug in Parc Ferme after this stunning weekend!