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MotoGP legend Rossi feels he's on course for 2024 Le Mans 24 debut

Seven-time MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi believes he is on course to fulfil his ambition of racing in the Le Mans 24 Hours next year.

Rossi has revealed that he is targeting competing in the new LMGT3 class at the double-points round of the World Endurance Championship in 2024, which will follow his participation in the Road to Le Mans support race this year.

“Le Mans is the most famous race in the world and for sure it is a target,” said Rossi.

“I think we will try to do it next year in a GT car.”

Rossi, 44, explained that competing in the two 55-minute races on the Thursday and Friday of Le Mans week with the WRT BMW team, with which he is racing in the GT World Challenge this year, represents a good opportunity to learn the 8.47-mile Circuit de la Sarthe in preparation for next year.

“The Road to Le Man is a great chance, because it the only race that uses the same circuit,” said Rossi, who took his first podium in the GTWCE at the Brands Hatch Sprint Cup round last weekend.

“We will try to prepare on the simulator for the circuit - I am very curious.

“I cannot wait, also to stay there for the week.”

Rossi will race one of two BMW M4 GT3s entered by WRT in the Road to Le Mans race together with Jerome Policand, who is the boss of Auto Sport Promotion Mercedes squad against which the Belgian team races in GTWCE.

Rossi could make the step up to race in the 24 Hours at Le Mans with WRT next year.

The former long-time partner of Audi is in the mix to mastermind BMW’s two-car entry in the LMGT3 pro-am class alongside its campaign as the German manufacturer’s factory operation in the Hypercar class with the M Hybrid V8 LMDh prototype.

Team boss Vincent Vosse would only say that discussions are underway about expanding its programme to incorporate the two entries in LMGT3 that BMW is likely to be granted for the full WEC in 2024.

“It is something we are looking at; it’s on the agenda,” Vosse told Autosport.

“But it is not done yet; we cannot say it is something definite.”

Source: Autosport

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