BMW Working With Rossi Ahead of Targeted N24 Debut

Photo: Gruppe C Photography/SRO

BMW M Motorsport is working with Valentino Rossi ahead of his targeted debut in next year’s Nürburgring 24 according to the manufacturer’s motorsport boss Andreas Roos, who stressed the MotoGP-turned GT3 star will go through all of the required processes to obtain his Nordschleife permit.

Rossi, a BMW factory driver, scaled back his GT3 racing commitments this year to mainly around a GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS campaign following two seasons in the FIA World Endurance Championship.

This was understood to reduce his travel requirements and to also explore several remaining bucket-list races, such as the N24, which he recently confirmed in multiple media reports of pursuing for next year.

“There is no secret that it’s always been on the bucket list for Vale to compete at the Nürburgring,” Roos told Sportscar365. “For two or three years, we’ve always discussed it.

“I think now his schedule looks like it could be a bit more flexible to get things done. We are at the moment to investigate when and what could be done.

“He will do his permit, he will need to get prepared and all of these things.”

Roos said he expects Rossi to be at the wheel of BMW machinery through the entire process, with several options, including the new BMW M2 Racing, that could be utilized for his permit qualifications, which requires all drivers to start off in a lesser-powerful car to a GT3 machine.

While Rossi would be unable to run in the next NLS round on Aug. 1 due to his GTWC Europe Sprint Cup commitments at Magny-Cours, the NLS 8/9 double-header on Sept. 12-13 and NLS10 on Oct. 10 would be possible should he not elect to contest either the Suzuka 1000km or Indianapolis 8 Hour presented by AWS.

Roos previously confirmed to Sportscar365 plans for BMW to forgo factory supported entries for both of the season-ending IGTC rounds.

“I think now we look into what this could look like but at the moment the schedule looks a bit more flexible, I would say, that we can maybe get it in [this year],” said Roos.

“But if he’s doing it, he’s doing the full process, from the permit, to get him prepared. He also knows he needs to do some preparation races, what we always do.

“We never come to the Nürburgring Nordschleife and just show up there for the 24-hour race.

“You need to get prepared, you need to get the drivers, the team, everybody up to speed and this is something we’re looking into it at the moment.”

Roos clarified previous media reports from other publications that indicated the nine-time motorcycle world champion didn’t want to go through the qualification process and instead insisted on being given the permit due to his previous experience.

“I read sometimes that Vale doesn’t want to do the permit; this was never the case,” he said. “It was about finding the time for him to do the permit.

“Because he’s not only busy with racing our GT3 cars, he’s also busy with his MotoGP team, with VR46, where he’s still heavily involved.

“He’s a very busy guy, so we always struggled to find the right timing.”

Rossi Would Be “Clear Contender” Should He Make N24 Debut

Roos said that the 47-year-old Italian would be prepared just like any other BMW works driver and be expected to contend for the win from the onset.

It would also add another high-profile name in the world of motorsport to the race following Max Verstappen’s debut this year.

“For the whole 24-hour race, for whole motorsport and the whole event, it’s always nice to see superstars like Max Verstappen or Valentino Rossi being interested in it,” said Roos.

“It also shows the level and importance of the race. It’s a very important race every year for every manufacturers and a lot of drivers because it’s a real challenge.

“Vale always said he’s interested in it. And as we know Vale, he’s not doing it just for fun.

“He’s doing it to compete there and also we as BMW, if we go to the 24-hour race, we always go there with the clear aim to win.

“We still have the most overall victories at the Nürburgring. We also won there last year, so that’s clearly our goal.

“I think our teams and our car, and our driver lineups, they all proved already to be real candidates to go there for the overall victory.

“And also, Vale when he will be part of it, it’s also the clear goal that he’s a contender for a top result at the Nürburgring 24.”

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John