Rossi Aiming to “Support” Van der Linde’s IGTC Title Quest

Photo: Julien Delfosse/DPPI

Valentino Rossi is aiming to play a supporting role in today’s Indianapolis 8 Hour presented by AWS with helping his fellow BMW factory driver Kelvin van der Linde secure the Intercontinental GT Challenge drivers’ championship.

Van der Linde heads into the joint IGTC/GT World Challenge America powered by AWS season finale with a five-point lead over teammate Raffaele Marciello, who has spearheaded the lineup in Team WRT’s sister No. 777 BMW M4 GT3 EVO.

The South African, who could become the first driver to win the GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS overall title and IGTC crown in the same year, regularly co-drives with the MotoGP legend-turned GT3 racer in the FIA World Endurance Championship.

“We know each other [from WEC],” said Rossi. “For me this was the first time with Kelvin. I enjoyed a lot because he’s a very good guy. We always have a great time also out of the track.

“He’s very fast and very strong. This year has been a fantastic season for Kelvin because he won a lot of races and also championships.

“For sure it helps when you already share the car together.”

The duo are in the No. 46 BMW alongside reigning IGTC champion Charles Weerts, who is unable to defend his title due to not being on equal points as van der Linde heading into the championship-deciding event.

For Rossi, who is set for his third IGTC start of the year after kicking off his campaign with a podium finish in the Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour, the 46-year-old Italian said he’s looking forward to his four-wheeled race debut at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

“I like this championship a lot,” he said. “You have great races. This year I was able to race in Bathurst, which was second. We [finished] second.

“The 24 Hours of Spa I think is the best race of the season with this type of cars and I always enjoy it a lot.

“Unfortunately I didn’t have have to do Suzuka but next year I want to race in Suzuka.

“This time I’m here to give my support and to help Kelvin for trying to win [the championship].

“I have to say that it’s a great emotion and something special because Kelvin is my friend and we race together also in WEC, so if I’m able to give to him my support to try to win the championship, I would be very happy.”

Rossi, who made eight MotoGP starts at The Brickyard, winning in his debut in 2008, could become the first driver to win at Indianapolis in both two and four-wheeled top-level competition.

“It would be fantastic,” he said when asked of those prospects. “We raced with the motorcycle from 2008-2015. I did some good results and especially I won the first time.

“It was a very particular race because of the hurricane. A lot of water, a lot of wind and they had to stop the race but I was in front.

“Trying [to win it] also with the car could be something special.”

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