30.04.2025Lucky hand at the weather poker: First WEC-podium for Valentino Rossi

Valentino Rossi was truly well prepared when he entered the World Endurance Championship with BMW in 2024. After all, the nine-time motorcycle world champion had already completed two full seasons in his new role as a racing car driver. He had contested both with the Belgian WRT team, with whom he also competed in the WEC. The BMW M4 GT3 he fielded was also familiar to the "Doctor" from the previous season. Nevertheless, it was certainly a bit of a surprise that Valentino Rossi was able to achieve his first podium finish in the highly competitive WEC at just his second attempt.

The Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola certainly provided a fitting setting for this remarkable success. After all, the historic circuit in Emilia-Romagna is the only Italian event on the WEC calendar and, due to its proximity to his hometown of Tavullia, is a true home race for Valentino Rossi. Accordingly, many fans were there not only keeping their fingers crossed for Ferrari in the battle for victory in the Hypercar class, but also watching the BMW with the distinctive number 46, which Rossi drove through the six-hour race together with his teammates Maxime Martin and Ahmad Al Harthy.

The brilliant second place at the end thrilled the more than 70,000 fans at the track and Rossi's supporters around the world. The fact that the weather gods had a hand in the dream result didn't dampen their joy. Ultimately, it still required a clever strategy and a flawless performance from the drivers.

The Manthey Porsche, which later won the World Championship, dominated large parts of the race until rain began to fall two hours before the finish. While the majority of the GT3 field, including the Porsche, headed to the pits to change to rain tires, Vincent Vosse's WRT team decided to let both BMWs continue on their slicks. The gamble paid off. Augusto Farfus and Maxime Martin kept the cars on the track in the tricky conditions, which then dried out quite quickly. The competition had to switch back to slicks, giving the BMW a significant lead that held until the finish. Behind the sister car, Valentino Rossi, Maxime Martin, and Ahmad Al Harthy finished second, celebrating his first WEC podium.

Minichamps has released the white and black BMW M4 GT3 from this memorable race day as a limited-edition model in scale 1:18 exclusively for ck-modelcars. The BMW is limited to 746 units and will be delivered in a high-quality collector's box. Thanks to the opening hood, doors, and trunk, details such as the faithful cockpit replica and the engine compartment can be inspected. The model's front wheels are also steerable.

BMW M4 GT3 #46 2nd Imola 2024 Rossi, Martin, AL-Harthy 1:18 Minichamps, RRP €169.95, item-no.: 113242146

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BMW M4 GT3 #46 2nd Imola 2024 Rossi, Martin, AL-Harthy 1:18 Minichamps

144,46 €