03.07.2025Rossi and the M4 GT3: Successes on our doorstep and far away

For the second year in a row, the finale of the Intercontinental GT Challenge (IGTC) took place at the Yas Marina Circuit in 2023. A total of 17 cars competed in two different categories at the 12 Hours of Abu Dhabi – officially the Gulf 12 Hours – with five in the Pro class and twelve in the Pro-Am class. Valentino Rossi was also on the starting grid for the third time. Together with his teammates Dries Vanthoor and Nick Yelloly, the nine-time motorcycle world champion, who has been competing permanently in GT and endurance racing since 2022, drove a BMW M4 GT3 for the Belgian WRT team.

With an average time of 1:51.756 minutes, the BMW trio secured fourth place on the grid for the round-the-clock race. Things went even better for the WRT squad in the race itself. Valentino Rossi even took the lead shortly after the halfway point. During a pit stop, however, the trio suffered a pedal failure and lost crucial seconds in the battle for the overall victory. Despite this setback, the team continued to fight courageously and defended second place until the checkered flag.

The BMW M4 GT3 with which Team WRT competed in the season-ending unofficial GT3 World Championship in Abu Dhabi bore the famous starting number 46, as usual. With this number, Valentino Rossi shaped motorcycle racing like no other for more than two decades. And the Italian has remained loyal to this number even in his second career in automobile racing. In addition to the striking yellow number 46, the M4 GT3 in Abu Dhabi was decorated in the classic BMW colors.

But that's not all the models of the MotoGP legend. In the run-up to his GT World Challenge Europe home round at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli in 2024, Rossi completed an extensive testing program. A full-carbon BMW M4 GT3 was used. The test paid off. At the race weekend later that year, Valentino Rossi took a win and a third place.

Both models from Abu Dhabi and Misano were produced by Minichamps in scale 1:18 and with the usual high quality. They reflect the originals as closely as possible. Both collector cars feature a faithful replica of the cockpit, a detailed engine compartment, steerable front wheels, and opening doors and hood.

BMW M4 GT3 #46 2nd 12h Abu Dhabi 2023 Rossi, Vanthoor, Yelloly 1:18, RRP €169.95, item-no.: 113232846

BMW M4 GT3 #46 Test Misano 2024 Valentino Rossi 1:18 Minichamps, RRP €149.95, item-no.: 113242246

productos

	BMW M4 GT3 #46 2º 12h Abu Dhabi 2023 Rossi, Vanthoor, Yelloly 1:18 Minichamps	169,95 €
	BMW M4 GT3 #46 Test Misano 2024 Valentino Rossi 1:18 Minichamps	149,95 €