19.12.2023A MotoGP-legend in the BMW-cockpit

With nine world championship titles, Rossi is not only one of the most successful motorcycle racers in the world, but has also repeatedly made a name for himself with his colorful outfits and unusual helmet designs.

Back in 2006, he swapped his leather gear for a racing suit for the first time and took a seat in the cockpit of a DTM Mercedes. A few years later he celebrated his first successes in the Ferrari 430 GT3 at the 6-hour race in Vallelunga. In the 2022 season, Valentino Rossi then switched to automobile racing full-time and took the wheel of the Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II from the Belgian team WRT in the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe.

The following year the team and Rossi changed brands. Team WRT achieved its first stroke of genius in the new BMW M4 GT3 at the 24 Hours of Dubai in 2023. Rossi and his teammates Sean Gelael, Maxime Martin, Tim Whale and Max Hesse started from eighth place and delivered an almost flawless race. Only Whale's bad luck hitting an oil slick cost them the overall victory, which they had to hand over to the sister car of Mohammed Bin Saud Al Saud, Diego Menchaca, Jean-Baptiste Simmenauer, Dries Vanthoor and Jens Klingmann.

In the end it was third place for the M4 GT3 with starting number 46 reserved for Valentino Rossi and thus the first overall podium in endurance racing for the MotoGP star.

The M4's bright green and black design was largely adopted from last year's Audi R8. The WRT team also retained its sponsors KFC and Skechers despite the change of manufacturer.

This successful model by Valentino Rossi is available from Minichamps in 1:18 and in the highest quality. It features opening doors, a true-to-original interior and a removable engine and trunk cover.

BMW M4 GT3 24h Dubai 2023 Driver: Rossi, Gelael, Hesse, Martin, Whale, RRP €149,95, item-no.: 113232046