13.02.2025Valentino Rossi also fast in Australia

The Bathurst 12 Hour is a well-known endurance race on the Mount Panorama Circuit near Sydney. First held in 1991, GT3 cars were introduced into the regulations in 2011. As a result, the race became part of the newly founded Intercontinental GT Challenge in 2016 and is still traditionally the season opener of the global GT championship.

After a few difficult years due to the global pandemic, the starting field of the Bathurst 12 Hour was once again strong for the 2024 edition. A total of 23 vehicles competed in four different categories - 14 of them in the top class of GT3 cars. Valentino Rossi was also at the start for the second time in a row. Together with his teammates Raffaele Marciello and Maxime Martin, the nine-time motorcycle world champion, who has been permanently competing in GT and endurance racing since 2022, drove a BMW M4 GT3 from the Belgian team WRT.

With a strong qualifying, Maxime Martin secured a place in the top 10 shootout for the best starting positions, finishing eighth. After a strong start, in which the team was in second position at one point, rain started to fall on the Mount Panorama Circuit during Valentino Rossi's stint halfway through the race. After the restart following a safety car phase, the team received a penalty for an offence on the pit exit, which initially dropped them out of the top 10. Further safety car phases and incidents characterized the race. But thanks to a strong comeback in the changeable conditions during the second half of the race, the BMW trio were in fifth place when the checkered flag fell.

The BMW M4 GT3 with which the WRT team competed at the IGTC season opener in Australia bore the famous starting number 46. With this number, Valentino Rossi shaped motorcycle racing like no other for over two decades. And the Italian has remained true to this number even in his second career in automobile racing. In addition to the striking yellow 46, the M4 GT3 is in the classic colors of blue, red and white of BMW M GmbH.

The model in scale 1:18 was produced by Minichamps in the usual high quality and reflects the original as well as possible. The collector's vehicle, limited to 746 pieces, has a true-to-original cockpit replica, a detailed engine compartment, steerable front wheels and opening doors and bonnet. The model is produced exclusively for ck-modelcars and delivered in a collector's folding box.

BMW M4 GT3 #46 5th 12h Bathurst 2024 Rossi, Martin, Marciello 1:18 Minichamps, RRP €169.95, item-no.: 113242046

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BMW M4 GT3 #46 5° 12h Bathurst 2024 Rossi, Martin, Marciello 1:18 Minichamps

169,95 €