Valentino Rossi’s dream of triumphing at his debut in the 24 Hours of Le Mans ended overnight: the 45-year-old champion from Tavullia was first with his BMW #46, when his teammate who was at the wheel at the time, the Omani driver Ahmad Al Harthy lost control of the car and crashed off the track.
The dream of. ended in the night Valentino Rossi to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the oldest and most prestigious endurance race, included in the Endurance world championship. Things were going well for the 45-year-old champion from Tavullia, who switched to four wheels two years ago after making motorcycling history: his BMW M4 GT3 of Team WRT was first when one of the two companions with whom he alternated at the wheel, the Omani driver Ahmad Al Harthy, lost control of car number 46, going off the track on the gravel and breaking the radiator in the clash with the barriers.
Valentino Rossi out at the 24 Hours of Le Mans: his teammate’s accident
It was just after midnight in Le Mans, therefore shortly after the 8 hours of racing: the pouring rain had made the track very slippery and the 42-year-old Ahmad Al Harthy – who had come out of the pits shortly before to take over driving from the third driver of the BMW team, or the 38 year old Belgian Martin Maxime – the fact that the tires were cold probably paid for it. The Omani driver immediately understood that he would never be able to keep the car on the track after going wide in a chicane: “I lost it! I lost my car!“he shouted into the radio as he hit the gravel and then hit the barriers after the Dunlop Bridge, with the car flipping over after the impact, damaging the radiator.
It became clear immediately that the race was over for the #46 BMW team, which at the time was first in its 24 Hour class, GT3. After all, unexpected events are the order of the day at Le Mans and everything that has been achieved with hours and hours of effort can go up in smoke in an instant. Valentino Rossi was third in the car, getting behind the wheel as the first 4 hours of the race were about to end. His teammates had done an exceptional job, going from 12th starting position in GT3 to lead the category.
24 hours of Le Mans 2024, TV times and where to watch the race live and in streaming
Valentino Rossi and his two BMW team mates at the 24 Hours of Le Mans
Rossi’s stint: he remained in command of the 24 Hours
At that point all the spotlights turned on Valentino, making his debut in the competition. ‘The Doctor’ led without error – a solid stint in a complicated stretch of the race due to the setting of the sun and the arrival of night, with increasingly complex visibility on a track full of cars (more than 60 in all categories). After 2 hours and 2 minutes at the wheel, Rossi got out of the BMW having still finished his first stint in the lead, when the 6 hours of racing had been reached.
But the arrival of night and rain, with Al Harthy’s fault, ruined everything. Valentino understood how difficult it is to win at Le Mans: it is not enough to be the best, but something else is also needed. The nine-time world champion will try again.
