Valentino Rossi Exits BMW WEC Line-Up for 2026

MotoGP icon Valentino Rossi will not return for a third season in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), after BMW confirmed he has been dropped from its LMGT3 line-up.

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The nine-time motorcycle grand prix world champion transitioned to full-time car racing in 2022 following his MotoGP retirement. Rossi initially joined WRT to compete in the GT World Challenge Europe before making his WEC debut in 2024 as a BMW factory driver.

Driving the No.46 car, Rossi scored his first podium at Imola in just his second WEC event and later finished third at Fuji. In 2025, he again finished second at Imola, though contact and a subsequent penalty denied him a maiden series win. A strong qualifying performance at the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans saw Rossi’s No.46 WRT BMW mount a credible challenge for LMGT3 class victory, but an electrical issue during the night forced a non-finish for the second consecutive year. Rossi and the No.46 car also finished second at COTA a few months later.

Speculation over Rossi’s WEC future had been ongoing, and WRT confirmed he will not be part of the team’s 2026 roster. The No.46 car will be replaced by the No.69 entry, driven by Anthony McIntosh, Dan Harper, and Parker Thompson.

Rossi’s current three-year BMW factory deal expires at the end of 2025. Throughout the year, he had expressed interest in stepping up to WEC’s Hypercar class, though plans did not materialize.

The Italian rider’s future remains uncertain, with reports hinting at a possible return to GT World Challenge Europe, where he has previously secured three sprint race wins. Despite scaling back his commitments in 2025, Rossi still competed in endurance events including the Bathurst 12 Hours and 24 Hours of Spa, earning a podium at Bathurst. He also contributed to a No.46 victory at the Indianapolis 8 Hours in the Intercontinental GT Challenge.

Rossi’s departure marks the end of a notable chapter in his transition from motorcycle legend to endurance racing competitor, leaving fans to speculate on his next move in GT racing or perhaps a special return to his roots in MotoGP?