Valentino Rossi is not eligible for a ride in the new Ferrari hypercar project, which heralds his first battle of honor at the Le Mans 24 Hours since the 1970s.
That year, a new prototype sports car racing formula – called the Hypercar – was introduced to replace the outgoing LMP1 class in the World Endurance Championship and the legendary 24-hour Le Mans round the clock.
Toyota has already committed to having Peugeot intervene in the fight in 2022 before Ferrari makes its high-profile entry into the category with its long-time employee AF Corse from 2023.
On the subject of matching items
With Ferrari’s entry coinciding with a predicted MotoGP exit for Rossi, there have been some rumors that he might be one of four drivers to compete in the World Endurance Championship or a guest start at the Le Mans 24 Hours, an event that “the doctor” said wants to join in the next few years.
Although Rossi and Ferrari have a connection from their test drives in an F1 car in the early 2000s, the manufacturer does not consider using this opportunity to keep marketing power over young talent updated.
“With all due respect, I think Valentino is older than the current endurance racing drivers, we will face tough opponents,” a Ferrari spokesman told GPOne. “It’s like one of our riders decides to race on a motorcycle.
“Valentino is having fun with the GTs, maybe he could try this class, but we think we have some good choices for Hypercar and we will choose among the up-and-coming youngsters.”
Rossi is expected to expand his four-wheel drive racing program if he leaves MotoGP, with GT racing – possibly with Ferrari in the WEC – seen as his most likely option.
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