Rossi will drive the Oreca Gibson 07 operated by WRT on November 5, the day after the 2023 WEC season ends, with the aim of competing in the championship in the future.
The LMP2 test is a prelude to the Italian driver’s plans to drive a BMW M Hybrid V8 LMDh car by the end of the year as part of his role as a factory driver for the German manufacturer.
“I’m very happy to try LMP2 for the first time!” said Rossi, who will turn 45 next February.
“This is a great opportunity for Team WRT as we have plans to test BMW hypercars in the future.
“So before testing that, I think it’s a good experience to try LMP2, which is similar in terms of downforce, and I want to understand my potential.
“I’m also looking forward to going to Bahrain to watch the final race of the season and I’d like to compete in WEC in the future, so I think it’ll be good to understand the atmosphere and structure of the event. .”
Since retiring from MotoGP at the end of the 2021 season, Rossi has turned full-time to car racing with the ultimate goal of competing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Last year, after working for a year at WRT on the Audi GT3 machine, he joined BMW as a factory driver this year and mainly participated in GT World Challenge Europe.
Photo courtesy: JEP / Motorsport Images
#31 Team WRT Oreca 07 – Gibson: Sean Gelael, Ferdinand Habsburg-Lothringen, Robin Frijns
In June he won the Road to Le Mans support race. The race was widely seen as preparation for a planned assault on the 24-hour classic race at La Sarthe in 2024.
Sunday’s test session will further prepare the team for the WEC program, which could start as early as 2024.
The WRT team that Rossi has been competing in GT will operate as a factory team for BMW, which is scheduled to return to WEC in the hypercar category next year.
Furthermore, WRT is said to be planning to enter two BMW M4 GT3s in the newly established LMGT3 class in 2024.
Charles Wierts, who moved to BMW this year after a long stint at Audi, will also sample WRT’s Oreca P2 car at Sunday’s post-season Bahrain test.
“I can’t wait for my first run in LMP2!” said the Belgian.
“I always follow WRT’s WEC program and am excited to test the cars they have had so much success with.
“It also gives us great insight into the prototype, especially regarding the future of WRT with BMW hypercars. We are very grateful to everyone at Team WRT for this opportunity.”