MotoGP legend Rossi chasing Bathurst 12-hour podium
Motorcycle GP legend Valentino Rossi is all for tackling the Bathurst 1000 – he just wants a 12-hour podium first.
The 45-year-old Italian returns to the iconic Mount Panorama track behind the wheel of a BMW M4 GT3 for the WRT team in his third bid at a top-three finish.
A podium finish at the international endurance race has so far remained elusive for Rossi, who looked poised to do so last year before falling short with a fifth-placed finish.
The seven-time world champion crossed the line in sixth in his 2023 debut.
“We can finish on the podium,” Rossi told AAP.
“The podium is always the target and especially last year, we were very strong.
“Unfortunately, the rain arrived. Usually, it doesn’t rain here so we were a bit unlucky.
“With the rain, unfortunately, we weren’t fast enough so we lost the podium position.
“That is extra motivation for coming back and for trying another time this year.”
A repeat of wet weather conditions is unlikely with a dry affair promised for Sunday’s race.
Sharing the car with Raffaele Marciello and Charles Weerts, Rossi’s biggest challenge will be fending off a contingent of homegrown Supercars drivers.
Queensland product Matt Campbell will be out to claim back-to-back wins, having also won the 2019 race.
Rossi closed out the opening day of the race weekend with the fourth-fastest time in practice three following a cameo from local wildlife.
German sports car driver Maro Engel claimed the session with a lap time of two minutes and 3.8510 seconds, while Supercars ace Broc Feeney finished just two-hundredths of a second off Engel.
The 22-car field also includes reigning Supercars champion Will Brown, two-time Bathurst 1000 winner Chaz Mostert, Cam Waters, Thomas Randle and Jaxon Evans.
Tickford duo Waters and Randle share the #222 Scott Taylor Motorsport car with Australian motorsport legend Craig Lowndes.
Lowndes will be eyeing a third 12-hour victory to go with his seven Bathurst 1000 wins.
While his attentions remain focused on a podium breakthrough on Sunday, Rossi admits interest in taking to a Gen3 Supercar for a chance at a different type of Bathurst glory.
“This is interesting for me to try because it’s a big race,” Rossi said.
“It’s a big race and it’s the most famous race on this track.
“It’s in another part of the season and I have my program, so it’s difficult but maybe in the future, one time, why not?
“It’s a great race. Yes, I want to try one time.”
Qualifying gets underway on Saturday at 1.05pm (AEDT).
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