Rossi takes sim lessons into first Bathurst laps
Valentino Rossi has been left impressed by the “mythical” Mount Panorama circuit following his first laps in Bathurst.
Rossi topped Practice 2 at the LIQUI MOLY Bathurst 12 Hour on Friday morning aboard his Team WRT BMW.
The seven-time MotoGP champion’s session-topping performance came in his first taste of the iconic circuit.
It saw Rossi put to practise nearly 20 years of racing the famous track on PlayStation and simulators.
Speaking to media after Practice 2, the 43-year-old said the 6.213km circuit was “difficult” yet "great fun”.
“Already before I knew I [was going to] race here, we always played in the sim with Mount Panorama,” he said.
“To be here in Mount Panorama after 20 years of [racing in] sims is an emotion, when you see the track for the first time.
“It’s one of the mythical tracks, so from the Playstation to iRacing now, I make a lot of laps.
“The track is very impressive, it’s something different. I feel good with the car, I have a good feeling and I have good grip [and] I can push.
“It’s very difficult, very technical, but also very great fun when you drive.”
Rossi fever has swept through Bathurst, with thousands of fans flocking to the city CBD to catch a glimpse of the superstar.
Rossi himself is no stranger to racing Down Under, having taken to Phillip Island over the course of his decorated motorcycle career.
The Italian said both circuits were similar due to their challenges, and cited the differences between bikes and cars.
Rossi's Bathurst debut comes after he helped WRT complete a memorable one-three result on its BMW debut in Dubai.
“You have two different tracks — it’s a normal track [at the bottom] and the Mountain is different,” he explained.
“Every lap you want to try and make it a little bit more [speed] but the walls are there. I always keep five centimetres.
“You have to take a bit of margin because if you make a mistake, it’s a big problem.
“Jerry [Burgess] and Gary [Coleman] my guys of the team [in MotoGP] raced here in the ‘70s and ’80s.
“With the bike you need more space, more run-off area. If you make a mistake it’s a big problem.
“For me it’s better with the cars. I think this track is not so different to Phillip Island [where] you have a lot of space and no walls, but the design is similar.
“Here you have a lot of adrenaline when you drive, but also because you have to make everything good without making any mistakes.
“With the bike you are outside so you feel more the speed. From points of view are different but from points of view is very similar."
Bronze drivers will return to the track for Practice 3 at 2:00pm local time.
Friday’s action will conclude with Practice 4 for all drivers at 4:10pm local time.
Tickets for the 2023 LIQUI MOLY Bathurst 12 Hour are on sale now on Ticketek.com.
