Valentino Rossi confirmed in all-star Bathurst line-up
Valentino Rossi confirmed in all-star Bathurst line-up
Rossi to race BMW with Farfus and Raffaele Marciello
2026 Bathurst 12 Hour set for February 13-15
Valentino Rossi will return to Australia for a fourth crack at winning the Meguiar's Bathurst 12 Hour.
The MotoGP legend turned race car ace returns with Team WRT and BMW M Motorsport, which will look to defend its stunning 1-2 finish in the 2025 race.
Rossi is among six BMW M works drivers in WRT's two BMW M4 GT3 EVOs, including last year's winners Augusto Farfus and Kelvin van der Linde, as well as 2020 winner Jordan Pepper.
Rossi finished second in the 2025 race, which saw BMW M Motorsport record a 1-2 finish in Australia before winning three of the other four IGTC events. BMW won the manufacturers' title and the drivers' title for Kelvin van der Linde.
Van der Linde will line up in the #32 Team WRT car with fellow South African Jordan Pepper and 2024 IGTC Drivers' Champion Charles Weerts.
Rossi returns to Bathurst in the number 46 with Farfus and Raffaele Marciello.
In the Bronze class, the Chinese team KRC will start with BMW M works driver Max Hesse, Maxime Oosten and Ruan Cunfan.
Rossi, who made his first Bathurst 12 Hour start in 2023, is looking to return to the podium again.
"I'm really looking forward to returning to Bathurst," Rossi said.
"It's one of the best races of the season. The track is fantastic. When I started racing, Bathurst was at the top of my wish list.
"Now I've been here three times and enjoy it every time. Last year the race went great and we finished second. The podium is the goal again this time.
"With Raffaele and Augusto, I have two stellar teammates from whom I can learn a lot and with whom I will certainly have a lot of fun."
The 2026 Meguiar's Bathurst 12 Hour is scheduled for February 13-15. Tickets are on sale now.
