Rossi hopeful of ending Bathurst 12 hour victory wait

AFTER finishing second in 2025, Team WRT star Valentino Rossi is hopeful 2026 is his year.

The #46 BMW will be shared by Rossi, Raffaele Marciello and 2025 winner Augusto Farfus, with the sister #32 car driven by Kelvin van der Linde, Jordan Pepper and Charles Weerts.

Farfus won the 2025 race with van der Linde brothers Kelvin and Sheldon, with Rossi racing to second with Marciello and Weerts.

The 2026 race marks Rossi’s fourth start at Mount Panorama, and the MotoGP legend turned GT3 ace is quietly confident it will be fourth time lucky.

"Last year was a great race,” Rossi told media on Thursday.

"This year is good because the level is very high. You have a lot of great drivers from all the other manufacturers. So we hope that we can fight for the top.

"You know, last year we finished second, so we hope for the result. But I think with the level of this year, I'm happy you also for any way we can fight for the podium.”

Rossi finished sixth on debut in 2023, before racing to fifth in 2024. WRT were class of the field 12 months ago, the #32 leading home the #46 in an historic 1-2 finish.

Through all of his experience and guile in motorsport, Rossi admitted he still gets nervous before engines turn over. However, that’s what he’s here for.

“When you are in the race car, you are always nervous before starting, especially before the start of the race,” the 46-year-old said.

"But you know, this is the adrenaline, this is what we like."

Track action at Mount Panorama commences on Friday February 13 with Practice 1 at 8:45am local time.