Valentino Rossi and BMW GT3s Battle Understeer Nightmare at Spa-Francorchamps
Legendary motorcycle racer Valentino Rossi has revealed that the BMW GT3 cars are facing a major challenge with understeer at the iconic Spa-Francorchamps circuit during the third round of the FIA World Endurance Championship.
In a candid interview with Motorsport Week, Rossi expressed his struggles with the car’s handling, particularly in long corners where understeer is causing them to lose precious time on the track. Despite the setbacks, Rossi acknowledged the overall performance of the car, stating, “When I drive the car, it’s quite good. In the fast corners, we are not so bad. We have a little bit too much understeer in the long corner, and this makes us lose a little bit of time. But the feeling is quite good.”
Reflecting on the challenges ahead at Spa-Francorchamps, Rossi admitted that the race is expected to be tougher than the previous one at Imola. He noted, “We’re coming from a very good weekend in Imola where we were very competitive. I think that this weekend will be a little bit more difficult. Last year we struggled a lot; it was a difficult race. But we worked a lot with the team on the car, and it looks like the car is better, it’s improved from last year.”
Rossi, along with his teammates Ahmed Al Harthy and Kelvin van der Linde, had a strong showing at Imola, securing a podium finish despite facing challenges during the race. The team’s goal for Spa-Francorchamps is to continue fighting for top positions and aiming for podium finishes.
During the qualifying session, Rossi’s teammate Al Harthy managed to get the car into Hyperpole, where Rossi secured a ninth-place starting position on the grid. Despite a solid performance, Rossi expressed concerns about the team being two seconds off the pace, highlighting the urgency to find ways to improve their speed and competitiveness on the track.
As the competition heats up at Spa-Francorchamps, Rossi and the BMW GT3 team are determined to overcome their understeer issues and make a strong comeback in the race. Stay tuned for more updates on Rossi’s performance and the team’s efforts to conquer the challenging circuit.
For more thrilling updates from the world of motorsports, keep an eye on the latest developments at the FIA World Endurance Championship and follow the exciting journey of Valentino Rossi and the BMW GT3 team at Spa-Francorchamps.
