Rossi “Very Happy” With First LMGT3 Pole on Home Soil

Photo: Charly Lopez/DPPI

Valentino Rossi said he’s “very happy” to have claimed his first career FIA World Endurance Championship pole on home soil, in a day of firsts for Team WRT and BMW at Imola.

The nine-time motorcycle world champion, who advanced to LMGT3 Hyperpole courtesy of Bronze-rated co-driver Ahmad al Harthy’s chart-topping lap in qualifying, turned a 1:42.355 lap to edge out the competition by more than three-tenths of a second.

It marked both Team WRT and BMW’s first LMGT3 pole positions in world championship competition and also the first for the 46-year-old Italian, who is in his second WEC season.

“This morning after practice, the whole team said concentrate especially on this because this weekend the car is strong,” said Rossi. “We are fast and have very good pace.

“With the tires, the tires work well with good grip. But you always need to keep attention because we had a lot of places that if you push hard, track limit or no track limit, it’s question of severeness.

“I already had a lot of pressure from Ahmad because he did a fantastic job already in the first [qualifying].

“I did a lot of track limits but I had enough grip to try another time and I was able to improve and keep attention.”

Rossi reflected on the achievement inside a packed press conference room of Italian and international journalists.

“It’s a fantastic achievement,” he said. “I’m very happy. After the first race, it was difficult. The team and BMW did a very hard job. Here in Imola in front of all the fans is special.

“We hope tomorrow to be competitive and try to fight for the win and we hope to have a dry race.”

Al Harthy, meanwhile, set two laps that would have been good enough for the quickest time in Q1.

“To drive around Imola here with an amazing car and an amazing setup that’s been prepared for us all week,” he told Sportscar365. “We’ve been trying to work on different things.

“To get P1 in my session and for Valle to get P1 in his is a dream start.

“I’m looking forward to having a strong race tomorrow. This is only Part 1. Part 2 is a lot longer and tougher.

“We’re in a good position and looking forward to it. I’m just super excited and delighted for Valentino. It’s his home race and that’s what we want.”

Team principal Vincent Vosse told Sportscar365: “Being on the pole here with ‘Vale,’ it’s really super nice.

“It’s our first pole in LMGT3. I think there was a good job from the guys, a good step which has been done.

“Let’s see for the race. Both cars can be there. Let’s see how the race will develop tomorrow and how the weather will be tomorrow.”

Davey Euwema contributed to this report