What’s it like working alongside a global motorsport icon? BMW factory drivers Raffaele Marciello and Kelvin van der Linde know firsthand. “He’s simply the kind of character who never gives up, no matter what’s going on out there,” van der Linde says, summing up one of Valentino Rossi’s most striking traits.
The nine-time MotoGP World Champion has brought his relentless mindset from two wheels to four, and it’s left a lasting impression on his teammates at Belgian outfit WRT. While some drivers become discouraged by technical issues or Balance of Performance (BoP) disadvantages, Rossi remains focused and resilient. “No matter what happens, we keep fighting and give it everything we’ve got – that’s the example he sets,” adds van der Linde.
Rossi’s fierce determination is just one of many qualities that fascinate his BMW teammates. Speaking in Le Mans, both Marciello and van der Linde shared insights with Motorsport-Total.com about what it’s like working alongside the racing legend, who is set to compete with WRT in 2025 at the wheel of the BMW M4 GT3 across various GT championships.
He races under the fitting team name “True Legends” – a nod to his legendary status as a nine-time motorcycle world champion. WRT has entered Rossi in multiple competitions this season, including the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) in the LMGT3 class, the GT World Challenge Europe, and the Intercontinental GT Challenge.
Marciello: “We Spend a Lot of Time Together”
For Raffaele Marciello, sharing a car with Rossi has been a unique experience. “This year I’ve worked very closely with him. I started with him at Bathurst and we’ll be racing together again at Misano. Plus, we’re always around each other in the paddock and spend a lot of time together,” he says.
The Italian BMW factory driver is particularly impressed by Rossi’s commitment, despite being relatively new to car racing and no longer in his twenties. “It’s always interesting to watch a veteran in action – I tease him about being old. But for someone his age, without much experience in car racing, the passion and drive he brings is truly remarkable. You can see how he keeps improving.”
And the results are beginning to speak for themselves. At the 2025 Bathurst 12 Hour, which opened the Intercontinental GT Challenge season, Rossi, Marciello and Charles Weerts secured a second-place finish in the #46 BMW M4 GT3 – completing a 1-2 finish for Team WRT.
It marked Rossi’s first podium at the iconic Mount Panorama Circuit on his third attempt. He and Marciello are set to team up again for the GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup round in Misano. The event is scheduled to take place from 18 to 20 July 2025.
