Valentino Rossi in the Ferrari 488 GT3 at the Gulf 12 Hours

In the new year, we won’t see Valentino Rossi take part in winter testing or the MotoGP world championship. But after the 100 km of Champions, we will see The Doctor compete in the Gulf 12 Hours. The race will play out in Abu Dhabi on 8 January 2022.

Rossi ready for a new challenge

---

We don’t expect to see Vale on a bike of course, that part of his career is now behind him, if not for the odd special appearance. Rossi, as promised, now wants to focus on cars and has chosen the Gulf 12 hours as his first event. Now in its tenth edition, the race will run at the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi. This will be Rossi’s third appearance in the race and he’ll again line up with the Monster VR46 Kessel Racing team. The car? A Ferrari 488 GT3 in Pro-Am class, while he’ll drive along with team-mates Luca Marini and Alessio Salucci.

How will the 2022 event go?

---

The #46 Ferrari won the GT3 Pro-Am class and finished third overall in its Gulf 12 Hours debut at the Yas Marina track in 2019. The car was then back for the Bahrain Gulf 12 Hours in January 2021, finishing fourth overall and second in the GT3 Pro-Am class. Standout competitors in the upcoming race will include 2 Seas Motorsport, Attempto Racing and AF Corse, as well as AKKA ASP, SPS Automotive and Scott Sport. But the past results auger well for the Italian trio.

Translated by Heather Watson

Moto2, Cuzari: “Baldassarri? We did everything. He needs to rebuild, mentally”