Valentino Rossi eyes joining Max Verstappen at the Nurburgring 24 Hours
Valentino Rossi was asked whether he would consider competing against Max Verstappen at the Nurburgring 24 Hours
MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi did not shy away when asked whether he would consider racing against four-time Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen at the Nurburgring 24 Hours.
Verstappen made headlines with his performance at this year's headline endurance race at the Nurburgring. Competing in a Red Bull-liveried Mercedes AMG GT3, the Dutchman held the lead through the night, but saw his chances of victory come crashing down when a reliability issue caused his car to return to the garage for several hours.
The Red Bull F1 driver's mere presence resulted in a surge of interest in the race, with the event being broadcast live on major TV networks, and the spectator banks being sold out.
Should Rossi join the action, it is likely that this boom would grow further, with organisers looking to increase the capacity to enable additional ticket sales.
Speaking in a round-table interview, Rossi was asked about a possible entry to the Nurburgring 24 Hours.
“Yes, because it now looks like you can get the permit done in a single weekend," he said.
"We are in talks with BMW to organise everything. The Nurburgring 24 Hours is definitely on my bucket list. I hope we can make it happen with BMW.”
The simplified rules Rossi refers to mean that a driver can gain the required permit to enter the 24 Hour race if they complete one race, and eight laps of the track during an Nurburgring Endurance Series [NLS] event or the 24 Hour Qualifiers. To achieve the permit, drivers must also keep clear of any infractions.
Since retiring from MotoGP action, Rossi has competed in sportscars as a BMW factory driver. It is thought that he would likely drive the new M2 Racing, should he enter, with this being BMW's newest entry-level car.
Rossi is already committed to full campaigns in the GT World Challenge Europe this year, competing in both the Sprint and Endurance Cup races. The calendars clash with the remaining NLS events this year, which complicates matters, with Rossi already facing a conundrum as the Intercontinental GT weekend for the Suzuka 24 Hours clashes with his existing commitments.
However, should Rossi and BMW decide to enter the Nurburgring event, these hurdles will be simple to overcome.
Sam joined Crash.net in February 2026 with extensive experience in motorsport media, having covered numerous championships around the world.
