The nine-time motorcycling world champion was scheduled to make his traditional appearance in this four-wheel endurance event with the Kessel Racing team, at the controls of a Ferrari 488 GT3.
Valentino Rossi , winner of the category and rider who finished on the podium on other occasions, was going to share a car with his friend Alessio Salucci and his stepbrother and current MotoGP rider, Luca Marini.
Kessel Racing confirmed that the Italian was identified as a close contact to a person who has tested positive for COVID-19 and is in isolation. As a result, Rossi will sit out this weekend’s 12 Hours of the Gulf, proof that he is due to hold the first free practice sessions on Thursday.
Salucci and Marini will continue to compete, with former GT driver and regular David Fumanelli taking Rossi’s place. In a brief statement from Kessel Racing, they indicated: “Valentino Rossi will not participate in the 12 hours of the Gulf, scheduled for Saturday, January 8.”
“The nine-time world champion has had contact with a person who has tested positive for COVID-19, so he is in quarantine. Luca Marini and Alessio ‘Uccio’ Salucci remain confirmed, and will compete in the endurance test in Abu Dhabi with David Fumanelli in the #46 Ferrari 488 GT3.
This year’s 12 Hours of the Gulf was meant to serve as a prologue to a longer season in GT for Rossi, who retired from MotoGP last year. Recently, the man from Urbino tested with an Audi R8 for the WEC WRT team, although he had not yet decided on his plans for 2022.
Over the years, Rossi has tested Formula 1 single-seaters, contested WRC events, and even tried his hand at GT racing, and wants to make the jump to the 24 Hours of Le Mans at some point.
The seven-time top two-wheeler title winner already contracted COVID-19 in October 2020, forcing him to miss the grand prix double in Aragon.
In 2022, the VR46 team will be in MotoGP with Marini and rookie Marco Bezzecchi , with two Ducati and the newly confirmed as main sponsor, Mooney, who settles the debate with the Saudi oil giant Aramco.
