MotoGP Legend Valentino Rossi Aims for Nürburgring 24 Debut

Valentino Rossi, a nine-time world champion in MotoGP, is looking to secure his Nordschleife permit by the end of the racing season to compete in the Nürburgring 24 Hours. To achieve this, he needs to complete eight incident-free laps in an NLS race to earn his B Permit.

As a BMW factory driver, Rossi’s options are limited to teams that race BMWs, and he is considering a one-off appearance in the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie. Rossi has been involved in sports car racing since his retirement from MotoGP in 2021 and has competed in the FIA World Endurance Championship and the Intercontinental GT Challenge.

However, his schedule is busy, and he needs to find a weekend to get his permit. If he succeeds, it could set up a potential showdown with Max Verstappen, who made his Nürburgring 24 Hours debut earlier this year.

While Rossi has had success in sports car racing, including a victory at the 2025 Indianapolis 8 Hour, he is not as capable behind the wheel as Verstappen, who was phenomenal in his N24 debut. Nevertheless, fans will still be excited to see Rossi compete in the Nürburgring 24 Hours, and it could be a thrilling spectacle if Verstappen is also able to participate.