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Tomorrow will be another first day of school for Valentino Rossi, the umpteenth in a career that seems endless. No longer on a motorbike but in a car, in his second season in the GT World Challenge Europe. Even if the identity card says otherwise, the Doctor still seems to have the enthusiasm of a rookie kid.
“I still feel the excitement of the first race, it's a good feeling - he confessed with a smile - There's tension, but compared to when I was in MotoGP, I feel it better now that I'm racing in a car, I'm calmer, if that's possible to say. I know that tomorrow, on the grid, I will have that feeling again which doesn't always make you feel good, but it's nice."
The season hasn't started yet and there's already talk about your future in the WEC.
“It will all depend on my performance, my goal is to race the 24 Hours of Le Mans, but I also really like this championship. Maybe I could do a little on one side and a little on the other, but honestly, I don't know what will happen. I know I'm in one of the benchmark teams in this championship and BMW gives me a lot of support, I feel I have the company behind me more than last year. There are so many nice races to do in the world, I don't really know what will happen, I don't set goals".
So, let's think about Monza.
“I'm happy to start, this is a special place for me, because it's in Italy and because I've raced a lot of rallies on this track in more than 20 years. I like both the place and the circuit, but this year there are a lot of changes for me, the car above all".
How are things with the BMW M4?
“I raced outside Europe in Dubai and Bathurst and had good feelings. We did a lot of tests in March and at some tracks we went faster and at others less. It is very different from the Audi and both the team and I need to do the kilometres to get to know it and exploit its full potential. In this championship, you never know your level until you race your first race."
What are the biggest differences compared to the R8 you drove last year?
“Definitely the engine, this one is turbocharged and has a different character. The Audi is a very competitive car but difficult to drive, a bit unstable, while the BMW gives you confidence. Furthermore, the M4 has a front engine, and you need to understand how to manage it under braking".
In pre-qualifying you made a mistake right at the corner of the Parabolica, crashing into the barriers.
“Luckily, I'm fine, just a slight back pain from the bump, and the car will be fine for tomorrow. It was a pity, I'm disappointed because we lost almost an hour of practice and my teammates weren't able to drive. I braked too hard, put the wheels on the white line and lost the car”.
What can you do in the race?
“At Monza time is made up on braking, where we still struggle. The Mercedes are fast, as always, and the Audis too have something more. But in 3 hours of competition anything can happen. Luckily my teammates, Farfus and Martin know the car well and can go fast right away."
