Valentino Rossi runner-up for first time on four wheels at Brands Hatch

Valentino Rossi and Maxime Martin ON THE PODIUM!!! pic.twitter.com/FbcbZ12ETv

— Brands Hatch (@Brands_Hatch) May 14, 2023

VALENTINO ROSSI IS A BRANDS HATCH PODIUM FINISHER! pic.twitter.com/pPa24leNxG

— Brands Hatch (@Brands_Hatch) May 14, 2023

Valentino Rossi crosses the line in runner-up spot and bags his first #FanatecGT Europe podium!#FanatecGT | #GTWorldChEu pic.twitter.com/xiJmpN5rXr

— Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS (@GTWorldChEu) May 14, 2023

It was the MotoGP legend’s first podium in the four-wheel championship that he joined last year.

Rossi and his teammate Maxime Martin earned the finish in the #46 BMW M4 GT3 for Team WRT.

It came in the second of two one-hour races on Sunday, part of the series’ Sprint Cup.

Mattia Drudi and Ricardo Feller won Race 2 for Tresor Orange in the #40 Audi but a maiden podium finish was enough to see Rossi celebrate in trademark over-the-top fashion.

Rossi said: “I am so happy about this second position and first podium! We got close some times last year and in Monza at the start of the season, and finally, it came.

"We all did a good job, the team, myself and Maxime, who put a mega lap time in qualifying. The pit stops were perfect, and the result is this podium, which is even more rewarding, as Sprint Cup races are more difficult.”

Maxime Martin added: “To finish second is of course a very good result. I had a clean start [to race two] and could stay in third position. The pace was good and improved after the safety car. We had a very good pit stop and Vale did a fantastic stint, bringing the car home safely. It’s the first podium for Vale and the first in Sprint for me, so we are very happy and I think we can aim at more good results during the season.”