The BMW M4 GT3, with which Valentino Rossi competed in his first-ever 24 Hours of Le Mans, was auctioned at RM Sotheby’s Munich for an impressive 646,250 euros – far exceeding the original estimate. Offered directly from BMW M Motorsport, the car attracted great interest from collectors due to its track record and connection to the nine-time MotoGP World Champion.
A proven racer with a real history
This is not just any M4 GT3 car. Chassis number 22-046 is the same BMW M4 GT3 that Rossi campaigned with Team WRT from 2023 to early 2025 in several championships, including the GT World Challenge Europe and the FIA World Endurance Championship. With its legendary number 46, the car gave Rossi his first GT3 victories – including the Road to Le Mans and a Sprint Cup win at Misano – as well as podium finishes at Imola, Fuji and in his WEC debut in Qatar.
His final appearance came at the 2025 Bathurst 12 Hours, where Rossi finished first in his class alongside Maxime Martin and Raffaele Marciello. After this race, BMW decommissioned the car and sent it straight to auction – it still bore the marks and signs of wear from the competition.
Received exactly as it was finished
Unlike most retired race cars that have been restored for display, Rossi’s M4 GT3 was sold just as it finished its final race. Every scratch, chip and rubber streak from Mount Panorama remains intact. To protect this authenticity, BMW Art Car designer Walter Maurer applied a special matte clear coat and added his signature alongside those of Rossi, Marciello and Charles Weerts.
Beneath the weathered bodywork sits BMW’s P58 twin-turbo inline-six engine, mated to a six-speed sequential gearbox – the same setup used in BMW’s current GT3 program. The neon yellow WRT livery and number 46 make the car instantly recognizable to fans.
A bidding war in Munich
Listed with an estimated price of between 435,000 and 485,000 euros, bidding at RM Sotheby’s Motorworld Munich quickly exceeded expectations. The winning bid was €646,250 (£561,480 or $752,000), reflecting the car’s unique provenance and history. For comparison: the road-legal BMW M4 CS Edition VR46 – a limited homage to Rossi – was sold out immediately after its market launch.
While chassis 22-046 ends up in a private collection, Rossi’s racing career continues with BMW and the WRT team. Just last weekend he won the 8 Hours of Indianapolis together with Kelvin van der Linde and Charles Weerts – his first victory at the Brickyard since his MotoGP triumph in 2008. Rossi’s endurance season ends at the beginning of November with the final round of the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship in Bahrain, where he will once again compete in the colors of BMW.
