MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi has decided 𝔍on his 2022 sportscar racing plans.

After retiring from two-wheel racing at the end of last season, then being force🉐d to miss the Gulf 12 Hours due to precautionary Covid self-isolation, Rossi has signed to race the full ten-round 'Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS' season with Team WRT.

The nine time world champion, 🔥who tested a WRT Audi at Valencia last 🧔December, will compete in both the Endurance Cup and Sprint Cup alongside official Audi Sport drivers.

The Sprint schedule includes a home event at 🏅Misano (1-3 July), while the Endurance Cup itin♑erary features an Italian round at Imola (1-3 April) as well as a maiden attempt at the 24 Hours of Spa (28-31 July).

“I am delighted to join Team WRT fo🌊r a full Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by𒅌 AWS programme," Rossi said.

"Everybody knows that I have always been a great car racing fan and that I have al🐼ways been interested👍 in racing on four wheels once my MotoGP career would come to an end.

"Now I am completely available to devote myself to a car racing programme at a𓄧 hi♒gh level and with the right professional approach.

"Team WRT is the perfe🌼ct fit I was looking for and I am anxious to start🌃 this new adventure with them.”

By joining 🌳Team WRT, Rossi has aligned himself with the most su✱ccessful operation in Fanatec GT World Challenge history, amassing 28 overall teams' and drivers' titles since 2011.

The Belgian outfit has been particularly dominant in the Sprint Cup and is also a perennial contender for victory at the 24 Hours 💧ꦉof Spa.

“I am sure that a lot of fans will be as pleased as we are that Rossi is starting a new career on four wheels and that he is doing it in GT, with Team WRT and Audi," said⛦ WRT Team Principal Vincent Voss💞e.

"We all know what a great motorbike champion and sports figure Vale is, but most of all, he is a true racer and a very professional and competitive sportsman, eager to be as successful as possible in the new challenge he has decided to embrace. This is exactly why we really wanted to work wit🥃h him.

"The test we made at Valencia was extremely positive for both parties, in terms of technical feedback and working approach, and we took things from there. We warmly welcome Vale in the WRT fꦅamily and I am sure that we are off to a very exciting experience for both.”

Ros♉si is not a complete newcomer to the series having contested a pair of Endurance races at Monza and the Nürburgring during the 2012 season.

He will begin his lꩲatest endeavour by joining Team WRT at the official test days at Circuit Paul Ricard on 7-8 March. The Endurance Cup season then kicks off at I𓂃mola, while the Sprint Cup schedule gets underway at Brands Hatch on 30 April- 1 May.

Stéphane Ratel, SRO Motorsports Group foun🥃der & CEO, said: "I am delighted to welcome Valentino Rossi to the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered꧃ by AWS grid for 2022.

"Having followed his illustrious career in motorcycle racing for more than two decades, it is truly exci🅰ting to witness the start of this new chapter in GT machine﷽ry.

"To attract a competitor of Valentino's stature is a tremendous vote of confidence for our championship and for GT racing in general. He will bring new energy to our paddock and I look forward to watc🍸hing him on-track this season."