Valentino🎃 Rossi fell short of a podium finish on 🔯his debut in the World Endurance Championship.

Rossi and Team WRT teammates Maxime Martin and Ahmed Al Harthy finished fourth in the seasꦑ💧on-opening Qatar 1812km.

MotoGP legend Rossi was behind the wheel of th🎃e BMW M🔯4 in the LMGT3 class which has been introduced for 2024.

This year, Rossi wil💦l compete in the World Endurance Championship and the GT World Challenge.

The addition of his๊ W♚EC commitments is with a view to racing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans - one of his all-time dreams - later this year.

"That was my debut so I was excited," Rossi said🍰 to Eurosportಌ.

"I felt good, especially💎 in꧙ the first stint. I was fast.

"I kept a good pace. I felt good with the car.

"In the second stint, it was a bit more difficult because the track is very different compared to yesterday, because of a lot of rubber an꧂d a lot of grip.

"So you stress the tyres more.

"In the second stint, it was more tricky. For some reason, I h🥂ad more traffic.

"The cond𓃲ition of 🦹the track is in evolution. If you go out of the line..."

Rossi, now🎃 aged 44, is into his second season of four-wheel racing since retiring from MotoGP.

Buiꦍlding towards this year's 24 Hours of Le♔ Mans is his ongoing goal.