Rossi finished in 13th and eighth in a Team WRT Audi R8 in🐟 a pair of sprint races in the GT World Challenge Europe on Sunday at Brands Hatch in the UK.

The nine-time motorcycle ⛎racing world champion had to steer past a crash which took out three cars on the very first turn of his second outin🐈g since retiring from MotoGP.

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“In Race 1, I was lucky to esca🎃pe any problem at first corner and then I basically stayed where I was, Rossi said.

“Race 2 was much better, I am very happy because I sensed a big step forward in my driving and💧 I improved a lot my 𝔉lap times, especially towards the end of the race, when I was feeling more comfortable with the car and the track. I really enjoyed those final laps!” 

His teammate Frederic Vervisch said: 🌊“We scဣored our first points of the season and are very happy with the performance. 

“We are progressing well, and Vale is learning fast and making big steps. We now need to focus on improvinꦅg both of us our pace in qualifying.” 

Team WRT Principal Vincent Vosse said: “It’s also the first points for Vale ♌and Fred after a very consistent race. 

“Vale really did a big step forward and his lap times at the end of ꦍRace 2 wer🔴e among the best.” 

Rossi and Vervisch finished in P13ܫ with a time of +33.760 then in P8 with a time of ౠ+40.216.

His ♏next outing will be 13-15 May at Magny-Co🐻urs in France.

Why Rossi races on after retiring from MotoGP

“I alwaysꦑ had an idea to race with cars, since when I started with motorcycles," he said on Friday.

“This idea with🌺 GT3 helped me to stop with the ꦡbikes!

“To stop was very difficult. I drove cars i𒁏n the p🙈ast just to improve my skills. 

“I want to be competitive.

“You need something - you need to feel the adrenaline, to remain a d🦩river, to remain on the track, to jump in the car, to wear the helmet.

Rossiꦓ warned his new rivals: “The goo🥃d drivers have a big difference compared to me.

“My lap times were not so bad. But I need to arrive at that performance earlier. I need to improve m🙈y skills. I am not far from the top guys but they are faster than me."

The verdict on Rossi from his teammate

Vervisch said ab🐟out Rossi’s appr🎐enticeship in a new sport: “The best I’ve had so far. I am experienced with driver coaching. 

“What he has done is impressive. He is being modest. You tell him something once♓, and he does it.

“For him - heౠ tries, it doesn’t work, he says ‘OK, try again’.

“He can do the same as us, or even better. He is just yet to bring it all 🍃together.”