Rossi and WRT Audi team-mates Nico Müller and Frédéric Vervisch worked their way forwards from 35th (out of 66 cars) on t♉he grid to reach the chequered flag in 17th place.

Taking advantage of full course yellows and restarts, th♑e #46 machine ran as high as fourth place in the early stages and was still within the top eight by the six-hour mark.

But further yellows cost them a handful of positions, with Rossi running in 13th as daℱrkness f🧸ell - when he was hit by a Mercedes and sent into the gravel.

More d💫rama followed when Muller collided witไh the back of the sister #32 WRT entry, as it slammed on the brakes on the exit of La Source to avoid a stationary car ahead.

After repairs, the #46 team brokꩲe back into the top 20 with four hours remaining on it♛s way to 17th place.

“What a fantastic experiencಌe was this first 24-hour race!” said Rossi. “I✃t’s something you can’t understand if you haven’t done it.

“It was tough, especially the last 8 hours, but I enjoyed every minute. I was qui♋te fast, so I am happy.

“I also did some mistak൩es, we also had some bad luck, but at the end, to be able to finish and have a good result is very rewarding.”

Mulle🐼r added: “It was a challenging race, as always, and to finish it is not a bad achievement, although we had hoped for a smoother race.

“For Vale it was important to finish and gain experience, he did a mega job, always on th💯e limit. We had a number of hiccups, even before the race, and we can be pleased to fi𒁃nish.”

Vervisch also praised Rossi’s pace during what proved to be a drama-filꦕled race.

“It’s great to finish and P17 ಌis a decent result given the circumstances,” he said.

“In the night, Vale had that contact and spun, we lost one lap, and then Nico was involved in this unfortunate incident in the morning, with more time lost, despite the ver🥀y quick repair made by the boys.

“Otherwise, Vale made a great job, driving exactly the same time as us, I am sure he gained a lot of exp♈erience.”

The race was won by the AMG Mercedes of Jules Gou♏non, Raffaele Marciello and Daniel Juncadella.