Today, the auction house RM Sotheby’s will offer in Munich a piece that transcends the merely mechanical. Neither more nor less than the BMW M4 GT3 chassis 22-046, the same one with which Valentino Rossi He conquered podiums, victories and the respect of international motorsports. A car that not only embodies the transition of the “Doctor” on four wheels, but represents a second sporting youth that has already become a legend.
When Rossi announced his retirement from the MotoGP World Championship at the end of 2021, few imagined that his thirst for competition would still be so alive. With nine world titles and an indelible legacy on two wheels, the Italian could have retired in the Olympus of champions. However, as we all know, the one from Tavullia decided to continue his career in endurance motorsport.
BMW M Motorsport He saw in him, obviously, something more than a media icon. So, since his debut in the GT World Challenge Europe in 2022 with the WRT team, Rossi He showed that his talent was as adaptable as his determination. The results soon arrived: victories at Misano, podiums at Zandvoort and Brands Hatch, and participations in legendary races such as the 24 Hours of Spa, the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 12 Hours of Bathurst.
Now, as we are telling you, the car that is being auctioned is one of the most recognizable in the GT3 paddock. This BMW M4 GT3with chassis number 22-046, has competed in 27 official races between 2023 and 2025, and is the first car with which Valentino Rossi He competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, an event that marked his consolidation as an endurance driver. Furthermore, with this same car he achieved his first absolute victory at Misano 2023.
The unit that RM Sotheby’s offered at auction fully maintains its competition configuration, including the original decoration of BMW M Motorsport and, of course, the legendary yellow number 46 that has accompanied Rossi throughout his career.
Unlike other restored racing cars, this M4 GT3 It is preserved just as it crossed the finish line in Bathurst, with the inevitable signs of wear that are, in reality, war scars. The body has been protected with a matte clear coat to preserve its authenticity.
This is Valentino Rossi’s BMW M4 GT3
With 590 hpweighing just 1,285 kilos and worth around half a million euros, this BMW M4 GT3 It is a real beast of a circuit. Under its hood hides a 3.0-liter biturbo inline six-cylinder engine (P58), derived directly from the S58 that powers the M4 street, although here it has been taken to the extreme.
The power varies according to the regulations of each championship, but its lightness (about 500 kilos less than the M4 Competition) makes a huge difference in performance and behavior. RM Sotheby’s estimates that the car will be awarded for a figure between 435,000 and 485,000 euros.
The auction of M4 GT3 22-046 is not only an opportunity for collectors, but a reminder that the legend of Rossi continues to be written. Whoever gets this car will not only acquire a work of German engineering, they will take a fragment of the living history of motor sport into their garage.
