Valentino Rossi Saves BMW V12 LMR from Disaster in Goodwood Spin

The BMW V12 LMR made a dramatic return to the track at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, but not in the way anyone expected. Gone is the classic white paint job, replaced by a bold Monster Energy livery. Seven-time MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi took the wheel of the iconic Le Mans-winning racer for a high-speed demonstration run.

What started as a showcase nearly turned into a crash when the car spun out on the second corner.

Rossi, now 47 and racing a BMW M4 GT3 in the GT World Challenge Europe, lost the rear end on a visibly dirty section of the track. With nearly 600 horsepower from a naturally aspirated V12 pushing the lightweight 900-kilogram machine, traction was a serious challenge. But Rossi’s reflexes kicked in.

He executed a perfect 360-degree spin, actually two 180s, keeping all four wheels on the asphalt and avoiding the hay bales entirely. The car came to a stop without a scratch, and Rossi drove off with only his pride possibly bruised.

The incident highlights how quickly things can go wrong, even for a professional. Cold tires or track debris likely contributed to the loss of grip. The V12 LMR, which won Le Mans in 1999 with a top speed of 214 mph, remains a tail-happy beast. 75-liter version in models like the Ghost and Phantom.

For now, the roar of that naturally aspirated S70/3 engine at Goodwood was a welcome reminder of racing’s golden era.