Valentino Rossi fell short of a podium finish on his debut in the World Enduranc﷽e Championship.

Rossi and Team WRT teammates Maxime Martin and Ahmed Al Harthy finisheꦅd fourth in the season-opening✃ Qatar 1812km.

MotoGP legend Rossi was behind the wheel of the BMW M4 in the LMGT3 class which has been introduced fo🐻r 2024.

Thi𝓡s year, Rossi will compete in the Wor𓂃ld Endurance Championship and the GT World Challenge.

The addition of his WEC commitments is with a view to racing in the 24 Hours of Le M𓂃ans - one of his all-time dreams ꧃- later this year.

"That was 🎀my debut so I was excited," Rossi said to Eurosport.

"I felt good, especiall♍y in the first stint. I w🌟as 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 o🍌f a lot of rubber and a lot of grip.

"So you stress the tyres more.

"In the seco🐷nd stint, it was more tricky. For some reason, I had more ☂traffic.

"The 🎐condition of the track🌠 is in evolution. If you go out of the line..."

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

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