The No. 46 BMW M4 GT3 Evo fielded by Team WRT at Misano in July 2025 carried more weight than most GT3 entries. Raffaele Marciello's decisive pass on the AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3 No. 51 in the closing minutes sealed a result that was both a sporting achievement and a piece of crossover motorsport history — the number 46, inseparable from Valentino Rossi's two-wheel career, now attached to a GT3 race victory at the very circuit that bears his home town's name.
The BMW M4 GT3 Evo is a refined evolution of the M4 GT3, developed by BMW M Motorsport. Power comes from a 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged inline-six in GT3 specification. Introduced for the 2024 season, the Evo variant represents BMW M Motorsport's front-line GT3 programme, placing this car firmly at the contemporary end of a lineage that runs from the M3 GTR through the M6 GT3 to the current M4 generation.
Number 46, Misano, Three in a Row
Starting Race 1 of the GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli from third on the grid on 19 July 2025, Rossi and Marciello worked their way through the field before Marciello's late overtake on the AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3 No. 51 proved the race-winning move. Belgian outfit Team WRT — one of BMW M Motorsport's premier customer racing partners — had already secured consecutive Misano wins with Rossi in GTWC Sprint Cup competition, and this result made it three. For collectors of both MotoGP and GT racing, the No. 46 livery on a race-winning GT3 is as close to a crossover grail as the hobby produces.
Minichamps 1:18 Scale Model: Die-Cast with Full Openings
Minichamps renders the No. 46 Team WRT BMW M4 GT3 Evo as a 1:18 die-cast model with opening bonnet, doors and boot, an authentic interior, and a detailed engine compartment. Turning front wheels are also confirmed by supplier information. The die-cast construction at 1:18 gives the model the tactile substance that resin alternatives cannot match at this scale, while the opening features allow close inspection of the GT3 race preparation beneath the bodywork.
In the Display Cabinet
This model rewards close attention in any display cabinet. The No. 46 livery, the Team WRT branding and the race-accurate GT3 bodywork combine to give the piece a strong visual presence, while the opening bonnet and detailed engine compartment provide additional depth for those who choose to display it with the hood raised. Collectors focused on Rossi's four-wheel career have a result here that carries genuine narrative weight beyond a single podium.
