Valentino Rossi claims GT World Challenge Europe podium at Brands Hatch, watched by Lando Norris

Valentino Rossi claimed a hugely popular first podium in GT World Challenge Europe at Brands Hatch on Sunday, exceeding his target of a top-five finish.

The MotoGP legend, who switched from bikes to cars last season, finished runner-up in the second Sprint Cup race with Belgian team-mate Maxime Martin.

Rossi produced a mistake-free stint in his Team WRT-run BMW M4 to finish just under four seconds behind the Audi R8 entry of Ricardo Feller and Mattia Drudi.

Martin, who has replaced Frédéric Vervisch as Rossi's team-mate this season, had begun the one-hour race in third place and pitted from that position at half-distance.

The pair then benefitted from slow stops by the #27 Sainteloc Junior Team and #11 Comtoyou Racing Audi R8s which had run ahead of Martin during the first stint.

Rossi rejoined in second place and held that position to the flag, beating reigning champion Charles Weerts who also runs with the WRT squad.

"I'm so happy, it's my first podium," Rossi, 44, said.

"A podium is always special but the first one is even more.

"We had the chance in Monza [at the first Endurance Cup round] but we were unlucky, but Max [Martin] did the job in qualifying and gave the car to me in a great position, and I had good pace.

"Thanks to everybody at the team, I am very happy."

Rossi, who raced at Brands Hatch for the first time last season, finished 15th in a quiet first race won by Mercedes pair Raffaele Marciello and Timur Boguslavskiy.

In a press conference on Saturday evening, the seven-time MotoGP world champion said he wanted to improve on the eighth-place finish he achieved at the circuit in 2022 by getting in the top five.

The Italian hero told KentOnline how Sheene Curve is his favourite bend on the "great" 2.4-mile