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 Grand Prix loop.

"The best section for me is turn five, six and seven (Hawthorn, Westfield and Sheene Curve), the three right-handers, that are very fast and the last one is also blind," Rossi said.

"Usually, with this type of car it is always a bit difficult to overtake and this track is quite narrow so it's not easy, but when you drive at the limit it is great fun.

“I like it a lot and, for me, Brands Hatch is the Donington for cars.

"It is very similar, very technical and fast, with a lot of quick corners and a lot of ups and downs and greenery. It is a great track."

Rossi was congratulated by McLaren Formula 1 star Lando Norris, who spent the day at the circuit and posed for photos with fans in the paddock.

The pair first met at the 2019 British MotoGP at Silverstone and have kept in contact since Rossi’s retirement from motorcycle racing in November 2021.

On Sunday evening, Norris shared a photo on social media captioned “reunited with the goat [greatest of all time]”.

In March, it was confirmed the Sprint Cup will continue to race at Brands Hatch until at least 2025.

The 29-car entry over the weekend was the biggest grid the championship had brought to Kent since 2017.