Peter Dempsey and Rui Andrade will no longer contest the 2026 GT World Challenge (GTWC) Europe powered by AWS Endurance Cup finale at Portimão, as the scheduling clash with the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) continues to force changes across the 61-car grid.
Both drivers initially appeared on the entry list for the three-hour race at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, but have subsequently opted to prioritise their WEC commitments at Barcelona. Lucas Wolf will replace Dempsey at Ziggo Sport Tempesta Racing, while Marcos Siebert takes Andrade’s place in Team Motopark’s Mercedes-AMG line-up.
The withdrawals reduce the number of drivers attempting both events to four, with several other teams also confirming changes ahead of Saturday’s race. Among the notable additions are British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) race winner Daryl De Leon, Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup runner-up Robert de Haan and former GTWC Europe competitor Alexey Nesov.
The revisions come as the championship prepares for its final round of 2026, with several Drivers’ and Teams’ titles still undecided despite Mercedes-AMG Team Mann-Filter having already secured the Endurance Cup Overall Drivers’ crown.
Dempsey and Andrade prioritise WEC commitments
The scheduling conflict between GTWC Europe and the FIA WEC has complicated preparations for several teams, particularly those relying on drivers competing across both championships.
Organisers moved the Portimão finale to Saturday, 17 October, in an attempt to reduce the impact of the clash. However, the logistical demands of competing at two different circuits during the same weekend have continued to influence driver availability.
Dempsey initially appeared on the Portimão entry list alongside Eddie Cheever and Christopher Froggatt in the #93 Ziggo Sport Tempesta Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo. The Irish driver recently secured the Sprint Cup Bronze Drivers’ Championship alongside Cheever, completing a remarkable run of four consecutive class victories across Zandvoort and Barcelona.
Their success included a fifth-place overall finish in the opening Barcelona race, followed by another Bronze Cup victory in Race 2 that confirmed their title.
However, Dempsey will now focus exclusively on Barcelona rather than attempting to compete at both events. Andrade has made the same decision, withdrawing from the #19 Team Motopark Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO after initially appearing alongside Christian Mansell and Aaron Walker.
The changes leave four drivers attempting the demanding double programme, reducing the original number of six.
Lucas Wolf returns to replace Dempsey at Ziggo Sport Tempesta
Ziggo Sport Tempesta Racing has recruited Lucas Wolf to replace Dempsey in its #93 Porsche, with the German joining Cheever and Froggatt for the final Endurance Cup round.
Wolf returns to GTWC Europe competition after an extended absence, having last raced in the championship in 2014. However, he resumed competitive racing earlier in 2026 through the International GT Open, giving him some recent experience ahead of his return to the SRO paddock.
His arrival changes the composition of a crew that enjoyed considerable Sprint Cup success during the closing stages of the season. Although Dempsey and Cheever have already secured their title, the team’s Endurance Cup commitments remain important as it prepares to conclude the campaign.
Ziggo Sport Tempesta currently occupies fourth in the combined Bronze Cup Teams’ Championship, only one point behind Paradine Competition. The standings following the Barcelona Sprint Cup finale also place the team within reach of second, highlighting the importance of another competitive performance.
Wolf will therefore face the challenge of adapting to his new teammates and the Porsche while helping Tempesta maintain its momentum from the final Sprint Cup rounds.
Siebert replaces Andrade in Team Motopark’s Silver Cup entry
Team Motopark has also revised its line-up, bringing in Marcos Siebert to replace Andrade in the #19 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO.
Siebert returns to GTWC Europe after competing with AF Corse during the 2025 campaign, giving him experience of the championship’s multi-class environment. He will partner Mansell and Walker in the Silver Cup, forming a revised combination for the team’s appearance at Portimão.
The German outfit has entered two Mercedes-AMG cars for the season finale, expanding the manufacturer’s presence on the grid. Alongside its Silver Cup entry, Motopark will field the #20 Mercedes-AMG in Pro for Nikita Mazepin, Philip Ellis and Dominik Baumann.
Although Andrade’s withdrawal removes one of the drivers originally planning to contest both GTWC Europe and the WEC during the same weekend, the team retains a competitive Silver Cup combination through Siebert’s arrival.
Motopark’s participation also adds another established international racing operation to the Endurance Cup field, with the team looking to make an impression during the final event of the season.
The revised line-ups appear on the official Portimão entry list, which confirms the driver combinations across the 61-car field.
Only four drivers remain committed to both championships
Following Dempsey and Andrade’s withdrawals, four drivers remain scheduled to compete at both Portimão and Barcelona during the weekend.
Garage 59’s Thomas Fleming and Benjamin Goethe will contest the GTWC Europe finale in the #58 McLaren 720S GT3 EVO alongside Louis Prette. The trio remains firmly involved in the Endurance Cup Gold title battle, making the race particularly important despite Fleming and Goethe’s additional commitments.
Comtoyou Racing’s Mattia Drudi also intends to compete in both events. The Italian will share the #7 Aston Martin Vantage GT3 EVO with Nicki Thiim and Ross Gunn, with the latter replacing Marco Sørensen because of his WEC programme.
Meanwhile, Darren Leung completes the group of drivers attempting both races. The British driver will compete in Paradine Competition’s #991 BMW M4 GT3 EVO alongside James Kellett and returning teammate Robert de Haan.
The four drivers face a demanding weekend as they balance travel, preparation and competition across two separate championships. Their participation also provides an unusual challenge for the teams involved, which must accommodate drivers who have considerably less time available for preparation than their full-time competitors.
De Leon and de Haan join revised Paradine BMW line-ups
Paradine Competition has confirmed changes to both of its BMW M4 GT3 EVO entries, introducing two notable drivers for the Endurance Cup finale.
BTCC race winner Daryl De Leon will make his GTWC Europe debut in the #992 Silver Cup BMW, joining Josh Rowledge and Christian Hahn. His arrival adds another driver with experience from a different racing discipline to the championship’s extensive grid.
The transition will present a new challenge for De Leon, who must adapt to the demands of GT3 endurance racing and the characteristics of the BMW. However, his touring car background provides experience of competitive multi-car racing and the close battles that regularly feature throughout the GTWC Europe field.
Meanwhile, Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup runner-up Robert de Haan will return to Paradine’s #991 Bronze Cup entry, reuniting with Leung and Kellett. De Haan’s participation strengthens a crew that remains involved in the Endurance Cup Bronze Championship battle.
The revised combinations give Paradine two competitive entries across different categories, with the team aiming to conclude its campaign on a strong note.
Tresor Attempto and Comtoyou confirm further changes
Several other GTWC Europe teams have introduced new drivers for Portimão, with Tresor Attempto Racing and Comtoyou Racing among the operations revising their combinations.
Alexey Nesov will join Tresor Attempto Racing’s #88 Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II, partnering Carrie Schreiner and Daniele Di Amato in the Bronze Cup. Nesov began the 2026 season with Pure Rxcing in a Porsche before switching teams for the finale, introducing another change to the Audi outfit’s driver programme.
Comtoyou Racing has meanwhile recruited Valentin Hasse-Clot for its #11 Aston Martin Vantage GT3 EVO. The French driver will join Marcelo Tomasoni and Aaron Muss, becoming the latest addition to a line-up that has undergone several changes throughout the season.
The Belgian team will also field its established Pro entry, with Drudi, Thiim and Gunn sharing the #7 Aston Martin. Gunn’s appearance follows Sørensen’s decision to prioritise his WEC commitments, leaving Comtoyou with an experienced replacement for the final race.
These adjustments highlight the wider effect of the calendar clash, with several teams recruiting drivers who can integrate quickly into existing programmes despite limited preparation time.
Ferrari and Corvette teams finalise revised combinations
The changes extend beyond the leading Mercedes-AMG, BMW and Audi teams, with several Ferrari entries also confirming updated driver combinations.
Rinaldi Racing has recruited Axcil Jefferies for its #45 Ferrari 296 GT3 EVO, where he will partner Dylan Medler and David Perel in the Silver Cup. Jefferies brings additional GT racing experience to the outfit as it prepares for the three-hour finale.
Meanwhile, JMW Motorsport has confirmed Giacomo Altoè and Casper Stevenson alongside Konsta Lappalainen in its #60 Ferrari. The combination will compete in the Gold Cup, joining an increasingly competitive field featuring several established international GT teams.
Steller Motorsport has also revised its line-up, adding Kasper Jensen to the #24 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R alongside Mikkel Mac and Dennis Lind. The British team will contest the Gold Cup, where several championship positions remain open heading into Portimão.
Elsewhere, AF Corse’s Ferrari programme has already undergone significant changes because of the WEC conflict. Albert Costa replaces Sean Gelael in the #50 entry alongside Arthur Leclerc and Lilou Wadoux, while the #51 Ferrari features Tommaso Mosca, Lorenzo Ferrari and Nicola Lacorte.
Together, the changes demonstrate the extent to which the calendar clash has reshaped the final GTWC Europe grid.
Endurance Cup title settled as Misano appeal remains unresolved
Although several driver combinations have changed, the championship’s leading contenders still face significant battles during the Portimão finale.
Mercedes-AMG Team Mann-Filter arrives having already secured the Endurance Cup Overall Drivers’ Championship through Lucas Auer, Maro Engel and Luca Stolz. The trio secured the title at the Nürburgring, extending a remarkably consistent campaign that included three second-place finishes during the opening rounds.
However, the combined Overall Drivers’ Championship remains less straightforward because of the unresolved appeal involving the #48 Mercedes-AMG at Misano.
Auer and Engel originally finished third in the second Sprint Cup race, but officials subsequently disqualified their car after identifying an infringement involving a modified wheel bearing. Winward Racing appealed the decision, and officials suspended the disqualification while the case proceeds.
The Misano disqualification and appeal therefore remain relevant to the combined standings. Should the original penalty ultimately stand, Auer and Engel would lose the points associated with their third-place finish, potentially altering the championship outcome.
Ricardo Feller and Bastian Buus remain among their closest challengers after securing the Sprint Cup Drivers’ Championship for Lionspeed GP, while Team WRT’s Kelvin van der Linde and Charles Weerts also retain a mathematical opportunity.
Gold Cup title battle remains closely contested
The Endurance Cup Gold Championship represents one of the closest remaining battles, with three crews retaining opportunities to secure the Drivers’ title.
ROWE Racing’s Ugo de Wilde, Jens Klingmann and Tim Tramnitz lead the standings by just three points heading into Portimão. The BMW trio has maintained its advantage through consistent performances, but the narrow margin leaves it vulnerable to a strong result from its closest rivals.
Garage 59’s Fleming, Goethe and Prette remain firmly in contention, making the McLaren team’s final race particularly important. Fleming and Goethe’s decision to attempt the Portimão and Barcelona double adds another challenge to their preparations, although the combination has demonstrated competitive pace throughout the season.
Selected Car Racing’s Simon Birch, Malte Ebdrup and Frederik Schandorff also retain a mathematical opportunity to claim the title in their #71 Ferrari 296 GT3 EVO.
The three teams will therefore enter Saturday’s race with different objectives but a shared need to maximise their results. Qualifying could also prove important, particularly given the small gap separating the leading contenders.
With 61 cars sharing the circuit, traffic management and pit-stop execution may ultimately play decisive roles in determining the Gold Cup Champions.
Silver Cup settled while Bronze Cup fight continues
While the Gold Cup remains undecided, Team WRT has already secured the major Silver Cup honours through Ignacio Montenegro and Matisse Lismont.
The pairing completed a successful campaign that delivered the Sprint Cup, Endurance Cup and combined Overall titles, establishing itself as the leading Silver Cup combination across both racing formats.
However, the Endurance Cup Bronze Drivers’ Championship remains open, with Kessel Racing’s Dustin Blattner holding a 16-point advantage over Paradine Competition’s Leung and Kellett.
Although Dennis Marschall currently heads the Bronze Cup points classification, his FIA Platinum driver rating prevents him from securing the Endurance Cup title independently of an eligible Bronze-rated teammate. Blattner therefore remains central to Kessel’s title aspirations, particularly after missing the Nürburgring round that Marschall contested.
The combined Bronze Championship presents a different situation, with Marschall leading Salikhov and Dienst by 20.5 points. His eligibility differs between the two competitions, leaving separate outcomes possible at Portimão.
Kessel Racing has already secured the Endurance Cup Bronze Teams’ Championship, but the final Drivers’ standings remain among the most important unresolved class battles.
Portimão prepares for final GTWC Europe race of 2026
The 2026 Portimão Endurance Cup finale will bring the GTWC Europe season to a close with a 61-car field, revised driver combinations and several championship battles still to be decided.
Among the weekend’s principal attractions will be Max Verstappen’s GTWC Europe debut with Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing. The four-time Formula 1 World Champion will share the #3 Mercedes-AMG with Chris Lulham and Ben Barnicoat, replacing the team’s regular combination following the WEC-related absences of Dani Juncadella and Jules Gounon.
Meanwhile, Dempsey and Andrade’s withdrawals have further reduced the number of drivers attempting both events, leaving Fleming, Goethe, Drudi and Leung as the remaining competitors planning to race in Portugal and Spain.
The revised line-ups will now complete Friday’s practice and qualifying sessions ahead of Saturday’s three-hour contest, which begins at 17:00 local Portuguese time.
With the Endurance Cup Gold and Bronze Drivers’ Championships still open and the combined Overall title battle carrying additional uncertainty because of the Misano appeal, Portimão promises a competitive conclusion to the 2026 campaign.
The late driver changes add another dimension to the finale, placing greater emphasis on preparation and teamwork as competitors attempt to secure the remaining titles.
