Four-time Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen will make his GT World Challenge (GTWC) Europe powered by AWS debut at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimão, Portugal, on Saturday, 17 October 2026.
The Dutch driver will compete in the three-hour Endurance Cup season finale, sharing the #3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO with Chris Lulham and Ben Barnicoat. The trio will race for Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing, joining a 61-car field featuring some of the most accomplished drivers in international GT racing.
Verstappen’s appearance also creates an opportunity for a highly anticipated contest with nine-time motorcycle World Champion Valentino Rossi, who will compete in Team WRT’s BMW M4 GT3 EVO. However, the pair will face strong competition from established GT3 specialists, including Maro Engel, Thomas Preining, Mirko Bortolotti and Kelvin van der Linde.
Here is everything you need to know about Verstappen’s GTWC Europe debut, including his teammates, car, key rivals, race format and the weekend schedule.
Why is Verstappen racing at Portimão?
Verstappen’s participation follows a scheduling clash between the GTWC Europe finale and the FIA World Endurance Championship’s inaugural 6 Hours of Barcelona, which takes place during the same weekend.
The conflict has forced several teams to change their regular driver line-ups, including Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing. Dani Juncadella and Jules Gounon, who ordinarily compete alongside Lulham in the Endurance Cup, will instead fulfil their WEC commitments with Genesis Magma Racing and Alpine respectively.
Their absence created two vacancies in the #3 Mercedes-AMG, providing Verstappen with an opportunity to compete in his own team’s car. Barnicoat will fill the remaining seat, joining Lulham for the three-hour contest.
Although this will mark Verstappen’s first GTWC Europe appearance, his team has competed in the championship throughout 2026. The operation switched to Mercedes-AMG machinery this year, with 2 Seas Motorsport overseeing its racing activities.
The team has already achieved competitive results, including a maiden overall Sprint Cup victory at Magny-Cours and its first Endurance Cup podium at the Nürburgring.
Verstappen will now aim to build on those performances as he makes his first competitive appearance with the team in GTWC Europe.
Who are Verstappen’s teammates?
Verstappen will share the #3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO with two British drivers who bring different backgrounds and experience to the line-up.
Chris Lulham
Chris Lulham has an established relationship with Verstappen through sim racing, having competed with Team Redline before progressing into professional GT competition. He has subsequently become an important part of Verstappen Racing’s real-world programme.
The pair also have previous experience sharing a GT3 car. In September 2025, they won the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie NLS9 race in a Ferrari 296 GT3, demonstrating their competitiveness against established endurance racing competitors.
Lulham has continued developing his experience during the 2026 GTWC Europe season, competing in both Sprint and Endurance Cup events. His familiarity with the team and its Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO will provide valuable continuity as Verstappen and Barnicoat join the line-up.
Ben Barnicoat
Ben Barnicoat, meanwhile, brings extensive experience in international GT and endurance racing. The 29-year-old British driver competes as a Lexus factory driver in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, where he races the Lexus RC F GT3 for Vasser Sullivan.
Barnicoat won the 2023 IMSA GTD Pro Championship alongside Jack Hawksworth and has claimed victories at several major endurance events. He also previously competed in GTWC Europe and spent several years within McLaren’s factory driver programme.
His experience managing tyres, traffic and race strategy across longer endurance contests could prove particularly valuable for the new three-driver combination.
Together, Verstappen, Lulham and Barnicoat bring Formula 1 experience, sim-racing expertise and extensive GT3 knowledge to the #3 Mercedes-AMG.
What car will Verstappen drive?
Verstappen will compete in the Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO, a front-engined, rear-wheel-drive GT3 car powered by a naturally aspirated 6.3-litre V8 engine.
The car produces approximately 550 horsepower, although its performance varies according to the Balance of Performance (BoP) regulations. It also features a six-speed sequential gearbox and aerodynamic components designed specifically for GT racing.
Unlike Formula 1 machinery, GT3 cars use production-based platforms and feature driver aids such as anti-lock braking systems and traction control. They also produce considerably less aerodynamic downforce than modern F1 cars, creating different demands in braking, cornering and tyre management.
The regulations aim to balance the performance of different manufacturers, allowing cars with considerably different technical characteristics to compete against each other.
This will be particularly relevant at Portimão, where Verstappen’s Mercedes-AMG will compete directly against Rossi’s BMW M4 GT3 EVO.
Rossi’s BMW uses a 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged straight-six engine, producing up to approximately 590 horsepower before BoP adjustments. Despite the different engine configurations, the two cars compete under the same GT3 regulations.
Consequently, outright engine specifications do not necessarily determine which car will perform better. Circuit characteristics, BoP adjustments, tyre management and driver performance can all influence the competitive order.
Has Verstappen raced in GT3 before?
Although Portimão will mark Verstappen’s GTWC Europe debut, he already has experience competing in GT3 machinery.
The Dutch driver claimed victory during his first Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie appearance in September 2025, sharing a Ferrari 296 GT3 with Lulham. The pair delivered an impressive performance on the Nürburgring Nordschleife, winning by more than 20 seconds.
Verstappen subsequently made his debut at the Nürburgring 24 Hours in May 2026, competing in a Mercedes-AMG GT3 alongside Gounon, Juncadella and Auer.
The #3 crew challenged near the front for much of the event, with Verstappen demonstrating competitive pace against several established GT racing specialists. However, a mechanical failure ended the team’s race during the closing stages, denying the Dutchman an opportunity to challenge for victory.
Portimão therefore represents his return to competitive GT3 racing after several months away from the category. However, the three-hour format will provide a different challenge from the Nürburgring 24 Hours, with less time available to recover from mistakes or strategic setbacks.
Verstappen vs Rossi: Who else will he race against?
One of the most anticipated aspects of the Portimão finale will be Verstappen’s first race against Valentino Rossi.
The Italian, who secured nine motorcycle World Championships before retiring from MotoGP, has since established himself as a competitive GT driver. He will share Team WRT’s #46 BMW M4 GT3 EVO with factory drivers Max Hesse and Neil Verhagen.
Both cars will compete in the Pro category, meaning Verstappen and Rossi could potentially battle directly for overall positions.
However, the 61-car entry list features numerous established GT3 competitors who will also challenge for strong results.
Among the notable entrants are:
- Maro Engel, Lucas Auer and Luca Stolz: The newly crowned Endurance Cup Drivers’ Champions will compete in the #48 Mercedes-AMG Team Mann-Filter entry.
- Thomas Preining, Ricardo Feller and Bastian Buus: The Lionspeed GP Porsche trio combines the reigning DTM Champion with the 2026 GTWC Europe Sprint Cup title-winning pairing.
- Kelvin van der Linde, Charles Weerts and Jordan Pepper: Team WRT’s #32 BMW features multiple GTWC Europe champions and major endurance race winners.
- Mirko Bortolotti, Franck Perera and Maximilian Paul: The TGI Team by GRT Lamborghini line-up brings substantial GT3 and DTM experience.
- Mattia Drudi, Nicki Thiim and Ross Gunn: Comtoyou Racing’s #7 Aston Martin will also be among the leading Pro-class contenders.
Verstappen will therefore face a highly competitive field, with numerous drivers possessing considerably more GTWC Europe experience.
How does the three-hour race work?
The Portimão finale forms part of the GTWC Europe Endurance Cup, which features multi-driver races and several competition classes.
Unlike a Formula 1 race, Verstappen will not remain behind the wheel for the entire event. He will share driving duties with Lulham and Barnicoat, with the team completing driver changes during scheduled pit stops.
The three-hour format places particular emphasis on consistent performances across all three drivers. Teams must manage fuel consumption, tyre wear, driver changes and traffic while competing against other cars in their category.
The 61-car grid will feature Pro, Gold Cup, Silver Cup and Bronze Cup entries, with driver ratings determining class eligibility. Although Verstappen will compete in the Pro category, all four classes will share the circuit simultaneously.
Qualifying will also differ from Formula 1. Each driver will participate in a separate qualifying session, with the combined average of the three drivers’ best lap times determining the team’s starting position.
Consequently, Verstappen cannot secure pole position through his individual performance alone. Lulham and Barnicoat must also deliver competitive qualifying laps if the team hopes to start near the front.
Traffic management could prove particularly challenging at Portimão, where the 4.692km circuit features 18 corners, substantial elevation changes and several blind crests. As the race continues into the evening, changing light and track conditions could introduce further complications.
When will Verstappen race, and how can fans watch?
The GTWC Europe season finale will take place on Saturday, 17 October, with practice and qualifying scheduled for Friday.
The key sessions are:
Friday, 16 October
- 08:45–10:15 — Free Practice 1
- 12:45–14:15 — Free Practice 2
- 17:55–19:05 — Qualifying
Saturday, 17 October
- 17:00–20:00 — GTWC Europe Endurance Cup Race
All times are local Portuguese time (WEST), which matches British Summer Time (BST). The race will therefore begin at 17:00 BST, 18:00 CEST and 12:00 EDT.
Fans can watch the race and qualifying sessions live and free through the GT World YouTube channel, which provides international coverage in multiple languages.
The official Portimão event page also provides the timetable, entry list, results and other event information.
What can Verstappen achieve at Portimão?
Although Verstappen will compete in the final round of the 2026 GTWC Europe season, he will not be challenging for the Drivers’ Championship.
The Endurance Cup title has already gone to Auer, Engel and Stolz, who secured the crown at the Nürburgring with one round remaining.
Instead, Verstappen’s primary objective will be to challenge for a strong result, potentially securing a victory or podium on his championship debut.
His previous GT3 performances suggest he has the pace to compete against experienced endurance racing drivers, while Lulham and Barnicoat provide a combination of team familiarity and specialist GT racing experience.
Nevertheless, the short race distance, competitive Pro field and demands of the 61-car grid will make victory far from straightforward.
Portimão therefore offers Verstappen another opportunity to expand his racing experience beyond Formula 1 while competing directly against some of the world’s leading GT3 drivers. With Rossi also on the grid and several championships reaching their conclusion, the three-hour finale promises an intriguing challenge for the Dutchman and Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing.
