Key Highlights:
- Four-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen will make his debut in the GT World Challenge Europe during the Endurance Cup season finale at Portimao.
- Verstappen steps into the #3 Verstappen Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 alongside Chris Lulham and Ben Barnicoat due to a World Endurance Championship scheduling clash affecting regular drivers Daniel Juncadella and Jules Gounon.
- The high-profile appearance places Verstappen in a nearly 60-car grid featuring top factory talent, including MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi.
Max Verstappen Confirms Portimao GT3 Outing
Four-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen is scheduled to make his competitive debut in the GT World Challenge Europe at the upcoming Endurance Cup season finale in Portimao. Following a commanding campaign on the NĂŒrburgring Nordschleifeâwhere an unfortunate mechanical issue stripped his team of a maiden debut victory at the NĂŒrburgring 24 Hoursâthe Red Bull Racing driver returns to the cockpit of the Mercedes-AMG GT3.
The Dutch driver will compete under the Verstappen Racing banner in the #3 Mercedes-AMG GT3, a machine prepared and run by 2 Seas Motorsport. Verstappen will share driving duties with his sim racing colleague and regular endurance driver Chris Lulham, alongside proven GT ace Ben Barnicoat, who joins the crew as an additional substitute. Across the three-hour endurance contest, each of the three drivers will run roughly a one-hour stint.
Driver Conflicts and the Portimao Pro Grid
Verstappen’s late addition to the grid stems directly from a calendar clash with the World Endurance Championship round in Barcelona, which replaced the cancelled 6 Hours of Qatar. The scheduling conflict left regular Verstappen Racing drivers Daniel Juncadella and Jules Gounon unavailable due to factory commitments: Juncadella is driving for Genesis in the Hypercar category, while Gounon is representing Alpine. Taking advantage of a pause in Formula 1’s triple-headers, team owner Verstappen chose to take the vacant seat himself.
The conflict has reshuffled driver line-ups across several top outfits. Notably, MotoGP icon Valentino Rossi will also race at Portimao in his Team WRT BMW M4 GT3 without his regular teammate Dan Harper. Competing in the top Pro class against nearly 60 homologated GT3 machines, Verstappen joins a field packed with factory stars, including DTM champions Thomas Preining, Mirko Bortolotti, Maximilian Götz, and Marco Wittmann, as well as endurance veterans Patric Niederhauser, Markus Winkelhock, Franck Perera, Lucas Auer, Luca Stolz, and Charles Weerts. The grid also features Arthur Leclerc, BMW factory junior Tim Tramnitz, and Christopher Haase, whom Verstappen raced against wheel-to-wheel on the Nordschleife earlier this year.
Technical and Format Transitions from Formula 1 to GTWC
The GT World Challenge Europe, governed by SRO Motorsports Group, pits production-derived GT3 race cars against one another under an extensive Balance of Performance (BoP) system that uses ballast, air restrictors, boost curves, and ride-height parameters to level competition across diverse engine formats. The #3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 relies on an atmospheric 6.3-liter V8 outputting roughly 550 horsepower. Unlike single-seaters, GT3 racers utilize electronic driver aids including racing ABS and traction control, operating at an overall vehicle weight near 1,300 kg.
Operational procedures also differ significantly from Grand Prix racing. In the Endurance Cup, grid positions are determined through an aggregate qualifying system that averages the fastest times from Q1, Q2, and Q3 across all three drivers. Pitstops feature strict regulations: refuelling times are mandated by the rulebook, and subsequent tire changes are conducted separately by just two mechanics. With Pirelli providing robust customer slicks designed for full-hour stints and traffic from 50 to 60 cars on track, navigating slower machinery and tolerating bodywork contact represent key factors in managing the race.
Why This Matters
An active, multi-time Formula 1 world champion crossing disciplines to compete in a premier GT3 championship mid-season remains a major anomaly in modern motorsport. Beyond providing enormous commercial visibility to the SRO-promoted series and GT racing as a whole, the outing advances Verstappen Racing’s professional footprint as an independent racing outfit. While the 2024 championship crown is already settledâhaving been secured at the NĂŒrburgring GP round by Winward Racing’s #48 crew of Lucas Auer, Luca Stolz, and Maro EngelâVerstappen’s entry tests his versatility against an elite tier of sports car specialists under pure endurance competition standards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Verstappen Racing win the GT World Challenge Europe championship in Portimao?
No. The championship has already been wrapped up by Winward Racing’s Lucas Auer, Luca Stolz, and Maro Engel in the #48 Mercedes-AMG GT3, who secured the title during the previous round at the NĂŒrburgring.
How does qualifying work for this endurance event?
Endurance Cup qualifying uses aggregate times across three individual sessions (Q1, Q2, and Q3). Max Verstappen, Chris Lulham, and Ben Barnicoat will each contest one session, and the car’s final grid spot is decided by the average of their three fastest individual lap times.
Why are regular drivers Daniel Juncadella and Jules Gounon not racing?
Both drivers faced an unavoidable scheduling conflict with the World Endurance Championship race in Barcelona. Juncadella is competing for Genesis in Hypercar, while Gounon is on factory duty for Alpine, leaving their seats open for the Portimao finale.
