Verstappen makes GT World Challenge Europe debut at Portimao season finale

Max Verstappen will make his GT World Challenge Europe debut at the series’ season finale in Portimao this weekend, stepping into the #3 Verstappen Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 alongside sim racing team-mate Chris Lulham and experienced GT racer Ben Barnicoat.

The four-time Formula 1 world champion’s entry into Europe’s premier GT3 championship was prompted by circumstance. Regular Verstappen Racing drivers Daniel Juncadella and Jules Gounon are committed to the World Endurance Championship round in Barcelona — a replacement event for the cancelled 6 Hours of Qatar — leaving seats open for Verstappen and Barnicoat to step in. Juncadella is racing for Genesis in the Hypercar class, while Gounon represents Alpine.

It is not Verstappen’s first time in a GT3 car. Earlier this year he showed genuine pace on the Nurburgring Nordschleife, where a technical failure was the only thing that denied him an outright victory on his Nurburgring 24 Hours debut. He returns to the same Mercedes-AMG GT3 machinery for Portimao.

The GT World Challenge Europe, organised by SRO Motorsports Group, is widely considered the world’s toughest GT3 championship. Its Endurance Cup — which includes three-, six- and 24-hour races — regularly attracts fields of 50 to 60 cars, with around 20 realistically capable of challenging for the overall win. The championship is divided into Pro, Gold, Silver, and Bronze classes based on FIA driver categorisations; Verstappen will compete in the top Pro class.

The car he will pilot is operated by 2 Seas Motorsport under the Verstappen Racing banner. The Mercedes-AMG GT3 is powered by a 6.3-litre naturally aspirated V8 producing approximately 550 horsepower. Unlike Formula 1, GT3 machinery features a closed cockpit and production-based architecture, with ABS and traction control permitted but ESP and fully automatic transmissions banned.

The Portimao weekend follows a GT3 grid that also includes the BMW M4 GT3 Evo, Porsche 911 GT3 R, Ferrari 296 GT3, Audi R8 LMS GT3, Aston Martin Vantage GT3, Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo2, McLaren 720S GT3 Evo, and Ford Mustang GT3.