Verstappen’s GT World Challenge Europe Finale Preview

Verstappen will finally step into a GT3 car this weekend, piloting the #3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 for his own team. With regular teammates Juncadella and Gounon busy in Barcelona, the F1 star takes the wheel solo.

He’ll team up with Chris Lulham, a fellow sim‑racer, and reserve Ben Barnicoat. This marks his first GT3 outing since the 2026 Nürburgring 24‑Hours and his inaugural GTWC Europe start.

The three‑hour race at Algarve is essentially a formality for the championship. Engel, Auer and Stolz clinched the title at Nürburgring, and the Winward Mercedes‑AMG holds an unbeatable lead in both Endurance and Sprint cups.

All eyes will be on Verstappen’s performance, which promises to thrust GTWC Europe into the spotlight. He’ll share the grid with MotoGP icon Valentino Rossi, driving the #46 WRT BMW M4 GT3.

Portimão returns to GTWC Europe for the first time since 2015. Although the F1 circuit hosted sprint races in 2014‑15, it has never featured an endurance event in the series before.

The schedule pushes the race into twilight, adding a unique atmosphere to the finale. Support races include the GT2 European Series, McLaren Trophy Europe and GT4 European Series, all running Sunday after the main event.

GTWC Europe Endurance Cup Portimão 2026: TV schedule and livestream

Fans can watch the action live for free on YouTube via SRO’s official GT World channel.

GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup Portimão 2026: Schedule

Friday, 16 October

08:45‑10:15 local: FP1

12:45‑14:15 local: FP2

17:55‑19:05 local: Qualifying

Saturday, 17 October

17:00‑20:00 local: Race

The dusk‑time finish gives the finale a special vibe, while the GT2, McLaren Trophy and GT4 series provide additional Sunday action.

GTWC Europe Endurance Cup Portimão 2026: Entry list

A clash with the WEC forces several regulars out, opening the door for Verstappen’s participation.

Drivers staying for the WEC include Maxime Martin, Marco Sorensen, Dan Harper, Sean Gelael, Nicklas Nielsen, Alessio Rovera, Marvin Kirchhofer, Augusto Farfus and Raffaele Marciello.

Former F1 driver Nikita Mazepin will appear as a guest with the Motopark squad.

Pro Cup entries, bolded in the list, are the top contenders, though Gold Cup cars have also claimed two victories this season, most recently in rainy Barcelona sprint race.

#2 ‑ Boutsen VDS ‑ Morris Schuring/Dorian Boccolacci/Alessio Picariello ‑ Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) Evo (Pro)

#3 ‑ Mercedes‑AMG Team Verstappen Racing ‑ Max Verstappen/Ben Barnicoat/Chris Lulham ‑ Mercedes‑AMG GT3 Evo (Pro)

#4 ‑ Optimum Motorsport ‑ Adam Smalley/Freddie Tomlinson/Harry George ‑ McLaren 720S GT3 Evo (Gold)

#5 ‑ Optimum Motorsport ‑ Dante Rappange/Guilherme Oliveira/Mikey Porter ‑ McLaren 720S GT3 Evo (Silver)

#6 ‑ GetSpeed Team Bartone Bros ‑ Anthony Bartone/Cesar Gazeau/Aurelien Panis ‑ Mercedes‑AMG GT3 Evo (Silver)

#7 ‑ Comtoyou Racing ‑ Mattia Drudi/Nicki Thiim/Ross Gunn ‑ Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo (Pro)

#8 ‑ Car Collection Motorsport ‑ Reinhold Krahn/Pietro Armanni/Joel Sturm ‑ Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) Evo (Bronze)

#9 ‑ Pure Rxcing ‑ Max Hofer/Mikkel Pedersen/Aliaksandr Malichin ‑ Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) Evo (Silver)

#10 ‑ Boutsen VDS ‑ Alessandro Ghiretti/Robin Knutsson/Gilles Magnus ‑ Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) Evo (Gold)

#11 ‑ Comtoyou Racing ‑ Marcelo Tomasoni/Aaron Muss/TBA ‑ Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo (Bronze)

#12 ‑ GetSpeed Team Dubai ‑ Gabriel Rindone/Mikael Grenier/Tom Kalender ‑ Mercedes‑AMG GT3 Evo (Bronze)

#17 ‑ Mercedes‑AMG Team GetSpeed ‑ Ralf Aron/Maximilian Götz/Fabian Schiller ‑ Mercedes‑AMG GT3 Evo (Pro)

#19 ‑ Team Motopark ‑ Christian Mansell/Aaron Walker/Rui Andrade ‑ Mercedes‑AMG GT3 Evo (Silver)

#20 ‑ Team Motopark ‑ Nikita Masepin/Dominik Baumann/Philip Ellis ‑ Mercedes‑AMG GT3 Evo (Pro)

#21 ‑ Comtoyou Racing ‑ Oliver Söderström/Sebastien Baud/Kobe Pauwels ‑ Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo (Silver)

#23 ‑ Team RJN ‑ Maxwell Lynn/Horatio Fitz‑Simon/Ben Dörr ‑ McLaren 720S GT3 Evo (Silver)

#24 ‑ Steller Motorsport ‑ Mikkel Mac/Dennis Lind/TBA ‑ Corvette Z06 GT3 R (Gold)

#25 ‑ Sainteloc Racing ‑ Ezequiel Perez Companc/Etienne Cheli/TBA ‑ Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II (Silver)

#30 ‑ Team WRT ‑ Ignacio Montenegro/Matisse Lismont/Amaury Cordeel ‑ BMW M4 GT3 Evo (Silver)

#32 ‑ Team WRT ‑ Kelvin van der Linde/Jordan Pepper/Charles Weerts ‑ BMW M4 GT3 Evo (Pro)

#34 ‑ natural elements by Walkenhorst Motorsport ‑ Jamie Day/Christian Krognes/Henrique Chaves ‑ Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo (Pro)

#35 ‑ Walkenhorst Motorsport ‑ Ethan Ischer/Gaspard Simon/Mateo Villagomez ‑ Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo (Silver)

#41 ‑ Razoon ‑ more than racing ‑ Marcos Gomes/Alan Hellmeister/Sebastiao Malucelli ‑ Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) Evo (Bronze)

#42 ‑ Oman Racing by Century Motorsport ‑ Calan Williams/Javier Sagrera/Ahmad Al Harthy ‑ BMW M4 GT3 Evo (Bronze)

#44 ‑ Greystone GT ‑ Jayden Kelly/Josh Rattican/Tommy Pintos ‑ McLaren 720S GT3 Evo (Silver)

#45 ‑ Rinaldi Racing ‑ Dylan Medler/David Perel/Axcil Jefferies ‑ Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo (Silver)

#46 ‑ Team WRT ‑ Neil Verhagen/Max Hesse/Valentino Rossi ‑ BMW M4 GT3 Evo (Pro)

#48 ‑ Mercedes‑AMG Team MANN‑FILTER ‑ Lucas Auer/Luca Stolz/Maro Engel ‑ Mercedes‑AMG GT3 Evo (Pro)

#50 ‑ AF Corse ‑ Lilou Wadoux/Arthur Leclerc/Albert Costa ‑ Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo (Pro)

#51 ‑ AF Corse ‑ Tommaso Mosca/Lorenzo Ferrari/Nicola Lacorte ‑ Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo (Pro)

#52 ‑ AF Corse ‑ Matias Zagazeta/Jef Machiels/Gilles Stadsbader ‑ Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo (Silver)

#54 ‑ Dinamic GT ‑ Tanart Sathienthirakul/Francesco Simonazzi/Angus Whiteside ‑ Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) Evo (Silver)

#58 ‑ Garage 59 ‑ Thomas Fleming/Louis Prette/Benjamin Goethe ‑ McLaren 720S GT3 Evo (Gold)

#59 ‑ Garage 59 ‑ Joseph Loake/Dean Macdonald/Jack Hawksworth ‑ McLaren 720S GT3 Evo (Pro)

#60 ‑ JMW Motorsport ‑ TBA/TBA/TBA ‑ Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo (Pro)

#63 ‑ TGI Team by GRT ‑ Franck Perera/Maximilian Paul/Mirko Bortolotti ‑ Lamborghini Temerario GT3 (Pro)

#64 ‑ HRT Ford Racing ‑ Arjun Maini/Fabio Scherer/Thomas Drouet ‑ Ford Mustang GT3 Evo (Pro)

#65 ‑ HRT Ford Racing ‑ Maxime Oosten/Nicolas Baert/Eduardo Coseteng ‑ Ford Mustang GT3 Evo (Silver)

#66 ‑ Tresor Attempto Racing ‑ Sebastian Ögaard/Ariel Levi/Rocco Mazzola ‑ Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II (Silver)

#71 ‑ Selected Car Racing ‑ Frederik Schandorff/Malte Ebdrup/Simon Birch ‑ Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo (Gold)

#74 ‑ Kessel Racing ‑ Lorenzo Patrese/Dennis Marschall/Dustin Blattner ‑ Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo (Bronze)

#77 ‑ KPX Motorsport ‑ Jop Rappange/Nigel Schoonderwoerd/Yelmer Buurman ‑ BMW M4 GT3 Evo (Bronze)

#80 ‑ Lionspeed GP ‑ Ricardo Feller/Thomas Preining/Bastian Buus ‑ Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) Evo (Pro)

#84 ‑ Eastalent Racing ‑ Christopher Haase/Simon Reicher/Markus Winkelhock ‑ Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II (Pro)

#87 ‑ Winward Racing ‑ Marvin Dienst/Gabriele Piana/Rinat Salichow ‑ Mercedes‑AMG GT3 Evo (Bronze)

#88 ‑ Tresor Attempto Racing ‑ Daniele Di Amato/Carrie Schreiner/Gerhard Tweraser ‑ Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II (Bronze)

#89 ‑ Lionspeed GP ‑ Alex Fontana/Bashar Mardini/Patrick Kolb ‑ Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) Evo (Bronze)

#91 ‑ Herberth Motorsport ‑ Ralf Bohn/Huub van Eijndhoven/Robert Renauer ‑ Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) Evo (Bronze)

#93 ‑ Ziggo Sport Tempesta Racing ‑ Peter Dempsey/Christopher Froggatt/Eddie Cheever ‑ Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) Evo (Bronze)

#96 ‑ Rutronik Racing ‑ Patric Niederhauser/Marco Mapelli/Luca Engstler ‑ Lamborghini Temerario GT3 (Pro)

#98 ‑ Rowe Racing ‑ Philipp Eng/Jake Dennis/Marco Wittmann ‑ BMW M4 GT3 Evo (Pro)

#99 ‑ Tresor Attempto Racing ‑ Dylan Pereira/Andrea Frassineti/Alex Aka ‑ Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II (Gold)

#111 ‑ CSA Racing ‑ Arthur Rougier/Simon Gachet/James Kell ‑ McLaren 720S GT3 Evo (Gold)

#222 ‑ 2Seas Motorsport ‑ Kiern Jewiss/Charles Dawson/Reece Barr ‑ Mercedes‑AMG GT3 Evo (Bronze)

#269 ‑ High Class Racing ‑ Max Moritz/Klaus Bachler/Raphael Rennhofer ‑ Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) Evo (Bronze)

#555 ‑ CSA Racing ‑ Romain Andriolo/James Higgins/Jean‑Baptiste Simmenauer ‑ McLaren 720S GT3 Evo (Silver)

#914 ‑ Razoon ‑ more than racing ‑ Clemens Mühlbacher/Leo Pichler/Max Mutschlechner ‑ Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo (Bronze)

#991 ‑ Paradine Competition ‑ Darren Leung/James Kellett/TBA ‑ BMW M4 GT3 Evo (Bronze)

#992 ‑ Paradine Competition ‑ Christian Hahn/Josh Rowledge/TBA ‑ BMW M4 GT3 Evo (Silver)

#998 ‑ Rowe Racing ‑ Ugo de Wilde/Tim Tramnitz/Jens Klingmann ‑ BMW M4 GT3 Evo (Gold)

#999 ‑ GetSpeed Team PCX Racing ‑ Patrick Charlaix/Jordan Boisson/Marvin Klein ‑ Mercedes‑AMG GT3 Evo (Bronze)

Weather forecast

Even in mid‑October, warm air still dominates southern Iberia, with highs near 28 °C expected, though race‑day temps will likely stay above 20 °C.

Evening conditions should stay pleasant, around 20 °C at the finish. No rain is forecast, though occasional clouds may dim the sun.

Track info – Autodromo Internacional do Algarve

Type: Permanent race track

Length: 4.635 km

Curves: 15

Maximum gradient: 6.2 / 12.0 %

Hosting GTWC Europe since 2014 (returning 2026 after an 11‑year break)

Lap record (GTWCE): 1 m 42.589 s – Tomas Enge, Lamborghini Gallardo FL2 (2014)

Track opened: 2008

Past winners of GTWCE Portimão

2014 R1: Jeroen Bleekemolen/Hari Proczyk – Lamborghini Gallardo FL2

2014 R2: Maximilian Götz/Maximilian Buhk – Mercedes‑Benz SLS AMG GT3

2015 R1: Vincent Abril/Maximilian Buhk – Bentley Continental GT3

2015 R2: Robin Frijns/Laurens Vanthoor – Audi R8 LMS Ultra

We want your opinion!

– The Team