Max Verstappen Set for Portimao GT Finale With Valentino Rossi

Max Verstappen will return to GT racing on Saturday, October 17, when he contests the GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Endurance Cup finale at Portugal’s Algarve International Circuit in Portimão. The four-time Formula 1 world champion will share the grid with nine-time motorcycle racing world champion Valentino Rossi in the three-hour event.

Fresh from consecutive Formula 1 victories at the Malaysian and Singapore Grands Prix, Verstappen will drive the #3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo for Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing. He will share driving duties with Chris Lulham and Ben Barnicoat, while the race is scheduled to begin at 9:30 PM IST, or 5:00 PM local time.

The Portimão race is the final round of the Endurance Cup season and will feature more than 60 GT3 cars from 10 manufacturers. It offers Verstappen another endurance-racing outing alongside his Formula 1 programme, with three drivers sharing each car over the three-hour contest.

Verstappen joins Lulham and Barnicoat in the #3 car

Verstappen joins full-season Verstappen Racing driver Lulham and British endurance racer Barnicoat in the #3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo. The Dutch driver takes the place of regular team drivers Jules Gounon and Dani Juncadella, who are unavailable because of a scheduling clash with the FIA World Endurance Championship finale in Barcelona.

“I am looking forward to it,” Verstappen said. “It is going to be a busy seven weeks, but I will enjoy it. Let’s see what we can do at Portimão. I love the track and being in Portugal, so we will try to have a good weekend.”

Verstappen has continued to pursue sportscar racing alongside his Formula 1 commitments. Earlier this year, he competed in the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring with GT drivers Gounon, Juncadella and Lucas Auer. The Portimão appearance gives him another opportunity to race in a field containing specialist endurance competitors.

Barnicoat brings substantial GT experience to the line-up. He previously raced for McLaren before joining Lexus in 2022 and won the GTD Pro class title in the IMSA SportsCar Championship in 2023 alongside Jack Hawksworth.

Rossi also lines up for the Portimão season finale

Rossi will compete in the #46 BMW M4 GT3 Evo for Team WRT, sharing the car with Max Hesse and Neil Verhagen. The former MotoGP rider retired from motorcycle racing at the end of 2021 and has since competed internationally in GT racing with BMW.

The two champions will be competing in separate cars, but their presence in the same season finale brings Formula 1 and MotoGP’s most recognisable figures onto one GT World Challenge Europe grid. Verstappen’s Mercedes-AMG entry and Rossi’s BMW will be among the large GT3 field assembled for the deciding Endurance Cup round.

Viewers in India can watch the race live on Red Bull TV and the Red Bull Motorsports YouTube channel from 9:30 PM IST on Saturday. Red Bull Motorsports YouTube will also provide a dedicated onboard feed from Verstappen’s car, offering an additional view of his return to GT competition at Portimão.