Verstappen set for GT World Challenge debut in Portimão

Max Verstappen is scheduled to make his GT World Challenge Europe debut at the season finale in Portimão, Portugal, sharing the No. 3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 with Chris Lulham and Ben Barnicoat. The three-hour race is set for Saturday, October 17, as part of an event running from October 16 to 18. Verstappen Racing’s entry will share the grid with Valentino Rossi, who is set to drive the No. 46 BMW M4 GT3 for Team WRT. The 61-car field makes the event a broad endurance competition rather than a direct contest between the two high-profile drivers. Both cars are listed in the Pro category, where teams will compete over three hours. Rossi said he expected Verstappen to be very fast and described racing against him as exciting. Verstappen has also spoken positively about the chance to race alongside Rossi, while saying he hoped to be at the front. The scheduled appearance will be Verstappen’s first in the GT World Challenge Europe, though he has previously raced GT3 machinery, including at the Nürburgring 24 Hours.