The season finale of the world's largest GT3 racing series, the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup, is set to take place this coming weekend at the challenging Autodromo Internacional do Algarve rollercoaster circuit in southern Portugal. Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen confirmed his participation for the Portuguese event, adding massive star power to the grid.
Earlier this year, the Dutch ace already completed several GT3 outings on the grueling Nurburgring-Nordschleife, where he fought fiercely for overall victory until a mechanical failure dashed his hopes on Sunday afternoon. Among his notable opponents on the Iberian track will be none other than nine-time motorcycle world champion Valentino Rossi, who has been competing as a factory BMW driver since 2023.
Speaking to Italian broadcaster Sky, Rossi shared his thoughts on sharing the track with the F1 superstar. 'This is going to be fabulous, but at the same time Max Verstappen is going to be a huge problem because the guy is just so ridiculously fast,' the Italian icon admitted candidly.
'I never dreamed that one day I would race against Max Verstappen. It's great for everyone that he is competing in Portugal, and I hope I can latch onto him and learn as much as possible from him,' Rossi added, praising his rival's exceptional raw pace.
The weekend marks another intense chapter in a relentless run of consecutive race weekends for Verstappen, spanning Baku, Sepang, Singapore in Formula 1, followed immediately by GT3, and then heading straight into a triple-header across Texas, Mexico, and Brazil.
Verstappen himself expressed equal enthusiasm and humor regarding his upcoming duel with the motorcycle legend on four wheels. 'Valentino is a cool guy, and I hope we can spend a little time together. In the race, however, I'd rather not have him anywhere near me. If it's up to me, I'd wish for a nice, lonely race at the front.'
'But I know how good the drivers in this series are, so I'm bracing myself for a lot of headwinds. GT3 is so very different from Formula 1, but I love it. I got a taste for it on the Nordschleife, and the Portimao circuit is magnificent. I want to enjoy every lap, but I also want to win,' Verstappen concluded.
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