Motorcycling legend Valentino Rossi is relishing the prospect of going up against four-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen in the upcoming GT World Challenge Europe season finale. The highly anticipated clash between two motorsport titans at Portimao is generating immense excitement across the global racing community.
The Dutchman is set to make his GT World Challenge Europe debut this weekend behind the wheel of a Mercedes-AMG GT3, sharing driving duties with Chris Lulham and Ben Barnicoat. This appearance marks his first competitive outing in a GT3 machine since his impressive run at the Nurburgring 24 Hours earlier in the year.
The competitive GT3 grid will now feature the nine-time motorcycle world champion sharing a starting grid with the Red Bull star for the very first time. The addition of the F1 dominator raises the stakes significantly in one of sports car racing's most fiercely contested championships.
Speaking candidly about the unique showdown, the Italian icon admitted that the presence of the open-wheel maestro poses a delightful yet daunting challenge. As reported by Crash.net, he shared his excitement regarding the sheer pace expected from his new competitor.
Describing the upcoming encounter, he stated, It's going to be amazing. I mean, it will be a big problem because he’s sure to be incredibly fast, but it will be fantastic. I have to say, I never imagined I’d be racing towards Max Verstappen.
He further emphasized that having such a high-profile name on the grid is fantastic for everyone involved in the series. He added that he genuinely hopes to get the chance to follow the Red Bull driver on track to study his racing lines and driving style.
Coming into this weekend's event, the 28-year-old Dutchman arrives in scintillating form after securing dominant victories at the past two Grands Prix. Fitting this GT appearance between grueling F1 triple-headers means he will be racing for seven consecutive weekends.
While expressing admiration for his legendary peer, the F1 star maintained a humorous yet determined mindset regarding the race itself. He noted that he hopes to catch up off the track with the cool icon, but joked that he certainly does not hope to see him during the race, as that would signify a strong leading performance.
Acknowledging the stark differences between single-seater aerodynamics and GT machinery, he expressed pure enjoyment for the challenge at Portimao. The GT World Challenge Europe season finale officially takes place from October 16-18.
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