Max Verstappen will return to GT3 racing this weekend at Portimao, Portugal, for the GT World Challenge Europe. The Red Bull driver will pilot a Mercedes-AMG GT3 run by 2 Seas Motorsport under the Verstappen Racing banner. This will be his first outing in the SRO series, and more intriguingly, he will go head-to-head with MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi, who races for BMW's factory-supported WRT team in the same Pro category.
Verstappen's decision to race at Portimao comes amid a grueling Formula 1 schedule. He is capitalizing on the brief gap between two triple-headers. After last weekend's race in Baku, he will contest seven consecutive races until the Brazilian GP on November 8. "It's going to be a busy seven weeks, but we'll do it and I enjoy it anyway," he said.
The reason behind his participation is a late change to the World Endurance Championship calendar, which leaves full-season Verstappen Racing drivers Jules Gounon and Daniel Juncadella unavailable. Gounon will race for Alpine and Juncadella for Genesis in the Barcelona 6 Hours on the same weekend. "I know that two of my drivers won't be part of the line-up. Two other drivers need to step in. I'm looking forward to it," Verstappen said. "Of course, I would have loved to see my normal drivers compete, but the calendar has changed at times. And that's OK. I love Portimao. I love being in Portugal. So we'll try and have a good weekend."
Verstappen has not yet announced who will join him and Chris Lulham for the three-round Endurance Cup race at Portimao, but he ruled out teaming up with Fernando Alonso. This will be his first GT3 race since the Nurburgring 24 Hours in May, where he was cruelly robbed of victory by a late mechanical issue.
Verstappen's presence in the GT World Challenge Europe marks a new chapter in his racing career. He has been increasingly devoting more time to sportscar racing, while his eponymous team has also expanded its racing program for 2026. Next year, he aims to return to the Nordschleife for a second crack at the Nurburgring 24 Hours, and plans to add the Spa-Francorchamps 24 Hours to his 2027 schedule. However, he has shut down any talks of racing Ford's new Hypercar at the Le Mans 24 Hours.
The meeting between Verstappen and Rossi on the GT3 track is a major draw. Both are icons in the racing world, and this will be the first time they share a grid. Despite different generations and disciplines, the duel at Portimao will surely capture the attention of motorsport fans.
For Verstappen, racing at Portimao is not just about gaining experience, but also about indulging his passion for sportscar racing. Despite the demanding F1 schedule, he remains enthusiastic. "I'm looking forward to it," he said. We'll just have to wait and see what he can do on track in Portugal.
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