Although the clash between the FIA World Endurance Championship’s 6 Hours of Barcelona and GT World Challenge Europe’s Endurance Cup season finale at Portimão has brought with it many unfortunate downsides, a definite perk is it has meant that Max Verstappen is climbing behind the wheel of a GT3 car in anger once more this season.
The Dutchman has drafted himself into the 2 Seas Motorsport-run #3 Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing AMG GT3 EVO to make his GT World Challenge Europe debut, and his first GT3 start away from the Nürburgring Nordschleife.
Verstappen and Ben Barnicoat are amongst the many ‘super-subs’ in action at Portimão, with the pair replacing FIA WEC-tied Jules Gounon and Daniel Juncadella alongside Chris Lulham in the Pro class entry.
“When I saw the calendar clash [between GT World Challenge and the FIA World Endurance Championship], I was like, ‘I don’t mind stepping in!’” Verstappen, the team’s unofficial reserve driver, said in a Q&A with series organiser SRO Motorsports Group.
“It’s a brilliant track and a great environment to come to for fans and families. It’s a very beautiful place.”
Verstappen’s first running of the weekend came in the two-hour pre-event private test, where a time from Lulham placed the #3 Mercedes-AMG second overall, whilst Verstappen himself focused on gathering data ahead of Saturday’s day-to-night affair.
“My references are from the Nürburgring Nordschleife, so it took a bit of time to get used to driving the car at this track,” Verstappen reflected.
“But the Mercedes-AMG GT3 is very well-balanced and it has proven over the last few years that it’s also very competitive. Today we were just fine-tuning a few details. It’s still quite hot for this time of year and you have to take that into account as well.
“Of course, you want to go faster, you want to do better. For myself, I’m getting up to speed and the more laps I do, the better it gets.”
For the Dutchman, the “endurance aspect” of sportscar racing has proven to be a major hit. Saturday’s three-hour race, where he will complete just a single-stint behind the wheel, will be the shortest GT event he’s done, offering a different challenge and requiring a different approach to how he tackled his outings at the Nürburgring.
“Sharing the car with teammates is something that I’ve not really done in my career so far,” he said. “Of course, I got a taste at the Nordschleife and I really enjoyed that. To get the first opportunity here now, in GT World Challenge, is exciting.”
This weekend has offered Verstappen the opportunity to work with a new teammate in the form of Barnicoat, who he previously competed against in karting. Lulham, meanwhile, race with Verstappen at the ‘Ring last year, with the pair winning NLS9 together on their respective Nordschleife GT3 debuts.
“Chris is someone I’ve worked with a long time in the sim racing world and now he’s here competing for real,” Verstappen said. “Every race he is making more progress, getting better, getting more and more experience, and proving himself among the big boys in the paddock.”
Another draw for Verstappen is the opportunity to compete against high-level opposition outside of his comfort zone, with the majority of the field holding a significant experience advantage over the 29-year-old.
“It’s a very high level,” he stated.
“There are so many good drivers with so much experience and they drive these GT3 cars day in, day out. Naturally, you see that the margins are very small. I’m getting a bit out of my comfort zone driving this type of car, but I love it. I love competing in all types of categories.”
With the #3 Mercedes-AMG out of title contention, the season-long picture does not have to be at the forefront of Verstappen’s mind this weekend, with the four-time Formula 1 World Drivers’ Champion therefore able to go all-in for race victory.
“To have fun, obviously,” is his stated goal. “But also the competitive animal wants to do well, right? We’re here to win. That’s always the target.”
And looking to the future, the Dutchman has reaffirmed his interest in competing at the 24 Hours of Spa next year, with GT World Challenge Europe’s blue-riband event – as is the case for all four major 24-hour races – set not to clash with the 24-round Formula One schedule.
“I love Spa of course, so I’m trying to make it work, as I want to arrive well prepared,” he acknowledged.
“I’m going to try my best to be there. It’s close to the Dutch border and I’m also half Belgian. For me it would be nice to join and to race in one of the biggest endurance events of the year.”
Images courtesy of SRO/JEP
