Max Verstappen will race in the GT World Challenge Europe Cup season finale at Portimão, Portugal, from 16 to 18 October. The Verstappen Portimão weekend will mark the first time he shares a GT3 starting grid with Valentino Rossi.
Verstappen says he hopes to avoid an on-track battle with the former MotoGP champion once the race gets under way. He wants a clean weekend up front, not a scrap for position with Rossi.
Primary Source Attribution & Official Details
Asked directly about facing Rossi on track, Verstappen did not hide his view. “Yeah, I hope I get to see him,” he said. He added: “He’s a very cool guy, so I hope to catch up with him.”
That warmth has a limit. Verstappen does not want Rossi anywhere near him once the visors go down. “I mean, it’s nice, but I do not hope to see him in the race, so that’s normally a good sign,” he explained in a source interview ahead of the Portimão weekend.
His priority is simple. “I actually hope to see no one, to be just up front and do a good job,” Verstappen said. “But you never know. The grid is super competitive, so I’m just looking forward to the challenge,” he added.
Squad Impact & Tactical Context
Verstappen’s taste for GT3 racing has grown through the year. “It’s very different to Formula 1, but I love it,” he said. He got his first real feel for the discipline at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, and rates Portimão just as highly. “I had my first taste already this year at the Nordschleife, and Portimão is a very cool track to drive,” he said.
Rossi brings his own pedigree to the grid. He retired from motorcycle racing at the end of 2021 and has since raced in the GT World Challenge Europe Cup, the 24H GT Series and the World Endurance Championship.
Verstappen has treated the move into GT3 seriously rather than turning up and hoping for the best. He has sharpened his feel for the car through sim work as part of his GT3 preparation. The Verstappen Portimão entry carries real intent, not a casual one off drive. He is clear about what he wants from the weekend: “So I’m just going to enjoy it and, of course, as a team, we’ll try to do the best we can to get a good result out of it,” he said.
What Happens Next / Upcoming Timeline
The GT World Challenge Europe Cup season finale runs from 16 to 18 October at Portimão, with practice, qualifying and the races filling the weekend schedule.
Verstappen’s grand prix commitments continue alongside his GT3 outings. We tracked his recent practice running in our Verstappen note. For a fuller look at the entry list and what the Rossi pairing means for the grid, read our Portimão preview.
