Sports · Motorsport · 13 hrs ago
Rossi and Verstappen set to race in Portimao GT event
Valentino Rossi and Max Verstappen will race in the same GT class at the series finale in Portimao, Portugal.
Verstappen is making his GT World Challenge Europe debut, driving a Mercedes-AMG for Verstappen Racing.
Rossi, a nine-time motorcycle world champion, will drive a BMW for Team WRT.
Rossi expects Verstappen to be very fast, calling him a “big problem” but saying he is excited to race against him.
Both drivers are in the Pro class, so they could meet on track during the race.
The three-hour race is scheduled for Saturday, 17 October, at the Algarve circuit.
Verstappen has said he hopes to stay at the front, while Rossi hopes to follow him and learn how he drives.
Max Verstappen and Valentino Rossi are set to race in the GT World Challenge Europe season finale at Portimao on Saturday, 17 October.
Verstappen will make his GT World Challenge Europe debut in the Pro class, driving a Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO for Verstappen Racing.
Rossi will also compete in the Pro class, driving a BMW M4 GT3 EVO for Team WRT.
Rossi said Verstappen’s speed would make him a major challenge, while Verstappen said he hoped to avoid seeing Rossi during the race.
The event is a three-hour race at the Algarve circuit.
- Who
- Max Verstappen and Valentino Rossi, among other GT drivers.
- What
- They are set to race in the GT World Challenge Europe season finale.
- When
- Saturday, 17 October 2026.
- Where
- The Algarve circuit in Portimao, Portugal.
- Why
- Verstappen is making his GT World Challenge Europe debut, and Rossi is competing in the event. The sources do not state a further reason.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Rossi ended his 25-year motorcycle racing career.
Verstappen and Rossi are set to race in the three-hour GT World Challenge Europe finale at Portimao.
- Race
- Three-hour GT World Challenge Europe season finale
- Date
- Saturday, 17 October 2026
- Circuit
- Algarve circuit, Portimao
- Verstappen’s car
- #3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO
- Rossi’s car
- #46 BMW M4 GT3 EVO
3 sources
What people are saying
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 do not hope to see him in the race, so that’s normally a good sign.