2026 GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup: Qualifying Recap
Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, Portugal — Boutsen VDS secured pole position for the final round of the 2026 GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup, with their #2 Porsche 911 GT3 R (992.2) clocking an average time of 1:42.071. The Belgian team triumphed in a competitive qualifying session, edging out the #17 Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed AMG GT3 EVO by 0.108 seconds.
Drivers Morris Schuring, Dorian Boccolacci, and Alessio Picariello each contributed to the team’s pole performance, with Schuring and Boccolacci finishing first in their respective qualifying sessions. Picariello’s 1:42.315 in Q3 ensured a solid defense of the pole position against the #80 Lionspeed GP Porsche and the #17 Mercedes-AMG.
Despite an impressive showing, Picariello’s Q3 lap only secured seventh overall, but it was sufficient to clinch the first pole for the Porsche 992.2 in the Endurance Cup. The top of the grid featured the #71 Selected Car Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo in third, following Fabian Schiller’s strong performance in Q3.
The #50 AF Corse Ferrari qualified fifth, with Lilou Wadoux achieving second in Q3, ahead of the Winward Racing #48 Mercedes-AMG Team Mann-Filter, which rounded out the top six. Notably, Winward Racing’s efforts earned them the Endurance Cup Teams’ Championship title, following Comtoyou Racing’s inability to score points.
The #3 Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing faced challenges, qualifying 15th after a disappointing performance that saw no top-10 finishes in the individual sessions. Similarly, BMW’s entries struggled, with the #32 Team WRT M4 GT3 Evo finishing 14th, and the #46 entry garnering the 60th spot due to multiple track limit violations.
In the Silver Cup, the #65 HRT Ford Racing team claimed their second pole of the season, with a standout Q3 performance from Eduardo Coseteng, recording a leading time of 1:41.802. Team WRT’s #30 BMW followed in second, and the #66 Tresor Attempto Racing Audi rounded out the top three.
Paradine Competition celebrated their first Bronze Cup pole of the year, led by driver Darren Leung, who averaged 1:42.976, powered by a quick 1:41.971 lap from Robert De Haan in Q3.
The three-hour race is set to commence tomorrow at 17:00 WEST.
Key Qualifying Results:
- Pole Position: #2 Boutsen VDS Porsche 911 GT3 R (1:42.071)
- Second Place: #17 Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed (1:42.179)
- Third Place: #71 Selected Car Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo
- Silver Cup Pole: #65 HRT Ford Racing
- Bronze Cup Pole: Paradine Competition
For detailed qualifying times and further updates, follow the coverage of the GT World Challenge Europe.
