2026 GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup: Championship Concludes in Portimão
The 2026 GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup season culminates this weekend at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, Portugal, featuring a three-hour race set to take place under nighttime conditions. This round welcomes a 61-car grid, reflecting significant changes from the previous race at the Nürburgring, driven by clashes with the FIA World Endurance Championship’s Barcelona event.
Among the most notable entrants is four-time Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen, who makes his GT World Challenge debut with 2 Seas Motorsport in the #3 Mercedes-AMG. Verstappen will share the car with Ben Barnicoat and Chris Lulham, as the team seeks to improve upon its sporadic results this season, having secured only one podium finish.
In a historic twist, the Endurance Cup Drivers’ title is already decided before the final race, with Lucas Auer, Maro Engel, and Luca Stolz clinching the championship for Winward Racing’s #48 Mercedes-AMG Team Mann-Filter. Despite consistent finishes—never lower than fourth—the trio aims to achieve a victory in Portimão.
The battle for the Teams’ Championship remains competitive, with Winward Racing leading Comtoyou Racing by 26 points. Comtoyou seeks to capitalize on driver changes and strong performances, bolstered by Ross Gunn’s presence replacing Marco Sorensen in the #007 Aston Martin.
Several teams have adjusted their line-ups for this round. Notably, Team WRT leads the overall Teams’ Championship by five points over Winward Racing, with Neil Verhagen taking over from Dan Harper in the #46 BMW. Rowe Racing modified its entry, featuring Marco Wittmann and Philipp Eng, while AF Corse brought in multiple new drivers for its Ferrari line-ups.
The Gold Cup championship exhibits the tightest contest, with Rowe Racing’s #998 BMW leading Garage 59’s #58 McLaren by a scant three points. Both teams deliver strong performances after a non-classified finish for the McLaren at Nürburgring, which proved critical in the standings.
As championship contenders prepare for the final race, the pole position will drive strategies, with qualifying scheduled for 17:55 WEST on Friday, followed by the race at 17:00 on Saturday. This marks the first and potentially only appearance of the Endurance Cup at Portimão, as next year’s calendar does not include the venue.
Fans and teams alike await an exciting conclusion to the season, as several championships remain unresolved and the atmospheric night race promises to deliver tense competition.
