The Algarve International Circuit is pulling off something of a coup this October: Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen will line up on his own grid at Portimão, trading his Red Bull for a Mercedes-AMG GT3 as the GT World Challenge Europe series closes out its 2026 season.
Verstappen races in the headline three-hour Endurance Cup event on Saturday, October 17, sharing the #3 Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing entry with Chris Lulham and Briton Ben Barnicoat. It is the latest step in his growing side career in GT racing, and he sounds happy about the venue: the Dutchman says he loves the track and being in Portugal. For motorsport fans, seeing a reigning F1 champion battle alongside (and against) professional GT specialists at a circuit famous for its dramatic rollercoaster elevation changes is a rare treat.
The weekend, running October 16-18, packs in more than eight hours of racing. Around 60 GT3 cars are expected from the big names — Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren, Porsche, BMW and Aston Martin among them. And it is not just about one series: GT2, GT4 and McLaren Trophy Europe will all also crown their champions here. Notably, this is the championship's first visit back to Portimão since 2015, so there is a sense of a homecoming for European GT racing at the Algarve track.
What makes this genuinely appealing for casual fans is access. Unlike an F1 weekend, the paddock is open, and organisers are running pit walks and grid walks alongside a fan zone — you can get close to the cars and drivers rather than watching from a distant grandstand. Tickets are refreshingly cheap: a full weekend pass costs €25, Saturday-only admission is €15, and children aged 16 and under go free. That makes it an easy add-on to an Algarve autumn break, whether you are based in Lagos, Portimão itself or further along the coast.
The timing works nicely for travellers too. Mid-October in the Algarve typically means mild, sunny weather, quieter beaches and lower accommodation prices than the summer rush — and now, a major international race meeting thrown in. Combine a Saturday of endurance racing with a Sunday of coastal walks, seafood lunches and Portugal's friendliest stretch of coastline.
Whether you are a hardcore motorsport follower planning a trip around the race, or a holidaymaker in the area looking for something memorable to do, this is one of the more affordable ways to see a world-class driver up close this year.
