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- Chris Lulham and Ben Barnicoat will partner Max Verstappen<\/strong> in the GT World Challenge Europe finale at Portim\u00e3o.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Lulham is a regular Verstappen Racing driver whose career developed through sim racing and real-world GT competition.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Barnicoat brings extensive international endurance experience, replacing one of the team’s regular drivers for the three-hour event.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Max Verstappen will have two British drivers alongside him when he makes his GT World Challenge Europe debut at Portim\u00e3o on October 17, sharing the #3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO with Chris Lulham and Ben Barnicoat<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The four-time Formula 1 world champion will compete in the final round of the 2026 Endurance Cup, driving for Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing, an operation carrying his name and supported by 2 Seas Motorsport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The line-up was confirmed after regular drivers Dani Juncadella and Jules Gounon became unavailable because of their FIA World Endurance Championship commitments in Barcelona.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Verstappen’s participation had already been announced, but the presence of Lulham and Barnicoat gives the team a combination of continuity and specialist GT experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/SI202604190238_hires_jpeg_24bit_rgb-scaled-1200x800.jpg\")
Max Verstappen at N\u00fcrburgring (Photo: Red Bull Content Pool)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Who is Chris Lulham?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Chris Lulham is a British racing driver whose career has developed through a combination of professional sim racing and GT competition.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
He has a long-standing connection with Verstappen’s racing activities, including the Team Redline sim-racing operation, and has become an important member of the Dutchman’s real-world GT programme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lulham competed in the GT World Challenge Europe during 2026, sharing the Mercedes-AMG GT3 with experienced professional drivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His regular participation makes him particularly important at Portim\u00e3o, where he will provide continuity as the team introduces two drivers who have not competed together in its usual Endurance Cup line-up this season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lulham has also developed his experience through sprint races, where drivers must manage traffic, tyre performance and close battles in relatively short stints.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His background illustrates the growing connection between simulator competition and professional motorsport, an area in which Verstappen has invested considerable time and resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Who is Ben Barnicoat?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Ben Barnicoat is a British professional racing driver with extensive experience in international GT and endurance competition.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
He progressed through karting and junior single-seaters before establishing himself in sports-car racing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Barnicoat has competed in major endurance events and developed a successful career in North America, including the IMSA SportsCar Championship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He has also worked with leading manufacturers and teams in GT racing, gaining experience in multi-driver competitions where race management and consistency are as important as outright speed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Briton is familiar with Mercedes-AMG GT3 machinery and has previous experience with 2 Seas Motorsport, making him a suitable replacement for the Portim\u00e3o finale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Barnicoat’s relationship with Verstappen also dates back to their karting years, when both were developing their careers before taking different paths in professional racing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While Verstappen progressed to Formula 1, Barnicoat established himself in endurance racing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why are Verstappen and Barnicoat replacing Juncadella and Gounon?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The changes are the result of a calendar clash between the GT World Challenge Europe finale and the FIA World Endurance Championship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dani Juncadella and Jules Gounon are committed to the WEC race in Barcelona<\/strong>, leaving Verstappen Racing without two members of its regular Endurance Cup line-up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Dutchman therefore decided to enter the event himself, with Barnicoat joining Lulham to complete the three-driver crew.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The GT World Challenge Europe organisers moved the Portim\u00e3o race to Saturday, October 17, partly to reduce the impact of the clash with the WEC event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, the change was not sufficient to retain the team’s usual driver combination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The resulting line-up will see Verstappen compete directly in a championship where his team has already been active throughout the season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How will Verstappen share the car with his teammates?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Unlike Formula 1, where each driver competes in a separate car, the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup requires multiple drivers to share a single vehicle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At Portim\u00e3o, Verstappen, Lulham and Barnicoat will rotate through the #3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO<\/strong> during the three-hour race.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Each driver must complete a qualifying segment, with their performances contributing to the car’s overall grid position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During the race, the team must manage driver changes, pit stops, tyre strategy and fuel consumption while competing against more than 60 GT3 cars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The regulations also impose limits on how long a driver can remain behind the wheel, making the distribution of driving time an important strategic decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The team will need to balance Verstappen’s speed with the experience and race-management abilities of Lulham and Barnicoat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When will Verstappen race with Lulham and Barnicoat?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The three drivers will compete in the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup finale at Portim\u00e3o on Saturday, October 17<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The race starts at 17:00 in Portugal and the United Kingdom, corresponding to 13:00 in Brazil and 12:00 on the United States East Coast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The event follows Verstappen’s decision to add another GT3 race to his Formula 1 schedule<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n