Frijns expects Verstappen to draw international attention to GT World Challenge

Robin Frijns expects Max Verstappen’s GT World Challenge Europe debut at Portimão to put the event in the international spotlight. “The whole motorsport world will be watching this weekend,” he told De Telegraaf, adding that people could count on it. Frijns called the extra attention a good thing.

Verstappen is making his official debut in the series with his own Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing. The Pro-class entry also includes regular driver Chris Lulham and stand-in Ben Barnicoat.

Frijns, a BMW factory driver, won the Blancpain GT Series, the predecessor to the GT World Challenge, in 2015 and the Sprint Cup title in 2017. He is not on the Portimão entry list because he is racing in the World Endurance Championship.

Frijns also pointed to Verstappen’s 2026 Nürburgring 24 Hours. Verstappen’s team led for hours before a broken driveshaft cost it victory. Frijns called the outing a success despite the setback, citing the attention it attracted and Verstappen’s performance at the front.

Frijns said the category was still little known when he won the Blancpain GT Series in 2015; by 2026, he said, its field was many times larger, particularly in endurance racing such as Portimão.