One last hoedown for the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup Series this weekend from Portimao (UPDATED)

Whilst the overall Drivers Championship might have already been determined at their last round out at the Nurburgring back in late August, the quest for the runners up position (and more) have still yet to be decided as the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup Series heads for the Autodromo Do Algarve near Portimao, Portugal this weekend for its concluding round of the season.

Much of the media attention will be upon one certain Dutch Formula One driver, there is still important work to be done by the Comtoyou Racing and Walkenhorst Motorsport Aston Martin Racing Vantage GT3 powered teams as their collective five car entry aim to finish their season upon something of a high with a few smatterings of necessary driver changes to add to the fun too.

 

Over sixty triple crewed cars again expected to be upon the grid for Saturdays final three hour round will see the #007 Comtoyou Racing Pro class entry of Nicki Thiim and Mattia Drudi doing what they will need to do to secure that overall runners up position but they will do that with fellow AMR factory driver Ross Gunn also at the helm with Marco Sorensen electing to be at the FIA World Endurance Championship event at Barcelona as being 50% of only a two driver squad in that event.

That being said, Drudi has apparently elected to do the double – racing first at Portimao before having to dash off to the Circuit de Catalunya in time for race day on Sunday within the FIA WEC where he will again form up as the final driver within his #27 Heart of Racing AMR Vantage LMGT3 entry in that series.

This crews race win last time out at the Nurburgring sadly came too late for them to take the championship battle through to this concluding round of the season.

Their sister #21 silver class entry of Sebastian Baud, Kobe Pauwels and Oliver Soderstrom remains the same this weekend, but we do expect AMR Factory driver Valentin Hasse-Clot to be confirmed within the #11 Comtoyou Racing bronze class entry with just Marcelo Tomasoni and AJ Muss being listed at present upon the provisional entry.

 

The Frenchman (who helped the Racing Spirit of Leman AMR team secure the Le Mans Cup GT3 Drivers and Team Championship just last weekend) has confirmed himself as joining the team at the event with the vacant seat within the #11 car being the only logical position for him.

That leaves the two Walkenhorst entries of Christian Krognes, Jamie Day and Henrique Chaves being aboard their #34 Pro class entry for one last time whilst young guns Mateo Villagomez, Ethan Ischer and Gaspard Simon complete the Aston Martin Racing powered roster within their #35 silver class entry.

 

Track action will begin on Thursday with private testing before going into Free Practice and Qualifying on Friday before the final race is waved off at 17.00hrs local on Saturday for an into the night conclusion.