GTWC Europe Alters Portimao Race to Avoid Direct WEC Clash

The GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS has adjusted the timetable for its Portimao season finale to avoid a direct clash with the FIA World Endurance Championship’s new Barcelona race.

Both the GTWC Europe Endurance Cup finale and the Barcelona WEC round, which was last week confirmed as taking the place of Qatar on this year’s calendar, were due to be held on Oct. 18.

However, GTWC Europe organizer SRO Motorsports Group has tweaked its Portimao timetable, moving its three-hour race forward from mid-day on Sunday to Saturday evening at 5 p.m. CEST to enable drivers to compete in both events.

At least 18 drivers were due to tackle both contests, including five from the WEC’s top Hypercar class: Raffaele Marciello, Nicklas Nielsen, Jules Gounon, Marco Sorensen and Dani Juncadella.

The original clashing dates would also have been particularly challenging for the Garage 59 McLaren squad that competes in both categories, especially with four of its six WEC LMGT3 drivers — Marvin Kirchhoefer, Benji Goethe, Tom Fleming and Antares Au — racing in both divisions.

“We work together with the ACO and the FIA on many matters that are in the common interest of global sportscar racing,” said SRO boss Stephane Ratel in a statement provided to Sportscar365.

“As such, when this clash with the FIA World Endurance Championship occurred, we wanted to facilitate a solution.

“I hope that our decision to race on Saturday evening will allow all of those involved with both series to be present at both Portimao and Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.”

While the timetable tweaks avoid a direct clash between the races, it still presents operational and logistical challenges for teams and drivers competing in both series.

The revised Portimao timetable features both free practice sessions and then qualifying on Friday, while an exact itinerary for the Barcelona WEC event has yet to be released.

Prior to the WEC schedule being reshuffled, there were not due to be any clashes between GTWC Europe and the WEC this year.