Verstappen Racing secured its inaugural Pro-Class GT World Challenge Europe victory last Saturday, August 1, at Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours. Jules Gounon and Daniel Juncadella piloted the #3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO to a dominant win in the Sprint Cup race.
The triumph marks a significant breakthrough for the team, which has endured a challenging season. Mechanical failures and unavoidable incidents had previously hampered their campaign in the highly competitive series.
Gounon started the race from pole position, establishing an eight-second lead during his opening stint. This strong performance provided a crucial advantage for the team.
Juncadella took over the #3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO during the mandatory pit stop, maintaining the lead. A subsequent Full Course Yellow period compressed the field.
Despite the reduced gap, Juncadella managed to hold off the chasing pack. He crossed the finish line 2.597 seconds ahead of the #50 AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo.
The Ferrari, driven by Arthur Leclerc and Thomas Neubauer, had climbed from ninth on the grid to secure second place. The #7 Comtoyou Racing Aston Martin completed the podium.
Max Verstappen, the four-time Formula 1 world champion, owns Verstappen Racing. He provides substantial support beyond financial backing, focusing on professional infrastructure.
‘Well, we have one guy to thank, and that’s Max, because he gave us so many opportunities during the winter to test. Many days with good tyres,’ Gounon stated.
Verstappen’s contribution includes extensive testing days with optimal tyre allocation. This commitment aims to establish the team as a leading GT outfit globally.
The team’s move to the overall Pro class this season followed their Gold class title victory in 2025. This step increased their exposure to incidents and raised performance expectations.
Verstappen Racing initiated a multi-year collaboration with Mercedes-AMG Motorsport for the 2026 GT World Challenge Europe season. This includes both Sprint and Endurance formats.
Max Verstappen himself participated in the 2026 24h Nürburgring with the Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing. He drove alongside Juncadella, Gounon, and Lucas Auer.
Additionally, Verstappen Racing supports Thierry Vermeulen’s 2026 campaign. Vermeulen competes in DTM and the GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Championship with Emil Frey Racing.
Vermeulen drives a Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo in these championships. His program is a separate but supported effort under the Verstappen Racing umbrella.
The victory at Magny-Cours validates the team’s package when unimpeded. It also reignites their challenge for the Sprint Cup title this season.
Juncadella currently holds second place in the Sprint Cup standings with 42.5 points. Gounon is fifth with 30.5 points, behind leaders Kelvin van der Linde and Charles Weerts.
