Shanna is a Formula 1 journalist at GPblog, specializing in both F1 and endurance and GT racing. With a Master’s degree in Journalism and experience at international circuits, she provides in-depth, reliable coverage and insights based on her presence at Grands Prix and racing events worldwide.
For years, Arthur Leclerc watched his brother Charles take on Max Verstappen in Formula 1. In Portimao, he shared the track with Verstappen himself. Speaking to GPblog, the Ferrari driver explains why that was special for him and highlights the exceptionally high level of the GT World Challenge.
A strong qualifying lap at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve earned Leclerc and his teammates Lilou Wadoux and Alberto Costa fifth place. The #50 Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo trio will therefore start around nine places ahead of Verstappen Racing. The race polesitters, the drivers of the #2 Boutsen VDS Porsche, had already joked that they hoped it would take Verstappen a long time to make his way through the field.
Leclerc focused on his own race as he looked to end the season on a positive note. Still, having names like Valentino Rossi and Verstappen in the GT field is special. “It’s fantastic to see a legend like him, who is part of Formula 1 and a four-time F1 world champion, here,” Leclerc began in an interview with GPblog in Portimao.
GT World Challenge: the highest level of GT3 racing
“It’s obviously great to share the track with him. In my view, this is the highest level of GT3 racing in the world. We have more than sixty cars, and we’re all within one or two tenths of each other. So if you lose a tenth, you might also lose 25 places on the grid. The level is really high,” Leclerc emphasized.
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The 26-year-old has by now gained plenty of experience in GT3 racing and competes at the high level demanded by the field. For drivers like Leclerc, it is interesting to see how Verstappen measures up against them. “I’ve had a rather unusual career in motorsport because I followed my brother to the circuits. So I watched my brother race against him, and now I’m sharing the track with him. That’s really special.”
Arthur Leclerc, Lilou Wadoux and Albert Costa shared the #50 Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo in Portimao - Photo: SRO/JEP
It is clear that over the years, Leclerc has grown comfortable in the GT World Challenge and behind the wheel of the Ferrari 296 GT3. The car’s Evo specification has raised AF Corse’s level yet another notch. One challenge remained on the schedule for him and his teammates: the three-hour race in Portugal.
Leclerc enjoys the ‘roller coaster’ in Portimao
The GT World Challenge returned to Portimao for the first time since 2015. Many drivers love racing on the ‘Algarve roller coaster.’ Leclerc is no exception: “It’s cool and a little different. There’s a lot of elevation change, and it’s unlike the other circuits. It’s also a little tricky,” he laughs.
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“It’s pretty challenging, but that also makes it a lot of fun to drive. The car kept getting better as it got dark. Strangely enough, that wasn’t the case, for example, during the 24 Hours of Spa. We practiced it a lot,” Leclerc explains. “We could see in Q3, for example, that Ferrari was very quick, and we did a good job improving the car. We’re all confident and will push for the result.”
In the end, the #50 Ferrari trio did not make the podium. Leclerc, Wadoux and Costa spun during the opening stint and crossed the finish line in tenth place. AF Corse finished the championship in the top five, just half a point shy of fourth.
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