Lance Stroll takes on Max Verstappen's team in GT3: Watch it live here!

The GT World Challenge Europe season gets underway this Saturday at Circuit Paul Ricard, with a strong grid assembled for the opening round.

Aston Martin's Stroll alongside Formula 2 racer Mari Boya and former Marussia F1 Team driver Roberto Merhi. The trio are competing for Comtoyou Racing in an Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 EVO, having been freed up by the cancellation of the Bahrain Grand Prix and Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

Verstappen.com Racing is also in action at the French venue, with Daniel Juncadella, Chris Lulham and Jules Gounon sharing driving duties for the team owned by the four-time Formula 1 world champion.

Meanwhile, Arthur Leclerc – brother of Charles Leclerc – is competing for AF Corse in a Ferrari 296 GT3.

In qualifying, Stroll’s Comtoyou Racing entry secured 15th place on the grid for today’s race. Pole position was claimed by the #48 Mercedes-AMG Team MANN-FILTER crew of Lucas Auer, Luca Stolz and Maro Engel.

Verstappen.com Racing will start from eighth place, while Valentino Rossi’s BMW squad lines up in P11. The six-hour endurance race is scheduled to begin at 18:00 local time (17:00 GMT).

Verstappen will not drive in NLS3 this weekend, as his team is in France. The Dutchman will return to the Nordschleife next weekend, where together with Lucas Auer, he will drive in the ADAC 24h Nurburgring Qualifiers. Watch NLS3 live with GPblog here!

Stroll also spoke with Verstappen before this opportunity. "Briefly, in Suzuka, when I had the idea," Stroll said.