Source:REUTERS/Anton Vaganov
[Saba Sports News] According to motorsport.com, after four-time world champion Max Verstappen obtained his GT3 license, Helmut Marko all but confirmed his participation in the 2026 Nurburgring 24-hour endurance race. While other drivers used the break between the Italian and Azerbaijan Grands Prix to relax, Verstappen seized the opportunity to drive a Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 CS in the four-hour ADAC ACAS Cup. As a result, the Dutch driver now holds the Grade A permit required for GT3 and GT4 events. At the time, Verstappen explained: “It would be incredible to drive a GT3 car here in a 24-hour race.” Although not yet officially confirmed, Marko stated in an interview with Austrian broadcaster ORF in Azerbaijan that Verstappen will be a key factor in competing for victory in the 2026 race. Marko elaborated: “I think it’s fantastic that a driver still active in F1 can do this. Other drivers who switched to endurance racing had already left the F1 scene. The enthusiasm he shows indicates that, for him, racing is everything.