Valentino Rossi and Max Verstappen will line up together for the first time at the GT World Challenge Europe finale in Portimao, scheduled for 16-18 October. The event brings a nine-time motorcycle world champion into the same field as a driver who has won four Formula 1 world titles.

Verstappen will enter the championship for the first time in a Mercedes-AMG GT3, sharing the car with Chris Lulham and Ben Barnicoat. For the 28-year-old Dutchman, the Portimao event will be his first GT3 outing since the Nurburgring 24 Hours. It also falls between two Formula 1 triple-headers, creating a run of seven consecutive racing weekends for Verstappen.

Rossi has described Verstappen’s speed as a serious threat, while making clear that he is excited by the prospect of racing him. The Italian also wants to watch the Formula 1 driver closely on track and see how he approaches the race, with the GT3 field expected to be highly competitive.

Verstappen arrives after winning the two most recent Formula 1 races and has already sampled GT racing this year at the Nordschleife. He has called Portimao a particularly interesting circuit to drive, while acknowledging that GT3 presents a very different challenge from Formula 1. That contrast is what gives the finale its sporting interest: Rossi will face a driver in strong recent form, and Verstappen will have to adapt to a different racing environment while working toward a team result.