The real reason F1 star Max Verstappen is drawn to GT3 racing

“With GT racing, we have achieved perfection in all of this world. Nobody can say that anything is perfect, but over the years, we have developed an extremely accurate Balance of Performance. And it's a category where really drivers do make the difference. It's about the drivers because the cars themselves are very much balanced, and that's an arena where drivers can make a difference.

“It's why the drivers at heart, like Max, like Valentino [Rossi], who are competitors to the very, very DNA, appreciate a category where they are sure they can make a difference. And it's what has become.

“It's a paradox because one is a drivers’ championship, and sportscar racing in general has always been perceived as more of a manufacturers’ championship. But in the end, the drivers really can make the difference in the GT racing of today.”

#3 Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing, Mercedes AMG GT3 EVO: Max Verstappen

#3 Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing, Mercedes AMG GT3 EVO: Max Verstappen

How Verstappen is contributing to the GT3 boom

Verstappen contested a pair of races in the NLS last year. After making his debut in a Porsche Cayman GT4 RS to gain the necessary Grade A licence, he won in his first GT3 race at the Nordschleife while sharing an Emil Frey-entered Ferrari 296 GT3 with Chris Lulham.

This year, he has stepped up his involvement in GT3s, with Winward entering a Mercedes-AMG GT3 under the Verstappen Racing banner in several NLS rounds.

Outside F1 race weekends, the Dutchman is often seen testing GT3 cars in private, and he also sampled a Nissan Z GT500 machine at Fuji Speedway in March as part of a promotional exercise for Red Bull.

Verstappen’s sportscar exploits have helped raise the profile of a category that was founded 20 years ago and has become the default platform for GT-based racing.

“Max is great. He has brought a very positive contribution to the class,” said Ratel.

“But he is not the first one and the only one. In the history of GT3, we had a number of key elements that helped along the way to get a larger public to know about it. The first one, who we unfortunately lost last weekend, is Alex Zanardi. Then we also had Valentino Rossi, who has been hugely important.

“Of course, Max has been [great] from last year when he started posting about watching his team in our series and coming now to the Nurburgring. It's a huge appeal. And it brings just another step in the general public recognition of GT3 racing.”

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