Max Verstappen is not just driving a car this weekend; he is testing a new lineup in the GT World Challenge Europe finale. He will share the No. 3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO with two very different partners. Chris Lulham brings the sim racing background, while Ben Barnicoat delivers a long list of real-world trophies. The trio faces a 61-car field on Saturday, October 17, at 5 pm local time. This mix of digital skill and factory experience is the only way to win in such a tough field.
The Sim Racer Who Knows the Team
Chris Lulham is the familiar face in this group. According to Motorsport.com, he has been a regular in the Verstappen Racing cars throughout 2026. His path to the real car started in the sim racing world. Verstappen himself supported his jump from digital tracks to actual GT machinery. That history means Lulham knows exactly how the team operates. He does not need to learn the ropes or the radio codes. He and the four-time world champion already have great chemistry. This head start gives the team a massive advantage over other new lineups.
Lulham is not a stranger to high pressure. He has spent the year proving that sim skills can translate to the track. The team trusts him enough to put him in the car for a major endurance event. This is a bold move, but it makes sense given their shared history. He is the glue holding the digital and physical worlds together for this specific race.
Barnicoat Brings the Factory Hardware
Ben Barnicoat offers a completely different kind of resume. The Chesterfield-born Englishman is a factory driver for Lexus. Vasser Sullivan fields the #14 Lexus RC F GT3 for him in IMSA racing. His track record is packed with wins that matter. After four years with McLaren’s factory program, he moved to Lexus in 2022 and won the Asian Le Mans Series GT title immediately. He followed that up with a Petit Le Mans victory in his first season with the brand.
Per Motorsport.com, Barnicoat also secured the 2023 IMSA GTD Pro title alongside Jack Hawksworth. A Sebring GTD Pro win came in 2024. Two GT World Challenge Europe pole positions were secured by him in 2021. These are not small achievements. They show a driver who can handle the specific pressure of the sprint and endurance formats. Barnicoat has the “strong GT chops” the team needs to survive a 60-minute sprint race against 20 other cars that can realistically challenge for the win.
The GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup is widely viewed as the toughest GT3 championship globally. The grid ranges from 50 to 60 entries, with many teams capable of winning. Verstappen will compete in the top Pro class, where the competition is fierce. The event marks his first appearance in Europe’s premier GT3 championship. The decision to bring in Lulham and Barnicoat came because regular drivers Daniel Juncadella and Jules Gounon were busy with a World Endurance Championship race in Barcelona. While Gounon drives for Alpine, Juncadella competes for Genesis in the Hypercar class. This forced the team to look for subs who could step in immediately.
Friday’s qualifying starts at 5.55 pm local time. A lap is set by each of the three drivers during their individual session. The average of the three laps determines the grid order. This format punishes weak links. Lulham’s knowledge of the team and Barnicoat’s raw speed create a balanced package. The Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo features electronic aids like ABS and traction control, but ESP and fully automatic transmissions are banned. The drivers must manage the car manually. Because the field divides into four classes per reports, pure skill defines the Pro class battle. Statistics indicate roughly 20 distinct cars possess the ability to contest the overall victory.
