• BMW M4 racer Ahmad Al Harthy bidding for successful end to 2026
• Podium return target for Oman Racing by Century Motorsport squad
• Portimão 3hr race marks Omani’s first visit to Portugal since 2023
Just a little over six months since Ahmad Al Harthy got his GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Endurance Cup campaign underway, the fifth and final race of the season is only days away at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve – the Omani’s first visit to the Portuguese track since 2023.
Going into round five of the season, a three-hour evening race which will be contested this coming Saturday, 17th October, Al Harthy and Oman Racing by Century Motorsport team-mates Calan Williams and Javier Sagrera are determined to sign off the championship in successful style.
Currently holding 10th position in the Bronze Cup standings, the BMW M4 GT3 EVO trio are setting their sights on maintaining a top 10 placing and aiming to be in a position to mount a challenge for a second 2026 podium finish.
Starting the season at Circuit Paul Ricard in France with a top six result back in April, a sensational performance at Monza in Italy at the end of May delivered a fantastic first podium of the year with third position and put the squad fifth in the Bronze title battle.
While an unfortunate mid-race retirement from the Crowdstrike 24 Hours of Spa in late June was frustrating, last time out at the Nürburgring in Germany Al Harthy, Williams and Sagrera achieved a top five result – despite a series of car gremlins – to move back into the championship top 10.
Al Harthy, supported by his prestigious Omani partners OQ, Omantel, Oman LNG, Oman Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth and BMW Oman, is relishing the prospect of returning to Portimão after three years away and laser focused on a successful showing on Saturday.
He last competed at the Algarve track when racing in the FIA World Endurance Championship, but this weekend’s GTWCE finale will mark the Omani’s first mileage at the 4.6-kilometre circuit driving his BMW M4 GT3 EVO.
The entry for Portimão boasts an immense total grid of 60 cars, 17 of these participating in the Bronze Cup division. Notably, in addition to Al Harthy’s high-profile former FIA WEC team-mate Valentino Rossi being part of the grid, GTWCE Endurance Cup also welcomes four-time FIA Formula One World Champion Max Verstappen.
Ahmad Al Harthy:
“I’m really looking forward to being back in Portugal and racing in Portimão after a few years away, it’s a great track with a real roller-coaster feel. There are some big elevation changes, fast turns and technical challenges as well, and we’re all aiming to wrap-up the season with a strong showing to end the year in the championship top 10.
We’ve shown some strong performances this year, Calan and Javier have been great team-mates and the whole team has worked incredibly hard. We’re all determined to push for a big points finish and if we can achieve that we’ll be happy, but the aim is to obviously try and end the season back on the podium. That would be a great way to thank all of our incredible partners and supporters.”
Pre-event testing at Portimão will be begin on Thursday, 15th October, with additional practice and qualifying following on Friday, 16th October – the latter starting at 17.55 local time. On Saturday, 17th October, the three hour final race of the GTWCE Endurance Cup season will get underway at 17.00 local time with live streaming.
GTWCE Endurance Cup – Bronze Cup Standings (after Rd4)
1st Dennis Marschall, 102pts
(Kessel Racing/Ferrari 296 GT3 EVO)
2nd Dustin Blattner, 87pts
(Kessel Racing/Ferrari 296 GT3 EVO)
3rd James Kellett/Darren Leung, 71pts
(Paradine Competition/BMW M4 GT3 EVO)
10th Ahmad Al Harthy/Calan Williams/Javier Sagrera, 34pts
(Oman Racing by Century Motorsport/BMW M4 GT3 EVO)