Vermeulen and Green also win GTWC Sprint race in Barcelona: 'Great race'
Published on 04 October 2026 by Niels Hendrix
Thierry Vermeulen has secured his second victory in the GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Championship in Barcelona. Just as in the previous round at Zandvoort, where they also won, the 24-year-old Dutchman achieved this feat alongside teammate Ben Green in the Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo, in the distinctive Verstappen Racing livery.
Thierry Vermeulen said: “It was a really great race. Ben did a great job in the first stint after the very hectic start. He managed it in a great way. A big thank you to the team. I am very happy with this win.”
Ben Green added: “This is fantastic! It is a great result for the team, as everyone has been working so hard. Thierry drove a great stint to the end.”
Severe weather battered the region, forcing the organizers to cancel Sunday’s qualifying session and overhaul the day’s schedule. The starting grid was determined by the results of the second free practice session, allowing the #69 Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo to start from pole position. Green took on that role, and after the initial jostling following the rolling start, he firmly established the car in the lead.
At that stage, the #3 Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing car, driven by Chris Lulham, was running in the Ferrari’s slipstream, having surged from P6 to P2 after the rolling start. However, following the mandatory pit stop, which requires a driver change, the Mercedes-AMG GT3 dropped four places. Dani Juncadella ultimately secured fifth place for Verstappen Racing.
That secured the Spanish driver third place in the GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup drivers’ championship. Dani Juncadella said: “This season was impressive, it was cool. It was good to be back. A really though championship. I expected a bit more from my home race, but still had a lot of fun. I learned a lot this year again.”
Emil Frey Racing executed a good pit stop, and after Vermeulen took over the wheel from Green halfway through the one-hour race, he managed to maintain the lead and drive the Ferrari to its second victory of the year unchallenged. A strong performance by the duo.
