Muscat – Ahmad Al Harthy returns to Portugal for the first time since 2023 as the GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Endurance Cup season reaches its climax at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve this weekend.

Going into round five of the season, a three-hour evening race which will be contested this Saturday, 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.

“I’m really looking forward to being back in Portugal and racing in Portimao after a few years away; it’s a great track with a real roller-coaster feel,” said Al Harthy.

“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 teammates 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 end the season back on the podium. That would be a great way to thank all of our incredible partners and supporters.”

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 Nurburgring 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.

Pre-event testing at Portimao will begin on Thursday, with additional practice and qualifying following on Friday. On Saturday, the three-hour final race of the GTWCE Endurance Cup season will get underway at 5 pm local time, with live streaming at www.gt-world-challenge-europe.com/watch-live