Bronze Cup victory and a fightback to the top-10 close out the GT World Challenge Europe season

2 Seas Motorsport signed off the 2026 GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS season in style, as Charles Dawson, Kiern Jewiss and Reece Barr charged through the field to claim Bronze Cup victory in the #222 Mercedes-AMG GT3. In the sister #3 Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing entry, Chris Lulham was joined by Ben Barnicoat and Max Verstappen, with the trio also fighting through the field to finish ninth overall.

The Endurance Cup finale at Portimão, Portugal brought the curtain down on a strong campaign for the British-Bahraini team, and it arrived looking to end the 2026 European campaign on a high. With significant interest in the weekend, and the team in particular, the two cars were battling for honours in different classes: the #3 in the Pro class, with season regular joined by ‘stand-ins’ in the shape of Lexus Factory Driver and 2023 IMSA GTD Pro champion Ben Barnicoat, and four-time Formula 1 champion, Max Verstappen, while the #222 was battling for Bronze Cup honours with its season-long trio of Reece and 2025 British GT champions, Charles and Kiern.

Qualifying kicked off with Kiern setting the quickest Bronze Cup time, while Ben ended his session just outside the overall top-20. Charles was then denied the chance to set a time by a technical issue in Q2, as Chris put in a strong lap for the #3. With the problem resolved, Reece got a time on the board, but the issue meant the #222 would start from the back of the field. Max, making his GT World Challenge Europe debut, concluded the qualifying runs, and the combined effort put the #3 trio in P15.

The start was a busy one with such a large grid, as more than 60 cars charged into turn 1. Ben quickly got into the groove and made up two spots on the opening lap, but Charles made the biggest impression. The #222 launched from the back of the field to gain more than 10 positions and into the Bronze Cup top 10 within a lap. Contact from a rival dropped him back, but it only sharpened his determination, and he had recovered the lost positions within ten laps, while Ben knocked on the door of the overall top-10.

A full course yellow at the 20 minute mark brought things under control, and both drivers made quick restarts to gain more ground. Just before the hour, Charles had moved into the class podium positions, and Ben was running in P8. Both stayed out longer than their rivals as the pit window opened, moving Ben up to P2 overall, and Charles P2 in class and inside the top 10 having started from P61.

With the stops completed, Chris took over the #3 and was released straight into a battle, making a pass before the end of his first lap. At the two-hour mark, Reece held P2 in class, just outside the overall top-20, while Chris ran a strong P6 overall, before contact during a hard battle for position resulted in a drive-through penalty. The Bronze class lead was regained shortly after, and Chris served the penalty shortly before the final round of scheduled stops, with 45 minutes remaining.

With the sun now set, Max rejoined the dark track amid a melee of headlights. Kiern took over the #222 with the Bronze lead intact, running P15 overall and battling hard with the leading group. Max, making his GT World Challenge Europe debut in immediately demanding conditions, steadily climbed the order, gaining five positions within 20 minutes and closing on his teammate. Further impressive passes followed in the closing minutes, and he brought the #3 in P5 in the Pro standings, P9 overall, concluding with 15 positions gained in his debut stint.

Meanwhile, the day’s standout result belonged to the #222, with Kiern bringing it home to take Bronze Cup honours and ending the season on the highest level. A huge achievement for the team, having started from the back of the field, and recovered well, twice, before going on to finish at the head of the class standings, and P13 overall. The result is second consecutive Endurance Cup win for the season, and a third time on the top step of the GT World Challenge Europe podium in 2026.  

“What an incredible weekend, for both sides of the garage. There was a huge amount of interest and attention on Portimão this weekend, and I am very proud to see how well the whole team performed at every step. Having Max and Ben join the team was fantastic, and they both did a fantastic job in the car with Chris to bring home a result, and watching Max making overtakes during his stint is a real highlight of the season! A real credit also has to go to the #222 car crew as well. Charles, Kiern and Reece have been a formidable force this year, and even when they are down, they are not out. To start from the back of the field, and then be facing the wrong way at the end of the first lap, but then to bring home a class win and fight through the field the way they did. All credit to them, showing that ‘never give up’ attitude.

“The whole team has delivered an incredible set of results over the season, and this weekend was another stellar job by everyone. It was a very proud moment to see Max in the garage, and taking to the track, with this project having gone so well for the past two seasons, and to conclude the season with the results we did, it is a huge credit to everyone involved – the drivers and the amazing team we have in the garage, and back at base. A very proud moment to see the Bahrain flag flying high on the podium.”

Isa Al Khalifa, team co-owner, 2 Seas Motorsport

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