Autodromo Internacional do Algarve hosted the second round of the EuroCup-3 in a weekend where GRS Team once again scored points after giving their all to overcome numerous challenges.
On June 7 and 8, the second round of the 2025 EuroCup-3 season took place at the spectacular Portimao circuit. GRS lined up with Yani Stevenheydens, who had delivered a strong performance alongside the team in the season opener in Austria. For this event, the championship debuted a new weekend format, which featured a sprint race with a reversed grid in addition to the two usual races.
Friday’s test session and Saturday morning’s free practice showcased the extreme competitiveness of the field. A hundredth of a second could mean the difference between gaining or losing multiple positions, making a strong qualifying lap absolutely crucial. Yani showed good pace, indicating the potential to score points once again.
The first qualifying session didn’t go as hoped. Despite being just seven tenths off pole position, Stevenheydens qualified 15th, which meant he would start from that position in both Race 1 and the Sprint.
In Race 1, the Belgian driver maintained a consistent position around the top 15, managing to make up ground and get closer to the points. In the final stages, he took advantage of the chaos caused by a restart following a safety car period to gain several places, crossing the line in 10th, which became 9th after a rival received a penalty.
Later came the Sprint Race, the first of its kind in the championship. Stevenheydens was involved in an incident at the start that dropped him to the back of the field. Fortunately, he was able to continue. From that moment on, Yani delivered a strong comeback, finishing in P12 after a flawless drive.
Sunday kicked off with the second qualifying session. Yani ended up one second off the fastest lap, placing himself in 18th on the grid for Race 2. He made an excellent start, quickly joining the fight for the top 10. Despite his solid pace and the positions gained, he narrowly missed out on the points and finished 13th.
That brings to a close a weekend where the team was unable to replicate the strong results of the opening round. Nevertheless, GRS leaves Portimao with more points added to the standings and a clear determination to keep improving—especially in qualifying. EuroCup-3 will return on the weekend of June 21–22 at Circuit Paul Ricard in France.
