Race Recap GT3-Espresso Cup
Algarve International Circuit
Tue, Aug 4, 2026Round 11
Purser Takes the Checkered Flag at Algarve International Circuit
Race at a Glance
Field Size
9
Laps
12
Avg Lap Time
1:43.580
Clean Runners
3
Lead Lap Finishers
6
Margin
+5.421s
Winner Spotlight
Alan Purser
P1 Finish
At Algarve International Circuit on Tuesday night, #17 Alan Purser converted a second-place starting position into a Round 11 victory in the GT3-Espresso Cup, claiming his second win of the season in the OGRL Old Guy Racing League. Purser led all 12 laps of the clean, caution-free race, holding off pole-sitter #20 Alex Claudio — who had secured his own win earlier in the campaign — from start to finish across the Portuguese circuit.
Claudio had to settle for second after surrendering the lead from the opening lap, finishing with 5 incidents recorded across the 12-lap distance. #77 Kevin Miller rounded out the podium in third, moving forward from his fourth-place starting spot and posting 9 incidents along the way — a rough night technically, but a result that will nonetheless count in his favor as he chases points in the standings.
The hard charger award belonged to #89 Bradley Tidwell, who charged from eighth on the grid to a fifth-place finish, gaining three positions over 12 laps around Algarve. Tidwell's night was not without controversy — he posted 11 incidents, the highest count among finishers — but the result proved significant. #43 John Gardner Sr. also had a strong run, advancing two spots from sixth to fourth with a clean sheet, one of three drivers to finish with zero incidents alongside #816 Hays Boughan and #074 Ric Wishon.
With 39 rounds still remaining in the GT3-Espresso Cup season and all championship points registering at zero in the data, the standings offer a fascinating snapshot: Bradley Tidwell sits at the top, with Purser right behind him in second and Claudio fourth. The gap between the contenders is razor-thin on paper, and Purser's win at Algarve has him firmly in contention. It is a long road ahead, but Tuesday's race underscored that several drivers are capable of reaching victory lane on any given night.
Top Movers
Bradley Tidwell89
▲ +3John Gardner Sr43
▲ +2Alan Purser17
▲ +1Finishing Order
| Finish | Start | +/- | Car # | Driver | Inc | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | +1 | 17 | Alan Purser | 7x | — |
| 2 | 1 | -1 | 20 | Alex Claudio | 5x | — |
| 3 | 4 | +1 | 77 | Kevin Miller | 9x | — |
| 4 | 6 | +2 | 43 | John Gardner Sr | 0x | — |
| 5 | 8 | +3 | 89 | Bradley Tidwell | 11x | — |
| 6 | 3 | -3 | 6 | Will F Bailey | 12x | — |
| 7 | 5 | -2 | 137 | Heath Olinger | 7x | — |
| 8 | 7 | -1 | 816 | Hays Boughan | 0x | — |
| 9 | 9 | 0 | 074 | Ric Wishon | 0x | — |
