The Bend takes Pro-Am podium as Absolute Racing ensures double top-10 finish for Porsche at Bathurst

Bathurst 12 Hour

Feb 3

Absolute Racing crossed the line in sixth as The Bend finished second in the Pro-Am class at the 2025 edition of the Bathurst 12 Hour at the Mount Panorama Circuit, the first stop on this year’s Intercontinental GT Challenge calendar.

The Bend’s #91 Porsche GT3 R (992), driven by Sam and Yasser Shahin, Morris Schuring and Laurin Heinrich, progressed to the battle for overall pole after a brilliant effort saw them put in the second quickest time in the first part of qualifying.

In the top-10 shootout, Heinrich secured sixth overall while also taking Pro-Am pole position thanks to an excellent one-lap performance on his Bathurst debut.

Meanwhile, the Absolute Racing crew, made up of 2024 winners Matt Campbell and Ayhancan Güven alongside former Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific Selected Driver Alessio Picariello, narrowly missed out on the top ten shootout, meaning they would begin the enduro in 11th.

In traditional Bathurst 12 Hour fashion, the race began in darkness at 05:45 local time, making for one of the most picturesque opening hours in endurance racing as the sun rises.

Güven started the race for Absolute Racing and quickly made his way forward, battling through the field to lead at the end of his second stint, with several Safety Car interventions causing an intriguing strategy battle. Later on, Picariello produced some brilliant defending in a battle for the final spot on the podium, before handing over to hometown hero and two-time Bathurst winner Campbell to complete the enduro in sixth place.

2024 LMGT3 Le Mans 24 Hours winner Yasser Shahin started for the EMA Motorsport-run car and throughout the event they battled for the lead in Pro-Am while staying competitive in the overall order, eventually finishing second in class and 10th overall.