News

Back on the Mountain. Back on the podium

• EMA Motorsport supports The Bend Motorsport Park entered Porsche 992 GT3 R
• #91 entry converts Pro Am pole position into P2 finish at the end of action-packed 12 hours
• Reigning Bathurst Pro Am champion, Yasser Shahin, joined by his brother, Australian Carrera Cup racer Sam; 2024 WEC teammate Morris Schuring; and, IMSA GTD Pro Champion, Laurin Heinrich

It was a return to Mount Panorama for EMA Motorsport over the weekend, supporting The Bend Motorsport Park entry at the Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hours. Reigning champion Yasser Shahin was joined by his brother, Sam, and the pair ran alongside Morris Schuring and Porsche factory driver Laurin Heinrich, to bring the Porsche 992 GT3 R home inside the top 10 overall, scoring P2 in the Pro Am class.

Pace across the top of the Mountain looked immediately strong for the #91 entry throughout the weekend’s running, with consistently quick times for the four drivers across the initial practice sessions. Laurin and Morris were debuting at the famous circuit, but this lack of previous experience proved no issue, with the #91 running at the sharp end of the timesheets in every session. The team progressed through qualifying as the fastest Porsche, securing a position in the top 10 shootout, where Laurin delivered another impressive run in the final qualifying effort. As the session ended, the team secured class pole position, starting on the third row of the grid for the opening round of the Intercontinental GT Challenge calendar.

Yasser took the start under the cover of darkness, and the race was immediately off to a fast tempo with action unfolding from the first corner. The overall order shuffled as several Pro cars moved through the field, while Yasser managed his pace and maintained position at the front of the class until just before the end of the first hour. The race continued to run at a high pace throughout the opening hours, with several incidents leading to Safety Car interventions. During this time, the drivers cycled through their stints with Morris and Sam closed the gap ahead, before Laurin turned his first laps. As the race reached a quarter distance.

Pace remained strong, and the #91 regained the class lead as they moved up the overall order, running as consistently the quickest car on track. From here, between further Safety Car interruptions, the team worked its way up the overall order into the top 10, in a close battle for the class lead until the closing stages. The #91 team executed faultless stops throughout the full 12 hours, and a late extended pitstop for their main competition in class brought the fight into the final hour. At the line, The Bend Motorsport Park effort crossed the line to take the second step of the Pro Am podium, and 10th overall.

Laurin Heinrich, Porsche 911 GT3 R #91: “It was a good result, the crossing the line P10 overall and finishing second in Pro Am. I felt our performance deserved more, but endurance racing is never easy. Competing around this stunning track, which is one of the best in the world, has always been a dream of mine, and I hope to return next year.”

Morris Schuring, Porsche 911 GT3 R #91: “As a Bathurst rookie, I thoroughly enjoyed this event, and the Mount Panorama circuit is now definitely one of my favourites. We showed great pace considering it was the first time here for three of our four drivers. I’m already looking forward to the next race, and thankful for the effort put in by the team throughout the event.”