Yasser Shahin, a Palestinian Australian racing driver, is gearing up for the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans, one of the most challenging and iconic races in the world of motorsport. This year's event, set to take place this weekend, will see 186 drivers across 62 cars battle it out on the 13.626-kilometre Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans, France.
Shahin, a member of the The Bend Manthey team, is driving a Porsche 911 in the LMGT3 category of the World Endurance Championship (WEC). His team has been in top form, placing third in the LMGT3 category during the six-hour races at Imola and Spa this year, and currently leads the LMGT3 Teams championship. Shahin, along with co-drivers Richard Lietz and Riccardo Pera, also leads the LMGT3 Drivers championship.
However, Shahin is well aware of the challenges that lie ahead at Le Mans. The Circuit de la Sarthe is a unique track, combining race-specific sections with public roads, leading to ever-changing conditions throughout the lap. The race's length means that conditions will evolve from day to night and back again, adding an extra layer of complexity.
"Two podiums tell you the car and the team are competitive — and reliable, which at Le Mans is everything," Shahin told ABC Sport. "You can't win the race in the first hour, but you can certainly lose it; one pit stop going wrong can be the difference between a podium and finishing nowhere. So the confidence comes from knowing everyone is committed. There are more than a dozen of us in the team, and every single person plays an extremely important role."
Despite the team's confidence, Shahin acknowledges the unpredictability of Le Mans. The race is a test of speed, stamina, reliability, and consistency, and even that may not be enough to finish. The number 92 car, for instance, won last year's race in the LMGT3 class, but Shahin was racing for a different team, and their car retired after 168 laps.
Shahin's experience at Le Mans is not limited to this year. He was part of the Manthey team in 2024 that won the LMGT3 class, with Lietz also being part of that win. This experience, combined with the team's current form, gives Shahin a strong foundation for success.
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is not just a test of driving skills but also a mental challenge. Preparation for the race starts months in advance, as drivers prepare for the physical and mental demands of the race. For Shahin, the real work happens in the lead-up, with team preparation and mental preparation being just as crucial as the physical aspects.
"The real work happens in the lead-up — the team preparation and the mental preparation," Shahin said. "It's about getting yourself into a state of mind where you understand that it's stamina, consistency, repeatability, and precision that delivers the results, not heroics. You have to be strong without being heavy. The hydration and nutrition strategy get dialled in well in advance too because the heat in the cockpit and the strain can be relentless over a stint. And mentally, it's discipline. The temptation is always to compete for lap time, but at four in the morning, your job is simply to not make mistakes. The win comes from 24 hours of getting it right, not one perfect lap."
In the history of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, only four Australians have been outright winners. Bernard Rubin was the first, teaming with Woolf Barnato for Bentley in 1928. It would be 55 years before Vern Schuppan joined the winning team, followed by Geoff Brabham in 1993 and David Brabham in 2009. As Shahin prepares for this year's race, he joins a select group of Australian drivers who have tasted success at the highest level of endurance racing.
As the race unfolds this weekend, all eyes will be on Yasser Shahin and the The Bend Manthey team, hoping they can add another chapter to the rich history of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
