Shawn Rashid will begin his 2026 racing programme in Portugal this weekend (7-8 February), as the American prepares to pilot an Iron Lynx-run Mercedes-AMG GT3 in the 6 Hours of Portimão.
Rashid took his first steps in the sport as recently as 2021, attending the AMG Academy at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca and placing first in the 100-strong field – with coaches scarcely able to believe he had never raced before and urging him to pursue a professional career. Heeding their advice, he has since predominantly plied his trade in single-seaters, prior to dipping his toe into the water in prototype competition last October in the Michelin Le Mans Cup, also at Portimão. Belying his complete lack of prior experience of endurance races, the Atlanta, GA native stunned onlookers by finishing first on-the-road in the LMP3 Pro/Am division with Inter Europol Competition – determinedly keeping the series’ 2023 champion at bay right to the chequered flag. So impressed was the Polish squad by his performance, it has subsequently recruited him for a full campaign this year alongside Alex Bukhantsov. Having proven his prowess in long-distance contests, Rashid will now join forces with Italian outfit Iron Lynx – a regular front-runner in the FIA World Endurance Championship and a multiple title-winner in both the Michelin Le Mans Cup and European Le Mans Series – to shake off the winter cobwebs over the course of a six-hour blast around the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve. He will do so in the team’s potent, podium-finishing Mercedes-AMG GT3 – bringing him neatly full circle, five years on from his initial association with the iconic German marque in coastal California. |
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Sharing the German sportscar with Zimbabwean entrepreneur Ameerh Naran and three-time FIA Formula 2 Championship race-winner Sérgio Sette Câmara, the Purdue University Industrial Engineering graduate will do battle in the headlining GT3 category. Following a three-part qualifying session on Saturday (7 February), the main event will get underway at 11:00 local time on Sunday (8 February), concluding shortly before sunset.
“I’m super-pumped to get back on-track this weekend with Iron Lynx in the 6 Hours of Portimão,” enthused Rashid. “Having participated in Formula Regional Oceania in New Zealand this time last year, I know just how valuable proper competitive winter running can be, and to discover another new team, new car and new series will add a further string to my bow. “Everybody at Iron Lynx has been so welcoming and helpful, and I honestly cannot wait to get behind the wheel of the Mercedes – it looks like an absolute beast, and its track record speaks for itself. Having already competed at Portimão a couple of times over the past year, I feel like I have a decent handle on the circuit, which will allow me to focus on getting to grips with everything else. It’s going to be an epic weekend – bring it on!” “We’re happy to have Shawn with us for this event,” echoed Iron Lynx Team Principal, Andrea Piccini. “He is a promising young driver, with some endurance racing experience despite coming from a stint in single-seaters. We look forward to working with him and to the weekend in general, which is a great testing opportunity for us at this point in the year.” |
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Rashid’s manager – former British Touring Car Championship Independents’ title-winner, Rory Butcher – agrees that the extra track time, during a period when much of the motorsport world is still in hibernation, will be beneficial for the Oxford-based racer’s continuing development in the sport.
“Having learnt so much in single-seaters in recent years, Shawn’s pace and performance on his sportscar racing debut a few months ago demonstrated his versatility and adaptability as a driver,” commented the Scot. “I have no doubt that he will apply those same skills again this weekend to quickly acclimatise to the Mercedes-AMG GT3. “We are excited for Shawn’s full-time programme this season with Inter Europol Competition in the Michelin Le Mans Cup, and every ounce of experience that he can pick up between now and then will make him stronger for the challenges that lie ahead. I look forward to closely following his progress in Portugal.” |