SUCCESS! ST RACING TAKES FIRST OUTRIGHT WIN WITH BMW M4 GT3 IN MUGELLO

ST Racing has sealed its first outright win at an endurance event with its new BMW M4 GT3, the Canadian team emerging victorious in Mugello, Italy, after a flawless 12-hour run.

 Samantha Tan Racing led 245 of the 330 completed laps of the Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello to secure its first GT3-category win in only its second endurance event with the new BMW M4 GT3. The 12-hour event was the second championship round of the European-focused 24H SERIES, in which ST Racing was crowned Overall GT Teams’ champion in 2021.

The weekend in Mugello got off to a superb start when Samantha Tan, Nick Wittmer and Bryson Morris each posted the second fastest lap time in their respective qualifying sessions, thus ensuring the #1 M4 a front row starting position, the team’s highest grid slot to-date in the 24H SERIES.

Having tussled with the frontrunners during the race’s opening frenetic stages, a bold-yet-calculated pit stop strategy, plus scintillating pace from Nick Wittmer – four of the six fastest laps set during the first half of the event were posted by the Québec native – meant that, by the third hour, ST Racing had already jumped to the front of the field and established a one-lap lead.

 Though its nearest category rivals hoved into view during the course of Saturday afternoon, none were able to keep pace with the TwinPower Turbo straight-six-powered M4 down Mugello’s famous high-speed start-finish straight, and the Canadian team retained its advantage heading into the race’s mandatory overnight break.

 When racing resumed the following morning, the ST Racing BMW once again proved the GT3 pacesetter, with Samantha and team newcomer Bryson Morris continuing to significantly improve their pace with every lap of the Tuscan circuit. Superb pitwork, metronomic reliability from the M4, and consistent pace from all three drivers meant that, come the chequered flag, Samantha Tan Racing had pulled two laps clear of its nearest rivals en-route to a maiden outright endurance racing win.

The result marks not just the first overall win for a Canadian team in the 24H SERIES but also the first for BMW Motorsport in a decade. An achievement the team is confident, with a firm understanding of the M4 GT3’s potential now under its belt, it can repeat in 2022.

Kenneth Tan, team principal: “It is such an amazing feeling to have finished first overall after our mediocre finish in the Dubai 24H. Our BMW M4 GT3 cars were practically just taken out of the box but since then, we have had time to work with it and together with BMW Motorsport support, we understood the car and the drivers were able to run its potential. That, together with pure teamwork, ensured that we got it done! I am so proud of our whole team. Each and every person contributed and this is what happens when everyone works towards a single passionate goal. Forza STR!!!”

Samantha Tan, co-owner / driver: “To be the first BMW M4 GT3 in series history to win overall, I’m speechless! I’m so incredibly proud of everyone on this team. After the bittersweet finish in Dubai, we were beyond ecstatic to see our ST Racing BMW M4 GT3 leading the field. Every single member of this team did a phenomenal job to ensure that we finished in the top spot; there were countless hours of work dedicated behind the scenes to make all this possible. I can’t put into words how grateful I am to my co-drivers Nick Wittmer and Bryson Morris, to everyone on my team, to BMW Motorsport, Motul, HRX, Endless, and to all our fans for their unending support. This win is for you as well!”

Nick Wittmer, driver: “Super proud of Samantha and Bryson's performances and the team at the 12H Mugello. We couldn't have done it without us all working together. STR38 Motorsports Motul BMW M4 GT3 has proven that we can do the job. We worked hard on setup and aero which made the car very strong and perform well. Our job as drivers was to stay fast, clean and be on point throughout. The crew did a great job as well. Putting that recipe together brought us home a big victory overall in GT3 at the 12H Mugello. I can't thank the crew and my co-drivers enough. We did it, and we will come back next time even stronger!”

Bryson Morris, driver: “I’m super happy to be involved with achieving ST Racing’s first win in the GT3 category and BMW’s first overall victory with the new M4 GT3. It was an awesome 3-way race the whole 12 hours, but the crew made some amazing calls to get us to the front at the end. Very thankful for everyone in the team that helped me and the car get to this point, it wouldn't have been possible without them!”

ST Racing’s season continues with the opening round of the GT World Challenge America at Sonoma on 15-16-17 April, for which the Canadian team has entered a sole BMW M4 GT3. Just one week later, ST Racing travels to the vaunted Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps for the Hankook 12H SPA on 22-23-24 April, round three of the 2022 24H SERIES.