TWO WINS AT COTA PROPEL SAMANTHA TAN RACING TO PRO/AM CHAMPIONSHIP LEAD
Samantha Tan Racing has moved to the top of the Pro/Am Teams’ standings in this year’s GT World Challenge America after a successful weekend at the Circuit of the Americas, one headlined by two Pro/Am class wins.
A strategic masterclass in race one, plus a fighting drive in race two, was rewarded with a pair of Pro/Am class wins and two overall podiums for Samantha Tan and Neil Verhagen, who continue their fruitful partnership aboard the #38 BMW M4 GT3 in 2024.
The two category wins – the fifth and sixth consecutive Pro/Am podiums for ST Racing so far this season – mean the Canadian team has now moved 18 points clear in the title chase as the season approaches half-distance.
Samantha Tan, team co-owner / driver (#38): “Back to back wins at COTA! I qualified P3 and Neil qualified on overall pole this weekend, and we were able to push for a win in both races. I am filled with such immense pride for my team, our crew gave us an amazing car and executed flawless pitstops, allowing Neil and I to fight for the overall lead on both Saturday and Sunday. It was incredibly hot and humid this weekend, so it wasn’t easy by any means! I am beyond grateful for the continued guidance & trust from my teammate and the support from BMW Motorsport, my coach and engineers, and look forward to building on the momentum through the rest of the season!”
Kenneth Tan, team co-owner: “The asphalt was hot and the team were on fire all weekend and I am not talking about the weather, which was super hot. The team came together and swept the Pro-Am class for the first time in our short history. We continued to struggle in getting Car 28 in the zone during the first race but turned things positively around by race 2. Still more adjustments needed but I am confident we are on the up and up there. Very proud of the whole crew and drivers for all their hard work and successful weekend. We will continue to strive for that perfect weekend when both cars sweep the Pro and Pro-Am classes. It’s a reachable goal and we will continue to work hard towards it. Now we have some time to recuperate and prep the cars for a challenging second half of the season. See you at VIR!”
For the first time this season, and in a meaningful nod to her heritage, Samantha proudly bore her Chinese name on the #38 BMW this weekend.
Qualifying
An impressive qualifying session hinted at a successful weekend to come for the #38: Neil took a second outright pole of the season in Q2, while Samantha was the fastest of any ‘Am’ driver in Q1, banking 3rd in-class and 6th on the overall grid.
BMW legend Bill Auberlen meanwhile, competing with up-and-coming GT star Varun Choksey, similarly demonstrated the M4 GT3’s pace at COTA by qualifying 4th overall and 2nd in the ‘Pro’ class for race one in the sister #28 BMW. Despite niggling setup issues hampering his progress, Varun was still able to qualify 4th in-class for race two on his maiden GT3 run at COTA.
Race 1
Managing to avoid a collision ahead of them at turn one, astute driving from BMW M Motorsport brand ambassadors Bill Auberlen and Samantha Tan meant the #28 and #38 BMWs were already up to 2nd and 3rd overall, and 1st and 2nd in their respective classes, by the end of the first lap. Fittingly, the Samantha Tan Racing BMWs ran in formation for much of race one’s opening half.
Having been given track position by the sister #28, Samantha completed a controlled, 51-minute stint in 3rd place overall heading into the mid-race mandatory pit stop. Back on-track, typically assertive overtakes from Neil Verhagen, now at the wheel, meant the #38 M4 was soon up to 2nd overall and, crucially, into the ‘Pro/Am’ class top spot. Though the overall lead was within striking distance, both Neil and ST Racing’s experienced engineers opted instead for a conservative approach for the remainder of the race to bank its second class win of the season. A result that moved Samantha Tan Racing to the top of the Pro-Am Teams’ standings.
A loose rear diffuser meanwhile (dislodged, it’s suspected, during the opening lap melee), meant a class podium for the #28 BMW was notably hard-earned: though “not terrible,” the disrupted downforce caused by the loose diffuser meant Bill and teammate Varun Choksey were left taming an ill-handling GT3 throughout the 90-minute race, despite ST Racing’s mechanics’ attempts to resolve the problem during an extended pit stop. Varun in particular impressed with a prolonged and staunch defense against championship rival Wright Motorsports: several times, the American team appeared to have the move done down COTA’s back straight, only for the wounded BMW to fight back.
Though unable to hold off his on-track rival, despite a valiant effort, a maturing Varun later allowed a three-way fight for 4th in the Pro/Am places through as well in the closing stages. While this ultimately dropped the #28 BMW from a deserved 6th overall to 9th, crucially, this decision allowed Varun to retain 3rd in the ‘Pro’ class all the way to the chequered flag.
Race 2
Despite being jumped on the opening lap, the experienced Neil, now running 2nd, opted to preserve his tyres during his 50-minute stint, whilst also keeping the leading Turner Motorsport BMW well in-sight. Indeed, the gap between 1st and 2nd was less than 1.5 seconds when both M4s hit pitroad, on the same lap, at half-distance. Exceptional pitwork by ST Racing’s mechanics meant the already slim gap was down to just half a second when Samantha started the final stint of the weekend.
All over the back of the Turner Motorsport BMW, Samantha was finally able to open the door down the inside of turn 17 with 32 minutes left to run.
Rather than lose time against a charging ‘Pro’ field and potentially put a second consecutive Pro/Am class win in jeopardy, Samantha eventually brought the BMW home 3rd overall. Even so, a fighting drive and time at the very front of the field – on merit! – more than proved the potential of ST Racing’s package for 2024.
A frustrating weekend for the #28 BMW was similarly rewarded with 3rd in-class, and 7th outright, from 12th on the grid. Aware that his closest ‘Pro’ rival had been handed a three-second penalty post-race, the wily Bill pulled to within just a few car lengths in the closing stages, and even made a move for position on the final lap!
Neil Verhagen, driver (#38): “First time for me being at Circuit of the Americas and it definitely did not disappoint! I have to give all the thanks to the STR boys and girls that made this possible. They put in so much hard work and effort during the whole weekend, even in the extreme heat and humidity. To walk away with Pole position for Sunday’s race and race wins on Saturday and Sunday is unbelievable! We definitely maximized everything we had this weekend. I’m excited to be back in the car at VIR with the team in July!”
Varun Choksey, driver (#28): “COTA was a difficult weekend for the 28 car. We struggled to find the balance of the car before qualifying and we lacked the pace of our rivals throughout the weekend. Despite that, we were still able to learn about the car and earn more points which keep us in the hunt for the championship at the end of the season. That’s always the most important thing. Congrats to our sister car on dominating the weekend and thanks to the whole team for their continued effort and support.”
Bill Auberlen, driver (#28): “So far this year we have done 6 races and finished on the podium 6 times. In any other year this would be an insane accomplishment, but because this year we are currently second in the championship with such great finishes it’s actually a hard one to swallow. Now after Cota we have some time off to tear our BMW M4 GT3 apart and hopefully find that extra little bit of speed we are missing and come back and stand on the top step of the podium!! I need to thank my teammate Varun, my guys and girls at STR and BMW for giving us such a great car. Next step will be the top step!”
After a well-earned summer break, Samantha Tan Racing will be back in action on 19-21 July for round four of this year’s GT World Challenge America at the Virginia International Raceway.