A resilient weekend for Samantha Tan Racing at Road America ensured the team completed round five of this year’s GT World Challenge America still leading the PRO/AM Team and Driver standings.

 

Buoyed by its recent run of form at Elkhart Lake, which includes two wins and three further podium finishes on its two most recent outings in Wisconsin, ST Racing made a strong start to the GTWC America weekend with both cars qualifying for the opening 90-minute race of the weekend inside the top two of their respective classes. In a particularly impressive showing, ST Racing’s #28 BMW M4 GT3 started race one from the overall front row after topping the weekend’s first official practice session.

 

Fluctuating conditions and an on-track contact from another competitor however meant the Canadian team was unable to fully benefit from both the early pace of its BMWs. Despite the frustration though, two points-paying finishes for both cars at Road America means ST Racing continues to lead the PRO/AM standings by 43 points, and is still well in the fight for PRO class honors heading into the two final GTWC America rounds of 2024.

 

Samantha Tan, co-owner/driver: “Road America was an emotional rollercoaster and far more dramatic than our other race weekends this season… The unpredictable and constantly changing weather conditions made it increasingly difficult to find a good setup for the car. In Race 1, we unfortunately made the call to start on wet tires shortly after a downpour, but the track dried in mere minutes after we had set off on our warm up lap. We pushed hard till the checkered to make up for lost time after our extra pit stop for slicks. Our podium streak ended when we crossed the line P5 in class. Race 2 was our redemption race, with Neil starting P6 overall. After two strong stints and quick pit stop, I finished the race P4 overall, P2 in class. This kept us with a good lead in the championship points, but we will have to ensure we maintain focus in the last rounds and keep pushing as we near the end of the season.”

 

 

A strong start for BMW Motorsport legend Bill Auberlen sadly came to naught when an overambitious move from a rival behind led to minor contact at turn three. A bold decision to start the race on wet tires also backfired, as the rain that was predicted failed to materialize and the damp track dried out faster than expected.

 

Alongside a confusing and misguided drive-through penalty for the turn three incident, the #28 lost further time later on when a fueling issue brought the car back onto pit road. Consistent pace from both Bill and teammate Varun Choksey however meant the #28 nevertheless came home 4th in the PRO class.

 

In the sister car, a strong start by Samantha Tan meant the #38 BMW retained 6th overall at the start. Also compelled to pit early to change to dry tires before the mandatory pit window opened, the #38 recovered to finish race one 5th in the PRO/AM class, though a typically tenacious drive from BMW works driver Neil Verhagen.

 

Tellingly, race one at Road America marked the first time that ST Racing’s #38 BMW has finished off the PRO/AM podium in GT World Challenge America competition this season.

 

Better track conditions on Sunday proved crucial to salvaging ST Racing’s Road America weekend. Keen to remedy the team’s difficulties the previous day, Neil (#38) and Varun (#28) ran a consistent pace across the opening half of the race, maintaining 3rd and 4th in-class respectively before making their mandatory mid-race pit stops.

 

Rapid pit work by ST Racing’s mechanics meant the #28, now with Bill onboard, moved into the overall top 10 on-track, while the #38 (Samantha) rejoined the race in 4th. In a nod to her increasingly reliable race craft, a mature drive by Samantha was enough to secure 4th overall on the road and 2nd on the PRO/AM podium.

 

ST Racing’s championship hopes were further aided when a puncture dropped its closest title rival, Turner Motorsports, to the back of the field, one lap down.

 

Auberlen meanwhile completed a robust charge through the field to finish 6th overall and 4th in-class, as one of the fastest cars on track in the final stint. The #28 picked up the hard charger award by gaining 6 positions throughout the race.

 

Neil Verhagen, driver (#38): “Road America was a weekend full of ups and downs. The ever-changing weather made it tough to get a solid read on the track during each session. Unfortunately, in Race 1, our podium streak came to an end with a 5th place finish. However, we bounced back in Race 2, securing 2nd place on the podium—a crucial result for our championship fight. I’m excited to head to Barber Motorsports Park, which will be a new challenge for both myself and the team. Thanks again to everyone for the incredible support throughout the weekend!”

 

Bill Auberlen, driver (#28): “After the end of a challenging weekend at Road America I sit in my airplane seat headed home full of all the weekends emotions. All the highs, the lows and everything in between. We were P1 at times and last at times. It’s so easy to focus on choices and things that didn’t go your way, but honestly after this weekend I’m going to focus on all the amazing things. I mean seriously I’m driving the best race cars in the world for the best company in the world. I get to spend the better part of a week with my awesome team and teammates, engineers, guys, girls, friends and fans. Let’s keep things in perspective, I feel like the luckiest guy in the world and I never allow myself to forget that. 

 

Now I head home to my family which is always great. For the next couple of weeks I’ll train hard physically, reflect on anything than could have been improved and put that in my racing library. Meditate a bit and try to visualize how to get that next victory at Barber. I would like to thank BMW for building such amazing cars, my teammate Varun for bringing it every single weekend, my STR team for working so crazy hard, and to all our sponsors and supporters for letting us do what we do. Now let’s all meet up in Alabama together and celebrate the podium to come together. Makes it way more satisfying!!! See you all there.”

 

Samantha Tan Racing’s GT World Challenge America program continues in just a couple of weeks time in Alabama at Barber Motorsports Park on 6-7-8 September. The season finale – the Indianapolis 8 Hours – will take place on 4-5-6 October at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

 

Alongside its North American campaign, ST Racing is also set to make a one-off return to the 24H SERIES on 13-14-15 September as part of the 25th edition of the 24H BARCELONA at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.