ST Racing twice finished in the overall top three and left California with four podiums from this weekend’s two, 90-minute GT World Challenge America races. As a result, the subtly re-liveried #38 BMW M4 GT3 and its sister #28 entry are already 2nd in the GTWC America PRO-AM and PRO standings respectively.

Samantha Tan, driver / co-owner: “It was an amazing start to the 2024 season for us with two P2s in Pro-Am! Sonoma is a track that isn’t the best suited for the BMW but we maximized what we had. With the new repave and the subsequent surface issues, we had extremely limited track time this weekend. However, the team was able to give us a strong car to fight with during both races. Although we would’ve liked to have been on the top step, I am very proud of what we achieved this weekend and look forward to the rest of the season with Neil!”

Kenneth Tan, team principal / co-owner: “What a difference a year makes! Outstanding results at the worst track for our car in our calendar. Neil, as always, drove amazing and I have to say that Samantha has upped her game a notch and it was really fun to watch her push the car and almost finish P1 in the second race. So proud of her and our crew, especially to our crew chief Mark and team manager Jon, for putting together a car that could perform on this track. Lastly, thanks to our chefs Dan and Nikko for preparing delicious meals for the crew. Can’t wait to see what we can do at Sebring.”

Jon Miller, team manager: “Firstly, a thank you to Sonoma Raceway and SRO for solving the unfortunate issues around the track conditions that cut Thursday and Friday running out of the race week. Quick action and a satisfactory repair made the best out of a tough situation and got our races to happen. We know that they were under pressure to provide the teams a safe and suitable racetrack and they made it happen. From the team side, our sights are set on the championship with both of our cars, so this is a good start to our campaign with a quad pack of P2 finishes. We’re proud of the performances and results. The competition is extremely strong, so we have no illusions about how hard we’re going to have to work to outperform them all the way through the season. Our goal was to maximize our points situation at a track that we know isn’t the BMW’s best place traditionally, and that goal was accomplished.”

Practice/Qualifying

Teaming with exciting young gun Varun Choksey and BMW M Motorsport legend Bill Auberlen for the first time, Samantha Tan Racing has confirmed an expanded, two-car effort for the GT World Challenge America in 2024. The pair will co-drive the team’s PRO-entered #28 BMW M4 GT3 across the year, while team co-owner Samantha Tan and Neil Verhagen continue a very successful partnership (which included five consecutive class podiums in Pro-Am in 2023) aboard the sister #38 Pro/Am entry.

Though complications posed by the Sonoma Raceway’s new track surface restricted running in Free Practice, ST Racing bounced back quickly during the event’s modified qualifying session (results from the hour-long FP2 were used to determine the grid). Solid running, barely three-tenths off the overall polesitter, ensured that both ST Racing BMWs lined up 3rd on the grid in their respective categories. 

Race 1

Heedful starts for Samantha, who continues her BMW M Motorsport ambassadorial role into 2024, and Varun, who made his GTWC debut this weekend, into Sonoma’s congested turn one ensured the ST Racing machines maintained track position at the start. Consistent running during the opening stages meant the pair were 8th and 4th overall respectively when they made their mandatory mid-race pit stops.

Flawless work by ST Racing’s crew meant the #38 came very close to leapfrogging to 7th on pit exit. The #28, which stopped just two laps later, resumed the race 4th overall (2nd in ‘PRO’), and meticulous laps thereafter saw Bill close the gap to, and eventually pass, DXDT Racing’s Mercedes for 3rd overall. A position the BMW of North America Brand Ambassador held to the chequered flag.

Further back, an invigorated Neil Verhagen, now aboard the #38, was soon past Turner Motorsport’s own BMW and up to 6th overall (4th in Pro/Am) with a decisive move into turn four, aided by the superior pace of BMW’s twin-turbo six-cylinder. Sandwiched in a close, three-way fight for the final Pro/Am podium spot with less than 20 minutes left on the clock, Neil then made another determined pass into Sonoma’s high-speed, off-camber ‘carousel’ when the Esses Racing Mercedes left the door ajar.

Whilst fending off his Pro/Am rivals, Neil then also caught, and passed, the DXDT Racing Mercedes to move up to 4th overall and 2nd in Pro/Am at the flag.

 Race 2

An electric start for Neil almost nabbed the #38 BMW 2nd overall into turn one, though discretion proved the better of valour, and the young Connecticuter opted instead to preserve 3rd overall (2nd in PRO/AM) all the way to the mid-race pit stop. Further back, a similarly fast-starting Bill Auberlen moved the #28 BMW up from 7th overall to 6th on the opening lap, a position the BMW legend also held until the pit stops.

During the second half of Sunday’s 90-minute race, the ST Racing BMWs were flying as both Samantha (4th) and Varun (6th) lapped more than a second per lap quicker than their closest rivals. The #28 was the first to draw blood, moving past the Turner BMW for 5th overall just a few laps into Varun’s stint.

Samantha meanwhile, having tracked down 3rd-placed DXDT Racing, was quick to react when the Mercedes, under pressure, came close to spinning out completely at turn two. Now up to 3rd overall (2nd in Pro-Am), Samantha continued piling on the pressure, and was just over five seconds behind 2nd place at the chequered flag. The #28 rounded out a lucrative weekend for Samantha Tan Racing with 2nd in the ‘PRO’ class and 5th overall in race two.

Neil Verhagen, driver (#38): “It was a great start to a long GTWCA season here at Sonoma. After the track needed to go under repairs earlier in the week we lost a lot of our track time. The team did an amazing job to execute with the lack of running to provide a great car in qualifying and both races. In the end I think a double podium was the most we could achieve. It felt great to be back and I can’t wait for Sebring!”

Bill Auberlen, driver (#28): “That was some hardcore trial by fire. New teammate, new team, new crew. The only known variable was the great BMW M4 GT3. It turns out at the right moments all the pieces came together and we managed to finish P2 in both races! Varun did exactly what I saw in testing and ran two perfect races. We have a few things we can clean up, but all in all what a great weekend and a great way to start the year.”

Varun Choksey, driver (#28): “I came into Sonoma expecting it to be one of the weakest tracks for our M4 GT3, so to come away with two P2 finishes is a nice result. I think we got the most out of both races and maximized the amount of points we could come away with which could prove valuable later on in the season. The first race of the season is never easy and this year is no exception. We had limited running leading into the races after discovering the track surface was falling apart. Still, none of the extra time spent in the garage was wasted. The entire team worked non-stop during this period improving our car and ensuring we had two smooth races. I want to say thank you to all of the STR team members for their effort this weekend; their work was crucial for our results in both cars. I can’t wait to take on the bumps in Sebring.” 

Samantha Tan Racing’s GT World Challenge America campaign continues in just under one month’s time with rounds three and four at Sebring on 3-5 May. Two weeks later, GTWC America head to the Circuit of the Americas – happy hunting ground for ST Racing – for rounds five and six on 17-19 May.