Samantha Tan finished a successful one-off weekend in GT America with a GT4 podium and an additional top five finish at Long Beach.

 

Back competing at the Long Beach street circuit for the first time since 2019, Samantha entered round two of this year’s GT America, which supported this weekend’s IndyCar Long Beach Grand Prix, for her first race in a GT4 car since 2021. On top of that, the two, 40-minute sprint races marked her competitive debut aboard the new ‘G82’ generation BMW M4 GT4.

 

Despite the steep learning curve, Samantha’s weekend with ST Racing got off to a solid start with 7th on the GT4 grid in race one (the #38 BMW qualified just over a tenth shy of the division’s second row). 7th quickly became 6th in the first race, thanks to a fighting start by BMW M Motorsport ambassador Samantha into Long Beach’s notorious turn one.

 

Keeping the Flying Lizard Motorsports’ Aston Martin in her sights across the opening stages (which included several exploratory passing attempts into turn one), Samantha made the move for 5th stick shortly after half-distance, breezing past the Vantage on the approach to West Shoreline Drive. Just a few laps later, Samantha was on the tail of 4th-placed Heart of Racing Team: the BMW was even alongside, and out-dragging, the Vantage several times down East Seaside Way. A possible fight for a GT4 podium was sadly derailed however when several of the GT3 frontrunners attempted to pass the #38 BMW M4 GT4 by Long Beach’s famous fountain, a move that ultimately cost the BMW valuable ground on its rivals. Still, 5th in the GT4 class first-time out boded well for the following afternoon.

 

Race two on Sunday got off to an even better start. Having qualified 3rd of the GT4 runners, Samantha was already alongside 2nd-placed Rotek Racing heading into turn one, but opted instead for a more conservative approach, to retain 3rd and bide her time. Indeed, just over 15 minutes later, Samantha was up and past the Aston Martin for 2nd, a position Samantha held all the way to the chequered flag, despite enormous pressure in the closing stages.

 

Alongside the podium finish, Samantha also posted the third fastest GT4 race lap of race two.

 

Samantha Tan, driver and ST Racing co-owner: “P2 and P5 at the Long Beach Grand Prix! It was the first time I got to race the new G82 M4 GT4 for my debut in GT America, so it was a bit of a challenge trying to learn the new car and relearn the track. I haven’t been back since 2019, but we maximized every session and the team gave me a great car to fight with. On Sunday, I put everything together and brought home a second place finish! Proud to achieve this in my first outing with the GT4 and as the only woman in the series. I eagerly look forward to GTWC Sebring in just a couple weeks!”

 

Kenneth Tan, ST Racing team principal: “The Long Beach GP was very well attended this year with large crowds of race enthusiasts everywhere. Sam put on a very courageous and skilled drive the whole weekend despite never having driven the new M4 GT4 (G82) race car until this past weekend. She started a little conservative but quickly and progressively got faster and in fact, she had at certain points during both races, the fastest lap times. I am very happy to see her progress to this elevated level in her race craft and excited to see what she can do at the next race in Sebring.”

 

Samantha returns to the GT World Challenge America and GT3 race action with ST Racing at the Sebring International Raceway on 3-5 May. Two weeks later, the GTWC America season continues with rounds five and six at the Circuit of the Americas on 17-19 May.