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Category: Road Racing
The Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti (WTRAndretti) No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 team earned its first top ten finish at an endurance event after a hectic six-hour TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
By: Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti
September 23, 2024
The Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti (WTRAndretti) No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 team earned its first top ten finish at an endurance event after a hectic six-hour TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS).
 
Danny Formal started the six-hour race in sixth after a strong qualifying session placed the team toward the front of the 22-car GTD grid. He quickly made positions on track, maneuvering the car into third before steady rain caused continuous cautions, preventing progress for a large part of his double stint. The cautions also disrupted the team’s strategy, changing driver order and forcing the team onto the back foot in the early stages of the race. However, Formal kept the car out of trouble and ran in the podium positions before handing the car over to Kyle Marcelli from second position.
 
Marcelli continued to battle with adverse weather and cautions before the rain eventually cleared, and the black and red team was once again able to make progress through the field. Marcelli’s pace and strategy allowed the team to run at the front of the GTD field despite a plethora of yellow flags. Marcelli continued his strong pace and handed over the driver’s seat to Graham Doyle to take over for his first IWSC racing laps at IMS.
 
Doyle drove an impressive stint in changing conditions as he navigated the difficult field and lap traffic. He drove with impressive pace, managing to keep the No. 45 car on the lead lap throughout his stint before returning the car to Marcelli for the final hour of the race. However, an issue during the pitstop hindered the team’s further forward momentum. Marcelli still quickly found blistering pace, putting up similar lap times to the race leaders. He brought the car home in tenth after a challenging six hours for the WTRAndretti GTD team’s best endurance finish of 2024.
 
“It was an up-and-down day, but all-in-all, the car is getting better,” said Wayne Taylor, Team Principal of WTRAndretti. “Kyle and Danny drover really well and I am equally proud of Graham. For his first time here driving this GTD car on a racetrack with varying conditions, I just told him to keep it on the track, and that will be good enough, and everyone on the team told me how awesome he drove. I’m very happy for the DEX, the drivers and the WTRAndretti team.”
 
Next up, the No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 team will take on Road Atlanta for the iconic Petit Le Mans on October 10-12, 2024.
 
Driver Quotes
 
Kyle Marcelli, No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo2: “We need to be really happy with the result today. We finished in tenth and on the lead lap. We got on our back foot early in terms of strategy, and driving line up if you will. We didn’t get Graham until just over two hours remaining, and he finished his drive time with just an hour left. So, all things considered, we had things happen to us early that hurt our strategy, but also a couple that helped us out toward the end. On our final pit stop, there was some kind of an issue, some kind of fuel rig problem. That really took us out of contention from trying to move forward in the last hour, but the pace was good. We were able to match the pace of the leaders. In the wet today we were quick. The No. 45 car passed a lot of cars today and we led multiple times but had to drop back for various reasons. I think a really good day for the team’s spirit, and I think the car is in good shape for Petit Le Mans.”
 
Danny Formal, No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo2: “It was a great weekend. We got our best endurance qualifying in sixth. The race pace was very good for us three. I had a really interesting stint. I got taken out in Turn 7, went back to eighth and worked my way back up to third. There were some really good passes, and the car felt awesome. It started raining, and that disrupted our strategy because we couldn’t pit for Graham to do his drive time. When we did pit, we went back to last. I made my way back to ninth in the rain, and the car felt amazing in the rain. Kyle and Graham both had great stints. It was definitely Graham’s best endurance stint of the season. He drove fantastically, and so did Kyle. Tenth at the end and our first endurance finish on the lead lap for the team. Graham is a very new driver in the IMSA paddock, so for him to finish in the top ten at this six-hour event just shows how much our team has grown, and the No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini Huracán was just fantastic this weekend. I’m very grateful to be a part of this team, and we’re ready for Petit Le Mans in a month.”
 
Graham Doyle, No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo2: “It was a pretty crazy race from start to finish. It started out dry but quickly went wet in the first stint. Danny did a great job throughout that; he did a double through the majority of the rain. Then Kyle hopped in for a bit when the rain started to fade out. He was able to run the car from wet to dry. That’s when I was able to get in, do a double and keep us on the lead lap, and Kyle finished it out for our first top ten finish in an endurance event this year. Altogether, great weekend, great work by the team, and I’m super happy for everybody and excited for the team.”
 
ABOUT WTRANDRETTI
Andretti Global and Wayne Taylor Racing announced a new, long-term partnership in 2023 that combines the resources of the two championship-caliber teams to compete in IMSA’s top classes. In 2024, Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti (WTRAndretti) has expanded to a two-car GTP program as well as competes in the GTD class. Coming off its 2023 championship winning effort, WTRAndretti continues its Driver Development Program competing in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America series with a full stable.
 
WTRAndretti’s global motorsports enterprise boasts two IMSA driver championships (2013 and 2017), and back-to-back IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup Championships (2020, 2021) which contributed to nine IMSA manufacturer championships for Acura, Pontiac, Corvette and Cadillac. In its brief 17-year history, WTRAndretti has accumulated multiple victories in sportscar racing’s most iconic events: Rolex 24 At Daytona, Twelve Hours of Sebring, Petit Le Mans, Mid-Ohio, Road America and the Six Hours of The Glen. With its back-to-back PRO Class Championship wins (2022, 2023), WTR also has ten North America Lamborghini Super Trofeo Championship titles and a Lamborghini World Finals title.
 
Andretti Global, a Championship-winning motorsports organization, competes in additional racing categories worldwide, including the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, Extreme E, Australian Supercars and the Mexico SuperCopa Championship. Additionally, the racing enterprise commits to driver development through competition in INDY NXT by Firestone and through support of Sebastian and Oliver Wheldon’s racing careers.
 
WTRAndretti’s long term partnerships include Lamborghini Squadra Corse, DEX Imaging, Harrison Contracting Company and Gainbridge.  
 
Canadians In BOLD
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Category: Road Racing
Canada's Parker Thompson's race came to an early end at Indianapolis. (Photo-VasserSullivan Facebook)
By: VasserSulllivan Lexus
September 23, 2024
Indianapolis, Indiana – Jack Hawksworth, Ben Barnicoat and the No. 14 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3 team finished fourth in the GTD PRO class at Sunday’s Battle on the Bricks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, narrowly missing out on their third podium of the 2024 IMSA season. The result is the fifth top-five finish for the defending class champions this season. Parker Thompson, Frankie Montecalvo and Aaron Telitz’s day ended early in the No. 12 Lexus RC F GT3, resulting in a 22nd-place finish in the GTD class on Sunday.
 
Hawksworth began the day behind the wheel of the No. 14 RC F GT3 starting 10th in the GTD PRO class, but the Vasser Sullivan crew elected for an alternate strategy amid inclement weather and a full course caution early on. The Brit stayed out on slick tires while others pitted, putting him in the class lead for 12 laps. The strategy paid off as Hawksworth ran in the top half of the GTD PRO field through the pit cycle before handing the car over to Barnicoat just past the halfway point. Barnicoat stayed towards the front of the GTD PRO field, and with the final yellow coming out with just over an hour remaining, Hawksworth hopped back in the cockpit with a podium finish in reach. He fought his competitors hard over the final laps, coming home fourth at the checkered flag.
 
The No. 12 RC F GT3 team qualified third in the GTD class behind a tremendous effort from Thompson but started at the rear on Sunday due to a post-qualifying inspection penalty. Like their GTD PRO teammates, the No. 12 crew elected for slicks while others went to the wet weather tires early – through a pit stop where Montecalvo jumped in the car for Thompson. The New Jersey native made his way to the top-three in class, but an on-track incident just over an hour into the race damaged the rear of his RC F GT3 and ended the team’s day in the 22nd position of the GTD class.
 
The Vasser Sullivan Lexus team heads to Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta for the Petit Le Mans 10-hour endurance race on Saturday, October 12, which is the final event of the 2024 IMSA season. To keep up with all the racing action, follow Lexus Racing on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok by using #LexusPerformance.   
 
Vasser Sullivan Driver Quotes 
 
JACK HAWKSWORTH, No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3 
Can you describe racing in the mixed conditions today?
 
“It was a really crazy race with mixed conditions all the way through. It started off dry, then it rained, and the guys made a good call by staying out on slicks. We took the lead at one point, which was good and then the rain came again. We ended up cycling to the back because we stayed out earlier, but with good speed on the wet tires, we were able to come through and get into a good position again. We were up to second or third, but then had to fight to hold off the Corvette and the Aston Martin. Almost got up there to get a podium, but just ran out of rear tires at the end of the final stint. Unfortunate to miss out on the podium, but we gave it everything we had.”
 
BEN BARNICOAT, No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3 
How was your race today?
 
“The inaugural six-hour Battle on the Bricks at Indianapolis sure lived up to the expectation of what we thought it was going to be in terms of a crazy race. There were a lot of mixed conditions, with that big downpour of rain and a lot of yellows to navigate throughout the day. So proud of everyone here at Vasser Sullivan, Lexus Racing, and my teammate Jack (Hawksworth). It was a really tough day with a lot of difficult calls to be made, and I felt we made the right call at every stop and every scenario. We just didn’t quite have a fast enough car today. I felt we got everything we could out of our Lexus, it just wasn’t quite enough to get a win. Missing out on the podium with two laps to go is tough, but Jack was doing absolutely everything he could to hang on around quick cars. He put up an incredible fight as this whole Vasser Sullivan team did today. I’m just really proud of everyone. We’ve just got to focus forward and go try to get another Petit Le Mans win.”
 
PARKER THOMPSON, No. 12 Lexus RC F GT3 
What are your emotions after going out early in today’s six-hour race?
 
“After a solid start to the day for the No. 12 Vasser Sullivan Lexus team, we unfortunately ended up on the wrong side of a strategy and weren’t able to continue the race and the battle for the GTD win. I’m disappointed now, but will be ready to fight back at Road Atlanta to finish out the season strong so we can get things sorted out in the off-season to go win a championship in GTD next year.”
 
FRANKIE MONTECALVO, No. 12 Lexus RC F GT3 
Can you take us through your stint in the race?
 
“Overall, short race for us today. I feel like the team made the right call initially getting us out there on slicks (tires) during the driver change from Parker (Thompson) to myself. We saw a lot of people go out on rain (tires) and we were one of the ones that went out on slicks. When it initially stopped raining as hard, we started gaining positions. I think we fought our way up to P3 and then a caution came out and it started dumping down there. It was just tough conditions to be out on slicks, and we just caught a section of the track, when it went green, that was just way too wet. It sent me into the wall pretty much right on the front straightaway. We will come back from this. We have one of the best teams in the paddock and they’ll put it back together and get it ready for the next race.”
 
About Lexus    
The Lexus RC F GT3 enters its eighth season in the GTD class, and third year in the GTD PRO category, competing in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Over the last six seasons, Lexus and Vasser Sullivan have combined to earn 15 wins, 42 podium finishes and 23 pole positions with the RC F GT3. Lexus won its first full-season IMSA GTD PRO Manufacturers Championship on the strength of two wins and podium positions in nine of 11 races in 2023.    
 
Lexus' passion for brave design, imaginative technology, and exhilarating performance enables the luxury lifestyle brand to create amazing experiences for its customers. Lexus began its journey in 1989 with two luxury sedans and a commitment to pursue perfection. Since then, Lexus has developed its lineup to meet the needs of global luxury customers in more than 90 countries. In the United States, Lexus vehicles are sold through 244 dealers offering a full lineup of luxury vehicles. With eight models incorporating Lexus Hybrid Drive, Lexus is the luxury hybrid leader. Lexus also offers nine F SPORT models, one F performance model and one F model. Lexus is committed to being a visionary brand that anticipates the future for luxury customers.    
 
Canadians In BOLD
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Category: Road Racing
Hyundai heads to Indianapolis with a 60 point lead in the manufacturers championship while BHA drivers ho;d 3 of the top 4 positions in the drivers championhip.
By: Bryan Herta Autosport
September 20, 2024

Tire Rack Battle On The Bricks - Round 9 Of The 2024 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge

 

August 23-24, 2024
Racetrack: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
2.439-mile road course features 14 turns
Race: Saturday, September 21, 2024, at 1:05pm EST (2- Hour Race)
TV: Live on Revt TV and IMSA.tv in Canada or NBC’s PEACOCK: www.peacock.tv in the US

 

Listen: Live radio commentary for every session at www.IMSA.com and RadioLeMans.com Live timing and scoring from each session available at www.IMSA.com. Live updates are available throughout the weekend on BHA social media and www.bryanhertaautosport.com

 

FAST FACTS

Press Conference: There will be a press conference with Robert Wickens and Bosch on Saturday, September 21st in the IMS media center.

 

7 for 7: At least one BHA Elantra N TCR has finished on the podium in all seven events this year. The team has two victories (Mid-Ohio #76 and CTMP #33), and 12 additional podium finishes.

 

Down To The Wire: BHA teams hold three out of the top four positions in the IMPC points standings heading into the penultimate race at Indy. Robert Wicken and Harry Gottsacker are in second, hoping to defend their 2023 title, with Denis Dupont and Preston Brown third and Mason Filippi and Mark Wilkins third.

 

Hyundai Up Front: Hyundai leads the manufacturers' chase by 60 points over Audi, followed by Honda in third and Alfa Romeo in fourth.

 

A Look Inside: Located less than a mile on Main Street in Speedway, Marshall Pruett visited the BHA headquarters this week to give fans a look inside: https://youtu.be/MPUItdR1gQs?si=qTw2tDyoZaU-OZQQ

 

Lap Leaders: Bryson Morris and Taylor Hagler are knocking on the podium's door. Morris led 30 laps at the previous round at VIR.

 

$24,000k So Far: Hyundai Hope On Wheels has pledged to donate $100 for every lap a Hyundai Elantra N TCR leads during every race of the 2024 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge season. Riley Children's Health will receive the donation based on laps led this weekend at VIR. 2024 Season Tally: 240 Laps =$24,000 (Daytona: 12, Sebring: 21, Laguna Seca 23, Mid-Ohio 44, Watkins Glen 22, CTMP 35, Road America 29 and 54 at VIR).

 

#33 Elantra N TCR - 2023 CHAMPIONS
2024 Best Start:1st (Daytona, Sebring, CTMP) 2024 Best Finish: 1st (CTMP) 2024 Rank: 2nd (2280pts)

 

Harry Gottsacker: “We had a good run last year at Indy with a podium finish and we are focused on putting together a complete weekend. I think we will have a great car and it’s special to race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in any category. It’s a home race for the team and we’re looking forward to a fun weekend!

 

Robert Wickens: "IMS is always has such an awesome atmosphere. The fans love racing of all types. I am lucky enough to have two home races a year with the IMSA schedule. We managed to win our first one at CTMP in July. Our goal is pretty simple this weekend. WIN. If we want to have a chance at defending our championship, the #33 car will have to make the most of these last two races. We almost won it last year with an awesome finish under the lights and hopefully we can do one position better this time around."

 

#76 Elantra N TCR
2024 Best Start: 6th (Road America) 2024 Best Finish: 1st (Mid-Ohio)
2024 Rank: 3rd (2210pts)

 

Denis Dupont: "I’m looking forward to Indy! Last year was an amazing battle with Mark and Robert. I’m sure this year will be as entertaining and exciting for the fans. Preston and I are ready for redemption after Virginia."

 

Preston Brown: "Because we have had some struggles in the previous two races, we are even more motivated for a good result in Indianapolis. The Brickyard is a great place for racing for both fans and competitors, and we will give it everything we've got to get back on the podium this weekend."

 

#77 Elantra N TCR
2024 Best Start: 4th (Sebring) 2024 Best Finish: 4th (CTMP)
2024 Rank: 7th (1940pts)

 

Taylor Hagler: "Heading back to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is something I look forward to. The support from the community and the fan turnout for this event is so positive to see. We have data from past years that we have learned from and can implement this weekend. While the road course is flat in comparison to other tracks, the oval banking is a unique factor here. Bryson and I will continue to push as we have to get the No. 77 back on the podium at BHA’s home race."

 

Bryson Morris: "Taylor and I have a lot of momentum going into this raceweekend. We've both been putting in a lot of miles at other tracks, keeping our focus sharp. Our Engineer Meghan Ryder has been giving us great cars and we've been consistently flirting with the podium."

 

#98 Elantra N TCR
2024 Best Start: 2nd (Road America) 2024 Best Finish: 2nd (Road America)
2024 Rank: 3rd (2190)

 

Mason Filippi: "Looking forward to Indy! It is an iconic track and produces great racing. Overall our #98 Elantra N TCR car has been strong and we are pushing hard for our first win of the season. The Elantra N TCR gives the precision we need at Indy for a strong team result."

 

Mark Wilkins: “I’m really looking forward to getting back to Indy. This was one of my favorite races of last season thanks to some great on-track battles. Coming off of a huge Hyundai N meet and the 9th anniversary celebration for N, I’m pumped and hope to carry that enthusiasm straight into the weekend! Full focus on the manufacturers championship and another shot at racing to the top step of the podium! Let’s GO!”

 

Bryan Herta Autosport with Curb Agajanian

Founded in 2009, Bryan Herta Autosport has grown from a single car Indy-Lights team into a multi-championship winning auto racing franchise. Led by IndyCar and Sports Car star Bryan Herta, Bryan Herta Autosport has won races in every discipline they have entered, including Indy Lights, Indy Car, Global Rallycross, and championship titles in Pirelli World Challenge and IMSA. BHA rose to prominence after winning the 2011 Indianapolis 500 in what was the final race of the Centennial Era, a celebration of 100 years of racing at The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with driver Dan Wheldon. Five years later, BHA partnered with Andretti Autosport, and defied the odds again, winning their second Indianapolis 500 with rookie driver Alexander Rossi. In 2018, BHA entered the American Sports Car scene beginning its immensely successful partnership with Hyundai. Together, BHA and Hyundai have won five consecutive team and driver championships, and four consecutive (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023) manufacturer's titles in IMSA's Michelin Pilot Challenge. For more information, visit: www.BryanHertaAutosport.com.

 

BHA/Hyundai Customer Support: Bryan Herta Autosport is the U.S. sales agent and part support representative of Hyundai TCR race cars for customer teams. The BHA/Hyundai Customer Support Team offers trackside engineering support, setup and tuning advice, and part and order fulfillments for the Hyundai Veloster N TCR and TCA teams and drivers from the BHA’s headquarters in Speedway, IN. in 2024, there are five BHA Customer Support Teams racing Elantra N TCR cars in Canada, The USA and in Mexico.

 

Hyundai Motor America

Hyundai Motor America focuses on ‘Progress for Humanity’ and smart mobility solutions. Hyundai offers U.S. consumers a technology-rich lineup of cars, SUVs, and electrified vehicles. Our 830 dealers sold more than 724,000 vehicles in the U.S. in 2022, and nearly half were built at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama. For more information, visit www.HyundaiNews.com.

 

Canadians In BOLD

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Category: Road Racing
IndyCar has announced a new Charter system for team owners.
By: IndyCar
September 23, 2024
Indianapolis, Indiana – INDYCAR confirmed today the establishment of a charter system across the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. In total, owners of 10 teams have accepted charters for 25 entries competing in North America’s premier open-wheel racing series, beginning immediately.
 
“This is an important development that demonstrates an aligned and optimistic vision for the future of our sport,” Penske Entertainment Corp. President and CEO Mark Miles said. “I want to extend my sincere appreciation to our team owners for their collaboration and ideation throughout this process. Ultimately, we’re pleased to have a system in place that provides greater value for our ownership and the entries they field.”
 
This is the first charter system to be introduced in the history of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. A chartered entry is guaranteed a starting position on the grid at all NTT INDYCAR SERIES races, excluding the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. An entry also must be chartered to qualify for the annual NTT INDYCAR SERIES Leaders Circle program – an annual award program that compensates the 22 top finishers in the prior year’s NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship. The terms of the initial, long-term charter agreements are committed through the end of 2031.
 
Chartered 2025 INDYCAR Teams
 
Entries
 
A.J. Foyt Enterprises 2
Andretti Global 3
Arrow McLaren 3
Chip Ganassi Racing 3
Dale Coyne Racing 2
Ed Carpenter Racing 2
Juncos Hollinger Racing 2
Meyer Shank Racing 2
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing 3
Team Penske 3
 
Charters were extended to team owners based on full-time entries over the previous two seasons, with a maximum of three awarded per team.
 
WHAT INDYCAR’S TEAM OWNERS ARE SAYING
 
“I appreciate the efforts made by the INDYCAR and Penske leadership groups, as well as all the owners, to get this charter system started. It is incredibly challenging to get a large group of owners to agree on something, and certainly there was some give and take, but, in the end, I believe this is a path that is beneficial for all of the owners and for INDYCAR, while also maintaining the availability for open competition.” – Larry Foyt, A.J. Foyt Enterprises
 
“When you look back in the modern era of INDYCAR racing, you will look at a few important moments, the first being the unification of the sport, the next being Roger Penske buying the INDYCAR SERIES and IMS, and I truly believe the third will be the charter system.” – Chip Ganassi, Chip Ganassi Racing
 
“We are very pleased to begin this new era. The process has been thorough but, in the end, very exciting. This charter system will clearly strengthen our teams as we continue to grow the sport. I would like to thank Roger (Penske) and his entire team at INDYCAR.
 
“ECR will have announcements soon, and I don’t know that they would be possible without the help of a program like this. With this groundbreaking development, the new TV deal with FOX and the momentum that had been building, INDYCAR’s future is very bright.” – Ed Carpenter, Ed Carpenter Racing
 
“The charter agreement, to me, is the single-most important piece for the future of the series. I’m grateful that we all came together on this and thank the Roger Penske group for working with the team owners for getting it done.” – Michael Shank, Meyer Shank Racing
 
The 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season begins Sunday, March 2 at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding on the streets of St. Petersburg. The entire 17-race schedule will be available live on FOX and the INDYCAR Radio Network.
 
 
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Category: Road Racing
Mechanical issues cost ST Racing a large lead and a win at Barcelona, but the team fought back to second place in GT4.
By: ST Racing
September 18, 2024
ST Racing took a bittersweet GT4 podium finish on its endurance racing return with the 24H SERIES in Barcelona. One earned after a fighting comeback from five laps down.
 
ST Racing, the Overall GT Teams’ champion of 2021 made a return to the 24H SERIES at this past weekend’s Hankook 24H BARCELONA with their BMW M4 GT4. Team co-owner Samantha Tan and team manager Jon Miller – both Overall GT Drivers’ champions of 2021 – were joined for the 24-hour event in Catalunya by BMW M Motorsport works driver Neil Verhagen, Fabian Duffieux, and Indy 500 star Pippa Mann.
 
In a confidence-boosting start to the weekend, fast runs by Samantha, Fabian and Pippa helped the #428 BMW qualify 2nd on the GT4 grid. A strong stint from Neil meanwhile kept the BMW out of trouble for the frenetic opening laps, and after just 20 minutes, ST Racing had moved into the GT4 lead. By the end of his stint, Neil had opened up a 15-second advantage, and set a fastest lap – 1m 51.200s – that would go unbeaten by every other GT4 competitor for the rest of the event.
 
By one-third distance, ST Racing held a two-lap advantage. Sadly, during the eighth hour, the team lost 20 minutes in the pits when a stone pierced the BMW’s radiator. This misfortune not only cost the race lead, it also dropped the #428 M4 to 5th in-class, five laps down.
 
Consistent and quick stints by Pippa, Jon and Neil during the night – alongside typically meticulous pit work by ST Racing’s European partner Bas Koeten Racing – meant the BMW was already back into the top three shortly after half-distance, and had clawed back the deficit entirely by Sunday morning. As the race entered its final hour, ST Racing was back in the lead of GT4, three laps ahead of the pack. 
 
In another brutal turn of bad luck, the M4 GT4 briefly rolled to a halt during Samantha’s final stint with suspected fuel pressure issues. The 90-second lead was eradicated. While Samantha could not stop her nearest rival – Britain’s Venture Engineering – taking the GT4 lead almost in sight of the flag, she did not allow the GT4 Mercedes to eke out its advantage in the final sprint to the line.
 
When the checkered flag was unfurled, ST Racing was just 1.011 seconds behind after 24 full hours of racing.
 
Though disappointed to have lost a potential win – twice! – ST Racing is nevertheless buoyed by the pace of its BMW M4 GT4, and feels confident it can comfortably be among the frontrunners once again on its next endurance race outing. The team is also incredibly proud of the manner in which Samantha, Jon, Neil, Fabian and Pippa worked so seamlessly as a team in their first race together.
 
Samantha Tan, co-owner / driver (#428): “The 24H Barcelona was an emotional rollercoaster, filled with moments of pure exhilaration and heartbreaking disappointment. We started from the front row, and after just six hours, we had built a commanding 4 lap lead thanks to our strong stints. But racing can be cruel. A stone pierced our intercooler, forcing us into the garage. Our crew was incredible, fixing the issue in just 20 minutes, but by the time we were back on track, we were 5 laps down from the leader. Still, we refused to give up.
 
Through the long hours of the night, we fought back, pushing harder with every lap. By the early morning, we reclaimed the lead. The hours ticked by, and soon, we were 3 laps ahead again. I climbed into the car for the final stint, determined to bring it home. But it just wasn’t meant to be. A technical issue caused the car to repeatedly lose power and enter limp mode. I had to stop and reset the car on track three times. Every second felt like a lifetime, and in the chaos, the class leader passed me.
 
I gave everything I had, fighting to the very last moment, crossing the line just one second behind. One second… after 24 hours. P2 doesn’t feel like enough. It doesn't even begin to reflect the relentless drive that went into this 24H race.
 
But through it all, I couldn’t be prouder—of myself, my teammates, and our incredible crew. We fought with everything we had. Thank you all for your tireless work and support — let this be motivation for the next one.”
 
Kenneth Tan, co-owner: “I am heartbroken. Well, a little bit anyway. We had P1 in the bag with less than an hour to go. But the gremlins in our car decided the outcome. I am very proud of our team having executed the strategy to perfection. The result says otherwise but it was purely caused by things totally out of our control. The whole team; the drivers, the crew, the engineers, mechanics, everyone, executed everything extremely well. In the end, finishing a 24 hour race is an achievement and we are proud of that and a podium finish is even better. Thank you to everyone and to Creventic for running an amazing race. We will be back soon. Perhaps Dubai 24H next?”
 
Jon Miller, STR38 team manager / driver (428): “This will be a race that we won’t soon forget. It was the most dramatic finish to an endurance race that I’ve ever been a part of. It’s incredibly bittersweet, but I think the whole team takes pride in our incredible recovery drive and the knowledge that we were absolutely the car to beat this weekend. A huge thanks is due to the Bas Koeten Racing crew and our engineer for the faultless hard work this week and all of the drivers who did not put a wheel wrong all week long. We can hold our heads high for the personal performances and we are already looking forward to the next chance to win together.”
 
Neil Verhagen, driver (#428): “Finishing second in the Barcelona 24 Hours would normally be something to celebrate, but this one really stings. I want to start by thanking Bas Koeten Racing and my incredible teammates—Samantha, Jon, Fabian, and Pippa—for all their hard work throughout the weekend. Everyone gave it their all, but unfortunately, we faced technical issues throughout the race. Going into the final hour, we had a 4 lap lead, but three technical issues in that last hour cost us the victory, and we lost the race by just a couple seconds. It’s heartbreaking to lose a race like that, but that’s motorsport, and we’ll come back stronger.”
 
Pippa Mann, driver (#428): “Sometimes a second place finish feels like you’ve won the race, and sometimes it’s just heart-breaking. We did everything humanly possible to try and win this race for STR and BMW, but the racing gods decided it just wasn’t our day. On the positive side we can all be very proud of our performance - the entire Bas Koeten team running the car for STR were incredible, our pit-stops were consistently good, and all of the drivers gave their all.
 
From a personal point of view, I’m just so grateful to have had this opportunity to join Samantha Tan Racing for this event. Having four fast team-mates, all of whom were focused on one goal, was a very cool experience, and joining a team of this caliber for an event like this was truly a “pinch me” moment. Massive thank you to Jon Miller, and to Sam and Ken Tan for allowing me to be part of, and welcoming me to this team for this event.”
 
After a short break, Samantha Tan Racing will close out its 2024 motorsport season at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway with the Indianapolis 8 Hours on 3-6 October. The event is the season finale of the 2024 GT World Challenge America, at which ST Racing hopes to secure this year’s PRO/AM Teams’ and Drivers’ championships.
 
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