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.

St-Hubert, Quebec - Alexandre Tagliani and Jean-Frédéric Laberge are delighted to announce their participation in the SRO Fanatec GT World Challenge America Powered by AWS championship, co-driving the #92 St-Hubert | BFL Canada | Groupe Mach | Arobas Personnel Porsche 992 GT3 R entered by Montréal Motorsport Group (MMG).

This marks a return to endurance racing for Alex Tagliani, who had previously participated in a number of IMSA prototype races. Since the 2000s, the Lachenaie-born driver has had the opportunity to drive a wide variety of cars, including sportscars. This time, he'll be competing in the SRO Fanatec GT World Challenge America series in the Pro-Am category with Jean-Frédéric Laberge.

This will not be Jean-Frédéric Laberge's first time behind the wheel of a GT3 or touring car, as the Quebec City native is a Porsche Cup regular, having competed in the series from 2012 to 2014, in addition to winning the championship in his opening season.

The duo will run as part of an all-Quebec team, with only the car itself being of German origin. Tagliani and Laberge have entrusted the task to the newly-formed Montréal Motorsport Group (MMG) team, which includes some familiar faces at the heart of the operation, such as Éric Côté, who will lead the project.

"I'd like to thank Jean-Frédéric for investing so many resources into putting this project together," said Alex Tagliani. "It should be a very good year. I'd also like to thank the sponsors who are supporting us on this adventure, without forgetting all the people behind the scenes who made it possible for Jean-Frédéric to get his hands on the car, which was the first challenge."

"This return to racing, and behind the wheel of a Porsche 992 GT3 R in GT World Challenge no less, is really exciting," added Jean-Frédéric Laberge. "Starting this adventure with Alex is even better."

Very few entirely-Quebecois teams have been able to make their mark on the international racing scene. It is not only the drivers and crew that originate from la Belle Province, but the partners who have joined the adventure are also from there as well. "It's fantastic to see St-Hubert, which I've been representing for a number of years, on the front of a Porsche," explained Tagliani. "Last year, the yellow and red NASCAR Canada car, draped in St-Hubert colours, that we unveiled at the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières was a great crowd pleaser for whom this brand is well ingrained within Quebec’s culture. 

"BFL Canada is a leader in global insurance brokerage solutions. I'm fortunate that they've been supporting me as a spokesperson as of last year. I've been sporting the Groupe Mach logo for several years now, and it's an honour to be able to have them on the car, as we built the Tag E-Karting and Amusement centre in partnership with them, which is a one-of-a-kind venue in Canada."

He continued by saying; "I'm also delighted to be able to announce the arrival of Arobas Personnel, a giant in the field of personnel recruitment. Jonathan and Alain de Moscovaki's passion for cars and racing only fuels my desire to offer them a great experience."

Racing a Porsche 992 GT3 R is a dream come true for Tagliani and Laberge; "it's exciting, because we all have a career wish list, and with all the cars I've been fortunate enough to drive throughout career, I find this next chapter very exciting as we're all Porsche enthusiasts," expressed Tagliani.

The SRO Fanatec GT World Challenge America championship is a European Endurance series with several branches, including the American sub-series, which includes several classes. SRO Fanatec GT World Challenge features GT3 machinery in both Pro and Pro-Am classes simultaneously battling for victory. During an event, drivers will have two 90-minute races. In the Saturday event, Driver 1 must start the race. Typically, Driver 1 is the 'amateur' driver, while Driver 2 is the 'pro' entry. On Sunday, it's the other way round. This makes for an exciting show, and leaves plenty of room for different strategies to unfold

The first event on the calendar for MMG takes place on May 4th and 5th at Sebring International Raceway in Florida. All events can be viewed live on the GT World YouTube channel.

About Mach

Founded in 2000, MACH plays a major role in the Canadian real estate landscape. It designs and manages real estate developments that are inclusive, sustainable and harmoniously integrated into their communities. Today, MACH is one of Canada's leading private real estate owners and developers, and the largest in Quebec. Representing over 45M ft², its real estate portfolio includes more than 250 properties, including some of Montreal's landmark buildings, such as the Sun Life Building, Le 1000 De La Gauchetière, the CIBC Tower, Place Victoria and the KPMG Tower. Complexe Jules-Dallaire and Place de la Cité in Quebec City also feature.

Their ability to anticipate trends and react quickly and effectively to the ever-changing market enables them to create, develop and manage living and working environments, commercial spaces and entertainment venues designed to enhance the quality of life of their occupants and users. MACH does this with passion, in an innovative, responsible and thoughtful way. It imposes the utmost rigor on itself and adheres to best practices in governance and sustainable development.

About BFL Canada

Founded in 1987 by Barry F. Lorenzetti, BFL CANADA is one of Canada's largest employee-owned and operated risk management, insurance brokerage and benefits consulting companies. When turning to BFL CANADA for your insurance, risk management and benefits consulting needs, you will be working with a team of specialized professionals who understand your industry.

About Les Rôtisseries St-Hubert

St-Hubert Group employs more than 6,000 employees in its two divisions. Established in 1951 in Montreal, St-Hubert BBQ Ltd has over 120 rotisseries in Quebec, Ontario and New Brunswick serving more than 28 million meals a year. St-Hubert Group is also a Retail division that manufactures and distributes several food products, including these products under the St-Hubert brand and other trademarks such as: sauces, soups, ribs, meat pies and chicken pot pies. The company has a longstanding tradition of innovation and constantly works at meeting the needs of its customers. 

About Arobas Personnel

Founded in 2001, Arobas Personnel has established itself as a leader in the recruitment and consulting industry. With an extensive reach spanning across Canada, the United States and France, Arobas Personnel prides itself on delivering fast, efficient solutions to customers worldwide. Arobas Personnel specializes in recruitment, staffing and IT & technology consulting. They are committed to providing superior recruitment services, tailored to the unique needs of each client.