SAMANTHA TAN DOUBLES UP AT VIR TO EXTEND CHAMPIONSHIP LEAD

Samantha Tan has extended her lead in the GTDX Bronze Drivers’ standings heading into the final round of this year’s IMSA VP Racing Sports Car Challenge. The BMW M Motorsport ambassador took two class wins from three races this past weekend at the Virginia International Raceway, securing two GTDX overall podium finishes in the process.

These results now leave the Samantha Tan Racing co-founder almost a full race victory clear in the GTDX Bronze Drivers’ standings, and an impressive 3rd in the overall GTDX Drivers’ rankings with just one event of her maiden IMSA season left to run.

Samantha Tan, driver/co-owner: “It was a challenging weekend at VIR as we battled a number of mechanical issues, but the team pulled together and found a great setup in a very short window. With only one practice before qualifying and three races in three days, it was a tough test, but we persevered and came away with two wins and five podiums to extend our championship lead. I’m looking forward to carrying this momentum into the final round at Petit Le Mans.”

After impressing with the second fastest GTDX time in Free Practice, Samantha Tan lined up 3rd overall for the first of three 45-minute VP Racing events at VIR aboard the #38 BMW M4 GT3. Unfortunately, Samantha had a slipping clutch issue that persisted for the entirety of the race. Thereafter, the young Canadian, already a multi-time podium finisher at the Virginia circuit, took a conservative approach to the opening stages of the race, eventually using the traffic to her advantage to move into the Bronze-class lead. A position Samantha held all the way to the chequered flag to claim victory in race one.

A spirited start to the second race of the weekend saw Samantha hold her own against experienced IMSA rivals up ahead, although a near-certain win was derailed when a boost hose came loose with only a few laps to go. The third race of the weekend meanwhile – the weather-affected and later postponed second race from Canadian Tire Motorsport Park – saw Samantha complete one of her strongest IMSA performances to-date, securing a Bronze class win and her second GTDX overall podium of the weekend, 15 seconds clear of her nearest rival. This was Samantha’s seventh Bronze-class victory from 10 outings so far in 2025.

Samantha Tan Racing rounds out its 2025 IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge season on 8-11 October at Road Atlanta. The event will mark Samantha’s competitive debut at the vaunted Georgia circuit.