Samantha Tan Racing Confirms Drivers For 24 Hours of Spa Debut

ST Racing have confirmed their four-driver lineup for their upcoming maiden entry into this year’s 24 Hours of Spa on 28-31 July, with Dutch driver Maxime Oosten confirmed as the fourth driver alongside team co-owner/driver Samantha Tan, Nick Wittmer, and Harry Gottsacker.

Oosten, 18, will be racing a GT3 car for the first time at Spa. He is the current championship leader in the BMW M2 CS Racing Cup Benelux, and recently swept both races of the DTM BMW M2 Cup round at the Norisring. “I am really looking forward to this event,” Oosten said. “In 2020 I participated in the Porsche Supercup at Spa. Last year I raced in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe during the 24 Hours of Spa weekend, and I still cannot believe I will drive the race itself this year.”

“I have yet to drive my first metres in a GT3 car, so I want to give a big thanks to Bas Koeten Racing and to ST Racing for the trust they have put in me and my skills. It’s going to be tough but it’s a real pleasure to be asked to join this race and hopefully I can help them move forward.”

An entry into the crown jewel of SRO Motorsports Group racing is the latest step forward for a trailblazing team and its namesake driver, both of whom are rapidly expanding their CVs. Climbing the ladder through the SRO America system through the championships now known as TC America and GT4 America, respectively – in 2021, she became the 24H GT Series overall and GT4 drivers’ champion. And, in her first full year as a GT3 driver, Tan gave the BMW M4 GT3 its first competitive overall victory in the 12 Hours of Mugello in March.

While Tan and Wittmer’s inaugural GT World Challenge America campaign has been disrupted on multiple occasions, Tan is still looking forward to taking part in her first 24 Hours of Spa – in fact, all four drivers, including ST Racing regulars Wittmer and Gottsacker, will be taking part in the event for the first time.

“The 24 Hours of Spa is the biggest race event the team and I will have ever competed in, and I’m very excited to be one of the 65 GT3 cars entered for the event,” said Tan. “After a successful endurance racing season last year and a historic win at the 12H Mugello, we’re looking forward to testing our limits against some of the best drivers and teams in the world.”

“We are also the only Canadian team set to compete at this year’s 24 Hours of Spa, and we are honoured to represent Canada. It’s going to be a very competitive race, but we’re always up for the challenge. I’ll be training hard in preparation.”

Wittmer, the veteran driver from Quebec – and a member of the 12H Mugello winning crew, said: “I love this beautiful racetrack, I love the facility, and I cannot wait to be on-track with the BMW M4 GT3 to show its true colours. I’m also very happy to have Samantha Tan and Harry Gottsacker back on-board as my teammates. The most important things for us to do are to keep the car clean throughout the whole race and maintain our pace. So long as we stay out of trouble, there’s a good chance we will finish well.”

And Gottsacker, the 22-year-old Texan who has been competing full-time in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge TCR class, added: “I am looking forward to joining the ST Racing team at Spa in July. We had a successful debut outing earlier this year in Dubai and I’m looking forward to building on what the team has learned so far this season. It’s great to share the car with Samantha and Nick at such a historic event, and we will push for a good result for the team.”

Kenneth Tan, ST Racing team principal and father of Samantha, said: “I am extremely excited to participate in this highly competitive endurance race, arguably the most competitive and physically demanding of its kind in the world. This all-GT3 endurance event should be an eye-opening experience for us and will surely test our mettle as a team.”

“We have been prepping our car for weeks and hope the momentum we had at the Virginia International Raceway a couple of weeks ago continues at Spa-Francorchamps. I have to thank SRO Europe for allowing our late entry and for all their support for our maiden European race with them.  Also, a big shout out to BMW Motorsport for their continued and very valuable support for our team. We cannot thank them enough.”

Alongside their debut at Spa, ST Racing plans to continue their GT World Challenge America campaign at Road America on 19-21 August, after being forced to sit out of Watkins Glen due to an accident sustained at VIRginia International Raceway. They will also return to the 24H Series on 9-11 September at the 24 Hours of Barcelona.