IMSA VP Challenge: Samantha Tan scores double GTDX overall podium, class wins to retain GTDX Bronze championship lead at VIR
- LIAM REDFORD
- Aug 26
- 7 min read
Samantha Tan stepped onto the overall GTDX class podium for the first time this season following a strong weekend in the IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge at Virginia International Raceway, where she secured the GTDX Bronze class pole position, claimed class honours in race one and two to extend her championship lead.
Samantha Tan stepped onto the overall GTDX class podium for the first time this season following a strong weekend in the IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge at Virginia International Raceway. After securing the GTDX Bronze class pole position, Tan claimed class honours in race one which finishing third overall in the GTDX division, her best overall result of the campaign.
Despite fighting a technical issue during race two, Tan secured a second-place result in the GTDX Bronze class while taking the chequered flag in fourth overall. During the make-up race from Canadian Tire Motorsports Park, Tan once again stood on the overall GTDX class podium while doubling up in the GTDX Bronze division.
In her debut season in the IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge, Tan has impressed driving as a solo entry for her team ST Racing. Consistency has been key to the progress of the Canadian racer who arrived at Virginia International Raceway in the lead of the GTDX Bronze class championship standings. Tan was also searching her first overall podium having finished in fourth position on three separate occasions, including last time out at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.
Due to inclement weather, only one race was held north of the border and therefore a trio of contests were held at Virginia International Raceway with the make-up race held on Sunday. Tan had fond memories of the circuit after twice finishing as runner-up in the Pro-Am class of GT World Challenge America last season alongside Neil Verhagen.
Owing to the revised schedule at Virginia International Raceway, this meant that just a single practice session was held on Friday prior to qualifying. Tan’s main aim was therefore to bank valuable mileage ahead of a busy weekend of racing. Despite a red flag period during the second half of the session, Tan completed 22 laps and set the second fastest time overall with her 1:46.353 just over a quarter of a second away from pacesetter Jake Walker.
Qualifying took place early on Friday afternoon with the ST Racing driver aiming to continue her excellent start to the weekend. Tan improved by three tenths of a second from practice despite the warmer track conditions to set a time of a 1:46.071 which placed her third in the GTDX division, while claiming pole position in the GTDX Bronze class.
The first race of the event was held later that day with Tan lining up from third in the GTDX class. As the lights went out, Samantha got a good initial launch before Vincent Barletta mounted a challenge around the outside of turn one. Barletta was able to move his Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT3 ahead into third, while also claiming the GTDX Bronze class lead. Nonetheless, Tan was keen to fight back and completed lap one just a quarter of a second behind her rival.
As the drivers began lap two, both Barletta and Tan found a way past the LMP3 machine of Matt Dicken while the American driver was still getting temperature into his tyres. Tan remained half a second behind Barletta as she continued to apply pressure, before the race settled into a rhythm. On lap four, both drivers had to be on their toes following a spin for Jon Hirshberg in his Forte Racing prepared LMP3 machine ahead.
After Barletta opened up the margin to a little over one second on lap six, Tan responded by setting a personal best time with her speed in the first sector particularly impressive. As the race approached halfway, the GTDX drivers began to encounter GSX class traffic and as a result, this posed a good opportunity for Tan to size up a move.
At first, the gap between the GTDX Bronze class leaders remained at around one second before Tan made her move on lap 14. Following a great move in amongst the lapped traffic, Tan claimed third position from Barletta while assuming the GTDX Bronze class lead. The ST Racing driver immediately built a margin behind and as a result, she began catching the LMP3 machine of Brian Theines ahead.
On lap 17, Tan encountered the GSX leaders who were fiercely battling for position. Remaining calm as she made her way through the traffic, Tan held her position and started to extend her margin once more. Her pace continued to be on par with the frontrunners through sector one and by lap 21, Tan’s advantage over Barletta had grown to six seconds. A strong end to the race saw the ST Racing driver secure her first overall podium finish of the season in the GSX division, while securing honours in the GTDX Bronze class by a margin of nine seconds.
The second race of the weekend took place on Saturday with Tan again lining up from third on the overall GTDX grid, while claiming pole position in the Bronze class. The ST Racing driver got a good launch and fended off the challenge from Barletta into the opening turns. Holding her third position overall, Tan was looking to open out a margin on her GTDX Bronze class rival.
As Tan and Barletta completed the first lap, the LMP3 machine of Matt Dicken was halting their progress. Following a great move into turn one, Tan cleared the RAFA Racing Team car and began building her class lead. By the end of the second lap, Samantha’s advantage over Barletta was two seconds and following a personal best time on lap three, she was already lapping quicker than in race one.
As the race settled into a rhythm, Tan’s lead in the GTDX Bronze class was five seconds at the end of the fifth lap with the same margin separating herself and second place GTDX driver Adam Adelson. Tan was smart as she encountered the first wave of GSX class traffic and although her lead over Barletta was initially cut slightly, she was the fastest driver in the entire GTDX class on lap 13.
Her effective traffic management saw her extend her lead over Barletta to 10 seconds by lap 16, however misfortune then struck. Tan pulled into the pits with a technical issue and after losing a lap to the leaders, she rejoined the race. The issue was now resolved, however she had lost the GTDX Bronze class lead to Barletta with the ST Racing driver now fourth overall in the GTDX class.
With just five minutes remaining, Barletta had a spin through the first sector but he was able to recover without losing a significant amount of time. Tan’s pace remained strong in the closing stages and she banked vital championship points with a fourth-place overall finish in GTDX, while taking the chequered flag second in the GTDX Bronze class.
On Sunday, the additional race carried over from Canadian Tire Motorsport Park took place with only those entered for the previous round eligible to take part. This did not impact the numbers in the GTDX class, however fewer drivers lined up in both the LMP3 and GSX classes which aided traffic management. Tan lined up from third on the GTDX grid, while leading the way within the Bronze class ahead of Barletta.
As the drivers approached the first turn, Barletta looked to the outside of the ST Racing machine and after the pair ran side-by-side, the Turner Motorsport driver moved ahead. Tan settled into third with both drivers then clearing the slower LMP3 machine of Matt Dicken on the exit of Oak Tree. Tan remained just a quarter of a second behind Barletta and she applied significant pressure in the opening stages of the races.
At the head of the GTDX field, Adam Adelson had claimed the lead from Jake Walker and the duo were battling hard for position. The fight for third also remained intense with Tan ensuring she stayed less than half a second behind Barletta. On lap five, the ST Racing driver got an excellent run down the back straight and this enabled her to pull off a superb move to reclaim the lead in the GTDX Bronze class.
Once clear of Barletta, Tan quickly ran her personal best time and began stretching her legs in pursuit of the overall leaders. Samantha continued to edge away from Barletta as the race approached the halfway point. On lap 10, Tan was faster than GTDX leader Walker and after he made a mistake at Oak Tree on the following tour, Adelson had reclaimed the lead.
As the race passed halfway, Tan was less than 10 seconds away from the GTDX pacesetters as the drivers approached GSX traffic for the first time. By lap 15, Tan’s advantage over Barletta had grown to five seconds and once in amongst the slower cars, she extended this gap further. Three laps later, the margin had doubled to ten seconds and Tan was looking confident at the head of the GTDX Bronze class.
As the race entered its closing stages, Tan continued to remain fast and consistent and this ensured that she claimed her second overall podium finish in the GTDX class at Virginia International Raceway. Tan also claimed victory in the GTDX Bronze class to extend her championship lead over Barletta.
Despite battling some technical issues across the weekend, Tan showed excellent pace as she achieved her best overall finishes in the GTDX class this season. The ST Racing driver will now be looking to continue this form as the IMSA VP SportsCar Challenge wrap up their season at Road Atlanta on the weekend of October 10th/11th.
