Samantha Tan teams up with ST Racing by Random Vandals for IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge season

ST Racing by Random Vandals will enter the 2026 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge with Samantha Tan and Bill Auberlen, forming a high-profile partnership for the GS class.

Photo credits: ST Racing

Samantha Tan announced her entry into the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge GS class for the 2026 season, in a partnership between ST Racing and Random Vandals which will field a high-profile driver pairing: alongside the young Canadian, also a BMW M Motorsport Global Ambassador, will be factory driver Bill Auberlen in the #38 BMW M4 GT4 EVO.

The programme brings together Samantha Tan Racing with the technical expertise of Random Vandals Racing, forming an effort aimed at contending at the front of one of North America’s most competitive GT4 championships. Tan will be joined by Bill Auberlen, the most successful driver in IMSA history; together, the duo is expected to contend for victories in the GS field.

“I’m incredibly excited to step into the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge GS class for the 2026 season,” said Samantha Tan. “It’s one of the most competitive GT4 championships in North America, and it feels like the right challenge at this point in my career."

"Being able to share the car with Bill Auberlen makes this opportunity even more special - he’s a true BMW legend and having the chance to learn from his experience while pushing together at the front is something I’m really looking forward to. With the combined strength of ST Racing and Random Vandals Racing, I’m confident we have everything we need to fight for strong results throughout the season.”

The ST Racing by Random Vandals entry will contest the full Michelin Pilot Challenge schedule.

Ph: ST Racing by Random Vandals

Tan arrives in the GS class on the back of a highly successful 2025 campaign, during which she claimed the GTDX Bronze class championship in the IMSA VP Racing SportCar Challenge in BMW M4 GT3 machinery. Competing in her first solo season in sports car racing, she emerged as the driver to beat in the GTDX Bronze category, securing the title while also recording several overall podium finishes within the overall GTDX class.

Her motorsport career began in 2015 in the Pirelli World Challenge, where she raced touring cars before progressing into GT4 competitions. Both a driver and co-owner of ST Racing, Samantha steadily built experience and results. A major breakthrough came in 2019 with a runner-up finish in the GT4 America Sprint X West ProAm class, followed by third place overall in the 2020 GT4 America Sprint X championship.

In 2021, Tan expanded onto the international stage with her first full campaign in the 24H Series, where she enjoyed success by winning both the class and overall championships aboard the ST Racing BMW M4 GT4. The season provided valuable multi-class endurance racing experience and marked a turning point in her career trajectory.

Tan stepped up to GT3 machinery in 2022 and quickly made headlines with a class victory at the Mugello 12 Hours, which also marked the first-ever race win for the BMW M4 GT3. A full-season entry in the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup in 2023 followed, where she claimed a class victory and finished third in the ProAm standings.

Her momentum continued into 2024, narrowly missing out on the GT World Challenge America ProAm title while sharing the car with Neil Verhagen. During the same season, Tan secured a class win in the Nürburgring Langstrecken Serie, stood on the podium in a solo GT America outing at Long Beach, and gained further European experience with a GT4 European Series appearance at Spa-Francorchamps.

In 2025, Tan added another milestone to her résumé with a strong debut at the Circuit de La Sarthe, finishing sixth and fourth in her first Road To Le Mans appearances in the Le Mans Cup. She also celebrated a class podium finish on her first Nürburgring 24 Hours.

With a proven record across GT4 and GT3 platforms and a partnership with one of IMSA’s most decorated drivers, Samantha Tan moves into the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge as a serious contender for the 2026 season.