STR Targeting SprintX Effort With BMW M4 GT4

Photo: George Bucur

Pirelli World Challenge Touring Car squad Samantha Tan Racing is targeting a step up to SprintX competition with its newly delivered BMW M4 GT4 cars next year.

The Canadian team has revealed ambitions to run a two-car GT4 operation in SprintX, although is awaiting clarification from PWC on the category’s eligibility for 2018.

“Although Pirelli World Challenge has yet to decide whether they will continue with the GTS SprintX series for 2018, the team is hoping the relatively new format will stay in 2018 and continue to grow its popularity,” a statement from the team read.

Samantha Tan and Nick Wittmer completed a successful rollout of the new GT4 contender at Thermal Club in California last week, having recently taken delivery of its first car in Chicago.

STR is one of four initial North American customers of BMW’s GT4 model, alongside Turner Motorsport, BimmerWorld and Fast Track Racing.

“This is a true race car” said STR team principal Kenneth Tan. “The M235iR that we ran last season was more of a street car turned race car. This M4 has race car DNA.

“Testing it last weekend at Palm Springs was very challenging but a whole lot of fun. Every one on the team worked hard and learned a lot about the car.

“There is still much to learn about this extremely complex race car.”

The team was joined at Palm Springs by Fast Track’s Daren Jorgensen, which also shook down its initial BMW GT4 car.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John