SAMANTHA TAN Shows Top-10 Pace in IMSA Pilot Challenge Debut at Daytona

January 27, 2026

• SAMANTHA TAN made an impressive IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge debut at Daytona, immediately showcasing the skills that made her the reigning IMSA VP SportsCar Challenge GSX Bronze champion. Starting 17th in the packed 35-car GS field, she delivered one of the strongest opening stints among bronze-rated drivers, gaining over ten positions through pure pace and smart positioning to reach P16 by the first caution.
• The Canadian racer’s early brilliance was undermined by a cruel sequence of setbacks that prevented her and co-driver Bill Auberlen from converting genuine top-ten speed into the result they deserved. A debris collection forced an unscheduled pit stop that dropped them to 33rd, followed by a drive-through penalty for Auberlen that erased their recovery efforts just as they’d climbed back toward the top 15.
• Despite finishing P20 in class, TAN and the Random Vandals ST Racing team demonstrated consistent competitiveness throughout the four-hour contest. Auberlen’s late-race pace matched the strongest BMW times of the day, while TAN’s opening stint proved she belongs among the series’ elite bronze drivers. The performance signals genuine contender potential as the 2026 Michelin Pilot Challenge season unfolds, with Sebring next on the calendar.

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