SAMANTHA TAN Makes Pilot Challenge Debut as 2026 Daytona Field Reaches 51 Cars

January 15, 2026

• SAMANTHA TAN is making the leap to IMSA Pilot Challenge after dominating the 2025 VP Racing SportsCar Challenge GTDX Bronze Cup. She’ll partner with IMSA legend Bill Auberlen in the #38 ST Racing BMW M4 GT4, giving us a perfect example of how talent gets rewarded when you prove yourself at every level.
• The 51-car field for January’s BMW M Endurance Challenge shows the series’ continued growth, with 35 GT4 cars in Grand Sport and 16 TCR entries matching the 2020 benchmark. We’re seeing serious manufacturer diversity with nine different marques represented in GS alone, creating the kind of competitive environment where skill matters more than equipment advantages.
• Several drivers including reigning champion Luca Mars are pulling double duty between this race and the Rolex 24, while new IMSA D3 Scholarship winner Nicky Hays joins Random Vandals Racing. The integration of development programs with competitive opportunities gives us hope that we’ll see more diverse talent climbing the IMSA ladder in coming seasons.

bmw m4 gt4, daytona international speedway, gs grand sport, imsa pilot challenge