Christina Lam
Sports Car racing // Milford, Connecticut
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Christina Lam parlayed a terrifying first manual transmission experience at Nürburgring into co-owning Hi-Speed Motorsports and becoming the first Chinese American woman in IMSA.
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My first taste of speed was at the Nurburgring… I didn’t know how to drive manual. I whipped out YouTube and memorized the process and away we went!
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FULL BIO: Christina Lam
Christina Lam is a Chinese American electrical engineer turned racing dynamo who co-owns Hi-Speed Motorsports while making history as the first Chinese American woman to compete in IMSA endurance racing.
EARLY YEARS
Christina’s path to racing began in the most unconventional way possible—at Germany’s legendary Nürburgring, behind the wheel of a Suzuki Swift racecar, having never driven a manual transmission in her life. “I didn’t know how to drive manual. I whipped out YouTube and memorized the process and away we went!” she recalls. Her instructor started skeptical but ended the day encouraging her to push harder as she hit every apex and track out. That first taste of speed was all it took. She committed to a full autocross season and never looked back, eventually teaching herself to swap transmissions and perform mechanical upgrades on her own BMW E36 M3.
OTHER INTERESTS
When she’s not building race cars or coaching drivers, Christina applies her electrical engineering degree from the University of Maryland in her role at the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, where she supports national security through geospatial intelligence work. This high-tech background perfectly complements her hands-on approach to motorsports, giving her both the analytical mind and technical skills that make her formidable both in the garage and on track. She also manages social media content for Hi-Speed Motorsports and SRI Racing, promoting sponsors and drivers across various platforms.
EARLY SUCCESS
Christina’s rapid progression from autocross novice to competitive racer showcases her natural talent and relentless work ethic. After that pivotal Nürburgring experience, she methodically worked her way through HPDE (High Performance Driver Education) and Time Trial before diving into wheel-to-wheel racing. Her self-taught mechanical skills proved invaluable—she personally built and maintains her approximately 213 wheel horsepower BMW E46 M3 track car, employing various tuning and suspension modifications to compete across different classes. Multiple wins and numerous podiums quickly followed across BMW CCA Club Racing, SCCA Majors, Hoosier Super Tour, and NASA series.
NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS
- 2025: First Chinese American woman to compete in IMSA endurance racing
- Multiple wins and podiums in BMW CCA Club Racing, SCCA Majors, Hoosier Super Tour, and NASA racing
- Co-owner and business operations head of Hi-Speed Motorsports
- Factory-supported arrive-and-drive program with Honda Performance Development (HPD)
- Self-built and maintains BMW E46 M3 race car
INSPIRATIONS
Christina’s inspiration came from that transformative first day at the Nürburgring, where an initially skeptical instructor became her biggest cheerleader by day’s end. Her approach to learning—whether it’s mastering manual transmissions through YouTube or teaching herself complex mechanical work—reflects a fierce independence and determination to succeed on her own terms. The technical challenges of racing appeal to her engineering mindset, while the competitive aspect feeds her drive to break barriers as a Chinese American woman in a traditionally male-dominated sport.
REPUTATION
The motorsports community recognizes Christina as both a skilled competitor and savvy businesswoman. Media outlets have celebrated her as a “Femcanic badass” and pioneering female racer, with features in Driving Forward Together, Grassroots Motorsports, and Women’s Innovations. Her reputation extends beyond driving—she’s respected as a knowledgeable coach and race car builder who can diagnose, repair, and optimize vehicles with the same precision she applies to hitting apexes. Colleagues appreciate her dual expertise in high-tech national security work and hands-on motorsports, making her a unique voice in the racing community.
FUTURE GOALS/PLANS
Christina continues competing in 2025 across BMW CCA Club Racing, SCCA Majors, Hoosier Super Tour, and NASA Majors while expanding her historic presence in IMSA endurance racing. Through Hi-Speed Motorsports, she operates factory-backed Honda Performance Development programs with TC Civic Type R and TCA Civic Si cars, plus two T1 BMW M3s in arrive-and-drive configurations. Her ongoing partnership with HPD positions her team for continued growth in both competitive success and business expansion, while her barrier-breaking presence in IMSA opens doors for future Chinese American racers to follow her lead.
References:
[1] Interview – First Track Day and Racing Journey
[2] Hi-Speed Motorsports Team Biography
[3] Grassroots Motorsports Feature
[4] Women’s Innovations Profile
[5] IMSA Historic Achievement Coverage
Have Christina updates or corrections? Please let us know – We’d love to keep this profile current.
