Christina Lam is an electrical engineer turned sports car racer who went from track day tourist to IMSA competitor, becoming the first Chinese American woman to race in the IMSA endurance series.

EARLY YEARS

From Springfield, Virginia, Christina didn’t grow up in a racing family—no one in her household was into cars, let alone motorsports. She graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park in 2011 with a degree in electrical engineering and went on to work for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.[1][2] Her path to racing began unexpectedly in 2012 during a vacation to Germany. Visiting a friend, she checked off a bucket list item: driving the legendary Nürburgring. That single lap changed everything.[3] What started as a tourist attraction turned into an obsession, and Christina was hooked.

OTHER INTERESTS

Christina is a self-proclaimed die-hard fan of V8 Supercars, calling it “some of the best racing in the world.”[4] One of her dreams is to compete in Super 2 or the main V8 Supercars series in Australia. Beyond racing, her engineering background continues to influence her approach to motorsports—she uses her critical problem-solving skills from her electrical engineering degree every day in race car life, and she’s partnered with organizations like SAE to give FSAE students an up-close look at IMSA racing.[5]

EARLY SUCCESS

After that fateful trip to the Nürburgring, Christina dove headfirst into motorsports the way many enthusiasts do: autocross, then track days, then club racing.[6] She started competing in her BMW E36 M3, working her way through NASA, SCCA Majors, and BMW CCA Club Racing. Her progression wasn’t fast-tracked by family money or karting from age five—it was methodical, strategic, and self-funded. She built her skills one lap at a time, eventually moving up to an E46 M3 race car that she painstakingly rebuilt after a crash.[7] Along the way, she racked up multiple wins and countless podiums across various club racing series, proving she belonged on track.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2018: Selected as part of Bell Racing USA’s Women in Motorsports Mentor Program alongside drivers like Katherine Legge and Sabré Cook[8].
• 2020: Featured as a Skip Barber Instructor, providing coaching and insight into navigating the racing industry[9].
• 2021: Co-founded Hi-Speed Motorsports race team with an HPD TC Civic Type R and HPD TCA Civic Si, growing the program 35% over three seasons[10].
• 2021–2024: Officiated on a national level for the National Auto Sport Association at four championship events, managing over 300 drivers[10].
• 2025: Made IMSA debut in the Michelin Pilot Challenge at Daytona International Speedway, driving the #10 Helium Mobile Audi RS3 LMS TCR Gen 2 for Rockwell Autosport Development, finishing top-10 in the TCR class[11][12].
• 2025: Became the first Chinese American woman to compete in IMSA endurance races[13].
• 2025 & 2026: Finalist for the IMSA Diverse Driver Development Scholarship[11].
• Career totals: 8 wins, 9 poles, 23 podiums, 11 fastest laps across 62 races[14].

INSPIRATIONS

Christina’s inspiration didn’t come from family tradition or childhood heroes—it came from pure experience. That single lap at the Nürburgring in 2012 was the spark, but her continued motivation comes from the engineering side of racing and the problem-solving it requires. She’s passionate about sharing that knowledge, whether through coaching, instructing at Skip Barber, or giving FSAE students a behind-the-scenes look at professional racing.[5][9]

REPUTATION

Christina has earned a reputation as a multi-talented force in motorsports: driver, coach, engineer, and team owner. She’s known for her analytical approach to racing, her willingness to mentor others, and her ability to build programs from the ground up. Grassroots Motorsports has featured her multiple times, dubbing her “the modern day track junkie” and chronicling her journey from club racing to IMSA.[3][6] Her work as a national-level official and her role in growing Hi-Speed Motorsports demonstrate her commitment to the sport beyond just her own driving career. She’s also become a visible advocate for diversity in racing, using her platform to show that you don’t need a racing pedigree to make it—just grit, brains, and a whole lot of track time.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

In 2025, Christina is competing in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge with Rockwell Autosport Development in the TCR class, piloting the #10 Helium Mobile Audi RS3.[15] Her schedule also includes endurance racing in the World Racing League at Mid-Ohio in a TCA Civic Si.[16] Beyond the immediate season, her dream remains competing in Australia’s V8 Supercars Super 2 or main series—a goal that aligns with her love of hard racing and technical challenges.[4]

REFERENCES

[1] Meet: Christina Lam at the IMRRC! – Racing Archives
[2] Switching Career Gears: From Electrical Engineering to Race Car Driving – University of Maryland
[3] Meet Christina Lam, the modern day track junkie – Grassroots Motorsports
[4] Behind the Wheel With: Christina Lam – Rides & Drives
[5] Christina Lam offers an up-close look at IMSA to FSAE students – Grassroots Motorsports
[6] From track day junkie to IMSA rookie: Christina Lam – Grassroots Motorsports
[7] After a Crash, Part 4: Building a New Race Car From Scratch – Grassroots Motorsports
[8] Bell Racing USA Launches Women In Motorsports Mentor Program – Performance Racing Industry
[9] Skip Barber Instructor Christina Lam featured in Automotive Woman! – Skip Barber Racing School
[10] Bio – Christina Lam Racing
[11] IMPC: Christina Lam completes first IMSA race with top-10 at Daytona – Racers Behind the Helmet
[12] Christina Lam to make IMSA debut in Pilot Challenge – Racers Behind the Helmet
[13] Christina Lam Becomes First Chinese American Woman to Compete in IMSA Endurance Series – Women’s Innovations
[14] Christina Lam – Driver Database
[15] News – Christina Lam Racing
[16] Race Schedule – Christina Lam Racing