ST Racing is pleased to announce the expansion of its 2023 racing program, with a full season entry in the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup. The team will partner with Rinaldi Racing to campaign a Ferrari GT3, forming ST Racing with Rinaldi.
The European entry complements the previously announced SRO GT World Challenge America program in the ST Racing BMW M4 GT3. In a bid to strengthen its motor racing experience in Europe, the North American outfit is now pleased to announce it will participate in a full season of GTWC Europe for the first time as part of the Endurance Cup. The first test takes place at Circuit Paul Ricard on March 7 and 8.
ST Racing made its SRO Europe debut at the 2022 24 Hours of Spa, the championship’s halo event. Team co-owner and driver Samantha Tan completed a strong maiden run at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps to finish ninth in the Silver Cup.
The team will rely on the experienced driver lineup of Samantha Tan and STR Team Manager Jon Miller. The complete lineup is set to be announced at a later date. No strangers to endurance motorsport, Samantha and Jon were crowned Overall GT Drivers’ champions in their first European endurance racing program together in 2021.
The pair will start the season aboard the ST Racing with Rinaldi entered Ferrari 488 GT3, with a planned switch to the 296 GT3 at a later date.
“I am beyond excited to be announcing our participation in GTWC EU with Rinaldi Racing,” said driver Samantha Tan. “They are one of the top Ferrari teams in the business and I look forward to competing on a new platform, the 488 GT3, in one of the most competitive GT3 series on the globe. I am pleased to be able to work with Jon again and learn from his expertise this year and I can’t wait to kick off the season in April!”
“We’ve formed a wonderful partnership with Rinaldi for the European SRO Endurance Cup this year,” said driver Jon Miller. “I’m thrilled to rejoin Samantha as a co-driver and to grow the existing relationship that I have with Rinaldi. The level of competition in the SRO Endurance Cup is extremely high and, while we’re familiar with the tracks and the people, the championship and Ferrari platform will present a new environment and learning curve that we’re excited to tackle together.”
“With heavy focus on our growing BMW GT program in the U.S., we decided to change the way we race in Europe this year,” said STR Team Principal Kenneth Tan. “In Rinaldi, we’ve got one of the best racing teams there to support our race car. Rinaldi Racing is highly respected by the factory and has an impeccable reputation with a proven track record. I am very happy to work with them and also very excited to go to Monza next month to watch Samantha compete in one of the most competitive series, with one of the top teams. I am a big BMW fan but I am also a big Ferrari fan. Forza Ferrari!”
Round one of the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup takes place at the vaunted Autodromo Nazionale Monza on April 22-23, with round two scheduled for June 3-4 at Le Castellet for the tenured Circuit Paul Ricard 1,000km. After the 75th running of the 24 Hours of Spa, from June 29 to July 2, the GTWC Europe season continues at the Nürburgring, later that month on July 29-30, before concluding at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Spain from September 30 to October 1.
- From ST Racing
