Samantha Tan, born on August 9, 1997, she’s a woman, a Chinese Canadian, a combination you rarely see in motorsports. She’s a professional racing driver, and owner of Samantha Tan Racing (STR). Her weapon is her BMW M4 GT3, with which she fights the stereotypes to make the world see what an Asian woman is capable of doing in motorsports.
Samantha began her journey at the age of 16, when she participated in the National Auto Sport Association's Performance Touring E category, driving a modified 1991 Honda Civic. This early exposure ignited a passion that would propel her to significant achievements in the racing world.
The 27-year-old Canadian had interest in Motorsport since she was a child, when she regularly accompanied her father to watch Formula 1 broadcasts at local BMW dealerships. Her father, her backbone and number 1 support, took her to performance driving schools, when her feet could reach the pedals. At the end of her training program, a single event changed her life, when she got to ride along in a racing car. The adrenaline rush that came from speed made Samantha more addicted to motorsports, and she wanted to become a professional race car driver.
However, Samantha suffered a lot from stereotypes, especially with her famous crash in 2017. When she was 19 years old, Samantha crashed her BMW M235i Racing into a wall at the Pirelli World Challenge. Not only did her car totally crash, but also her self-confidence. Add to that, she faced countless rude and relentless social media comments. She faced the “classic” prejudices about a woman’s place in racing, especially as an Asian woman. Samantha was used to Stereotypes as an Asian immigrant when she was a child. However, she did not give up. Instead, she kept pursuing her ultimate ambition to make a mark in the world and defy these stereotypes.
In 2014, Tan participated in the competition during the Canadian Touring Car Championship, with her small Mini Cooper. She made her debut in the Pirelli World Challenge the following year, driving a Kia Forte Koup in the TCA class.
Her persistence and dedication have led her to becoming a global BMW Ambassador, after she transitioned to BMW Machinery in 2017 and started driving her BMW M235iR. Her participation with BMW has facilitated her ways to prominent events, including Pirelli GT4 America, where she achieved back-to-back team championships in 2019 and 2020.
In 2021, Tan and her team ventured into the 24H Series, an endurance racing championship. Demonstrating exceptional skill and resilience, they secured victories at the 24H Dubai and the 6H Abu Dhabi, making Tan the first Asian female driver to win these prestigious events. These accomplishments underscored her ability to compete and succeed on an international stage.
Tan's success continued as she graduated to the GT World Challenge America series in 2022, becoming the first and only female Asian driver in the history of the series. Competing in the top class of sports car racing, she raced the BMW M4 GT3 against formidable manufacturers like Ferrari, McLaren, Porsche, and Lamborghini. Her participation in this series not only highlighted her driving prowess but also her role as a trailblazer for women and minorities in motorsports.
Beyond her achievements on the track, Tan is a vocal advocate for diversity and inclusion within the racing community. She leverages her platform to inspire the next generation to pursue their dreams, regardless of societal expectations or stereotypes. Her story challenges traditional notions of what it means to be an Asian woman in a predominantly male-dominated sport. As she eloquently stated, "I want to redefine stereotypes. When someone sees an Asian woman, I want them to see us as powerful, independent, and valued."
