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Samantha Tan Racing Commits to a Full 2021 Creventic 24H Series Season
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Samantha Tan Racing Commits to a Full 2021 Creventic 24H Series Season

For immediate release:

November 26, 2020 – ST Racing is thrilled to announce its participation to the Creventic 24H Series, which will feature 8 races at the most iconic tracks in Europe and North America.

The Canadian outfit had a taste of what this series was all about in Dubai last year and again at Circuit of the Americas (COTA). This time, however, the team will be looking at securing a few titles; GT4 Team Championship, GT4 Driver Championship, Junior Cup, and Ladies Cup.

With the 2021 season kicking-off as early as next January in Dubai, the team has a strong driver line-up that will be joining forces to co-drive ST Racing’s BMW M4 GT4. Regular drivers Samantha Tan, Nick Wittmer and Jon Miller will be joined by Indianapolis 8-Hour winner Chandler Hull.

The team has unfinished business in Dubai as last year the race was stopped 8 hours after the start due to abnormally heavy rain which flooded the track. The Canadian outfit ended this shortened race P7, which did not reflect ST Racing’s true capabilities as they had scored pole position prior to the race, in addition to setting a new GT4 track record, thanks to Nick Wittmer’s strong pace.

During the race, the team ran at the forefront of the field with Samantha Tan in P3 when she had to come down pit road for refueling. Going back on track in P7, the race was under a full course yellow for a full 30 minutes before it was completely stopped due to the weather.

This time around, ST Racing has a strong set of drivers, each with championship-winning pedigrees. Like the drivers, the crew is eager to claim nothing less than a win during this 24-hour race set in beautiful Dubai.

“This series is definitely interesting for me personally, as it involves much more strategy in regards to refueling and changing tires, as well as the series’ Code 60 procedure which replaces double yellow safety-car situations,” explained Samantha Tan, co-driver of the ST Racing BMW M4 GT4. “Last year was our first experience, which was very fun, and I’m proud that we achieved a 3rd place finish at our first ever Creventic race. There are more things to take into consideration than the SprintX races! I am very excited for next season as I look at the calendar and some of my dream tracks are there, like Spa-Francorchamps. I can’t wait to drive against International teams.”

The Canadian driver continued by saying, “we have talented drivers in our team, and we have established ourselves as top runners against renowned teams that have been in the sport for many years. We are building a strong reputation by racing internationally, and I am extremely proud of where the team is right now.”

“ST Racing is the best North America GT4 Team,” stated Canadian driver Nick Wittmer. “Any challenges the team takes on; we absorb it, we fix it, and then, we crush it. ST Racing is a strong team, and I’m very happy to be with them again for the 2021 season. The 24H series is a great organization that runs around the world, and we will be part of that to show what ST Racing has in store for 24-hour races. The driver line-up is strong and capable.”

“I’m thrilled to be starting my 4th season with ST Racing in our BMW M4 GT4 as we set sail for the Creventic 24HR world tour of endurance racing,” shared Jon Miller. “This new chapter marks a logical next step for the team, expanding our reach and applying what we’ve learned to a deep field of competitors on the international stage. I’m looking forward to an unbelievable calendar with a return to Spa and capping the season with a 24 hour at Sebring in November. This isn’t the team’s first endurance race by any means. We ended our SRO season off with a hard-fought 2nd place at the IGTC Indianapolis 8 hour, and in January of this year, we put our GT4 BMW on pole position for the 24 hours of Dubai. Samantha and Nick Wittmer are the stalwarts of the team and I’m thrilled to be joining them again alongside STR newcomer Chandler Hull. Chandler impressed and frustrated us at Indianapolis by driving the winning BMW in the 8-hour race, beating us to the top step. He’s an obvious choice to complete our driver line-up that expects to race for wins.”

“This season will be my first with ST Racing, however, having shared the paddock with them the last two seasons in SRO America, I am very much looking forward to joining them for a 24H Series effort in 2021,” echoed Chandler Smith. “The professionalism and success I have seen from the team makes me confident that our season will be successful. I am also looking forward to spending time behind the wheel of a BMW M4 GT4 in an endurance setting since my previous experience, and other 2021 plans have been in SprintX efforts.”

2021 Calendar

ST Racing will take part in all 8 events of the 2021 24H Series season.

Hankook 24H Dubai: January 14-15-16 2021

Hankook 12H Mugello: March 26-27 2021

Hankook 12H Spa-Francorchamps: April 23-24-25 2021

Hankook 12H Hockenheimring: May 22-23 2021

Hankook 24H Portimao: July 09-10-11 2021

Hankook 24H Barcelona: September 03-04-05 2021

Coppa Florio Hankook 12H Sicily: October 01-02-03 2021

Hankook 24H Sebring: November 12-13-14 2021

 

Raphael Lessard Signs With GMS Racing for select 2021 NCWTS races.
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Raphael Lessard Signs With GMS Racing for select 2021 NCWTS races.

November 25/2020

GMS Racing News Release:

Raphael Lessard Racing announced today that the young Quebec driver will race in select races in the 2021 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS). He will drive a Silverado prepared by the dominant GMS Racing organization that finished in the top three places in the championship in 2020. The agreement with GMS Racing covers 12 races to be determined over the season. In parallel, Raphael Lessard Racing team members are working to find the necessary financing to participate in all 22 events on the 2021 calendar.

The first race of the 2021 NCWTS season will be part of the traditional “Daytona Speed Week,” and will be held on Friday, Feb. 12, 2021.

“We are very excited to have Raphael join GMS Racing for part of the 2021 season,” said Mike Beam, President of GMS Racing. “I believe Raphael will be a great addition to our GMS stable and I look forward to seeing him wheel one of our Chevrolets.”

Review of the 2020 season and outlook for 2021

Raphael Lessard ended his 2020 season on a high note, accumulating in the second half of the season one win, four top-five and six top-10 finishes. In addition, he managed to improve from his starting to his finishing position in the incident-free races by 67 places, compared to 14 places in the first eight races of the season.

Q: Raphael, are you satisfied with the progress you made 2020? 

“I learned an incredible amount in all aspects of racing during the 2020 season, about pure driving skills, race strategies, aerodynamics, passing and legally making it difficult for others to pass me, adapting my driving to compensate for any handling issues and helping the team understand any issues to fix them at the next stop, focusing better on my driving despite any adversity. The win at Talladega certainly helped the team and myself gain confidence, and also convinced us that we were able to race with the best and win.”

Q: What does it mean to you to be at GMS Racing for 2021?

“Finding myself with the best team of the 2020 season is unbelievable. They won the championship! I can’t wait to show what we can do aboard such great machines. The team knows how to bring potential winners at every race, a key to a great season. Our team will be great, and I can’t wait to be back on track.”

Q: What is your first goal for the 2021 season?

“To do as many races as possible. I would like to win races and above all finish in the top five in every race, as well as continue to improve my driving.”

Raphael Lessard Wins at Talladega for First Career Victory
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Raphael Lessard Wins at Talladega for First Career Victory

Press Release prepared by Kyle Busch Motorsports:

Raphael Lessard, a 19-year-old Canadian driver, captured his first career NGROTS victory in Saturday’s race at Talladega Superspeedway narrowly edging former Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne when the caution flew after a truck accident occurred on the final lap of the event. Raphael Lessard became the fifth foreign-born driver to win a NGROTS race.

This was Raphael Lessard’s first victory and fifth top-10 finish of the 2020 season. The rookie driver currently sits 12th in points.

Stage One Recap: 

  • Raphael Lessard started in the 15th position after a performance matrix based off finishing position from the previous race, ranking in owner points standings and the fastest lap from the previous race at Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway.
  • When the first caution flew on Lap 14, Raphael Lessard was in the 11th position. Veteran crew chief Mike Hillman Jr. called his rookie driver down pit road for a fuel-only stop. The rookie driver would restart in the 23rd position.
  • Raphael Lessard would finish the stage in the 14th position.

Stage Two Recap:

  • At the stage break, Raphael Lessard radioed to his crew he was ready to make some moves on the racetrack. Hillman kept the CANAC Tundra on the racetrack. Raphael Lessard would restart from the second position.
  • The second stage would finish under the caution, and Raphael Lessard was scored in the 12th position.

Final Stage:

  • During the stage caution, Raphael Lessard radioed to his crew that his CANAC Tundra needed more stability in the rear. As the leaders pitted, Hillman kept his driver on the racetrack to pit on the next lap to avoid possibly getting wrecked on pit road. The over-the-wall crew performed a four-tire and fuel stop. The rookie driver came back down pit road with one lap remaining under the caution to top off with fuel. Lessard would restart in the 25th position.
  • With the fourth caution falling on Lap 49, Raphael Lessard was scored in the 22nd position. Raphael Lessard came down under the caution for fuel but was caught speeding on pit road. Like the last caution, Raphael Lessard came back down pit road with one lap remaining until the green to top off with fuel. The CANAC driver would restart at the tail of the field.
  • On Lap 66, Raphael Lessard was summoned to pit road under green-flag conditions for a fuel-only stop.
  • At the fifth and final caution on Lap 90, Raphael Lessard was scored in the third position and was told to stay out.
  • As the field began wrecking down the backstretch, Raphael Lessard was running in the second position. By the time NASCAR threw the caution for the accident, Raphael Lessard had maneuvered the CANAC Tundra one-half a truck ahead of Trevor Bayne to earn his first career victory in the Gander Trucks.

 

Raphael Raphael Lessard , driver of the No. 4 CANAC Tundra for Kyle Busch Motorsports

How does it feel to get your first Truck Series win?

“That was awesome. First of all, I want to thank everyone back home, my team at Kyle Busch Motorsports. CANAC came on board with us this year. Also, Mobil 1, Toyota, TRD – this is amazing, I can’t believe it. It’s my second superspeedway race and to get my first truck series win here is amazing.”

What was the final lap like, and did you think you had won the race?

“I don’t know who was behind me, but he gave me a heck of a push and I can’t thank him enough because he’s part of that win too. He pushed me as hard as he could, and I was just holding on for the ride. Then the caution came out at the right time. I’m so happy. This was my first time doing a burnout from a race win and I loved it. Hopefully, we can do it some more.”

 How were you able to get into position to win the race?

“All race long, my crew chief Mike Hillman Jr. gave me the best strategy ever. I was kind of getting tired riding out back. My teammates and I worked really well – Christian Eckes and Chandler Smith. I was just getting tired of it and I guess I listened to my crew chief, my team and I think we won it from listening to what my crew chief was telling me. At the end, we were in position to win it and all I was doing was trying to hold it straight and the guy behind me pushed me as much as he could.”

Did you feel you were ahead of Trevor Bayne when the caution came out?

“I thought I was close, but I was just focused in case we had another restart. In my head, it wasn’t done yet. We didn’t get to the start-finish line yet, so I thought it was going to be a green-white-checkered, but it didn’t happen, and we ended up winning.”

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Raphael Lessard Scores Career-Best Third Place Finish on Daytona Road Course

Photo Credit: Nigel Kinrade Photography

Date: Aug. 16, 2020

Event: Sunoco 159 (Race 12 of 23)

Series: NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series (NGROTS)

Location: Daytona International Speedway Road Course (3.59-mile, 14-turn road course)

Format: Three Stages; 12 laps/13 laps/21 laps

Start/Finish: 10th / 3rd (Running, completed 46 of 46 laps)

Winner: Sheldon Creed of GMS Racing (Chevrolet)

🇨🇦 Raphael Lessard earned a career-best third-place finish in Sunday’s NGROTS race at the Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway Road Course. The third-place result surpassed the seventh-place result he earned just last week in the Truck Series event at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn.

 

Raphael Lessard led three circuits in the opening laps of the Final Stage, but would lose the lead after missing the chicane on the frontstretch on Lap 30. The talented teenager would remain focused despite the mistake and in the end earned his first top-five finish in NASCAR’s third division.