This weekend's JRT Road America 160 will mark not only the Sprint Cup finale, but also the return of BMW to the top-of-the-series class after a near two-year hiatus of the Bavarian car maker from GTP competition.
Tri-State Racing is launching its first-ever BMW GTP program, which will take part in the final two races of the 2025 VSCA SportsCar Championship.
Born out of the New York City tri-state area and founded in 2021 by Chris Cádiz and Sam Vaughan, TSR began its journey with BMW GT3 machinery and quickly built a reputation as a dedicated BMW endurance outfit. Since then, the team has leaned into prototype competition, fielding the LMP2 in VSCA and ESCC, while maintaining its ties to the BMW brand. For TSR, stepping up to the BMW M Hybrid V8 marks a natural and long-awaited progression—one that reflects both the team’s growth into prototype competition and its enduring BMW DNA.
The driver lineup for the final two rounds of the 2025 season blends youth, experience, and ambition. Canadian 17-year-old Seth Neufeld, who made his TSR debut with a podium drive in LMP2 at Indy and has since gained further prototype mileage in ESCC, will share the wheel with 27-year-old Dutchman Geordi Vermeulen. Vermeulen returns to prototype action after recent GT3 competition and a 2025 Nürburgring 24H outing with TSR. For Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta, the pair will be joined by 37-year-old Briton Michael Simpson, a TSR regular since 2024 whose strong pace and disciplined preparation habits have made him a fixture in both VSCA and ESCC LMP2 campaigns.
“It feels great to have our team finally step up to the GTP ranks,” said team owner Christopher Cádiz. “For much of our history, we’ve been a loyal BMW team, and we’re excited to bring the BMW M Hybrid V8 back to VSCA and add to the depth of the grid. It feels right.”
Co-founder Sam Vaughan added: “There is a real sense of pride within Tri-State Racing to be the team bringing BMW back to the VSCA GTP grid for the first time since 2023. BMW has always been part of our DNA, and to represent the brand at the top level of the series is a milestone moment for everyone involved. We see these two races as an opportunity to showcase what this team is capable of and to gain valuable insight as we look toward the future. Road America and Road Atlanta are iconic tracks that will challenge us in every way, and they are the perfect proving grounds for our debut with the BMW M Hybrid V8.”
The drivers share that enthusiasm. Seth Neufeld said: “It’s a new chapter for the team and I’m excited to be part of it. The BMW feels like a great car to drive and I’m sure it’ll be competitive with the other cars. Obviously joining at this point in the season we won’t be in the fight for the championship but we’ll still be out there fighting for wins, and we’ll do our best to challenge for the championship next year.”
Geordi Vermeulen added: “I mean, when you get the chance to run top class in any series it’s an opportunity that I won’t surpass! Personally I feel bullish, we’ve got nothing to lose so it’ll all be about maximizing the results on the day, no bigger picture for us to look at in that sense. The car feels like a rocket-sled on rails, so don’t be surprised if you see the big sniffer near the front at some point in the race!”
The JRT Road America 160 is set to take the green flag 16:05 GMT Saturday.