There are now less than three weeks remaining until Thailand Super Series (TSS) kicks off the new season in Buriram and unquestionably one of the biggest strengths of the ‘New Era’ of motorsport here has been the appearance of many exciting new sportscars from famous brand names that have really resonated with the fans.
This year the recognisable brand names keep on coming and certainly one potent new sportscar to make its way on the entry lists is going to attract a heck of a lot of attention. That’s Subaru’s ‘boxer’ powered BRZ, which is set to rev up Super Car Class 3-GTC.
The BRZ sportscar hasn’t been seen in competitive race action in Thailand before and giving the programme added impetus is the news that it will be entered by leading Subaru tuner A Motorsport, which will in fact also run an Impreza in the Super Car ‘entry level’ category, as well as the Porsche 997 GT3 Cup of Khun Aekarat Discharoen in Super Car Class 2-GTM.
Federal Tyres is joining TSS this year to provide control compounds for the drivers and teams competing in Super 2000, Super Pickup, Super 1500, Super Production and Super Eco. That announcement comes right off the back of a very successful evaluation test day held recently at Bira Circuit.
In Super Pickup Team Donut and D.N.A. will be more formally joining forces this year under the banner of Team Donut D.N.A. Exedy Racing to enter two trucks for Khun Nuthaporn Namjuk and Khun Aekaluck Nakkerd while over in Super Production Khun Thomas Raldorf and CEA Racing have just announced a full season programme in this highly competitive category.
Subaru set to rev up Super Car Class 3-GTC
One of the most familiar team names to Thai motorsport fans, long-running A Motorsport, is gearing up for an expanded campaign in Super Car this season. While Team Owner Khun Aekarat Discharoen will continue to run his Porsche 997 GT3 Cup in Class 2-GTM the most exciting news is that the team will also support a Subaru BRZ in Class 3-GTC. In fact the company, best know for tuning Subaru cars, will really be getting back to its roots as alongside the BRZ it will also enter an Impreza in Class 3-GTC.
Khun Aekarat showed plenty of pace in the Porsche last year, sensationally winning Class 2-GTM outright in Buriram, a result that put him into contention for the title going in the season closer in Bangsaen. In the end he finished an impressive third in the Drivers’ championship while his efforts helped Singha A Motorsport Kiwi Racing Team to clinch the Teams’ title.
This year Khun Aekarat will be back in the Porsche, for a third year, but while the growing entry list and new racecars coming in are set to raise the standard once again, the ageing ‘997 generation’ should however benefit better from this year’s BoP regulations and it must be remembered that this car in fact won the last three races of the season in Class 2-GTM, defying predictions that it was already past its best. Don’t write the 997 off yet.
“I’m happy [with] last year because it’s very hard with the Porsche [997],” explained Khun Aekarat last week. “It’s competitive [but] my car [has] a little bit less horsepower. I think maybe some tracks are good for the car; at Buriram it’s very competitive, but on the straights less so.”
Khun Aekarat confirms that he will be driving the Porsche for a third consecutive season in Super Car Class 2-GTM. His car’s specification is unchanged, he says, and admits he will have a tough fight on his hands to make the upper steps of the podium, but – certainly boosted by his impressive win last year and that late run at the title – he’s ready for the challenge.
“This year I think [will be] more difficult than last year as the car is a little bit too old,” he says. “But with the regulations, maybe the car is a little bit better than last year. Everything [specification wise] with the car is the same as last year.”
The most exciting news though will be the arrival of A Motorsport in Super Car Class 3-GTC, which is heading into its second season, and the first of its two entries is really set to ignite the fans’ attention, as this new racecar will be a Subaru BRZ.
That takes A Motorsport, Bangkok’s most renowned Subaru tuning specialist, right back to its roots. It will also be the first Subaru BRZ to appear on the TSS entry lists.
Subaru’s BRZ sportscar was developed in a shared project with another Japanese OEM, Toyota, and while the latter brand’s own spinoff, dubbed the 86, is a shape that has already been seen in action in all three Super Car categories, the BRZ isn’t yet a familiar sight on the racetrack here and its arrival in Super Car is really long overdue. A Motorsport’s example is certain to create a real buzz with TSS fans.
The car is now at A Motorsport’s workshops, already partially converted to Class 3-GTC specification. “This car is a customer’s, he’s tested it on the track before,” explains Khun Aekarat. “He ran on the track a little bit with it and will go to race this year.”
Khun Aekarat is very well qualified to judge if the BRZ can be a competitive proposition in Class 3-GTC as he already has huge experience racing the ‘boxer’ engined Impreza model in Super Car. Before he turned to the Porsche Khun Aekarat raced a 3rd-generation Impreza and before that a 2nd-generation example that was subsequently entered in Super Car by A Motorsport for Khun Pinet Piyaoui.
“I tested the [BRZ], the car is ok, but [it] needs more modifying of the engine and gearbox, that’s important for the long runs of the races,” Khun Aekarat says. “Now we are waiting for some parts for the engine and gearbox. The suspension is okay, it’s still a production car so I try to test on the track [and] the car is very good.”
It’s going to be a learning year – just as the BRZ has to be honed to the Class 3-GTC regulations, so the driver will also have to learn his racecraft. “The driver is a newcomer [so] we give [him] training and he needs more practice,” Khun Aekarat says.
Alongside the BRZ, A Motorsport will also be supporting a second-generation Impreza in Class 3-GTC. Here the driver will be finding his feet in Super Car, but he does have experience of both car and racetrack. “He tried the Impreza last year and ran on the track,” says Khun Aekarat. “The driver is okay and did drive in Super Pickup, but is changing to Subaru for this year.”
Federal Tyres joins TSS as tyre partner
Thailand Super Series is pleased to welcome Federal Tyres as an official tyre supplier for 2015. Federal will provide control tyres across the Super 2000, Super Truck, Super 1500, Super Production and Super Eco categories.
The agreement comes after a successful recent test at Bira Circuit where Federal Tyres’ products were rigorously evaluated across a broad range of racecars, including models from B/C-segment, pickup and eco.
Federal Motorsport team members worked alongside TSS’s technical staff to test the tyres for competitiveness, durability and robustness with the collected data being analysed and overlaid with existing patterns. The results, on a day when Bira’s track surface temperatures hovered at over 50 degrees Celsius, were deemed excellent, with all compounds used comfortably exceeding the preset benchmarks.
“We saw improved lap times in all classes,” said TSS Vice President Preeda Tantemsapya, who oversaw the series’ technical operations on the day. “The tyres have very good durability for all track conditions especially with the high surface temperatures that are always a common feature of Bira Circuit. Although we didn’t manage to test the wet compounds, we believe that the result will be the same. The results of the day were excellent, we were able to work together very well, very quickly and I think everyone was satisfied.
“We’re pleased to welcome Federal Tyres to TSS and are confident that they will provide an excellent product for our racers that will make a step forward,” added Khun Preeda.
Federal Tyres reckon the tough demands of motorsport make for the perfect arena to promote its tyres. “Technology, quality and safety,” are the core values of Federal Tyres and resonate with racing, said Khun Pornchai Kruayatidee, Managing Director of Khow Inter Business Co. Ltd., Authorized Distributor of Federal Tyres in Thailand. He was also pleased with the test results. “KIB and Federal are satisfied with tyre test result [undertaken] by professional racing drivers.”
He believes the broad-ranging, top-level platform provided by TSS is perfect to showcase the company’s products. “[TSS has a] professional organisational team with high standards in racing competitions and is [sanctioned by the] Automobile Association,” says Khun Pornchai.
Putting the company’s tyres into competitive action across a range of fiercely contested categories on the TSS programme, which offer the most prestigious trophies in Thai motorsport, will demonstrate the suitability of their products, he reckons, and that will filter through in marketing terms.
“The results of competition and satisfaction by racing drivers will be the guarantee [of] the quality and performance of Federal Tyres to both normal drivers and race drivers,” says Khun Pornchai.
The promotional platform provided by TSS means a positive message will get out too, she notes. “With specialists in media production and a strong automotive network and media, Federal Tyres will be well known by all the media,” he adds.
Team Donut and D.N.A. join forces in Super Pickup
Some teams are larger than life. Much larger. And certainly one of those is Team Donut. They race for the love of speed, for the sheer exhilaration of being on the racetrack and fighting for position. But this team has made the transition to become podium regulars, front row sitters and even class winners, so it’s all got a little bit more serious now – but still without losing sight of the reason why they get out of bed in the morning and go to race.
This year Team Donut is pushing on with ambitious new plans, new alliances – and even a new truck! “We have reformed many things from last year,” explains driver Khun Nuthaporn Namjuk. He typifies the spirit of the close knit team he has built around him, always racing with the legendary #46 numbers and sporting a crash helmet in the famous colours of the great Ayrton Senna. “[Last year] we joined with the D.N.A. team informally and with support [from] our sponsor, Exedy,” he continues. “So this year we will become one team entered as Team Donut D.N.A. Exedy Racing.”
That should be a progressive ‘fit’ that benefits both sides. “D.N.A will support with service at the circuit and when we come back from the track to recheck and service the racecar,” Khun Namjuk adds. “Team Donut will support with the team management, race documents and every sponsor and media area on the car.”
Team Donut’s venerable #46 Toyota Hilux is one of the best known and best loved racecars in Super Pickup, indeed in the whole TSS programme. Helped on by some outrageous past liveries that also earned this truck the nickname ‘Crocodile’.
However, it’s become something of a tradition that no sooner does the ‘Crocodile’ smell the sea air in Bangsaen than it incurs bodywork damage. For the last two years in fact Khun Nuthaporn has arrived at the season-closer locked into the championship fight. That in itself shows just how far this team has progressed.
Last December the plot was the same; right in the hunt for the Super Pickup Class B title, the Hilux ended its weekend in the barriers, as Khun Nuthaporn explains. “At Bangsaen I have big mistake again,” he says. “The last five laps to the finish line the gearstick broke! After that I have a little short shifter down below in the cockpit. I can change every gear the same but when I want to use it I have to bend down to [reach] that short gearstick. [My] average speed drops over the [next] two laps and the other racers behind are closer.
“I try to go fast but every time [I] bend down [I] can’t see the racetrack [and] I have [too much] speed at Laem Tan corner and hit the wall,” he continues. The Hilux was out on the spot – and his championship chances also ended. “I [got] no points for Race 7 and again the points is not enough for 2014 Class B championship.”
Over the closed season the team got to work and repaired the truck and gave it a run out last month. But it quickly became clear to everyone at Team Donut that the new regulations in Super Pickup and the 2015 TSS calendar, which starts with four consecutive races in Buriram, called for a new plan.
“We think about races this year of Thailand Super Series,” says Khun Namjuk. “They have new sporting regulations. The car can use an engine [size] from 2.2 to 3.2 litres and you can choose between single turbo and twin turbo. The point also is [that] for the first round we [go] to race at Chang International Circuit and next we race at Chang again. This circuit needs [a] powerful racecar if you want to win [so] it’s impossible to make the ‘Croc’ win at this circuit. We determine to make a new car for Thailand Super Pickup Class B.”
The newly formed Team Donut D.N.A. Exedy Racing already has one machine ready to go this year in the truck category, the #16 Isuzu D-Max of Khun Aekaluck Nakkerd, which comes from the D.N.A. side of the stable. This racing pickup is certainly good to challenge for honors, after all Khun Aekaluck won the Super Pickup Class C Drivers’ and Teams’ titles last year with it.
Thus with one D-Max already in the team for 2015, an ideal solution to replace the ageing Hilux quickly came into the picture. Team Donut in fact also runs a Honda Brio in Super Eco for the irrepressible Khun Naruchit Kiatmaneesri and his former racing truck has been laid up redundant for sometime. “It’s [been] parked at the junkyard for two years waiting for someone to fix it,” says Khun Namjuk says with a laugh. “He gives it me to use for racing [and] the repair operation begins.”
Team Donut’s racecars have become almost iconic in the paddock – and that’s thanks to them being seen as much more than just another racecar on the grid. Rather they are perceived as individual machines that motorsport fans can readily identify with. The Hilux is affectionately known as the ‘Crocodile’ while the Brio has been dubbed the ‘Smurf’.
Now enter the new #46 D-Max. “We give him a name, he is the ‘Frankenstein’ who wakes up from the dead,” says Khun Namjuk. “It’s partner, [Khun Aekaluck’s] #16 D-Max will be ‘The Pink Panther’.” Expect fireworks from both these trucks this year, their drivers certainly won’t be out to make up the numbers.
But the legendary ‘Crocodile’ isn’t going to bow out of racing quietly and fans will be relieved to know that it will still race, albeit elsewhere, this year. The often-repaired Hilux, alongside the D-Max, also made a headline appearance earlier this month at Exedy Thailand’s 20th Anniversary Party held at the Bangsaen Heritage Hotel wearing an interim livery that reflects the visual direction that will be taken by Team Donut D.N.A Exedy Racing in TSS this year.
Strengthening the Super Production pack
“It’s great to be back in TSS.” Those were the first words from Khun Thomas Raldorf’s lips as he announced a full season programme in Super Production for 2015. The experienced Danish racer is a well-known figure in the paddock having previously raced in Super Car with a Subaru Impreza, a stint that included a well judged overall win in wet conditions at Bira Circuit. He also made a guest appearance in B-Quik Racing’s Super Car Class 2-GTM Porsche 997 GT3 Cup during TSS Race 5 & 6 at Buriram last November.
More recently though Khun Thomas has switched his main attention to ‘production car’ racing driving a Honda City entered by CEA Racing. The car is clearly a very competitive proposition in Super Production, as, in the hands of his fellow countryman Khun Anders Majgaard, it took a comfortable double win at the Bangsaen Thailand Speed Festival last December. It means that going into the new season the car has won the last two Super Production races and in fact that double victory made it three P1 finishes out of the last four races on these demanding streets for this ‘City’ as Khun Anders also claimed a top step of the podium in Bangsaen in 2013.
So the car is up to the task. Now into the hotly competitive Super Production category comes Khun Thomas – and that high level of competition, he says, is one of the key reasons he’s back. “Having raced in the production class for several years in other race series, we know how competitive that class is, which is part of why it’s one of the most interesting classes to race as a team and driver,” he says.
And the Dane acknowledges that his compatriot’s exploits in Bangsaen means he can be confident that he has the car under him to get involved in the frenetic action at the business end of the races. “For the last 2 years we have entered Bangsaen with my friend Anders Majgaard driving the car for the team, with me and the guys behind the team making sure the car was ready for the event and for Anders,” he says.
“We know from the last two years that the car is very competitive in the Super Production class with our team winning three of the [last] four races in Bangsaen and both years putting the car on pole position in the qualifying sessions,” Khun Thomas adds.
Now he has to rise to the challenge and take on Thailand’s most experienced and accomplished ‘production’ category drivers in 2015, but Khun Thomas is confident he can run with the best. “It will, this year, be up to me to try and match the performance that Anders got out of the car in Bangsaen [during] the past two years,” he admits. “The cars and drivers we will race against in TSS this year will be mainly the same as we raced against in other series the past few years, so we believe we will be very competitive as the season progresses.”
The blue-and-white City will be essentially in the same specification as it raced in Bangsaen, reports Khun Thomas. “Not many changes have been done in terms of improvements on the car, but of course we have upgraded a few parts and will be testing them before the season starts,” he says.
Khun Thomas points out the switch this year to a new brand to supply control tyres in Super Production is going to even everything out a lot as drivers and teams race to develop from scratch an understanding of the new compounds from Federal Tyres. “We believe that the new tyres we will be using will be one of the big ‘unknowns’ this year,” he says. “The team that is able to get the best setup data with the new tyres will be the team to beat at the first event.”
He points out that the list of teams and drivers that should be fighting for the championship – at least on pre season paper – is quite lengthy. “Mazda Team Thailand looked strong towards the end of last year and we know they have been testing over the winter and that they have the latest upgrades fitted on the cars,” says Khun Thomas. “Team RMI has been almost untouchable [last year] and Team Eakie will be a team that might surprise with their new driver line-up this year.
“Team Billionaire Boys [was] showing strong form towards the end of last year and in testing this year [while] Vattana Motorsport with Khun [Piyalert Boonyakiat] and Khun [Thanapol Pruttipong] will be ones to watch out for,” he continues.
“Several other drivers [I have] not mentioned [are in] with a chance to challenge for podium spots also,” he adds. “I foresee at least ten drivers with the possibility to win the championship this year.”
There are certainly a lot of question marks over exactly who is going to be on the podium this year in Super Production – and they’re only going to be answered in Buriram next month; Khun Thomas agrees with that assessment. “We will know more about where we stand after the first race is over.”