It’s just few days shy of six months since the racing engines fell silent in Bangsaen. That denoted the end of the third year of Thailand Super Series (TSS). Now the long break is over, the chatter, expectations and hype are about to be put to bed and it’s time to fire up the engines for ‘Season 4′, which promises to be even bigger, better and brighter that the three that have gone before it. The most competitive season in Thailand motorsport history awaits as the ‘New Era’ gets set to write another chapter.
All the classes look to be strong and robust, but perhaps the closest attention is going to be focused on TCR Thailand as the first ever ‘national’ level TCR series in Asia takes to the track for its inaugural races. There is a real buzz humming around the TCR paddock and with the strength in depth of the drivers and teams before the lights even go green it looks like TCR Thailand is going to be another new success story.
Today (Thursday) will see a full day of unofficial practice playing out on the track in Buriram out before tomorrow (Friday) sees official practice get underway in the morning followed by qualifying in the afternoon. The end of the day will wrap up with the first of three races across this coming weekend for Super Car GTM.
That will signal the start of the race weekend and over the following two days there will be a hectic programme with double header races for all the categories, apart from GTM, which is going to feature three races, continuing on from the successful introduction of that format in Bangsaen last November.
The weather could also come into over the next few days as rain is expected at some point. It’s hot and close in the North East, the temperatures matching the sizzling action on track; there were storms here last week so they are likely to feature again.
By Sunday evening though ‘Season 4′ of TSS will be well underway and we will have our first winners and an emerging idea of exactly who is going to be very competitive from the off this year and who is going to have a lot more work to do before the series returns to here in July.
Preview: Super Car GTM
The headlining category of Thai motorsport, Super Car GTM, is set to be even better and brighter and with more strength in depth this year. There’s a big story to play out with ‘GTM’ for 2016 with so many stars and stunning cars.
Young hotshot Khun Kantasak Kusiri delivered on his promise last year and won the Drivers’ title so he has to start as the early favorite as Singha Motorsport Team Thailand seeks out an unprecedented three crowns on the trot.
Looking to wrest away the youngster’s crown will be an array of top drivers such as Khun Craig Corliss, he was Vice Champion last year and has recently sent his unique Holden Commodore back to Australia for a complete rebuild. The New Zealander is fired up and has been out on the track since Tuesday. He also has highly experienced help in the garage from Khun Crag Baird, if anyone can offer input into getting the Holden on song here then he can. Meanwhile don’t count out Khun Kantasak’s teammate Khun Voravud Bhirombhakdi, the 2014 champion, who made an impressive late run up the classification last year.
There are plenty of dark horses looking to upset the established order, Khun Sarun Sereethoranakul has got his hands on Lamborghini’s potent new Huracán Super Trofeo LP620-2 and his pace has been blistering over the last two days. The car should suit Buriram very well, the driver is fired up and from the unofficial laptimes it already looks like he’s going to be the benchmark this weekend.
B-Quik Racing will double its Audi R8 LMS Cup lineup with entries for Henk J. Kiks and Daniel Bilski, they’re sure to be right in the mix and both happy with their recent pre season test, while there will be a new face in the team’s Porsche 997 GT3 Cup, New Zealander Shaun Varney. Look out too for the factory Toyota team, they will field their top class drivers, Khun Nattavude Charoensukhawatana and Khun Nattapong Horthongkum in improved 86s, which, amongst the changes, feature revised front end aerodynamics with better cooling, a new suspension system and work undertaken to the bodyshell clearly aimed at reducing weight and improving its dynamics.
Meanwhile there will be more Porsche 991 GT3 Cup machines arriving this year, Khun Aekarat Discharoen and Khun Pitsanu Sirimongkolkasem, who both have experience of the car behind them from last year, will naturally lead the charge of the Stuttgart cars, both have been banging in very quick unofficial times over the last two days. The newcomer to the ‘991’ ranks is Khun Paul Kanjanapas, he’s trading up from the 997 he’s raced for the last few seasons and that car will also be on the grid on Friday afternoon as it’s now in the hands of his Painkiller Racing teammate Khun Naputt Assakul. Khun Paul was quickly getting to grips with his new car yesterday and improved his unofficial personal best laptime.
Sticking with the ubiquitous Porsche brand and the other new name in the 997 ranks will be Khun Saravut Sereethoranakul, he’s moving into the car his brother, Khun Saran, has vacated now he has the Lamborghini to drive. The final Porsche will be driven by Khun Pinet Piyaoui who will kick off a full season in his 997 after debuting in the car at Bangsaen last year.
There would have been one more 997 in action on the track today; however Khun Suttiluck Buncharoen suffered engine problems yesterday which resulted in the black car having to be withdrawn from the event. It was a bitter blow for this popular driver but his fans will be able to see him back in action here next month in GT Asia Series and before that he has a date in Porsche Carrera Cup Asia, so it’s going to be a very busy season for him.
There will also be split to create distinct PRO, PRO-AM and AM classes in GTM and that’s certainly going to help everyone, especially the new rookies coming into the category this year, to find their feet and chase rewards.
Preview: Super Car GTC
Now assuming position as the second rung on the Super Car ladder, ‘GTC’ is a category that is entering its third year and if the first two seasons are anything to go by the fight for the title is going to go all the way to the wire in Bangsaen.
But that seaside finale is a long way off yet and the season starts now, here in the North East. Gone from GTC is the Krating Daeng Racing Team, which swept up both Drivers’ and Teams’ titles last year, so that means the door is wide open for a new order to establish itself. GTC has proved to be very even so far and that’s unlikely to change as balancing is further refined and evenly applied. Picking a winner isn’t going to be easy.
Probably it’s best to start with the dark horse. Vattana Motorsport ran Khun Narasak Ittritpong last year in its venerable Mitsubishi Evo, but the car was ageing, unreliable and eclipsed by time and so too many DNFs stopped this driver from shining.
That’s all about to change as Vattana Motorsport has acquired a Reiter Engineering-built KTM X-Bow GT4 allowing Khun Narasak to make a serious run at the title. With shades of a ‘Batmobile’ about it the all carbon fibre X-Bow GT4 is a sensational looking machine, it feels like a ‘mini LMP’ car. If it goes as well as it looks then everyone else might as well not turn up. However it’s very strictly BoP’d to fit into GT4 and its production engine has restricted revs, a raised ride height and lots of extra weight to carry around so should that even things up, but with the proved pace of Khun Narasak behind the wheel it’s got to start as the favourite to win on Saturday afternoon.
The 2015 champion Khun Grant Supaphong has switched to TCR Thailand so the next best place to look from within the existing GTC ranks is last year’s runner up, Khun Pete Thongchua. His team really rose to the occasion in 2015 and after many years of experience in Super Car they took a step up and suddenly it no longer looked like the rotary powered car was just making up the numbers. Khun Pete showed real pace on all three circuits on the calendar and if he can carry that form into this year he’s got to be able to make a push at the title. The RX-8 hasn’t stood still either, it’s fitted with a new aero package all round, so now he has to push onto greater glories.
In fact Rotary Revolution, which builds his RX-8, has embarked on a new run of racing RX-7s and two will be on the grid for Khun Narin Yensuk, who drove for the team over the second half of last year, and Khun U-tain Pongprapas who graduates from Super 1500. No longer just out to prove the reliability of rotary power, this team has big ambitions and with three cars on the entry list its become the biggest team in GTC and has an eye on the Teams’ title, that in itself shows just how far they have progressed over the last year.
Khun Sontaya Kunplome emerged from Buriram last year as the championship leader and with a new engine and an overhaul for his Porsche 997 GT3 Cup he will start the season looking to repeat that fine form. Khun Sontaya is also competing in Porsche Carrera Cup Asia this year and he showed a useful uptick in pace at the season opener so he’s looking sharp for the start of the GTC year.
The factory Toyotas will have plenty of menace emanating from a doubled up entry this year. Khun Manat Kulapalanont switches from GTM to GTC and his 86 has been rerated accordingly. The car should be a much more competitive proposition for GTC and the driver is proven to be quick so he has to be thinking about the title. Khun Suttipong Smittachartch starts his third year in GTC and he’s a solid points scorer. If the 86s can run reliably all year then they have to be in with a very good shot at the Teams’ title.
There will still be one Mitsubishi Evo X on the grid and it’s a new face as Khun Prateep Tumprasert is joining the TSS programme for the first time. He knows the car well as he’s raced it before, where he’s going to fit into the GTC pecking though still order remains to be seen.
B-Quik Racing joins GTC for the first time with a Porsche 996 GT3 Cup for Khun Attapot Sriprom. He is graduating from the team’s Super Eco programme and with strictly limited cockpit time so far it represents a big step up for this driver and he will be primarily treating the weekend as an extended acclimatisation session.
Preview: TCR Thailand
After a lot of talk and a lot of anticipation TCR Thailand finally takes off this weekend and the quality of drivers and teams is very impressive. Before the new series even goes to green lights for its first ever race here it really looks like the new ‘touring car’ concept is going to be a runaway success. The entry is full of drivers that could easily hold their own at international level – and the idea behind TCR is that hopefully in the future they will.
When the TCR cars raced out onto the track on Tuesday to signal TCR Thailand going ‘live’ for the first time, straight out of the blocks were Khun Carlo Van Dam and Khun Jack Lemvard, two of the fastest drivers racing Asia today, so they’re a perfect place to start with previewing this weekend’s opening round.
Khun Carlo and Khun Jack haven’t missed any of the available track time so far, these are two genuine Titans of the sport and the anticipation of their clash has everyone talking already. Both know touring cars inside out, even if they have to start from scratch with the new TCR ‘breed’, both are proven international winners and both will have cars from the same brand, SEAT, that are identical in every respect. No one can pick out who is going to come emerge on top.
Khun Carlo is so far confirmed for the first round only but he’s looking to make the most of it. The Dutch professional driver has made sporadic appearances in Super 2000 over the last couple of years since he joined Singha Motorsport Team Thailand as a driver coach, this will be his first chance to really put that talent on show in Thailand.
“It’s great to be racing in TSS again with Singha Motorsport Team Thailand,” Khun Carlo said. “I have enjoyed my outings in the Super 2000 class before and I’m very excited to be part of a new chapter for touring car racing in Thailand. I believe the TCR series will see a lot of close racing and I am determined to win it.”
Khun Jack meanwhile is one of the most talented Thai drivers of recent years. TCR is a career ‘lifeline’, for once he can put his reputation up against the best – but there is nowhere to hide. And he knows that. A supremely confident driver he doesn’t plan to let the opportunity be lost.
“TCR is something I really like so I can improve myself as a better driver,” he said. “We all have had limited testing or none so it will be even more fun and we can see who can adapt the quickest. I think the first two races will be fun especially with the reverse grid for Race 2. I have prepared myself a bit more than usual this year so I’m very ready. Expect an OMP Vattana Motorsport car to be in front!”
But while the thought of Khun Jack and Khun Carlo going head-to-head has fired up the imagination they will have serious rivals for P1 in the SEAT ranks as Krating Daeng Racing Team will also have two proven top runners in their cars, Khun Grant Supaphong and Khun Chen Jian Hong. The former is the reigning Super Car Class 3-GTC champion and with the team shutting down that programme, Khun Grant steps into one of the Léon Cup Racers.
Alongside him will be Khun Chen who switches over to Krating Daeng after several years with the Toyota factory team, most recently racing an Altis in Super 2000. The Taiwanese driver is fast and skilled and that gives Krating Daeng a strong line up – they will also be one of just two teams with a brace of cars at the opening round so there is a great opportunity to capitalise on available points.
There will be something of a surprise in the cockpit of the penultimate SEAT on the entry list as in a very late in the day announcement Khun Piti Bhirombhakdi has acquired a Léon Cup Racer and will be in action. He’s one of Thailand’s biggest domestic stars and has for the last two years been racing a Ferrari 458 GT3 in GT Asia Series. In fact there is a twist as Khun Piti’s GT Asia Series teammate last year and through into 2016, Khun Carlo, will of course also be on the TCR grid.
Khun Paritat Bulbon, who moves into the category after a few years in Super 2000 racing a turbodiesel VW Golf, will race the final SEAT. He also has to find his feet with the new car but expect his times to improve steadily.
Then there are the Hondas. Khun Nattachak Hanjitkasem and Khun Wijak Lertprasertpakorn will line up in the new Civic TCR, both switching from running Civic FDs in Super 2000. They will both run in the amateur category.
Within a few laps of the SEATs and Hondas getting on track for the first time the day before yesterday it was abundantly clear TCR is going to be exciting to watch as the cars brake late and get on the power early, but for the drivers this week is all about getting to grips with this new breed of 2.0-litre turbo cars and so with every session laptimes have been tumbling.
Times are certainly going to keep coming down, right up to the weekend’s races which will then present a whole new strategic ballgame for the teams to learn as they unfold. Expect an exciting weekend for TCR Thailand.
Preview: Super 2000
The big boys from last year have moved on, 2015 champion Khun Pasarit Phromsombat has switched to Super Compact, Vice Champion Khun Jack Lemvard has gone to TCR Thailand while fast youngster Khun Kantadhee Kusiri has spread his wings overseas. But as always with the Super 2000 genre when one generation moves on there is never a void as Thailand continually breeds fast and competitive touring car stars.
So where to start this year? Khun Kittipol Pramoj Na Ayudhya ended last year by announcing his coming of age with a sensational double victory in Bangsaen. This driver is fast, canny and importantly knows how to steer clear of trouble and avoid the DNFs that come with the Super 2000 territory. He’s also super fit and has been running marathons in preparation for the new season so the blistering heat expected in Buriram this weekend shouldn’t pose a problem.
Khun Munkong Sathienthirakul is as fast as Thai drivers get, with a quick car to match. Last year he suffered problems that dropped him away from the title fight but if he can keep the DNFs away then he has to be well placed. Then there’s Khun Rudolf Yu who has got faster every time he’s stepped into his Civic FD and he knows the tracks, car and his team very well now, he won Class B last year, so he’s got to be a dark horse for the title.
Khun Chayut Yangpichit seems to be able to keep getting the best from Honda’s venerable DC5 and he will be back in the TT Motorsport car this year and looking to improve on the podiums he picked up last year while Khun Ekprawat Petcharak will return in his unique Civic FB and after a less than rewarding debut in Super 2000 last year he should have the issues resolved and be much closer to his obvious pace. Khun Phatwit Phayakcso is also back in his Honda City and is always in the hunt for the podium.
Preview: Super Pickup
The defending champion will have a new weapon with which to wage war this year. That’s because Khun Jaras Jaengkamolkulchai, as well as his teammate Khun Songsak Kornsirisuepsakun, have the new-generation Toyota Hilux Revo built and all ready to race in Super Pickup this year. They swept up in the championship last year but their Toyota trucks will be brand new and development will start in practice so whether they can get up to speed quickly enough is the big question. Certainly they will be looking to score as many points as possible this weekend as there is a long season ahead.
There are plenty of other names to look out for. Khun Waris Onyarab is always good for wins, he though will be aiming to string a decent title challenge together this time around, while in Class B there are lots of drivers with experience and speed that want to take their skills to the next level such as Khun Akasit Kriengkomol, Khun Nuthaporn Namjuk, Khun Peerawat Pajeeyachart and Khun Phisit Netdechathanasit who all know the demands of truck racing inside out.
Then there is Khun Philip Massoud; the Australian made quite a splash on his debut in Super Pickup last year as the slick Krating Daeng Racing Team arrived in the category for the first time. It’s a tough challenge to make your racing debut in a pickup but he very quickly adapted and he’s highly ambitious so expect him to made another big step this year and have his eye on the overall title.
After a few years in the doldrums Super Pickup is back to full competitiveness and with exciting new drivers mixing it up with highly experienced old hands as well the new-generation pickup trucks flowing into the paddock the scene is set for a new golden age of truck racing to take to the stage. Expect that rebirth process to really get underway this weekend.
Preview: Super Compact
The Super Compact category is new to the programme this year and is another striking example of TSS’s unfolding vision for the future which involves always being one step ahead of the game, introducing new trends and innovations as well as challenging teams and drivers to raise their game so every stakeholder in the sport is always pushing hard at the professionalism window.
Super Compact introduces Balance of Performance ‘BoP” (which has successfully created a level playing field in Super Car) to a small capacity engine category for the first time. It allows teams a lot of freedom to develop the technological aspects of diverse racecars within a framework that will equalise performance.
Thai teams have quickly responded to the challenge and the inaugural year of Super Compact looks like it’s going to be highly competitive. Picking a winner is not easy at this point. But the best place to start assessing the drivers is clearly with Khun Pasarit Phromsombat who will be seeking his third title in a third category in three years following on from titles in Super Production (2014) and Super 2000 (2015).
This driver knows how to win crowns; he’s shrewd and smart, and well placed to respond to a new series that involves a whole lot of fresh thinking. He’s chosen a Honda CR-Z and it becomes the first to race in Thailand, so there clearly will be a development curve involved. The car is very neat and tidy and superbly finished as one would expect from him. He hasn’t had much testing so the coming weekend is going to be something of a test session so maybe see Khun Pasarit coming on stronger as the season progresses.
The Innovation Motorsport Mazda2 programme is switching from Super Production to Super Compact and that should allow the little turbodiesel cars to come into their own and be a much more competitive proposition. The driver line up remains changed with Khun Michael Freeman and Khun Tachapan Vijittranon piloting the cars. That’s a great blend of speed, winning experience and future promise.
Khun Kajornsak Na Songkhla switches from Super 1500 with his Ford Fiesta and it’s been visually updated with a new front clip; he was a very narrow runner up to Khun Pasarit two years ago in Super Production so that’s a rivalry that’s going to be renewed. Another driver who is a proven winner is Vattana’s Khun Settasit Boonyakiat who has rerated his Honda Jazz to suit Super Compact.
Preview: Super Production
The arrival of Super Compact hasn’t dented the popularity of Super Production in any way, in fact it’s grown in strength this year, slotting in very neatly just under the new category. That’s amply demonstrated by the strength in numbers – a massive entry list of twenty eight cars is headed for Buriram this weekend with no less than seventeen of those being from Class C, the time honoured proving ground for upcoming drivers.
However in the overall fight there are a few well proven names to who will fancy their chances as last year’s champion has moved on. Khun Thanasit Bhunyatharanonth left Buriram this time last year as the narrow points classification leader although his advantage was soon whittled away and he will want to repeat that impressive start.
Khun Pattarapol Vongprai, Khun Anusorn Asiralertsiri, Khun Anon Rodprasert Khun Thomas Raldorf and Khun Sirisak Manthugumphol all have the driving skills to mount a title challenge. So does Khun Yotsarun Sansuk, he looked to be headed for the title last year after three wins across the middle of the season before seeing the crown snatched away after a disappointing run during the season finale in Bangsaen. He’s proven himself to be quick at Buriram (recording a P1 and P2 finish here last year) so he probably has to be the pre season favourite. Also in the mix will be Khun Hideharu Kuroki, he’s very quick, highly experienced and won’t be taking part in order to rack up second places.
Class C has a bumper 17 entries but who is going to replicate the success of young lady driver Khun Nattanid Leewattanavaragul who impressively swept to the title last year and now moves up to Class B? There are plenty of pretenders.
There will though be another lady to watch out for as Khun Phattaraporn Chongkitkhemmathat is joining Super Production as she moves into her ninth season of racing. In fact she first started her track racing career as the result of a university driver search project where her skills shone out and she’s never one to disappoint. With plenty of steel she’s a fighter and will want to make her mark.
Another to observe very closely is Khun Kmik Karnasuta driving a Team Eakie Honda City. The 16-year-old has already caused a big stir in Super Eco and he bagged his first win in TSS on the streets of Bangsaen last November in his little Honda Brio. He’s coming off the back of a stunning result in the 6-hour endurance race here last weekend so has plenty track time and familiarity with a B-segment car behind him as he looks to make the step up to a bigger racecar. If you can win in Bangsaen you can win anywhere so look out as Khun Kmik, who still can’t yet drive on the normal roads, starts to makes his mark in Super Production and see a future Thai champion in the making.
Preview: Super Eco
The entry level category continues to breed the stars of the future so as usual look out for new drivers registering their names for the first time in paddock consciousness and Super Eco’s split into two classes based on experience should further allow drivers to make progress and gain recognition for their efforts.
As for who is going to be the 2016 champion there are many names that could pull off the title, starting with defending champion Khun Konpichit Toyingcharoen who will be back in the Krating Daeng Racing Team’s leading Suzuki Swift while his team mate Khun Paveen Dangsa-nga also remains with the team and will be looking to build on the early season promise he demonstrated last year.
The Sittipol Lipo K45 team will have a rejig as Khun Thanawit Aphiphunya is drafted in alongside Khun Petch Sathawarawong who continues with the team and these Honda Brios are usually at the business end of the race action.
Khun Jakraphan Davee came on really strong during his rookie year in Super Eco in 2015 and he will be expected to build on that promise and has to be one of the favourites to lock down the title, he will be aiming to match or better the three podiums he notched up in Buriram last year over two rounds.
B-Quik Racing will have two new names in their black and yellow Brios, winners of the company’s race driver ‘search’ programme. Both will be looking to find their feet in the category and impress while keep and eye out too for the RMI team’s Brios, not just for their always shiny colours but they tend to produce winners and Khun Sittron Phromsombat is back with the team again and looking to keep making progress after finishing seventh in the classification as will his rookie teammate Khun Ratchakorn Rattanavudh.