Thailand Super Series set for season opener at Bangsaen as ELMS returns at Monza
The Porsche Sprint Trophy Thailand (PSTT) returns as the 2022 Thailand Super Series (TSS) campaign gets underway at the Bangsaen Street Circuit on 29 June – 3 July, with nine Porsche entries across the GTM and GTC classes.
Launched in 2018 by Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific, PSTT provides a great platform for Porsche drivers of all levels in Thailand and the Asia-Pacific region to experience the thrill of racing.
2021 GTM champions Munkong and Tanart Sathienthirakul return with Mongkol Motorsports in the #15 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (992). The brothers dominated last season, winning their class in all five events.
AAS Motorsport will also return to the PSTT, with Nattachak Hanjitkasem and Kantadhee Kusiri in the #17 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (991.2) after their strong run to third in the championship last year.
In the Am class of the GTM category, Suttiluck Buncharoen will take to the grid for True Visions Motorsports Thailand. Four Porsche 911 991.1 GT3 Cup cars will also compete on the tight streets of Bangsaen, with Jakraphan Davee and Phaophong Chanchalia racing for the Alpha Factory Racing Team by Pulzar in the #33 car. Yotsarun Sansuk and Japanese driver Hideharu Kuroki line up for 888 CarWash with Kuroki Racing. Grant Supaphong and Silapa Teeraniti will contest the event in the #63 machine for PT Maxnitron Motorsport, with Pasarit Promsombat the sole driver in the #14 YK Motorsports Billionaire Boy By Sonoco entry.
B-Quik Racing will enter two Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport (981) in the GTC category, with Adisak Tangphuncharoen set to compete in the #26 car. The driver of the #27 entry will be announced in due course. Patchara Wuthichat starts for the Diamond Motorsport Racing Team By A Motorsport in the #99 Porsche 997 GT3 Cup (Mk II).
Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific Selected Driver Yifei Ye and Shanghai-based squad Absolute Racing have their sights set on positive results as the 2022 European Le Mans Series (ELMS) season reaches its halfway mark, returning to the legendary Autodromo Nazionale di Monza on 1-3 July.
Following a solid showing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Ye resumes his ELMS campaign alongside four-time LMP2 Le Mans winner Nicolas Lapierre and 2021 ELMS LMP3 runner-up Niklas Krütten in the #37 COOL Racing Oreca 07. After a great performance in Round 2 at Imola last month, where the trio grabbed their first podium of the season, the Swiss team currently sits third in the LMP2 standings.
Having shown good speed in the opening two rounds of the season, Absolute Racing are aiming for a strong result this time out. Indonesian racer Andrew Haryanto, former Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific Selected Driver Alessio Picariello and Estonian driver Martin Rump showed excellent pace at the recent 24 Hours of Le Mans and will be hoping for more of the same as they take to the wheel of the #18 Porsche 911 RSR in the team’s debut ELMS season.
Known as the “Temple of Speed”, the historic Autodromo Nazionale di Monza celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, having first opened in September 1922. The track is famed for its long straights and high speeds, with well-known corners such as the Parabolica, Curva Grande and Ascari making up the 5.793-kilometre circuit.
Yifei Ye, #37 COOL Racing Oreca 07: “I’m eager to go back racing at Monza this weekend. Last month at Imola we were very competitive and we got onto the podium, and at Le Mans we put in a very strong performance with great pace to take seventh. Coming to Monza this weekend, the track layout looks similar to the Circuit de la Sarthe with the long straights, but we are expecting some really high temperatures over the weekend so we hope to adapt the setup and benefit from the heat. It’s going to be a big challenge, but we are ready to give it our all and to be fighting at the front again.”
Andrew Haryanto, #18 Absolute Racing Porsche 911 RSR: “I’m working towards keeping my concentration and performing throughout the weekend so I can hand over the car to my teammates in a good position during the race, and I’m really focused on helping the team towards a positive result. With the crew and drivers we have, I’m sure we will be able to achieve a strong finish on Sunday.”
Alessio Picariello, #18 Absolute Racing Porsche 911 RSR: “I’m looking forward to returning to ELMS with Absolute Racing. Monza is a circuit that I really enjoy and I’m eager to get back out on this incredible racetrack. I’m certain we have what it takes to challenge for the podium, the goal is to make sure we are in the fight at the front, so we have to make sure we enjoy the race and do the best we can as a team.”
Martin Rump, #18 Absolute Racing Porsche 911 RSR: “Monza is a legendary circuit, and it’s one I haven’t yet had a chance to race at before. I’m really excited to drive the 911 RSR there and I can’t wait to see how it performs on the long straights. We’re aiming to show what our crew is capable of and finishing as high up as possible.”
Alexandre Gibot, Managing Director Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific Ltd.: “This weekend marks the return of the Porsche Sprint Trophy Thailand and the Thailand Super Series in Bangsaen and it’s fantastic to see so many of our customers on the grid. The Thailand Super Series has always been a strong and competitive championship, and we are all looking forward to following another season of brilliant racing.
"It's great to have Yifei back in action in the European Le Mans Series, as he takes on the incredible Autodromo Nazionale di Monza. He drove very well at Le Mans, and I’m sure he can continue the performances we’ve seen from him so far this season. Absolute Racing also return to the track in the LMGTE class, and they’re really focused on a positive result. It’s brilliant to see so many of our customers in action this weekend both in Asia and Europe and hopefully they can challenge for some silverware.”