A dramatic new racecar will be the focus of attention when Thailand Super Series (TSS) roars into action at Buriram in just two weeks time. That anticipated new arrival will come in the shape of the brand new Toyota M101-86, which is being entered by Toyota Team Thailand.
The car itself is the first of a new generation of ‘GT300’ specification cars being developed particularly for Super GT and it made its race debut two weeks ago when the Japanese series headed for Buriram for its first ever event in Thailand. That occasion presented the perfect opportunity for TSS to send a full scrutineering delegation to the event to coordinate with Super GT organisers’, GT Association, in order to homologate both the current- and next-generation GT300 category cars to run in Super Car Class 1-GT3.
At the same time TSS Super Car Class 1-GT3 reigning champion Khun Vutthikorn Inthraphuvasak and the team that has powered him to his six domestic titles were in action in the GT300 class after obtaining a ‘wildcard’ entry and they waved the flag for Thailand high, emerging as the undisputed heroes of the weekend.
This week TSS has announced the full official schedule of Race 5 & 6, which will take place at Chang International Circuit from October 30 to November 2. All nine categories that make up the bumper action packed programme will be included as Thailand’s biggest and most glamorous race series revs up Buriram for the first time. It promises to be the most unforgettable racing weekend of the year so far and for the first time Thai fans will be able to see the two top Super Car categories, Class 1-GT3 and Class 2-GTM, mixed in together on the grid on home soil. Looking back to the last round held at Bira Circuit, there was a new name on the Super 2000 grid – Khun Carlo Van Dam. He’s a leading professional driver and his arrival in the Singha Motorsport Team Thailand ranks was a very welcome addition. He also proved his value by turning in a real fighting drive.
The arrival of Super GT in Thailand for the seventh and penultimate round of the season has clearly opened a door for the Japanese series’ popular GT300 class cars to be homologated into TSS – at a stroke providing an additional new opportunity in the ‘New Era’ of motorsport here that been all about seizing new opportunities. Timing exactly with the Super GT series pitching up at Buriram for the first time has been the public launch of the first racecar to be developed to the ‘new’ GT300 regulations. The new class of car is focused around what has been dubbed as the ‘mother’ chassis, which features widespread use of homologated common parts including an advanced composite monocoque, suspension and certain powertrain components.
