Once again the Bangsaen Street Circuit proved tricky, as the second race of TCR Asia and TCR Thailand was red flagged after an incident that involved the two leaders. This handed victory to Tin Sritrai (Team Thailand Honda Civic) who had also won yesterday’s Race 1.
Because only half points have been awarded for Race 2, Lai Wee Sing (R Engineering Honda Civic) maintained the lead in the TCR Asia standings, 4.5 points ahead of Sritrai; Diego Moran (Liqui Moly Team Engstler Volkswagen Golf) lies third, a further 9.5 points adrift.
Lady driver Nattanid Leewattanavaragul (RMI Racing SEAT León) finished a brilliant third overall, behind Sritrai and Moran, and won the TCR Thailand race ahead of her teammate and yesterday’s winner Pasarit Promsombat.
Leewattanavaragul made a good start from pole position on the reverse grid, but Jasper Thong (Audi Hong Kong) and Lai managed to overtake her during the first lap. Former TCR Asia point leader Kantadhee Kusiri (Liqui Moly Team Engstler Volkswagen Golf) observed a drive-through penalty for causing the pile up at the start of Saturday’s Race 1 and rejoined at the back of the field.
Moran and Sritrai were fighting for the fourth position when the safety car was deployed on lap 4 after an incident that eliminated Douglas Khoo (Viper Niza Racing SEAT), Chariya Nuya (Billionaire Boy Racing Honda) and Eric Kwong (Elegant Racing Team SEAT).
When the race resumed on lap 9, Sritrai overtook Moran and Leewattanavaragul, moving up to third and closing the gap from the leading duo of J. Thong and Lai.
On lap 11, Lai hit the back of Thong’s Audi at the braking of Turn 18; both cars crashed into the barrier. The safety car was deployed once again, but after a couple of laps the race was red-flagged with Sritrai in first position ahead of Moran and Leewattanavaragul.
The two series will resume in August: TCR Thailand at Buriram (19/20) and TCR Asia at Shanghai (26/27).
