TCR Thailand began at Buriram’s Chang International Circuit, where Honda and SEAT claimed one win apiece.
On Saturday, Chariya Nuya dominated the first race at the wheel of the very same Billionaire Boy Racing Honda Civic that Kantadhee Kusiri had driven to a double victory in the final event of the 2016 season at Bangsaen.
However, in the Sunday race Kusiri had to bow to Kittipol Pranoj Na Ayudhya, a newcomer to the series. Pranoj, the reigning champion of the Thailand Super Series’ Super 2000 class, was driving the SEAT León run by the Singha Motorsport Thailand with which Carlo van Dam had clinched the 2016 TCR Thailand title.
Race 1 – Pole sitter Nattachak Hanjitkasen (TBN MK Ihere Racing Honda Civic) stalled at the start and was pipped by Pasarit Promsombat (RMI Racing Team SEAT León). However Chariya Nuya (Billionaire Boy Racing Honda Civic) took the best start from sixth on the grid and began chasing Promsombat.
During the first lap Nuya managed to take the lead from Promsombat and pulled away. Behind him, there was a close fight for the second place that involved Promsombat, Hanjitkasen, lady driver Nattanid Leewattanavaragul (Morin Racing SEAT) and Rattanin Leenutaphong (Yintrakit Racing Team SEAT). Eventually, Promsombat claimed the second position ahead of Hanjitkasen, while Leenutaphong overtook Leewattanavaragul for fourth. After the race Leenutaphong was demoted to sixth by a 30-second time penalty for jump start.
Race 2 – The track was wet after a morning shower and Leewattanavaragul took the best start from second on the grid jumping ahead of pole sitter Douglas Khoo (Viper Niza Racing SEAT). However, Nuya came from the third row and stole the lead from the Morin Racing lady before the end of the first lap.
On lap 2, Leewattanavaragul went wide at the last turn and dropped to fourth, behind Kittipol Pranoj and Hanjitkasen. Leenutaphong and Promosombat where having a close fight for fifth; the latter seemed to prevail, but had to pit and dropped to last.
Apparently Nuya was on his way to encore his Saturday success, but in the second part of the race and on a drying track, Pranoj closed in on him. The two final laps saw the pairing having a close battle. Eventually Pranoj overtook Nuya a few turns before the end and won by only three tenths of a second. Hanjitkasen took third ahead of Leewattanavaragul.
TCR Thailand will resume on July 1/2 at Bangasen street circuit for rounds 3 and 4.
