FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
nationthailand

Sandy Kraokaew Stuvik takes Thailand Super Series crown

Sandy Kraokaew Stuvik takes Thailand Super Series crown

Chang International Circuit in Buriram hosted the final round of the Thailand Super Series over the weekend, with the Championship still up for grabs.


Sandy Kraokaew Stuvik started the weekend with a 19-point gap to leaders Henk Kiks and Daniel Bilski in the other B-Quik Audi R8 GT3 Evo.


Friday afternoon’s qualifying sessions decided the starting positions for the races, Sandy went out in Qualifying 1 where he managed to finish on Pole Position, a crucial benefit to the Thai driver’s bid for the Championship.

Martin Rump, Sandy’s teammate again this season went out in Qualifying 2 and also took a dominant Pole Position, only to have it later taken away for track limits infringements. Nonetheless, the duo in the #2 B-Quik Audi R8 GT3 Evo proved that the new car was a worthy investment for the team.

 

Sandy Kraokaew Stuvik takes Thailand Super Series crown

Sandy started Race 1 on Saturday from Pole Position and after a good start, the Thai driver started to open a gap to the rest of the field. When the pit-stop window opened, Sandy had amassed a healthy lead. He handed over to his Estonian teammate who drove a fantastic closing stint to finish the race nearly half a minute ahead of second place.

“That was an incredible race and I think it’s truly a testament to how hard everybody in the team has worked to get the car setup perfectly, it was a pleasure to drive!” Sandy said after the race.


Sunday saw the Thailand Super Series race for the final time this year. Martin Rump started second on the grid, and when the race started the Estonian driver did well to hang on the second place and began hunting down the leading #34 Ferrari. When the pit-stop window opened, Rump handed over to his Thai teammate who then set off half a minute off the lead after the duo’s success penalty from yesterday’s win.

An accident occurred just after the pit-stop window closed which prompted a safety car, tightening up the pack. Sandy was in 4th position at this point and would win the championship if he just finished the race. Unfortunately the #26 B-Quik car was involved in the accident, so Sandy only needed 5 points to secure the title. When the safety car came in, Sandy got to work and passed 3rd and 2nd positions, with the leading #34 Ferrari still leading by a healthy margin. As Sandy started the final lap the Ferrari was over 2 seconds ahead, but Sandy kept the pressure on and was right on the tail of the Ferrari by the last few corners.

Sandy made an outstanding move for the lead on the outside of the penultimate corner and managed to elbow his way past and into the lead just before the line. The team was ecstatic. Bur despite Sandy’s sensational move, the stewards gave him a penalty for the risky overtake which put him back to second position.

“It feels unbelievable to win the Championship, and it still hasn’t sunken in yet. I want to thank everybody who was a part of the incredible journey which this year has been. I can’t wait to see what the future has in store, but now I just want to enjoy this Championship,” said Sandy after the race.


B-Quik Racing are the 2019 TSS Team’s Champions, Henk and Daniel Bilski claimed the AM Championship, and Sandy Kroakaew Stuvik took the overall Driver’s Championship.

Sandy Kraokaew Stuvik takes Thailand Super Series crown

nationthailand