Thailand Super Series (TSS) officially launched the 2023 season during a press conference held at CW Tower in Bangkok’s Rachadaphisek district.
The press conference was introduced by Mr Sontaya Kunplome, President of Thailand Super Series and President of the Royal Automobile Association of Thailand (RAAT) Under Royal Patronage.
He outlined the significant steps forward that TSS will make in 2023 with a calendar that sees rounds in three ASEAN countries, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore, the latter being a non-championship invitational round, joining dates in Thailand at Chang International Circuit, with two visits, and the Bangsaen Grand Prix.
There will be a revision to the series name with Super Car GT3, GTM and GTC (GT4) running under the title of TSS The Super Series by B-Quik while the rest of the categories will continue under the banner of Thailand Series Series.
With two races at Chang International Circuit and a eagerly anticipated return to Malaysia’s Sepang International Circuit, TSS will visit the two major permanent tracks in ASEAN and adding in races on the Marina Bay Street Circuit and Bangsaen Street Circuit, both the premier temporary tracks in ASEAN are also accounted for. Thus the 2023 calendar offers drivers and teams the opportunity to race on all four major circuits in South East Asia.
To match this prestigious international calendar, TSS has completely overhauled its operational infrastructure to align with international standards and adhere to the procedures and protocols of international regulations.
TSS is pleased to confirm that James Taylor will continue in the Race Director’s position for 2023. James is also race Director for V8 Supercars and he will now be joined on the race control team by another key member of the Australian series, Craig Baird.
A hugely successful racing driver, Baird, who includes winning the Porsche Carrera Cup Championship an unprecedented five times as well as victory in the legendary Bathurst 12 Hour, today performs the role of Driving Standards Observer (DSO) in V8 Supercars as well as in the Kumho V8s and national GT3 categories.
Baird will take up the role of Driving Standards Advisor (DSA) in his newly appointed position as a Steward for TSS, a role that ensures the safety and fairness of competitors on track, in a revamped three person stewards’ team, which will continue under the direction of Chief Steward Rikki Dy-Liacco. The team will comprise of two foreign and one Thai representative going forward.
This reorganisation means that TSS management will no longer hold positions within Race Control and will be able to step back to fully focus on the rapidly expanding role of series promoter.
Also new for this year, Race Control will have direct radio communications with Team Managers, which will be one way unless otherwise requested by the Race Director.
The highlight of the TSS calendar is unquestionably the Bangsaen Grand Prix and the pace of change is relentless each year as the FIA Grade 3 compliant circuit pushes to higher and higher standards.
After moving in the schedule several times over the years, going forward the event date will be fixed to the first weekend in July to allow international series, teams and drivers to better include it in their planning.
In terms of Bangsaen’s infrastructure, TSS will incorporate the new next generation “SUPER TECPRO” barriers to supplement its existing TECPRO which is utilised around the street circuit at key points, and which will be further rolled out.
The track will also be resurfaced from Turn 6 to Turn 19, which is significantly more than half of the circuit’s 3.7 km distance.
The overall message from the press conference is that with the pandemic firmly in the rear view mirror, TSS has the infrastructure and operational methodologies in place to enjoy rapid expansion smoothly and in a professional manner allowing it to bring its competitive racing platform to a much wider audience and provide new opportunities for drivers and teams across the region.
Sontaya Kunplome: “We’re very pleased and excited to be able to introduce our plans and strategy for 2023 to the media. A lot of hard work has gone into creating this calendar, in upgrading the series to ever higher international standards by the TSS team and with the absolute support of the teams, drivers and stakeholders in the sport as well as the support of the Royal Automobile Association of Thailand Under Royal Patronage, we are ready to move another step forward and bring TSS to the wider region this year and build further on the successes of the past year.”
TSS 2023 Calendar:
Hankook Official Pre-Season Test, Chang International Circuit, 29-30 March
Event 1: Chang International Circuit, 20-23 April
Event 2: Chang International Circuit, 26-28 May*
Event 3: Bangsaen Grand Prix (27 June-2 July)
Event 4: Sepang International Circuit (25-27 August)**
Event 5: Chang International Circuit (15-17 December)
Invitational Event: Singapore Grand Prix (15-17 September)***
* Excludes Super Car GT3, Super Car GTM & Super Car GTC
** Excludes Super Pickup, Super Compact & Super Eco
*** Non-Championship
Source. FastTrack Media
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