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Parker Thompson Shows Brilliant Pace in Challenging Weekend at NOLA with Pirelli GT4 America

May 1, 2023

Parker Thompson Shows Brilliant Pace in Challenging Weekend at NOLA with Pirelli GT4 America

NEW ORLEANS, LA

Parker Thompson displayed exceptional talent this weekend at NOLA Motorsports Park in his second weekend with Hanley Motorsports and Pirelli GT4 America. Piloting the No. 999 GR Supra GT4 EVO, the 25-year-old Canadian, showcased outstanding pace despite inclement weather and penalties.

Thompson, a versatile driver with experience in multiple North American series, set a dominant lap in Practice 1 on Friday, demonstrating his skill and potential from the factory Toyota GT4 race car. In Qualifying, he secured an impressive second-overall starting position for Race 2.

Heavy rains on Saturday forced the postponement of Race 1 to Sunday morning where, Thompson’s teammate and rookie driver Daniel Hanley started in the 18th position. At the halfway point of the 60-minute contest, Hanley pitted from 29th and handed driving duties off to Thompson. Exhibiting remarkable pace and determination, Thompson advanced to P15 in the first four laps of his stint. Ultimately he brought the white, red, orange, and yellow No. 999 to the finish line in 11th place overall and 5th in the Silver category.

Unfortunately, a pit stop violation was assessed to Hanley Motorsports after the team’s mandatory stop and driver change did not meet the minimum time requirement. The resulting penalty dropped their entry to 35th overall (7th in class). Changes to the weekend schedule due to weather also forced the cancellation of Race 2, where Thompson and Hanley Motorsports would have started in second place among the 42-car field. That starting position would have granted him an opportunity he has not yet seen in the Pirelli GT4 America series.

Despite the challenges faced at NOLA Motorsports Park, Thompson remains optimistic and focused on demonstrating improvement. “The Hanley Motorsports GR Supra GT4 EVO was exceptionally fast out there. Toyota Gazoo Racing North America and TRD USA have put together an amazing car that shows great pace and flexibility on the track. My personal training efforts and experiences so far in 2023 are paying off, and I think that was on display here this weekend. As a team, we’re feeling a bit unlucky, but we know we also have to make our own luck. There is a great group of people behind the No. 999, and we’re all going to put our heads down and keep pushing,” said Thompson. “We’ll regroup and be even more threatening next round at COTA.”

Pirelli GT4 America returns to action with Rounds 5 & 6 of the 2023 season taking place at Circuit of the Americas on May 19-21. Thompson and Hanley Motorsports have their sights set on the upcoming event, hoping to build on the promising pace they displayed at NOLA Motorsports Park.

More info:

https://hanleymotorsports.com
https://www.gt4-america.com

Thompson and Hanley Primed and Ready for Pirelli GT4 America at NOLA

Apr 26, 2023

Thompson and Hanley Primed and Ready for Pirelli GT4 America at NOLA

New Orleans, LA

Hanley Motorsports is prepared for a strong performance in Rounds 3 & 4 of the 2023 Pirelli GT4 America season at NOLA Motorsports Park, April 28-30. Parker Thompson and Daniel Hanley will share duties behind the wheel of the No. 999 GR Supra GT4 EVO in the Silver category. After pushing through challenges in their first weekend of racing last month at Sonoma Raceway, Hanley Motorsports is eager to showcase its full potential at this weekend’s event.

With two races in the season-opener under their belts and two days of testing completed at NOLA Motorsports Park last week, Hanley Motorsports is primed for action. “We’re excited to be heading to NOLA Motorsports Park and are ready for what awaits us there,” said team owner Robert Hanley. “At Sonoma, we dove in headfirst and still felt like we were on the cusp of success. Now that we’ve had a chance to start developing our team and our car, we’re excited to see what we can accomplish.”

Parker Thompson emphasized the benefits of testing at the unique, 16-turn New Orleans road course. “Neither Daniel nor I have much experience at NOLA Motorsports Park, so we both appreciated the opportunity to familiarize ourselves with the course in advance of race weekend. On top of that, we are excited to have recently taken delivery of a brand-new GR Supra GT4 EVO. Having two cars on hand helped Daniel, myself, and, notably, our engineer Geoff Fickling make the most of our time. I’m enjoying the balance of the GR Supra. As I get more comfortable with the car, my expectations continue to rise,” said Thompson. “We have a great team. Now it’s time to show it.”

Event Information

Rounds 3 & 4 Pirelli GT4 America at NOLA Motorsports Park

Friday, April 28, 2023
12:05 PM – Practice 1
4:30 PM –  Practice 2

Saturday, April 29, 2023
10:20 AM – Qualifying Driver 1
10:40 AM – Qualifying Driver 2
5:00 PM – Race 1

Sunday, April 30, 2023
11:30 AM – Race 2

**All times CDT

Follow along at parkerthompsonracing.com/live

Promise for Hanley Motorsports and Parker Thompson After Opening Weekend in Pirelli GT4 America

Apr 4, 2023

Promise for Hanley Motorsports and Parker Thompson After Opening Weekend in Pirelli GT4 America

SONOMA RACEWAY, CA

 

Hanley Motorsports performed admirably in their Pirelli GT4 America debut at Sonoma Raceway. Entering the weekend, the newly assembled team and No. 999 GR Supra GT4 EVO of Parker Thompson and Daniel Hanley expected to challenge the front of the field. The pair showed great pace throughout the season-opening weekend despite challenges that ultimately prevented them from having a major impact on the results sheet.

In just his second career race weekend, rookie driver Daniel Hanley showed good progression. The nineteen-year-old trimmed lap time in every session as he learned the Sonoma Raceway road course and GT4 race car. In Race 1 Qualifying, Hanley finished 28th out of forty-three entries.

With extensive experience and a record of winning in multiple series, expectations were high for Hanley’s codriver and coach, Parker Thompson. In Friday’s second practice session, the Canadian was 3rd fastest among all competitors. In Qualifying on Saturday afternoon, he earned a tenth-place grid position for Race 2.

In races on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning, the Hanley Motorsports team faced significant adversity. In the first contest, Daniel Hanley experienced a collision while making a routine-looking overtake early in the race. Damage to the driver’s front corner on the white, red, orange, and yellow Hanley Motorsports GR Supra forced the team to retire.

Thompson had a strong performance early in Race 2. By the halfway point, he had worked his way forward to 6th overall (2nd in the Silver category). When the pit window opened for the series-mandated driver changes, the team immediately called Thompson into pit lane to hand the No. 999 off to Hanley.

Critically, the call to make that pit stop came with a full-course-yellow (FCY) imminent, and if the team did not enter the pits before that FCY, the pit stop and driver change would not meet Pirelli GT4 America regulations. When Hanley took over and resumed action on course, the team believed they had completed a good stop. Hanley advanced through the field and into the lead position, holding that position through to the checkered flag.

Following the contest, series officials demonstrated that the team did not enter the pits prior to the full-course-yellow. In turn, Hanley Motorsports accepted a 50-second penalty for the violation. The final result will show them in the 30th position.

Parker Thompson

“Three weeks ago, we didn’t have a car, and we didn’t have a crew. I’ve been incredibly proud to work with Rob Hanley and Toyota Gazoo Racing North America to start Hanley Motorsports and launch this Pirelli GT4 America campaign. Ryan, Geoff, Neil, John, Dan – Everyone on our team has been absolutely amazing!

In Race 2 at Sonoma, we saw an opportunity to get the No. 999 to the front and earn a win. We made our mandatory driver change as soon as the pit window opened following the restart. We made that stop knowing a FCY was imminent, but we thought we could get in before the window closed. That aggressive, split-second decision-making is what it takes to win races. I love that we put our day on the line and went for a win on our opening weekend. From our perspective, it almost paid off. It was close, but close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.

Reviewing after the race, our team accepts the assessed penalty. We’ll carry on and bring our best effort to NOLA later this month.”

Parker Thompson Joins Pirelli GT4 America with Hanley Motorsports

Mar 27, 2023

Parker Thompson Joins Pirelli GT4 America with Hanley Motorsports

SONOMA, CA

Hanley Motorsports is excited to launch a new team effort in 2023 as it joins the Pirelli GT4 America championship with the #999 Toyota Supra GT4 Evo. Parker Thompson and Daniel Hanley will pilot the retro-inspired white, red, orange, and yellow Supra in the Silver category.

Thompson has experience in multiple tiers of sportscar racing, including a championship win in the 2022 Carrera Cup North America and recent top-five finishes at Daytona and Sebring with Vasser Sullivan and Lexus Racing USA. He will lead 19-year-old Hanley as he tackles his first season of racing.

Hanley Motorsports team founder, and father to Daniel, is Robert Hanley. A race-winning driver himself, Robert will look for his next success in motorsports as a team owner.

“Parker and I got to know each other last year as Carrera Cup teammates. When he approached me this spring with the opportunity to launch a Toyota entry in Pirelli GT4 America, the idea was too enticing to pass up. We’re a last-minute addition to this 2023 championship. Despite that, we have the highest expectations. Parker is a proven race winner, and Daniel will quickly find his legs. Behind the pit wall, Ryan Heller will lead our effort. Ryan has been crew chief for very successful campaigns in other series, and after watching him prepare our team for Sonoma, I understand why.”

Although 2023 will mark his first season behind the wheel, Daniel Hanley is not new to motorsports. Last year, he served on the crew for Thompson’s championship-winning effort. He has been closely involved with his father’s endeavors as well.

“Working in the garage and the pits has taught me a lot about the work ethic required to perform at the top of racing. It takes a full team effort, extreme attention to detail, and when things don’t go as planned, you have to put your head down and find a way forward. This year, I’m keen to take that mindset and apply it behind the wheel. With Parker to learn from and the group we’ve assembled supporting us, I’m positioned to have a great rookie season.”

Parker Thompson joins SRO, hoping to continue the championship success he had last season in Carrera Cup North America. From junior formulas to GT3, the twenty-five-year-old Canadian has podiumed in half his more than 170 career races. Recalling his experiences with both well-established teams and small start-up teams, he has embraced a lead role in Hanley Motorsports’ new campaign. 

“I’m ecstatic to be involved here with Daniel, Robert, Ryan, and also with Toyota. Toyota Racing Development and Toyota Gazoo Racing have been instrumental in bringing our SRO campaign together, and I’m proud to strengthen my connection to the Toyota family. It’s been a lot of work to build this team from the ground up over the last couple of months and that has given me a very personal interest in our success. No doubt there is a lot more work ahead of us, but I expect it won’t be long before we are up to speed. Competition in the GT4 category is intense. There are a lot of great drivers in this series, some with whom I already have great rivalries. I can’t wait to meet them on track at Sonoma and throughout 2023 in Pirelli GT4 America.”

More info:

https://hanleymotorsports.com
https://www.gt4-america.com

2023 Pirelli GT4 America Championship Schedule

Sonoma Raceway
March 30 – April 2, 2023

NOLA Motorsports Park
April 28 – 30, 2023

Circuit of The Americas
May 19 – 21, 2023

VIRginia International Raceway
June 16 – 18, 2023

Road America
August 18 – 20, 2023 

Sebring International Raceway
September 22 – 24, 2023

Indianapolis Motor Speedway
October 5 – 8, 2023

Follow along at https://parkerthompsonracing.com/live

Thompson and Vasser Sullivan No. 12 Take 5th at Sebring

Mar 22, 2023

Thompson and Vasser Sullivan No. 12 Take 5th at Sebring

Sebring, FL

 

Parker Thompson, Aaron Telitz, and Frankie Montecalvo drove the No. 12 SealMaster Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3 from 19th place to finish fifth in GTD class at the 2023 Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. 

The black, yellow, and green No. 12 showed excellent pace throughout practice sessions leading up to Saturday’s endurance contest. That strength carried into Qualifying, where team leader Aaron Telitz earned a 3rd-in-class starting position. When racing action began, the team held their position near the front of the field until an early refueling infraction and drive-through penalty dropped them to nineteenth place. 

 Sebring International Raceway lived up to its torturous and unforgiving reputation. With fifty-three entries in five different classes, negotiating traffic on the 6.0km, 17-turn road course presented challenges for all drivers. With numerous scrapes and dents, the No. 12 machine displayed the effects of hard battle but managed to avoid critical incidents as its three drivers worked their way through the 20-car GTD field.

The team leaned on Thompson and his current focus on IMSA endurance events. He completed 99 laps and earned the entry’s fastest lap time. Near the 10-hour mark, Thompson turned the car over to Telitz, who deftly navigated major incidents in the final laps to bring the car home fifth in GTD.

Parker Thompson:

“The No. 12 Vasser Sullivan crew showed real strength at Sebring and is in a great position to fight for the top spot as the 2023 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season progresses. My main objective for the weekend was to keep the car on track and in one piece, giving Aaron and Frankie the best possible chance at a win. On the Sebring road course, that is no small feat. There is no doubt that it takes a little bit of luck to make it to the finish, but from our penalty to mechanical repairs, the team did an incredible job of adjusting and adapting. I’m so proud to have played a role in the effort and look forward to rejoining the team in New York in June for Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen.”

Images credit Sideline Sports Photography

About Vasser Sullivan Racing:

Vasser Sullivan Racing is owned by 1996 INDYCAR Champion, Jimmy Vasser and Dallas businessman, James “Sulli” Sullivan. Vasser Sullivan has been aligned with Lexus since 2019. During their four-year partnership, Vasser Sullivan and Lexus have amassed an impressive record securing 10 wins, 14 pole positions, and finishing on the podium a prominent 61% of the time. Vasser Sullivan were recently crowned 2022 Petit Le Mans Champions, giving Lexus its first IMSA endurance championship win. In 2022, the team finished second in the GTD PRO manufacturer, team and driver championships, finished second at the 2019 Rolex 24 at Daytona, and are the 2020 IMSA GTD Sprint Cup Champions.

Vasser and Sullivan first partnered together to compete in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES from 2011-2016 with Team KVSH. They teamed-up again for another four INDYCAR seasons as Dale Coyne Vasser Sullivan Racing. The Vasser Sullivan INDYCAR partnership has recorded six wins including winning the 2013 Indianapolis 500.  

 

About Lexus:

The Lexus RC F GT3 enters its seventh season in the GTD class, and second year in the GTD PRO category, competing in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. During its previous four seasons, Lexus and Vasser Sullivan have combined to earn 10 wins, 28 podium finishes and 14 pole positions with the RC F GT3. 

Lexus’ passion for brave design, imaginative technology, and exhilarating performance enables the luxury lifestyle brand to create amazing experiences for its customers. Lexus began its journey in 1989 with two luxury sedans and a commitment to pursue perfection. Since then, Lexus has developed its lineup to meet the needs of global luxury customers in more than 90 countries. In the United States, Lexus vehicles are sold through 244 dealers offering a full lineup of luxury vehicles. With six models incorporating Lexus Hybrid Drive, Lexus is the luxury hybrid leader. Lexus also offers nine F SPORT models, two F performance models and one F model. Lexus is committed to being a visionary brand that anticipates the future for luxury customers.

High Hopes as Thompson and Vasser Sullivan Racing Head to Sebring

Mar 11, 2023

High Hopes as Thompson and Vasser Sullivan Racing Head to Sebring

SEBRING, FLORIDA

Parker Thompson’s 2023 race season enters its second stage next week as the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship heads to Sebring International Raceway (March 16-18). Following his appearance at the Rolex 24 at Daytona early this year, Thompson continues his role as endurance specialist, joining Vasser Sullivan Racing and teammates Aaron Telitz and Frankie Montecalvo. The driver trio will take on the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, piloting the black and yellow No. 12 SealMaster Lexus Racing USA entry in GTD class. 

Set on a World War II-era airfield, The 6.0-km Sebring road course is arguably the most punishing circuit on the IMSA schedule. Known for churning bumps and heavy braking zones, Thompson and Vasser Sullivan will lean on a Lexus RC F GT3 racecar that has been thoroughly developed through four seasons of IMSA endurance competition.

In January’s Rolex 24 at Daytona, Thompson and the No. 12 Vasser Sullivan crew executed a clean race and challenged the front of the 23-car GTD field, ultimately finishing in fifth place. After a promising series test at Sebring last month, the team will look to move up the rankings when the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring launches on March 18th at 10:10 AM EST. 

“Coming off a great first outing, I expect that the No. 12 SealMaster Lexus Racing USA machine at Vasser Sullivan will be Challenging for a win at Sebring! With a new car, a new series, and even a new track at Daytona, the team around me has been incredible in helping me get up to speed. Now I’ve had more time in the car, and we are heading to a track I know well! I can’t wait for another crack at North America’s bumpiest track. You always have to respect the rugged surface at Sebring, but I was shocked at how good our Lexus was during testing. Compared to other cars I’ve driven at Sebring, it was much easier to keep the car composed through turns 1 and 17. I’ll work hard with our Vasser Sullivan team to ensure I can still say the same thing on race day. Let’s go win a silver platter!” – Parker Thompson

About Vasser Sullivan Racing:

Vasser Sullivan Racing is owned by 1996 INDYCAR Champion, Jimmy Vasser and Dallas businessman, James “Sulli” Sullivan. Vasser Sullivan has been aligned with Lexus since 2019. During their four-year partnership, Vasser Sullivan and Lexus have amassed an impressive record securing 10 wins, 14 pole positions, and finishing on the podium a prominent 61% of the time. Vasser Sullivan were recently crowned 2022 Petit Le Mans Champions, giving Lexus its first IMSA endurance championship win. In 2022, the team finished second in the GTD PRO manufacturer, team and driver championships, finished second at the 2019 Rolex 24 at Daytona, and are the 2020 IMSA GTD Sprint Cup Champions. Vasser and Sullivan first partnered together to compete in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES from 2011-2016 with Team KVSH. They teamed-up again for another four INDYCAR seasons as Dale Coyne Vasser Sullivan Racing. The Vasser Sullivan INDYCAR partnership has recorded six wins including winning the 2013 Indianapolis 500.  

About Lexus:

The Lexus RC F GT3 enters its seventh season in the GTD class, and second year in the GTD PRO category, competing in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. During its previous four seasons, Lexus and Vasser Sullivan have combined to earn 10 wins, 28 podium finishes and 14 pole positions with the RC F GT3. Lexus’ passion for brave design, imaginative technology, and exhilarating performance enables the luxury lifestyle brand to create amazing experiences for its customers. Lexus began its journey in 1989 with two luxury sedans and a commitment to pursue perfection. Since then, Lexus has developed its lineup to meet the needs of global luxury customers in more than 90 countries. In the United States, Lexus vehicles are sold through 244 dealers offering a full lineup of luxury vehicles. With six models incorporating Lexus Hybrid Drive, Lexus is the luxury hybrid leader. Lexus also offers nine F SPORT models, two F performance models and one F model. Lexus is committed to being a visionary brand that anticipates the future for luxury customers.

Event Information

2023 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship 
Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring

Thursday, March 16, 2023
10:10 AM EST – Practice 1
3:50 PM EST – Practice 2
7:45 PM EST – Practice 3

Friday, March 17, 2023
8:55 AM EST – Practice 4
9:15 AM EST – Qualifying

Saturday, March 18, 2023
8:00 AM EST – Warm Up
10:10 AM EST – Race Start

For flag-to-flag coverage of the event visit IMSA.TV. Follow Parker throughout the weekend at https://parkerthompsonracing.com/live