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Thompson Dominates in CTCC Debut with Speedstar Motorsport

May 21, 2019

Thompson Dominates in CTCC Debut with Speedstar Motorsport

CANADIAN TIRE MOTORSPORTS PARK – TORONTO, ONTARIO

In a busy weekend of racing to open the 2019 season in Canada, Thompson dominated Canadian Touring Car Championship (CTCC) races. The Alberta native drove the #1 Audi R8 LMS GT4 of Speedstar Motorsport and New Roads Automotive Group to two overall race victories at the Victoria Day Speedfest held at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. The performance puts an exclamation mark on what has been a commanding start to Thompson’s 2019 season. Across 4 different series, Thompson has already raced 12 times. He has won five of those races and been on the podium for all but two of them.

Joining the CTCC and Speedstar Motorsport presents an opportunity for Thompson to expand his career outside of open-wheel racing.

“Speedstar Motorsport has a great history in the Canadian Touring Car Championship. They have proven great results in international series as well. I’m excited about future possibilities that exist with the team and their partners.” – Parker Thompson

With Thompson behind the wheel, the #1 Audi R8 LMS GT4 of Speedstar Motorsport and New Roads Automotive Group, dominated both CTCC races on the weekend. Thompson qualified on pole position for both races, and was never challenged during race action.

With future endeavors in other series on the horizon, Thompson and the team had a watchful eye on the SRO GT4 America’s races that also took place as part of the Victoria Day Speedfest weekend. Running cars identically classed to Thompson’s Audi R8, the GT4 America’s series features drivers from around the globe and participation from a variety of manufacturers.

In the Speedstar Motorsport / New Roads Automotive Group Audi R8, Thompson marked a lap time that bested not only all CTCC competitors, but all GT4 America’s entrants as well. In fact, the 1:23.332 that Thompson posted is faster than any GT4 lap on recent record at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park.

“We’re racing guys over in the SRO GT4 America’s paddock. We’re comparing and making sure we’re faster than all the manufacturers over there. The Speedstar Motorsport / New Road Automotive Group #1 Audi R8 was on rails all weekend long. It’s amazing to drive for this team. Thank you to everyone who came out from New Roads Automotive Group and Audi Uptown.” – Parker Thompson

Photos credit: Speedstar Motorsport

Canadian Touring Car Championship Round 1 Results

Qualifying 1
Race 1 Results – Official
Qualifying 2
Race 2 Results – Official

 

Next Events

MAY 24 – 26, 2019 – INDY PRO 2000 Race 4 & 5 – Lucas Oil Raceway, Indianapolis, IN
JUN. 01 – 02, 2019 – CTCC Race 3 & 4 – Calabogie Motorsport Park – Ottawa, ON
JUN. 08 – 09, 2019 –GT3 CUP CANADA & USA – Circuit Gilles Villeneuve – Montreal, QC

Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada Commences with a Busy Weekend for Parker Thompson

May 21, 2019

Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada Commences with a Busy Weekend for Parker Thompson

CANDADIAN TIRE MOTORSPORTS PARK – TORONTO, ONTARIO

Thompson boldly kicked off the new race season in Canada this weekend at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. The 21-year-old driver from Red Deer, Alberta competed in four races as part of two different series that joined the annual Victoria Day Speedfest weekend at the Toronto area racetrack. In those four races, Thompson earned four podiums. In the Canadian Touring Car Championship (CTCC), he dominated the weekend, taking the Audi R8 LMS GT4 of Speedstar Motorsport to two overall victories. In the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada, Thompson earned a 2nd and 3rd place finish. That result puts him only 1 point back of the lead in the overall championship points standings.

As expected of the popular one-make series, the opening races of the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada were tightly contested. An incident in Saturday morning’s qualifying cut the session short, leaving multiple drivers unhappy with their starting positions for race one. Thompson would start in second position. Over the course of the race he applied good pressure on leader, Jeff Kingsley, but was not able to execute a pass. The two crossed the finish line with a comfortable margin over 3rdplace Marco Cirone.

The starting line-up for Race 2 put Thompson in the fifth position. Intense battles with Marco Cirone, Jeff Kingsley, and Patrick Dussault saw Thompson make his way up to second position. Heavy rain would fall, ending the race before he had any chance to challenge for the lead. The excitement of Thompson’s dramatic performance was tempered somewhat post-race when he was penalized one position for making a pass outside of track limits. The final result was third place.

After combining point totals for both races, Thompson holds second place in the overall championship standings, just one point behind race 2 winner Roman DeAngelis. The two drivers are also first in second in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA standings. Having shared the track for six races so far this year, Thompson and DeAngelis are demonstrating the tight competition that the GT3 Cup series is renowned for.

The performance puts an exclamation mark on what has been a commanding start to Thompson’s 2019 season. Thompson has been racing south of the border since March when the Indy Pro 2000 season commenced in St. Petersburg, Florida. He joined Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA shortly after. Thompson is in contention for championship titles in those two series. After this weekend, he is set up to challenge for the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada as well.

Parker Thompson
“I’m so fortunate to have the opportunity to work with SCB Racing and their partners. Not too long ago, I had never even considered the possibility of joining the series. Now I am very excited about my chance to contend for the overall Championship in Canada.”

Images Credit: Sandile Magadlela - 778-951-3984 - sandile@mgdla.com - @_mgdla

Event Results:

Qualifying
Race 1 Results – Official
Race 2 Results – Official
Overall Championship Points – Official

Parker Thompson Teams Up with Speedstar Motorsport to Race the Canadian Touring Car Championship

May 18, 2019

Parker Thompson Teams Up with Speedstar Motorsport to Race the Canadian Touring Car Championship

MARKHAM, ONTARIO – Parker Thompson has been enlisted by adventurous Canadian race team, Speedstar Motorsport (SSM), to pilot the #1 Audi R8 LMS GT4 race car in the Canadian Touring Car Championship GT Sport class. The season opens this weekend at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park as part of the Castrol Victoria Day SpeedFest. Thompson will start race 1 from pole position after setting the fastest time of any CTCC entrant during Friday afternoon’s qualifying session.

Speedstar Motorsport has a rich history in the Canadian Touring Car Championship. With connections that extend all around the world, the team has also participated in China Formula Grand Prix, the infamous Macau FIA GT World Cup and recently challenged the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona.

Parker Thompson
“I want to express my gratitude to Albert Au and Frank Law of Speedstar Motorsport, and Michael Croxon at New Roads Automotive Group for this opportunity. I have a lot of respect for what they have accomplished in racing and look forward to building a relationship with their team. It is a dream of mine to get behind the wheel of an Audi GT car.  I’m excited about my future with the team and manufacturer as I put my mark on sportscar GT racing.”

Frank Law – SSM Project Director
“We are thrilled to have Parker joining us for the 2019 CTCC season. We’ve been very keen and have been following Parker throughout his outstanding open-wheel racing career. Ever since our initial conference with Parker, we have been very enthusiastic about the prospect of having him join our team. We have heard great passion from Parker about our team accomplishments and future goals. Additionally, partnering with Parker is in line with our team vision to develop young, talented Canadian drivers within the GT car family. Great to welcome Parker, and have him represent our team, sponsors and manufacturer!”

About Speedstar Motorsport

Based out of Markham, Ontario, Speedstar Motorsport has a background in motorsports that dates back to 2006. The team has a winning history in the Canadian Touring Car Championship, Porsche GT3 Cup,  China Formula Grand Prix and Macau FIA World Cup. SSM recently partnered with Belgium based WRT to contend in the Rolex 24hrs of Daytona. The team took their Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo to a 3rd place finish in GTD.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND LINKS

Speedstar Motorsport – https://speedstar.com/motorsport/
Canadian Touring Car Championship – https://touringcar.ca
Castrol Victoria Day SpeedFest  – Event Schedule (PDF)

CTCC Race #1 & #2 – Event Schedule

Castrol Victoria Day Speedfest at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park, Ontario

Test Session 1 – Thursday May 16th, 2019, 10:30 – 11:10 EST
Test Session 2 – Thursday May 16th, 2019, 13:40 – 14:20 EST
Test Session 3 – Thursday May 16th, 2019, 16:10 – 16:50 EST
Practice Session 1 – Friday May 17th, 2019, 11:50 – 12:20 EST
Qualifying 1 – Friday May 17th, 2019, 16:05 – 16:25 EST
*Race 1 – Saturday May 18th, 2019, 08:00 – 08:40 EST
Qualifying 2 – Sunday May 19th, 2019, 09:00 – 09:30 EST
*Race 2 – Sunday May 19th, 2019, 17:35 – 18:15 EST

CTCC Website
*Watch Race Action Live Here.

Thompson Joins SportsCarBoutique to Take on the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada

May 15, 2019

Thompson Joins SportsCarBoutique to Take on the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada

TORONTO, ONTARIO – Parker Thompson is excited to announce that he will join the 2019 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada with Toronto based SportsCarBoutique. Thompson will pilot the #3 Platinum Cup entry. He will join the team this weekend as the season begins with two races included in the Victoria Day Speedfest Weekend held at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park, outside of Toronto.  

Thompson, an experienced open-wheel racer, expanded into sports cars this year. Early in this season, he has competed in Indy Pro 2000 on the Road to Indy. Thompson has also raced in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA. In both series, he is currently sitting 2nd in overall championship points standings, after four races. 

Now in its 9th season of competition, SportsCarBoutique has a clear goal in mind: winning the 2019 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Championship! Over the past seasons, SportsCarBoutique has coached and introduced young Canadian talents to the series, and is proud to work with Parker Thompson. 

Parker Thompson
“In my limited experience with the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge, I’ve come to really appreciate both the race car and the competitors in the series. I’m looking forward to joining the team at SportsCarBoutique. Many thanks to team principal Ilker Starck for making this opportunity possible. I intend to work hard and continue the success that I’ve had in this series south of the border.”  

Ilker Starck – SportsCarBoutique Team Principal
“We love the sport, the series and most of all these Porsche Cup cars. Over the past few years we have established ourselves as a team that introduces and supports talented young race car drivers.”

 

Porsche GT3 Cup Race #1 & #2 – Event Schedule

Castrol Victoria Day Speedfest at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park, Ontario

Test Session 1 – Thursday May 16th, 2019, 8:50 – 9:30 EST
Test Session 2 – Thursday May 16th, 2019, 11:20 – 12:00 EST
Test Session 3 – Thursday May 16th, 2019, 14:30 – 15:10 EST
Practice Session 1 – Friday May 17th, 2019, 9:10 – 9:50 EST
Practice Session 2 – Friday May 17th, 2019, 13:35 – 14:15 EST
Qualifying – Saturday May 18th, 2019, 7:30 – 7:50 EST
*Race 1 – Saturday May 18th, 2019, 10:55 – 11:40 EST
*Race 2 – Sunday May 19th, 2019, 11:55 – 12:40 EST

Official Series Website
*Watch Live on IMSA.TV