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Thompson and Hanley Clinch Silver Class Victory at COTA in Pirelli GT4 America

May 22, 2023

Thompson and Hanley Clinch Silver Class Victory at COTA in Pirelli GT4 America

AUSTIN, TX

Following their launch mere weeks before the season opener at Sonoma, Hanley Motorsports showcased their mettle in Rounds 5 and 6 of Pirelli GT4 America at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA). Drivers Parker Thompson and Daniel Hanley drove the No. 999 GR Supra GT4 EVO to their first class victory in the series.

Consistently demonstrating strong performance, Thompson and Hanley marked season-best results through all sessions on track during the COTA weekend. Thompson secured a front-row grid position for the No. 999 GR Supra GT4 EVO, placing 2nd overall and first in the Silver class. Daniel Hanley ranked in the top ten overall during Practice laps on Friday morning and Race 1 Qualifying.

In Race 1, Hanley and the No. 999 avoided early race turmoil and maintained a strong position near the front of the 41-car GT4 field. Thompson took the wheel of the white, red, orange, and yellow Toyota at the halfway point of the contest and pushed hard to secure a 7th place overall finish (6th in the Silver category).

Race 2 featured a commanding display from Hanley Motorsports. Thompson took an early overall lead, and the team successfully maintained the Silver class lead following the pit stop and transition to Daniel Hanley. The 19-year-old rookie held his own amidst stiff competition in a second-half stint dominated by yellow flags and an eventful race restart. On that restart, Hanley showcased a  good jump on the field and a strong move on the inside of turn one that put the Hanley Motorsports No. 999 into second overall and also crucially, just ahead of a collision that took out second place competitors in both the Silver and Pro-Am classes. With an extensive clean-up required, Hanley’s overall position and silver-class lead were uncontested as the field drove to the finish under yellow.

Team owner Robert Hanley expressed his satisfaction with the weekend’s outcome, “We’re thrilled with the team’s performance this weekend. Earning a strong points finish in Race 1, and a class win in Race 2 is a testament to our commitment and the exceptional talents of our drivers, engineer, and crew. We hope to build on our success here when we head to Virginia International Raceway next month.”

Driver Daniel Hanley echoed these sentiments: “It’s been a great weekend. I’m so grateful for all the hard work and support that our team has shown. It’s starting to show on the results sheet! I couldn’t be more excited about the direction we’re heading.”

Parker Thompson emphasized the team’s efforts. “I’m immensely proud of our success as a group. As a mentor to Daniel, it’s been incredible to see his rapid growth. I said going in that COTA might be the most challenging circuit on the GT4 America schedule. For us to perform as we did here is a testament to our potential. So much of that comes from the exceptional work of our engineer Geoff Fickling. Our crew, Ryan, John, and Neil, always have the No. 999 ready for battle. The people at Toyota Gazoo Racing and TRD USA have developed a very well-rounded race car. Our team focus doesn’t change – keep trending up. We’re looking for our next victory.”

Hanley Motorsports and Pirelli GT4 America move to Virginia International Raceway for Rounds 7 & 8 next month, June 16 – 18.

Parker Thompson and Hanley Motorsports Looking for Top Spot as Pirelli GT4 America Visits COTA

May 17, 2023

Parker Thompson and Hanley Motorsports Looking for Top Spot as Pirelli GT4 America Visits COTA

Austin, TX

Parker Thompson is all set to battle it out at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) this weekend for Rounds 5 & 6 of the 2023 Pirelli GT4 America season. Showcasing impressive speed and potential behind the wheel of the Silver category No. 999 Hanley Motorsports GR Supra GT4 EVO throughout early rounds, Thompson is targeting his first victory of the season.

Thompson’s resilience and speed have been undeniable despite challenges in preceding rounds. A standout performance at NOLA Motorsports Park saw him secure second overall in Race 2 Qualifying. In Race 1, he lead an impressive charge through the field, gaining 16 positions during his stint. After an impressive showing in test sessions at Circuit of the Americas last week, Thompson is set to make a mark on the results sheet in races this Saturday and Sunday.

The 5.5-km, 20-turn COTA circuit is often regarded as the most challenging circuit on the continent, but it is one that Thompson has already proven he can conquer. In his only previous visit to the Texas road course, Thompson made a dramatic, final corner, final lap pass to earn his first racing victory of 2021 during the inaugural season of Carrera Cup North America. Armed with that experience and a Hanley Motorsports team that is rounding into form, Thompson is clear about his goal for the weekend. “We’ve shown that we have the speed to challenge the best in this series,” said Thompson. “I’m aiming to put us on the top of the podium at Circuit of the Americas.”

Event Information

Rounds 5 & 6 Pirelli GT4 America at Circuit of the Americas

Friday, May 19, 2023
12:00 PM – Practice 1
5:15 PM – Practice 2

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

Sunday, May 21, 2023
10:50 AM – Race 2

**All times CDT

Follow along at parkerthompsonracing.com/live

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.”

More info:

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