Thompson Secures Podium Finish at Lone Star Enduro with Hanley Motorsports

Thompson Secures Podium Finish at Lone Star Enduro with Hanley Motorsports

AUSTIN, TEXAS

Parker Thompson delivered a solid performance at the inaugural Lone Star Enduro at Circuit of the Americas this past weekend, earning the top starting position among all silver-class entries and a third-place overall race finish. The event, Round 5 of the 2024 Pirelli GT4 America Championship, featured a challenging three-hour race format instead of the series’ traditional double-header race weekend.

Competing against 30 other GT4 entries, Thompson’s performance was evident from the outset. In Saturday’s qualifying session, he clocked the fastest time among silver-class entries and third overall. Teammate Daniel Hanley started the race, maintaining a top-five position as the field found its rhythm early in the contest.

Thompson began his first stint near the fifty-minute mark, rejoining the race in third position after an exemplary pit stop by the Hanley Motorsports crew. Showing strong pace, the native Canadian advanced to second overall before a full-course-yellow closed the pits at an inopportune time and disrupted Hanley Motorsports’ strategy. The incident allowed the race leader and much of the field to pit before the yellow. Thompson was unable to do the same and fell to ninth position after he and the remainder of the field cycled through the pits under caution.

Despite this setback, the team remained focused. Daniel Hanley pushed through the field in his final stint to regain third position overall. Thompson closed the race and navigated to the checkered flag without incident.

Parker Thompson 
“Very proud of our effort here at Circuit of the Americas! There’s no doubt that we felt a win was within reach for us this weekend. I have to give a tonne of credit to our engineer, Chris Bohlman, and our crew chief, Ryan Heller. The unique regulations for this event and the demands of tire changes and refueling meant we had to make some big adjustments. We were well-prepared and handled those adjustments flawlessly. Unfortunately, our strategy took a big blow when a full-course yellow locked us out of the pit lane near the halfway point. Despite that, Daniel’s excellent mid-race drive and perfectly executed pit stops allowed us to solidly claim the final podium spot.”

Thompson will be back in action with Hanley Motorsports at VIRginia International Raceway from July 19-21. In the meantime, he continues his campaign in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with Vasser Sullivan and Lexus Racing USA. The Detroit Grand Prix is next, with a 100-minute race on Saturday, June 1, when Thompson and Frankie Montecalvo will make a special appearance in GTD Pro with the No. 15 Vasser Sullivan / Lexus Racing USA RC F GT3.

Thompson Continues Upward Trend with Remarkable 2023 Season

Thompson Continues Upward Trend with Remarkable 2023 Season

After coming out on top in Carrera Cup North America last year, Parker Thompson showed no signs of suffering a championship hangover in 2023. The twenty-five-year-old Canadian followed up his championship season with standout performances in top-tier sportscar series. Joining the Toyota family, he drove the Lexus RC F GT3 and Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO to victories in three series with three teams. At times, Thompson dominated his competitors, solidifying his position in sports car racing’s upper echelon and arguably delivering the most successful season of his career to date.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS FOR THE 2023 SEASON:

  • 18 Total Races: Thompson competed in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with Vasser Sullivan Racing, the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge with Hattori Motorsports, and the SRO Pirelli GT4 America with Hanley Motorsports.
  • 4 Race Victories and 5 Podiums: With wins in each series, Thompson claimed four race wins. He stood on the podium five times, with seven top-five finishes. 
  • Lightning Pace: Behind the wheel of a GR Supra GT4 EVO, Thompson posted the top time in five qualifying sessions (earning three pole starts) and set the fastest race lap in three contests.
VASSER SULLIVAN RACING AND IMSA WEATHERTECH:

Thompson’s season began in January at the Rolex 24 at Daytona with Vasser Sullivan and Lexus Racing USA. Alongside teammates Telitz, Montecalvo, and Kirkwood, Thompson excelled in the globally recognized GT3 contest, helping the black, yellow, and green No. 12 Lexus RC F GT3 earn a fifth-place finish in GTD. 

Thompson joined Vasser Sullivan for all four IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship endurance stops. At the Sebring 12 Hour, he set the No. 12’s best lap time as the team earned another fifth-place finish. At Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen, an outstanding stint by Thompson established a significant margin for the race lead, putting his team in a commanding position to claim victory.

DEBUT WIN IN IMSA MPC WITH HATTORI MOTORSPORTS:

Thompson found instant success in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, piloting the No. 50 Hattori Motorsports, Weins Auto Group GR Supra GT4 EVO alongside Billy Johnson. On his native ground, at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park, Thompson earned the pole position and established a dominant lead through the first half of the two-hour contest. Johnson took over for the second half, and when the dust settled, the No. 50 came out on top. The result marked the first IMSA race victory for the Toyota GR Supra race car.

HANLEY MOTORSPORTS – FULL SEASON GT4 CAMPAIGN:

Joining forces with Robert Hanley, Thompson launched a new Hanley Motorsports team to take on Pirelli GT4 America with the No. 999 GR Supra GT4 EVO. Thompson led and mentored rookie co-driver Daniel Hanley, and the duo had an immediate impact on the series. Thompson earned the top time in seven official sessions throughout the season, starting from pole position twice and earning the Crowdstrike Fastest Lap award three times. The Hanley Motorsports team captured their first Silver-class race win at Circuit of the Americas in May, then took overall victory at Sebring in September.

After his triumphs in 2023, Thompson looks to continue his progression. With a new race season and January’s Rolex 24 at Daytona rapidly approaching, Thompson is hard at work, focused on claiming a premier North American sports car championship.

 

IN THOMPSON’S OWN WORDS:

“After the year I had in 2022, I had the highest expectations for this season. It did not disappoint! That said, there have been moments of uncertainty where I wasn’t sure which direction my career would lead. First, I must thank Jimmy and ‘Sulli’ of Vasser Sullivan for putting me in the Lexus Racing No. 12 RC F GT3. As demonstrated by their GTD Pro Championship win this season, they’ve assembled an outstanding team. I would be honored to play a role in their future endeavors. In Pirelli GT4 America, Rob Hanley put tremendous faith in me to help launch the Hanley Motorsports team and mentor his son, Daniel. I’m proud to have won in every race car I drove this year. That said, winning races is only part of winning championships. Whatever happens in 2024, earning another series title will be at the top of my mind!”