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Thompson Secures Podium Finish at Lone Star Enduro with Hanley Motorsports

May 22, 2024

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

Oct 17, 2023

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!”

Parker Thompson Ready to Take on Road America with Hanley Motorsports and Pirelli GT4 America

Aug 14, 2023

Parker Thompson Ready to Take on Road America with Hanley Motorsports and Pirelli GT4 America

Elkhart Lake, WI

After standout performances in IMSA race series through June and July, Parker Thompson is gearing up to return to action with SRO and Pirelli GT4 America. He’ll join teammate Daniel Hanley, piloting the No. 999 Hanley Motorsports GR Supra GT4 EVO as the series visits Road America this weekend, August 18th-20th.

Though the Pirelli GT4 America series has been on break since its June visit to VIRginia International Raceway, Thompson has been anything but idle. Since that time, he earned race victories in both the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with Vasser Sullivan and Lexus Racing USA, and the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge with Hattori Motorsports and Toyota Gazoo Racing North America. Combine these victories with his Silver-class triumph in May at the Circuit of the Americas in the SRO GT4 series, and its clear that the young Canadian is a formidable force in his rookie season with the Toyota sports car family.

Thompson holds high hopes for his return to “America’s National Park of Speed.” The 4-mile Wisconsin circuit, with its storied history spanning over six decades, has played a pivotal role in Thompson’s career. “From the track itself to the atmosphere of the region, Road America is always one of my favorite places to race. It’s been home to some of my career’s most memorable battles and wins.”

Thompson and teammate Hanley will share driving duties in two one-hour races scheduled on Saturday and Sunday, and hopes are high. Thompson reflected, “While our team has faced challenges earlier in the season, that doesn’t deter our ambitions. Road America offers a perfect opportunity for us to have a big impact.”

 

Event Schedule

Races 8 & 9 of Pirelli GT4 America at Road America

Friday, August 18, 2023
12:00 PM – Practice 1
5:15 PM – Practice 2

Saturday, August 19, 2023
10:25 AM – Qualifying Driver 1
10:40 AM – Qualifying Driver 2
5:00 PM – Race 1

Sunday, August 20, 2023
10:55 AM – Race 2

*All times CDT

Follow Parker through the weekend @parkertracing on social media channels and at parkerthompsonracing.com/live.
Watch races live via SROMotorsports YouTube or Twitch channels.

Thompson Looks to Continue Upward Momentum with Strongest Effort of the Season at VIR

Jun 14, 2023

Thompson Looks to Continue Upward Momentum with Strongest Effort of the Season at VIR

Alton, VA

With each round of the 2023 Pirelli GT4 America series, Parker Thompson and Hanley Motorsports have shown steady improvements in performance. Piloting the No. 999 GR Supra GT4 EVO alongside rookie driver Daniel Hanley, the team secured their first podium and win at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) last month. As Hanley Motorsports heads to VIRginia International Raceway, Thompson knows that continuing the team’s upward momentum could be their greatest challenge to date. Races 7 & 8 of the 2023 season are scheduled at the historic 17-turn Virginia road course this Saturday and Sunday.

With over forty factory-backed GT4 race cars in the field, Pirelli GT4 America is among the most hotly contested sports car series on the globe. Amongst fierce competition, Thompson and Hanley endured early challenges but have begun to show great form as the season crosses its halfway point. At Circuit of the Americas and the prior round at NOLA Motorsports Park, Thompson placed second overall in Driver 2 qualifying sessions. He leveraged his P2 starting position in Austin to take an early overall race lead, lining the No. 999 up to earn its first class victory.

Now at VIRginia International Raceway this weekend, Thompson will look for a similarly strong performance, identifying that both he and his fellow Hanley Motorsports team members must continue seeking improvements.

“We had a great result at COTA, but at the same time, we’ll need an even greater effort than we showed there to earn our second win of the season! This Pirelli GT4 America series is fiercely competitive, and if we didn’t already, I think we have the attention of the other forty-something entries here. We’re going to give it our all! Daniel’s progress this season is commendable; from top to bottom, everyone at Hanley Motorsports continues to show a hunger for improvement. Our partners at Toyota Gazoo Racing North America and TRD USA have been instrumental in our success. The GR Supra GT4 EVO has proven to be very well-rounded and versatile. I expect it to suit this fast and fun VIR road course well.”

Event Information

Rounds 7 & 8 Pirelli GT4 America at VIRginia International Raceway

Friday, July 16, 2023
Practice 1 – 12:00 pm
Practice 2 – 5:15 pm

Saturday, July 17, 2023
Qualifying 1 – 10:20 am
Qualifying 2 – 10:40 am
Race 1 – 5:15 pm

Sunday, July 18, 2023
Race 2 – 10:55 am

*ALL TIMES EDT

Follow Parker and Hanley Motorsports throughout the weekend, with daily updates on social media channels and live streaming of all race action on YouTube and Twitch. Details are available at PTR Live.