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!”

Thompson and Hattori Secure Victory in Michelin Pilot Challenge Debut at CTMP

Thompson and Hattori Secure Victory in Michelin Pilot Challenge Debut at CTMP

BOWMANVILLE, ON, CANADA

In an electrifying debut, Alberta native Parker Thompson won this weekend as IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge visited Canadian Tire Motorsports Park. Driving the No. 50 Weins Auto Group GR Supra GT4 EVO for Hattori Motorsports, Thompson earned the first-place starting position in qualifying and, alongside teammate Billy Johnson, shone throughout the two-hour race to gain the race victory.

As the team familiarized themselves with the GR Supra GT4 EVO race car and the historic Ontario road course, both drivers showed a middling performance in practice sessions on Friday. In qualifying however, the No. 50 GR Supra demonstrated new pace as Thompson clocked an impressive 1:22.334 second lap in the early minutes of the session. When the session was red-flagged due to a collision, the timing sheet showed the blue, red, and white No. 50 in pole position by more than half a second margin.

When the Canadian Tire Motorsports Park 120 contest started on Saturday afternoon, Thompson continued to lead all entries. Through 37 laps, he created a thirteen-second margin over the field before entering the pits and handing the No. 50 off to Billy Johnson.

Johnson rejoined the race, finding himself in a tight battle for the lead with the No. 95 Turner Motorsports BMW, who had made up considerable time in the pits. Although he would surrender the lead early in his stint, Johnson kept the No. 50 Weins Auto Group GR Supra within striking distance, applying pressure to the leader. He would take the checkered flag in second place. In post-race inspections however, officials found that the leading No. 95 had violated series regulations. The resulting penalties critically awarded the victory to Thompson and the Hattori Motorsports squad.

The result is Thompson’s first win in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, and one that caps off a recent string of outstanding performances for the young Canadian. “Winning at CTMP this weekend is such a great achievement for our team,” said Thompson. “This was my first weekend in Michelin Pilot Challenge, and it was also the first meeting for Billy, myself, and the Hattori Motorsports team. We set the bar high for ourselves here. The team at Weins Auto Group put together a strong effort to celebrate their 50th anniversary in front of a home crowd. It’s so satisfying to reach our goal and give them the win they deserve. On top of that, I’m proud to have helped Toyota earn its first win in the Michelin Pilot Challenge series. The GR Supra GT4 EVO is proving to be one of the most well-rounded cars in the GT4 category. I’m honored to help them earn the top accolade in this series.”

For Thompson, the performance marks two consecutive IMSA race weekends where he has celebrated first place. Just two weeks ago, he was part of a GTD class victory at Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen with Lexus Racing USA and Vasser Sullivan. Further proving his versatility and performance, in 2023, Thompson has now celebrated wins in three series with three Toyota race cars. In May, he earned a Silver-class victory in Pirelli GT4 America with the Hanley Motorsports No. 999 GR Supra GT4 EVO. That is where Thompson will return to action next, when that series visits Road America, August 18-20.

More Details:

IMSA.com
Hattorimotorsports.com
Weins Auto Group

Images credit @sidelinesportsphotography

Thompson to Pilot No. 50 Weins Auto Group GR Supra at CTMP IMSA Weekend with Hattori Motorsports

Thompson to Pilot No. 50 Weins Auto Group GR Supra at CTMP IMSA Weekend with Hattori Motorsports

INDIANAPOLIS, IN

Racing in July marks a homecoming for Parker Thompson. The Red Deer, Alberta native, is set to compete in Canada’s most prominent annual sports car weekend when IMSA visits Canadian Tire Motorsports Park, July 7-9. Thompson will join Hattori Motorsports (HM) to pilot the No. 50 Weins Auto Group GR Supra GT4 EVO in Saturday’s Canadian Tire Motorsports Park 120 for the Michelin Pilot Challenge.

Thompson brings a wealth of experience at CTMP to the team and a strong track record with the GR Supra GT4 EVO platform. Combining early career open-wheel races with recent contests in sportscars and prototypes, Thompson has battled on the iconic Canadian road course ten times, earning four victories and nine podiums.

“I am honored by the opportunity to join Hattori Motorsports in the Toyota GR Supra for IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge at CTMP next weekend. Any race north of the border feels like a home race for me, and the CTMP track has rewarded me with success on multiple occasions,” said Thompson. “This is one of my favorite events! I’m grateful to Vasser Sullivan and Hanley Motorsports for helping me incorporate this opportunity into my busy race schedule.

“After just a few short meetings with Shigeaki and the rest of the team, I feel like we have the right ingredients for a special performance. I appreciate Shige’s early career experiences in open-wheel racing and how he’s built an outstanding legacy with the Toyota brand that spans multiple series. The chance to contribute to that legacy, even if it’s just for a single race weekend, is something I don’t take lightly.”

Team owner Shige Hattori commented on the addition of Thompson to the team, “We brought in an amazing driver in Parker to contend right away and give us some feedback on our program.”

The Michelin Pilot Challenge series combines GS (GT4) and TCR class race cars with two driver lineups and a mandatory pit stop. A driver who has yet to be named will join Thompson behind the wheel on the No. 50 Weins Auto Group GR Supra for the 2-hour Canadian Tire Motorsports Park 120. The race will be a special one for the team as they celebrate the 50th anniversary of Weins Auto Group.

More Details:
IMSA.com
Hattorimotorsports.com
Weins Auto Group

Event Information

2023 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge 
Chevrolet Grand Prix

Friday, July 7
10:00 AM EDT – Practice 1
1:30 PM EDT – Practice 2

Saturday, July 8
10:50 AM EDT – Qualifying
4:00 PM EDT – Canadian Tire Motorsport Park 120