New Zealand driver Reid Harker has finished third in the first of two Thai Super Series GT3 races after an incredible conclusion featured a spectacular tyre blowout for the second-placed runners with mere minutes remaining. Harker, who saw out the race after co-driver Piti Bhirombhakdi began it, was promoted to a well-deserved third with time almost up at Chang International Circuit.
The first 15 or so minutes of the one hour event were run at a fair tempo, the two leaders with a decent gap and Bhirombhakdi, in the #12 Toyota Gazoo Racing Team Thailand Lexus, lodged firmly in a six car battle pack fighting for third.
This was the narrative of the first half hour, Harker taking the wheel of the Lexus RC-F GT3 with 32 minutes remaining after his Thai co-driver boxed from fourth.
Once the pit-window had closed, the Kiwi sat sixth but was quickly making up time on those ahead.
He was helped when a penalty for a short stop was dished out to the #65 ahead, and had worked to sit fourth, 3.5 seconds off the podium, with seven minutes to go.
Up the road, the #11 of Gagliardini Andrea and Guidetti Jacopo was locked in a fierce battle with championship rivals Akash Nandy and Sandy Stuvik.
The two made side-by-side contact with five minutes remaining, it initially appearing both cars had come out of the contact unscathed.
This took a turn minutes later, a right-rear tyre failure for the #11 sending chunks of rubber and carbon-fibre strewn from turns one to three, the Gt3 Honda’s rear panels a shredded mess.
They were understandably forced from the race, Stuvik bringing home the victory with a solid gap to the now-second-placed Chonsawat Asavahame and Pitsanu Sirimongkolkasem.
Harker had worked to come within range of them and could have passed through if the clock ran a few minutes longer but was forced to settle for third.
Despite the obvious elation of finishing on the podium, the Kiwi admits he would have liked it to come in different circumstances.
“We’re pretty happy. I would’ve liked to get P3 on-track but that puncture on the main straight [for #11 of Vattana Motorsport] inherited us third position,” he said speaking after the race.
“We’ve been working on the car over the past few days and getting it better. I think we’re making progress and I’m super happy to help get a result for the team.”
Harker was also full of praise for his teammate Bhirombhakdi, who had laid the groundwork early which ultimately put them in a position for a solid result.
“He did a really great job. Made up a few positions at the start and actually had really good pace. I’m happy for him.”
The season has been tough for Toyota Gazoo Racing Team Thailand, multiple DNFs and poor pace for the #12 seeing them score only eight points in the last four races.
Today’s result is a great turnaround for the team, the influence and expertise of Harker assisting in reversing their fortunes.
He’ll get the chance to go again today with the season-ending one hour enduro concluding thin Thailand.
The lights go green at 6.10pm and racing can be streamed live on the Thailand Super Series website.
Header Image: Screen Grab- Thai Super Series
