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Thailand Super Series 2018 Rounds 3 & 4 Chang International Circuit- Buriram

After the successful debut of the TA2 cars in the Super Series first rounds in Sepang Malaysia, Craig Corless and Philip Massoud first and second places gave then an early advantage in the championship. Chang International Circuit Buriram was the venue for rounds 3 & 4. The TA2 team left early in the week to start the journey to Buriram in preparation for Thursdays practice for the weekend racing. Here we would see Don Pastor and Poramin Messamanyont join the grid making it a 8 car race.
Practice resulted in a very strong performance again by the Mustang of Philip Massoud who put himself in pole for both Saturday and Sundays race. Craig Corless qualified second on Saturday and Sunday. Michael Freeman qualified 3rd on Saturday and 4th on Sunday. Karin Naeosathon taking the 3rd spot on Sunday.

There were no mechanical issues with the other cars so they would all line up on the grid for Saturdays race would be:

Don Pastor, TEC Asian Championship, Poramin Meesamanyont, B-Quik Racing Team, Craig Corless TA2 Racing, Grant Supaphong, TA2 Racing Team, Narin Naeosathon, B Quik Racing Team, Gregory Bennett, Amerasian Fragrance Racing, Philip Massoud, TAS Asia, Michael Freeman, Innovation Motorsport.

The conditions were good for the racing on Saturday afternoon for the 12 lap race. There was a strong start for all the cars with the grid positions unchanged as they headed into the first corner. Both Philip and Craig were able to establish a few second lead over the rest of the field within a few laps, with Michael Freeman holding onto third position. But all the field were quickly brought together with a deployment of a safety car as Poramin Messamanyont spun out and had to retire. The race quickly started again only for Greg Bennette to come out of the closing corner and go into a giant spin taking him up the home straight and almost coming into contact with the barrier, but he was able to re-start and continue to race. Philip controlled the race form the front with Craig pushing as hard as he could. The finals standing, Philip 1st Craig 2nd and Michael 3rd.

Sundays race started later in the afternoon but the wet conditions didn’t materialise and the race got off to a hectic start Narin Naeosathon had a great start from 3rd and was able to take the lead coming over the line for the first lap. But it wasn’t long before Philip was putting pressure on to take the lead back. Craig continued in third place. A mistake by Narin dropping him well down the field enabled Philip to take the lead back, with Craig in second. Unfortunately Greg Bennett had to retire the Amerasian Fragrance car. Philip was then able to establish a commanding lead for the rest of the race finishing in 1st place with Craig second and Michael third.