B-Quik Racing is counting down to the start of the Thailand Super Series season which will kick off at Chang International Circuit in Buriram later this week, 27-30 April, where we will field our biggest and strongest entry ever.
We approach the new season in an upbeat and ambitious frame of mind following a very strong finish to the 2016 racing season that saw us winning the prestigious Sepang 12 Hours last December and then taking a triple Super Car victory at the rescheduled Bangsaen Grand Prix back in February thanks to the efforts of Darryl O’Young who won all three races to make it an historic eight wins in a row for B-Quik Racing.
The biggest key change for 2017 is to step up our commitment to run the Audi R8 LMS Cup in Super Car GTM. Henk J. Kiks and Daniel Bilski will continue for another year in the cars but the team has acquired two further examples of the German sportscar and we will run a third R8 for the full season for Shaun Varney, who steps up the gears after a partial programme with us last year on his rookie season in Thailand Super Series. The 23-year-old New Zealand driver impressed the team last year so we’re pleased to have him back with us and to be able to put an Audi programme together for him.
That gives us a very well rounded three strong Audi lineup which will compete in the newly designated Super Car GTM Plus category and we will be looking to make a strong showing in the Teams’ competition. Henk will be starting his third year in Super Car GTM driving the Audi while Daniel starts his second year in the ‘Cup’ machine. Both were consistent podium finishers last year so with Shaun adding to the mix we believe we have a very good driver roster for Super Car GTM Plus. The team is currently evaluating adding further cars to its three Audi entries during the course of the season.
In Super Car GTC Attapot Sriprom will lead the line in our Porsche 996 GT3 Cup entries, the Thai driver now starting his second season in GTC. Having graduated straight from running in Super Eco during 2015, Attapot got to grips superbly with the Porsche and last year he scored points in every race bar one (where he was hit in the rear by another competitor in an incident he was blameless for) and took several trips to the podium, culminating in a maximum points score during the final race of the year in Bangsaen. That helped him to fourth place in the final championship standings and he will be looking to build on his successful Super Car rookie year.
The team has gone through significant organisational and structural evolution during the close season as we prepare to run our expanded racecar portfolio. The engineering line-up under Crew Chief Idriss Bin Ibrahim has been restructured and our crew members will be continuing to support other teams in Asian motorsport championships this season. We will also provide and support a Porsche 997 GT3 Cup in Super Car GTC.
Finally, our two Honda Brios will return to Super Eco action in the hands of Narin Naeosathon and Sathaporn Veerachue. The pair were chosen to drive our smallest cars last year following a rigorous ‘driver search’ programme that was conducted within the company. Judging by the results they turned in during the 2016 season it looks like we have hit on a couple of ‘stars of tomorrow’ and so we expect to see Narin and Sathaporn knuckle down for their second season and continue their learning curve, starting with this weekend’s action.
Henk J. Kiks: “We’re really looking forward to the new season and the team has undergone a lot of changes since Bangsaen back in February, not least that we will expand to run three Audis with Shaun moving up from the Porsche and we expect good things from him this year. That will give us a rounded line-up to target Teams’ points from the off. We’re also excited by the potential of GTM Plus and look forward to this category providing a new top step for Super Car GTM that will allow teams to rise to a higher level and we are confident that the organisers can ensure the BoP allows everyone to be competitive. For myself I’m excited to be back in the Audi and I will be chasing the podium this weekend.”
Daniel Bilski: “I’m looking for an even stronger TSS season this year. Last year I finished P4 overall in the championship which was a big step up from my first season, but still short of my championship goal. I started race two in Bangsaen in P2 overall in the championship but a puncture in Race 2 and unfortunate contact in Race 3 hurt my championship finale. I’ve learned from it and am determined to start the season faster, stronger and better than last year. I learned a lot last year, not only the circuits but just how far I can push the Audi R8 LMS but myself as well. I learn more about the car and my own driving every outing, so I can’t wait to get the Bumblebee back on track. It’s great to see the TSS growing and the introduction of the GTM Plus category is a great step forward. With B-Quik fielding three Audis this season, as well as our Porsches, it shows we are there as a serious team title and driver championship contenders. This year will be even tougher than last year, with new cars, strong drivers, and bigger grids … and I can’t wait for it to start.”
Shaun Varney: “I’m really looking forward to stepping up into the Audi R8 this season after three TSS rounds in the Porsche last year. The Audi will be a big step up and I will need to come to grips with the amount of aero these cars have. This being said I am confident we will be at the pointy end of the field and have a good chance of landing on the podium. Having previously driven a few Thai tracks and done some testing in other GT3 cars I expect to be competitive early on.”
Attapot Sriprom: “I’m very excited for the upcoming races. The technicians assessed all the problems from last year to analysis and improve the car. For me, I have watched the videos from 2016 and see what I can improve my driving. I’ll join in Super Car GTC in the Porsche 996 again and I expect to get good results and stand on the podium this year.”
