The Sepang 12H event marked Sandy's first race of the season and was also the first endurance event for Sandy in GT3 machinery. This would also be the Thai racing driver's first taste of the Mercedes AMG GT3. Sandy got to grips with the new car and found the pace quickly. "It is a slight adaptation to the driving style compared to the mid-engine cars I have become used to, but it is a welcome change and I love the challenge of adapting myself to the cars I drive. It has been a pleasure to drive the Mercedes AMG GT3 and I feel I have adapted well and feel comfortable in the car", explains Sandy.
Saturday morning saw the qualifications for the Sepang 12H take place, and Sandy was the first nominated driver for Craft Bamboo Racing. The Thai driver claimed the fastest lap in his qualification session. In the 2 remaining qualification sessions, Sandy's teammates both claimed 7th position, due to the team's strategy of saving tires for the race.
The combined qualification times of all drivers in each respective car were put together which meant the #88 Craft Bamboo Racing Mercedes AMG GT3 would start the race in 7th position, with Jeffrey Lee behind the wheel. After an impressive opening stint by the Taiwanese driver, the #88 Mercedes AMG GT3 was in 4th position. Chinese driver Jiatong Liang jumped in the car for the second stint of the race, and handed over to Sandy after his stint. With some time to gain to the leaders, the team decided to keep Sandy in the car for a double-stint, to try to close down the gap. After 2 hours and 20 minutes, the Thai driver's stint had ended and the #88 was up to 3rd position. With half the race remaining, strategies began to play out and it seemed the #88 was lacking some overall pace to the leaders. Sandy took the chequered flag in the final stint of the race to claim 5th position.
"We had some flaws in our strategy and other areas where we lost some time. Taking the positives, the team performed flawlessly in the pit-stops and we didn't lose unnecessary time, but at the end we just couldn't save our tires as well as the leaders. Nevertheless, I am happy with my performance over the weekend, and I see it as a bright introduction to the Mercedes AMG GT3. It was a pleasure to work with Craft Bamboo Racing once again, and I'm excited for the year to come", says Sandy after the race.
Sandy Kraokaew Stuvik is honored to be supported by The Pizza Company, B-Quik, the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Jet8 Aviation, Thai Airways, 4F Thailand, Dacon Trading, Thaiwings Travel Agency, the Sports Authority of Thailand, and the Royal Automobile Association of Thailand.
Find Sandy:
- Website: www.sandystuvik.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SandyStuvik/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/SandyStuvik
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Stuvikracing/videos- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sandystuvik/
- Line@: http://nav.cx/8mQwzrC
Source: Stuvik Racing Project
