Bathurst Wildcard to Thailand Ranger
Supercars young gun Jay Robotham is heading back to Asia to contest this year’s Super Pickup category in the Thailand Super Series.
After last year sharing the Caltex Young Stars wildcard at the Bathurst 1000 with Matt Chahda, Robotham has been picked up by the Ford/CRE squad to pilot a tough-looking Ranger.
The four-round series features meets at the Chang International Circuit, with a highlight being the mid-year Bangsaen Grand Prix, contested on a wild beachside street circuit.
The Thailand Super Series is a homecoming of sorts for the 20-year-old, who claimed victory in the 2019 TA2 Asia Series.
Robotham has already tried out the Ranger at a test day at the Bira Circuit, although he will have his work cut out at this weekend’s opening round, where a remarkable 48-truck field has entered.
“It’s good fun to be heading back to Thailand – the Pickups are pretty loose to drive when the boost is wound up, it’s a lot like a Trans Am car with a lot of sliding around,” said Robotham.
“It’s a really competitive series with a lot of manufacturer involvement, and all of the cars are slightly different, so they have various strengths and weaknesses.
“Chang is the MotoGP track – it’s wide open, and track limits are pretty interesting at times.
“Bangsaen on the other hand is one of the coolest tracks I’ve ever driven.
“There’s a section of track that’s under permanent yellow flags, and it’s just walls; there is no runoff anywhere.
“It’s located at the beach not far from Pattaya, it has free entry, so the crowd is massive, and it’s generally a crazy event.
“I can’t wait to get over there and get started!”
A race winner in the Super2 series last season, this year, Robotham made a cameo start in Newcastle, while he currently sits third in the National Trans Am Series after a solid opening to his campaign at Symmons Plains.
He has also been logging miles in the Hyundai Excels, a category that provided multiple successes in his formative years, plus the Bathurst 6 Hour, where he campaigned a Renault Megane, following 12 months on from his Class D success aboard the BPRO Toyota 86.
Elsewhere, Robotham swept the season wins in the 2020 Super3 series, while he has also struck success in Toyota 86 single-make competition on both sides of the Tasman.
Robotham’s Super Pickup title tilt carries backing from Ford, CRE, Supavut Industry, Liqui Moly, Australian company Lanotec, and Dana.
Mark Walker (administrator)
A vastly experienced Motorsport Public Relations operator, journalist, commentator and photographer, Mark brings his unique angle to The Race Torque in both words and imagery. As well as serving as our key photographer on the ground at major events around Australia (and overseas), Walker will often chime in with his unique and pin-point sharp viewpoint of the racing world via the keyboard too.
