Aussie young gun Jay Robotham has claimed his second class podium from as many meetings, as the Fanatec GT World Challenge Asia Powered by AWS launched into the Chang International Circuit in Thailand over the weekend.
Driving a Lanotec Australia-backed Climax Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 with Chinese racer Min Heng, the pair registered ninth outright on Saturday and 11th on Sunday, after Robotham topped the overall time charts in Friday’s final practice session.
Lining up from 11th for the opening race, the combination finished second in Silver-Am, one position behind the Triple Eight JMR Pro-Am entry of Prince Abu Bakar Ibrahim and Luca Stolz.
For the second encounter, the outfit lined up from 16th before eventually claiming fifth in class and the first Mercedes-AMG home.
“We had a good weekend, but we just need to maximise qualifying,” said Robotham.
“In Friday practice we were quick, we saved some tyres until the end to have a qualifying simulation, but we didn’t have low fuel, so the time was pretty good.
“In qualifying, most cars ran two tyre sets, but we only ran one set, and I didn’t get a clear lap in.
“The AMGs were pretty quick, so they got BoPed for the races.
“The Saturday race was pretty straightforward, we had mega race pace, and it is always good to stand on the podium.
“On Sunday, I got a really good start and was up four or five spots, but got hit from behind twice, which broke my rear diffuser.
“From that, I was down on grip, and it probably cost me half a second a lap.
“It wasn’t too bad when the fuel came off, and we were able to pick up places when a lot of guys received drive-through penalties for going off track.”
Robotham’s next outing in the Fanatec GT World Challenge Asia will be at Fuji Raceway in Japan from June 21 to 23.
Following that outing, he will return to double duty in the Thailand Super Series at the wild Bangsaen Grand Prix on July 3-7 in the Corliss Race Engineering-prepared Super Pickup class Ford Ranger and the GTM category MARC Mustang.
