Bangkok--29 Aug--DACON INSPECTION SERVICES
Sandy Kraokaew Stuvik an 18 year old Thai racing driver, who this year is driving his way towards the European Formula 3 Open Championship, is being keenly watched by the European racing community who has noted this newcomer from Thailand. Not only has he performed well over what was expected, but he is actually leading the championship with 157 pointsand only 3 race weekends left of the season.
Sandy, representing Thailand and sponsored by the Singha Corporation, the Pizza Company, Dacon Inspection Services, the Royal Automobile Association of Thailand and the Sports Authority of Thailand, has achieved one race win and has been on podium 6 times, bringing great pride to all Thai people who has heard the Thai national anthem, which had been forgotten by the motor sport society for a long time, played out loud in Europe.
Having learnt to drive gokartin Thailand since 4 years old,at age 6 in his first race he made a 3rd place podium finish. Afterwards, Sandy raced gokartsall over Thailand and Asia until he was 12 when he won the Asian Karting Championship. Achieving that gokart championship, Sandy turned his attention towards Formula racing with the dream to become an F1 racer. At 14, he spent an entire year, and all his perseverance, on improving his physical condition and practicing on circuits in Thailand, Malaysia and China in Formula BMW and Formula Renault cars in order to become a professional Formula car racer.
When he was 15 years old, he took part in the Asian Formula Renault Championship and won the first race, even though he was the youngest racer of the race and it was only his first Formula car race. Later he would go on to win the championship with podium finishes in every race, the first Thai driver to ever win this championship.
After this achievement, Sandy shifted focus towards the highest levels of racing - Europe. He signed up for the international Formula RenaultEurocupseries, a series that brought together the 36 best young drivers from all over the world. Starting racing at the European level, as the youngest driver in the field, he had to learn to race in freezing cold weather, all the circuits, tire management, car, engines and race teams. The learning curve was enormous and considering he was racing against young men with several years experienced in the series, he did well to finish 28th in his first year and 14th in his second year, consistently learning and improving his racing skills.
In 2013, after being spotted by the championship winning Italian race teamRP Motorsport, Sandy was invited to compete in the European Formula 3 Open championship. A championship that runs over 30 cars and uses the latest evolution of Dallara’s high down force F312 formula cars.
With 2 years of learning the European race craft and extensive training with Shape Driver Center in Italy, as well as coaching by Neel Jani, a former Red Bull F1 test-driver, Sandy responded by taking a 4th and a 1st place in his first Formula 3 race weekend at Paul Ricard circuit in France. He immediately took the European F3 Open championship lead and after races at Portimao, N?rburgring and Silverstone he has continued to hold on to this lead.
Even though he is the leader of the championship, Sandy does not forget to keep himself well prepared. He stated, “So far my season has been very good, I'm very happy with where I am at the moment but I also understand that it is now time to improve my results to constant podiums if I want to finish the championship in first. I am glad to not be involved in any incidents so far, and I think the consistency of the combination of the team and myself throughout the season has helped us stay where we want to stay.”
Sandy has already been approached by both GP2 teams and Formula 1 teams with the intention to bring him in as a potential Formula 1 driver in the future. At the moment he is in negotiations for participation in the GP2 series, the main feeder series for Formula 1.
Sandy himself has a single goal, which is to become a F1 racer within 3 years. Even though motorsports still does not attract a wide attention of the Thai people, Thailand now has a unique Thai formula racer whose performances are outstanding in the international level. Therefore, all Thai people are invited to be part of this success by cheering Sandy Kraokaew Stuvik on to become the first Formula 1 racer from Thailandin modern time.
The 6th round of the European Formula 3 Open championship will be held on 7th and 8th September 2013, at Spa-Francorchamps Circuit, Belgium. Please cheer Sandy from the live TV broadcast on the official website:www.live.f3open.net