It has been a unique season of racing for Red Deer’s Parker Thompson.
Without a full-time car to start the season, the 21-year-old has cobbled together quite the resume in about as many different race cars as you can imagine.
From open-wheel series to several touring series, he’s done it all and won fairly often, too. In fact, he’s hit the podium 22 times this summer, along with nine victories on four different circuits.
This weekend in Toronto will really test the young driver, as Thompson will race four times on separate series.
He sits second overall in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada standings with 176 points and will drive twice there.
Additionally, he will jump back in his #8 Abel Motorsports car for two Indy 2000 races in Toronto. He’s second in the overall standings.
Announcement regarding my 2019 race season commitments. ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/xypoYLBUd7
— Parker Thompson (@parkertracing) June 28, 2019
With four races over two days, his final race of the weekend will be number 100 of his young career.
“I’m excited about the chance to race in two different series next weekend at the Toronto Indy. I’m so blessed to have had so many opportunities in racing this far in my career,” Thompson said in a press release.
“We’ve got a great group of people coming to celebrate my 100th race milestone, but more critically, there are four important races in two series where we are contending for the overall championship.
“Alternating race cars is certainly going to test my adaptability as a driver. I’m grateful to be working with the crews of SCB Racing in GT3 Cup, and Abel Motorsports in Indy Pro 2000. I’m confident that they will give me the support we need to get a good result.”
On the Canadian Touring Car Championship (CTCC), through six races of 10 this year, Thompson is undefeated driving the #1 Audi R8 LMS GT4 of Speedstar Motorsport and New Roads Automotive Group.
And on the GT3 Cup Challenge USA circuit he won once and hit podium five times in six races.
In late June, Thompson made the decision to drop out of that series and continue with three others he has competed on and thrived in. He left that championship second in the overall points standings.
He’ll now race on the GT3 Cup Challenge Canada with Toronto’s SCB Racing, the CTCC with Speedstar Motorsport and Indy Pro 2000 with Abel Motorsports.
Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Yokohama Race 2 Highlighted by Close Racing, De Angelis’ Second Weekend Sweep of 2019 #GT3Canada
— IMSA (@IMSA) July 7, 2019
READ: https://t.co/SIfZBtYfKQ pic.twitter.com/Sge8YxufJW
The main focus for the budding star has always been the Indy Pro 2000 series and with the Indy Toronto on the weekend and other big races on the docket in July, Thompson decided to turn his focus there.
He currently sits second overall on the Indy 2000 standings and is in a tight battle for a $600,000 racing scholarship.
“As the Indy Pro 2000 championship battle heats up, it is clear that I need to devote more of my focus to that series, and the opportunity to advance in the open wheel rankings,” his statement read on June 28.
“Jeremy Dale at JDX Racing, Kevin King at Byers Porsche and the entire crew at the track have been incredible partners. This team gave me my introduction to sports car racing, and I’m so thankful for that opportunity. I’ve been fortunate to find myself with many great opportunities in racing this season. I wish them all the best in the future.”
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