Racing in the Hilux Revo One Make Race category over 20 laps on Nov 17, Phuket native Kittisak “Ou” Seangsalak emerged victorious with a final time of 26 minutes and 31 seconds to claim the winner’s trophy and end the season in style.
Driving a Toyota BKC x Voltronic model designed by his own company “House Of Cars” in collaboration with the Vangang Garage team in the GD Super Power 2,400cc engine class, Kittisak also recorded the fastest lap with a time of 1m 18 secs.
His dazzling drive saw him take the chequered flag ahead of second-placed Thibodin Santhadkha of Trane Lubricants Nexzter Racing (26m 39secs) and third-placed Naruchit Kiatmanee of TD SP Auto Racing (26m 55secs).
The result at the 700th Anniversary Chiang Mai Stadium was the perfect end to the season for 45-year-old Kittisak, who also recorded second place finishes in both the Chonburi and Phuket legs of the national tour championship earlier this year.
High-octane
The Chiang Mai event was the culmination of a five-race season which started in Buriram in June before taking in Chonburi in July, Phuket in August, and Buriram again in October.
The Phuket event on the weekend of Aug 16-17 took place on the streets of Saphan Hin and drew a large crowd of motorsports enthusiasts who savoured the high-octane track action and the array of live entertainment features around the race. Phuket Governor of the time, Sophon Suwannarat, estimated the weekend’s festivities generated more than B80 million for the local economy.
The opening ceremony of the 18th annual Chiang Mai race was held on Nov 16, overseen by Natthon Srinivet, Assistant Managing Director of Toyota Motor Thailand Co., Ltd., and Wiraphong Ritrod, Deputy Governor of Chiang Mai Province, in addition to selected guests from local governement and the private sector, spectators and the media.
Following the opening remarks from Mr Natthon and Mr Wiraphong the Thai national anthem was played to allow all present to express condolences and gratitude to Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother, who passed away on Oct 24.
In addition to the Hilux Revo One Make Race won by Kittisak, other categories included the Toyota Yaris One Make Race, the Toyota Yaris ATIV Lady One Make Race and the Toyota Corolla Altis GR Sport One Make Race.
The event also showcased Toyota’s latest Hilux Travo and bZ4X models, while highlighting the company’s commitment to carbon neutrality, with the ATIV and Yaris Carbon Neutral Fuel models participating.
Once the racing was concluded there was a GR Performance and GR Triple Drift show featuring “drifting performances” by professional drivers including Pae and Pond, Drive to Drift, and Pete Thongchua.
Wikipedia describes drifting as “a driving technique where the driver purposely oversteers, with loss of traction, while maintaining control and driving the car through the entirety of a corner or a turn.”
A mini-concert including artists such as Ally, Zani, Pop Pongkool, and Oat Pramote, then took place while a range of booths selling customised merchanise and authentic souvenirs from the Toyota Gazoo Racing collection were on offer for race fanatics to snap up.
The organisers confirmed that the Toyota Gazoo Racing Thailand tour will return in 2026 and prove a new challenge that is bigger and more exciting than ever before, with dates and locations to be confirmed shortly.
Integrity
This will no doubt be music to Kittisak’s ears as he turns his attention to next season and strives to secure even more silverware for his trophy cabinet.
Growing up in Phuket, Kittisak first found his racing legs at the age of nine as he rode his tricycle throughout local streets and from which he delivered cooking gas canisters to customers for his family’s business.
Years later he established a mobile phone business, which he ran successfully for 20 years before turning his attention to his true love of motorsports. He set up a second-hand car trading dealership called “House of Cars” which quickly became a respected and established busness, with several outlets across the island thanks to Kittisak’s commitment to integrity and the highest levels of customer service.
Dealing with cars on a daily basis also allowed Kittisak the opportunity to learn the finer aspects of the motorsports craft at close quarters as he set about building his own supercar that could eventually compete in official competitions.
Ten years later and the speedster hasn’t looked back as he continues to burn rubber on the track, receive plaudits and take home trophies.