Hanley Toyota GT4 Effort Came Together in Three Weeks

Photo: Brian Cleary/SRO

Parker Thompson revealed that the formation of Hanley Motorsports came together in the matter of three weeks leading up to the Pirelli GT4 America season-opener at Sonoma Raceway.

The newly formed team, owned by former Porsche Deluxe Carrera Cup North America Am class race-winner Robert Hanley, features reigning Carrera Cup champion Thompson and Hanley’s son Daniel as co-drivers in the No. 999 Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO in the Silver class.

Thompson, who has been signed as a Lexus-affiliated driver for the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup races with Vasser Sullivan, explained that there was a concerted effort to keep him within the Toyota family in a second sports car racing program this year.

“I think everybody at Toyota was trying to find a way for me to stay with the brand after signing with Lexus and Vasser Sullivan,” he told Sportscar365.

“I had been coaching the Hanley’s the last few years in various different makes of cars. I coached Robert at JDX last year.

“Robert has a son, Daniel, that’s been been coming up. It’s his first year of racing but right away when we did a few tests he was pretty quick.

“I convinced them that Toyota was probably a pretty good place to make a family with.

“We entered very late. Three weeks before the start of the season, we received a car, which was used.

“All of a sudden, we’ve got quite a crew put together. Ryan Heller is our crew chief and Geoff Fickling is our engineer.

“We’ve received a few friendly hands from Vasser Sullivan, with a lot of help from Toyota as well, we were able to put the team together in under three weeks.”

Thompson and Robert Hanley were co-drivers at JDX Racing last year, where both achieved success in their respective classes.

Hanley’s season, however, was cut short due to a testing accident at Watkins Glen International in May that left him with a broken neck.

He later returned to the wheel but was taken out in a crash in testing at Sebring International Raceway in February that left him with a broken back.

“Honestly the first serious conversation [about forming the team] was when we were waiting for the results of my MRI in Florida,” Hanley told Sportscar365.

“Parker made a passing comment and said, ‘Wait a minute, let’s go back to that.’ Then we spent quite a bit of time on it and low and behold, we made the race in Sonoma.

“Getting to know Parker last year as a teammate was a large part of it and seeing his drive and commitment to be successful is impressive.

“My son started out as a tech [on a race team], so we had the opportunity to do this together for a number of years and watching him excel in that role.

“From shagging tires and chasing fuel to being my car tech, we had some success.

“The last race I was able to run in Carrera Cup, we won, and that was the day after we had been hit and taken out.

“He and another crew member worked overnight and the car was perfect when I got in and I led the whole race. That was a credit to the team that did that.

“I want to support my son and I definitely have a want a desire to [also] support Parker. And it’s fun to compete.”

Thompson, meanwhile, said helping put together a program in a Toyota helps secure his long-term commitment to the manufacturer.

“This is a huge piece to that,” he explained. “Staying in the product and staying within the family is very important to Toyota and it’s very important to me.

“There were a few other options this year that wasn’t with the product and that’s hence the reason why this deal was put together so late is that we were trying to make it happen for so long and finally it did come through.

“I think it’s important for both sides of the party to have me in a Toyota car, not only for my future. But if my future is going to be with Lexus Racing and Vasser Sullivan, this is a very important piece to that to continue to promote Toyota products.

“It’s important to learn the product too. This car, I think is really starting to come to its own, worldwide. It’s very fast.

“Toyota Gazoo Racing North America has made it very clear that they want to win races this year so for us to be a Silver class competitor, I think we have a good chance to do that for them.

“It’s also important for Daniel’s career. Daniel is [also] racing Porsche Sprint Challenge. In his first ever professional race at Sebring earlier this year he got a podium.

“I think when you take into consideration everybody’s goals, it kind of just aligns all around. It aligns for me, it aligns for Daniel to get a relationship with Toyota.

“As long as we do our part and win, I think it will be a win-win-win.”

When asked if he’ll return to the wheel following his back injury, Robert Hanley said he “intends to stay married!”

“Two [injuries] in nine months, my wife is quite frankly done,” he said. “I understand, I’m a little bit older to be doing this; I love doing it and I’ll manage it.

“I may get back behind the wheel in some track days but my days of racing are going to have to happen through these guys.”

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John