Phuket
Thailand Super Series at Sepang: Mission Accomplished

PHUKET: The new era of Thai motor sports is already a thriving reality as the drivers, teams, support personnel and racing cars have made their way back from Sepang, which hosted the first ever round of Thailand Super Series (TSS) from May 25-26.
Not just a Super Car: Toyota’s 86 has arrived in Super 2000

The Toyota Team Thailand-built car was fresh out of the box in Sepang, the Malaysian circuit’s practice sessions acted as its shakedown. It was a tough weekend, but Manat made the chequered flag in both races, meaning overall reliability was already in play.
“I [have] a problem because it’s the first car; the gears and the suspension [are] not right as well,” he noted, before adding, “I have too much over steer.” Manat is now looking forward positively. “I think [at the] next race at Bira I will be better for sure.”
Nürburgring to Sepang: two weekends, two podiums
Kiki, with the Bonk Motorsport crew, thrilled his army of Thai fans by bringing back a trophy from the Nürburgring in a truly stunning class win.
It was a win that Kiki and his hard battling teammates, Germans Andreas Möntmann Andreas and Jens Moetefindt, and former British Formula Renault champion, Adam Christodoulou, had to fight for on a track that is considered so dangerous that Formula 1 stopped using it nearly four decades ago. It was also the ultimate warm up for his return to Super Car. Kiki joined the Lamborghini ranks in TSS in a Gallardo GT3 having dropped down to Super 2000 for the last couple of seasons.
Kiki was soon being strapped into the cockpit of the Gallardo GT3 – ready for his first race in the Italian sports car and his first race at Sepang. In Race 1, he powered the Reiter Engineering-built Lamborghini to the podium at his first attempt – that made it two trips to the podium in consecutive weekends.
The ‘Lotus Cup Thailand’ made the 1,500 km trip to Malaysia for the Thailand Super Series opener; in fact the ‘One Make Race’ championship will be supporting all four rounds this year. Alongside the regular TSS machines from the Super Car, Super 2000, Super 1500 and Super Production categories. Nine examples of the Elise 1.6 made the journey to Sepang Circuit for the first round of the Lotus Cup Thailand 2013, which is organized by the official Lotus importer, Niche Cars.
A very comfortable double victory went to the OMP Vattana Motorsport-entry driven by Jack, who simply picked up where he had left off at the end of last year. In Race 1, he had 36.9 seconds in hand at the end of the 10 laps; in Race 2, he dropped 10 seconds during the first sector of the first lap and that left him ninth out of nine cars. However, it was all to easy work for ‘Super Jack’ to climb back through the field and he was out in front, with 17.1 seconds in hand, by the time the chequered flag waved.
A sign of the changing times in Thai racing is the arrival of a new-generation of sophisticated race cars, developed to exacting FIA regulations. Alongside these new machines, such as the Lamborghini’s Gallardo GT3 and Ferrari’s 458 GT3, comes an extensive support package in terms of spare parts, dedicated engineers, databanks and built-up knowledge.
One brand name making its Thai racing debut in Sepang, and at the same time gaining a whole lot of public attention, was Aston Martin. The project was the hard work of Prantarit ‘Payu’ Nerngchamnong who wanted to put the English luxury sports car brand onto the Thai grid for the first time. This Prodrive-built racecar also came with full support.
Two factory engineers, led by Julian Clayton, Aston Martin GT4 Product Support Engineer, were sent over from the UK to oversee proceedings and develop an understanding of this program. Julian was quick to admit that they had started on the back foot in terms of the time frame and the main objectives would simply be to bed the project in and learn as much as possible.
“The car arrived quite late, we all arrived quite late, it was very last minute,” said Julian.
“We’re using the weekend to find our feet and we’re certainly enjoying ourselves, we will take positives away from this and set the bar for the future.”
Attention will now turn to the second round at the long-time ‘home’ of Thai motorsports, Bira Circuit, on July 13-14.
For more information visit Thailand Super Series.
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Thailand
UPDATE: Confusion over Covid-19 tests for visa extensions

UPDATE: Khaosod English removed a story on Covid-19 tests for those seeking visa extensions and replaced it with the article “Immigration backtracks on plan to require Covid-19 test for visa extensions.” They say the previous report sparked uproar among expats and immigration police spokesperson has since apologised for the misunderstanding.
Original article…
Confusion reigns today over whether Covid-19 tests will be required for visa extensions. While The Phuket News spoke with an immigration official who said “no… you don’t need a Covid-19 test to extend your visa or apply for a work permit”, Khaosod English wrote an article headlined “Covid-19 test will be mandatory for all visa extension”.
The Thaiger also contacted a respected visa agent who said Covid-19 tests are, indeed, now required for applying for both visa extensions and work permits, even renewals.
The Thai Immigration Bureau has not made any official announcement regarding Covid-19 tests. Talk about Covid-19 tests for foreigners was brought up after a rule was published in the Royal Gazette last month, officially adding Covid-19 to a list of dangerous diseases, prohibiting those infected with any of the listed illnesses from entering the country.
Immigration Police Bureau spokesperson Archayon Kraithong told Khaosod English that proof of a negative Covid-19 test will be required for visa extensions, regardless of how long a foreigner has stayed in Thailand. On the other hand, Phuket immigration deputy chief Nareuwat Putthawiro told The Phuket News that Covid-19 tests will not be required for visa extensions or work permit applications.
“We do not require any medical documents for an application to renew a visa, because there are few foreigners’ movements outside Phuket. Most of them live and work in Phuket, and have done so before the new wave of Covid-19… So they do not have to worry about it. Everything is still the same.”
Medical exams are currently already required for most work permit applicants (including tests for Syphilis and Elephantiasis). A visa agent told The Thaiger that Covid-19 tests have been added to the medical examination requirements for work permit applicants. But, on the other hand, Phuket immigration says they DO NOT require Covid-19 tests for work permit applicants.
“We have not received any notices about Covid-19 requirements for processing applications to renew visas. If we do receive any such orders, we will let the public know.”
It isn’t the first time there has been conflicting statements coming out of different officials, in different immigration offices on different days.
SOURCES: Phuket News| Khaosod English
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Coronavirus (Covid-19)
Visitors to Phuket from “highest risk” areas must show Covid-19 test results

People arriving Phuket from the “highest risk” areas are required to take a swab test by the staff at emergency operation centres (EOC) or show the test result document endorsed by the EOC staff made within 72 hours of their arrival. The revised order is effective from now until January 31, according to the Phuket Governor.
Those people who are on a brief business trip to Phuket need to show certificates from their employers describing the reason and necessity of their trips. If they want to leave their accommodations, they have to make a request to the EOC and clearly explain the reason as well as the time and destination. Visitors are also asked to avoid going to the community areas to avoid crowded gatherings.
It is noted that the revised order by the governor has not been officially promoted by the Phuket office of the Public Relations Department. However, all visitors are still asked to register online via the Mor Chana contact tracing application and via www.gophuget.com according to the order re-issued on Friday.
SOURCE: Phuket News
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Tourism
The road less travelled – trekking to the Kalim Viewpoint

There are two well known ways to get from Kathu to Kalim or Kamala – one is across the Patong Hill, and the other is much longer, through Srisoonthorn and along the coastal road from Surin the Kamala (very scenic too).
But there’s also another way. Also very scenic but will take you about 2 hours through dense forest although there is a well-worn walking track. The track will take you from Kathu up to the Kalim Viewpoint. From here you can head back to Kathu along a different path, or down into Kalim, near Patong.
Starting about halfway down Soi Namtok in Kathu, you head up a nondescript road past the Flying Hanuman zipline attraction, although there’s no sign at the entrance to the soi (below). About the first kilometre is paved but then becomes increasingly ‘agricultural’ as you get higher into the hills, heading towards the Kalim Viewpoint. There’s also a small temple on the way up.
PHOTO: The start of the trek, a small soi off Soi Namtok – Google Maps
It will take around 2 hours to trek up to the Kalim Viewpoint. The walking is quite strenuous and you’ll need to be wearing the right shoes and take plenty of water – there’s no 7/11s on the way! As you get nearer the top, to the viewpoint, the track becomes less drivable although the track is still quite open and easy to follow. If you’re feeling a bit lazy you can take a motorbike about halfway up the road until you’ll need to proceed on foot from there.
From the Kalim Viewpoint you can see across Kalim to Patong Bay and the land that stretches along the bay south of Patong Beach. From the top you can either make your way down to Kalim or another exit along the Kalim-Kamala Road, just near the Iguana Beach Club.
You can also head back another way to Kathu, a longer return track that skirts around the top of the Kathu Waterfall. A lot of that track gets very narrow and parts of it are up and down the hills, some of it very steep.
The views are amazing and you get to see a vast swathe of Phuket, still very close to popular locations like Patong, Kamala and Kathu, but untouched by any civilisation.
You’ll need to be in reasonable health to take on the trip but, just to go up to the Kalim Viewpoint and back, or down into Kalim, should take around 5 hours in total. On a scale of 1 – 5 for difficulty, we’d rate it a 3. An easy trek for experienced people but will need a bit of planning if you’re not an experienced trekker.
Even on a hazy day, as it was today, the views were amazing. But best to start off early morning when the weather is cooler. Well worth the time for the views and the opportunity to see more of Phuket, away from the bars and beaches.
Thanks to BT for the pics and information.
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