It wasn't too many years ago that Suttipong Smittachartch, a Thai boy in a foreign country, ripped up the streets of Japan in a wildly modified machine; its only purpose, to handle better and go faster.

Suttipong was obsessed with cars and tweaking every ounce of speed out of them. He'd persuaded his family to send him to Japan for higher studies, but he cast aside a bachelor's degree in architecture and never used that knowledge. He sensed the pace of change in the Japanese motor-sports industry. It was a country where cars came cheaply; it was where Suttipong learned to be a racer.

Then, Toyota Racing Development, or TRD, a Japanese automotive modifier, asked him if he was interested in opening a branch in Thailand. TRD Thailand, a subsidiary of TRD Japan, was established in 1986, and Suttipong is its president.

The company produces aerodynamic kits for all Toyota models, along with engine and suspension modifications to improve performance and handling. It also has modification and parts-production centres in Thailand and is responsible for organising the Toyota Vios One Make Race, a marketing effort by Toyota to increase brand awareness through motor sports.

"We modify all cars produced by Toyota. Many of the modifications are developed in Japan, but products like the Vigo pickup and Fortuner SUV are not available in Japan, so we develop those parts ourselves," Suttipong says.

TRD avoids modifying other makes of cars and Suttipong says most such inquiries are directed to other workshops. Many of TRD's customers simply want their cars to look better and do not modify the engines. As a result, the engine warranty is not void.

"When customers want their engines modified we always try to explain the consequences. We explain that putting more strain on engines increases the chances of engine breakdown and the whole vehicle is prone to more defects from dealing with the pressures of additional performance. The vehicle will need servicing more regularly as wear and tear increases. Most importantly the three-year, 100,000-kilometre warranty provided by Toyota is void," Suttipong says.

TRD's strong presence in Thailand is due to Toyota's support. Suttipong says the company realises that its customer base is very wide, from housewives to street racers, so providing an option to individualise cars is very important. TRD commonly attracts brand-new car-owners who want aerodynamic upgrades along with interior upgrades like bucket seats and a more sporty appearance. A more inspiring sound provided by a sports exhaust is also a common request.

Thailand is believed to be the biggest market for motor sports in Southeast Asia. TRD Thailand sold 200,000 aero kits last year, including parts exported to Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia and Hong Kong. The Malaysian market is dominated by local cars like Proton and Perodua, while Singapore is too small.

Suttipong believes there is still a lot of room for growth in the motor-sport industry and the main problem is a lack of spirit among younger drivers.

"In Thailand the younger racers focus only on winning. It is not the racing spirit that drives them, and they are always disappointed if they don't win.

"However, that trend is changing, and a new generation of racers who are starting their training at eight years of age will definitely bring a welcome change to the industry," he says, adding that help from the government and car companies is needed to make motor sports a success in Thailand. Private companies, on their own, do not have the sort of capital needed for motor-sport projects.

And, of course, Suttipong himself still races. He drives a modified Toyota Corolla Altis in the Thailand Supercar race.

He says his dream for TRD Thailand is to design its own supercar. The company has, in the past, developed a car, but it was based on the Toyota MR-S. He hopes to develop a new high-performance vehicle from the ground up, using a modified Toyota engine.

Vijo Varghese

The Nation