After deliberating with his father, the pair opted to hedge their bets and wait for the government to open them back up. But one month after the next, it became clear that they would be there for the long-haul.

“If I had left Japan, I wouldn’t have been able to return and that is a big problem because there are six rounds of races [left]. I’m also racing in the Pinnacle Championships here, the biggest super GT [grand tourer] domestic race event. I wouldn’t be in it if I came back to Hong Kong.”

With plenty of masks and a back-pocket supply of hand sanitiser “all the time”, Thong is not fearful of the coronavirus. “It’s just part of our lives – all we can do it up our personal hygiene and that’s it. We have to learn to live with it.

“It’s just, I miss Hong Kong. I didn’t expect to stay here for six months. I want to see my friends and there are a lot of people I want to share this win with. Unfortunately, I couldn’t return,” added Thong, who is the only non-Japanese in his five-man Team Hirix Racing team (not including backroom staff).

While the quintet got off to a dream start with a first-place podium on their debut, Thong – the youngest in his team – conceded that integrating with Japanese culture took some time.

“It’s difficult, to be honest, even for myself who has been racing in Japan since 2018. For sure there are some cultural differences in terms of communication and mindset, but I think I’ve coped with it quite well. Some important team members communicate in English which made my life a lot easier. Communication-wise between engineers and drivers was OK – not ideal but it’s working,” the Audi Sport Asia driver said.

“Being in Japan is definitely not easy because I’m racing against some of its best drivers here. Some are world famous, like my experienced teammate [Shinichi] Takagi who has been racing for 30 years and won the Super GP multiple times. I learned a lot from him but at the same time, I’m also happy for myself because I’m keeping up even as a younger guy.”

Spending half the year abroad has given Thong the opportunity to not just represent his beloved home, but also reflect on the plateauing racing scene in Hong Kong. He had already raised concerns in previous chats more than three years ago, explaining that young drivers are often left with no choice but to train in China or, if as successful as Thong was, Europe.

“Japan has a long history of motorsport and it’s very big here; they can supply everything domestically through their major manufacturers and keep giving more racing opportunities to all the young drivers. For us coming from Hong Kong, motorsport is a really rare sport. I’m lucky to have support from Audi Sport Asia. That’s the biggest difference,” he said.

“I wouldn’t say I’m optimistic [about the future of racing in Hong Kong] because it’s such a small place and we still haven’t got our own car track. I mentioned it years ago: it will always be difficult for Hong Kong drivers. We have so many talents in different spots like football, tennis, badminton and swimming, so motorsport will always be the unpopular one. If there’s a message I can send to young drivers, it’s to keep on fighting.”

Thong will continue racing with the line-up for its five remaining rounds throughout Japan’s prefectures. His family and friends likewise tell him to “keep fighting” and that “I make sure I bring everything out and make the stay worth it”.

It is safe to say that Thong’s recent performance has already proven that the decision to stay was worth it – the Fuji 24-Hour also means he is the 2020 Super Taikyu Series first-round winner, thrusting his name in the Japanese spotlight.

Thong had burst onto the scene at just 16, representing Hong Kong at the Asia Formula Renault Championship, its European circuit, Formula 3, and winning the silver cup in the Blancpain GT Asia Series. He is widely considered to be the city’s brightest racing prospect.

After he explained that he is essentially competing in two championships in Japan, the other with Hong Kong veteran Marchy Lee Ying-kin’s team X Works, Thong outlined more objectives to accomplish before feeling satisfied with his resume.

“I would like to drive for a manufacturer, fully employed. That’s the goal for racing drivers. There’s still some distance, and motorsport is complicated. It’s not just about the racing. There’s a lot of connection stuff that’s going on which is sometimes out of our hands,” Thong said.