Solid senior class debut for Sy

MANILA, Philippines — Despite consistently placing within the Top 2 throughout the weekend, Ryan Sy finished fifth in the finals of the RMC International Trophy Asia – still an impressive debut for the 15-year-old racer in his first official Senior Class karting event.

Competing at the Bira International Karting Circuit in Thailand with the Kidix Asia Academy, the Filipino driver faced the challenge of heavier, faster karts and significantly tougher competition.

“Even they see a slight opening, they’ll either send it on the inside or outside depending on how brave they are. It was really difficult to fight for position on track,” said Sy, who competed against over 50 karters, including Asian and European champions vying for a spot in the Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals.

Supported by KR Global Motor Sport, KidiX Driver Performance, KidiX Asia Academy, PCRC, Domuschola International School, MAX888, WrapTech, Carmona Racetrack and the Automobile Association of the Philippines (AAP), Sy belied any concerns about his ability to compete at this level.

A suspected power issue hampered his performance, forcing him to defend against a hard-charging local GT3 driver, Ananthorn Tangniannatchai.

The fight for victory turned into a fight for survival, with Sy ultimately finishing fifth.

Despite the technical issue affecting his Finals result, Sy demonstrated his ability to compete with top-level Senior Class karters.

“It was really unfortunate to miss out on a podium given my pace this weekend. However, fifth in my first Senior race in a grid full of some of the best drivers in Asia is still a really good result,” Sy said.