Having won several titles in Philippine circuit racing, Jose Antonio “Juha” Turalba now has his eyes set on competing on the international stage. The recently-crowned SEAOIL Radical Challenge Philippines SR1 Champion has confirmed his entry into the 2026 Ferrari Challenge Europe series, where he is set to make his debut during the Le Mans 24 Hours weekend in France.
Juha will drive a Ferrari 296 Challenge prepared by Swiss outfit Emil Frey Racing. It is a track-only race car developed exclusively for Ferrari’s global one-make competition. Powered by a 700 hp 3.0L twin-turbo V6, the 296 Challenge differs from the road-going Ferrari 296 GTB by removing its hybrid system in favor of a lighter and more focused race package.
The Ferrari Challenge Europe grid is expected to feature more than 50 entries from 26 teams across four classes and two grids. Juha will compete in the Trofeo Pirelli’s Am class, the championship’s more competitive category.
Juha will join the series midway through the 2026 season, making his debut in Round 4 at the legendary Circuit de la Sarthe during the same weekend as the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The event will use the full 13.626-kilometer layout, marking one of the biggest stages of Juha’s racing career to date.
He enters the series facing a steep learning curve, with many of his competitors having more experience in both European racing and the Ferrari 296 Challenge platform. To prepare for the transition, Juha has already completed testing at Mandalika International Street Circuit in Indonesia and Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia to gain early mileage with the car ahead of his debut.
Following Le Mans, the championship heads to Portugal, Hungary, and Spain before concluding at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya during Ferrari Finali Mondiali.
2026 Ferrari Challenge Europe Race Calendar
Round 4 | June 10-13 (Circuit De La Sarthe, France)
Round 5 | July 16-19 (Autodromo Internacional Do Algarve, Portugal)
Round 6 | September 10-13 (Hungaroring, Hungary)
Round 7 | November 11-22 (Circuit de Barcelona, Spain)
Ferrari’s year-end motorsport celebration brings together competitors and machinery from across the marque’s racing programs, including Ferrari Challenge Europe, Ferrari Challenge North America, Club Competizioni GT, XX Programme, F1 Clienti, and Sport Prototipi Clienti.
Away from racing, Juha is also an aerospace engineer and FAA-certified helicopter pilot. His motorsport resume includes the 2023 Miata Spec Series title and the Golden Wheel Awards Driver of the Year recognition in 2009 following his success in Asian karting.
After reaching the top level of circuit racing in the Philippines, Juha now takes the next step onto the European stage as he prepares to represent the country in one of Ferrari’s premier international series.
Juha Turalba: “Winning the Radical Challenge Philippines confirmed that I could compete consistently at the highest level currently available in Philippine circuit racing. I’ll be working with one of Europe’s top professional racing teams and competing in an environment that represents the global standard of motorsport. That exposure is incredibly valuable for me as a driver. Ferrari Challenge Europe is a major step up, and there’s no bigger place to begin than Le Mans. I know the competition will be extremely strong, but I’ve prepared seriously for this opportunity and I’m proud to represent the Philippines on this stage.”
For more info and the latest update, follow @jturalba.motorsport on Instagram.
