Bringing home three medals — one gold and two bronze — Team Philippines secured 5th overall out of 24 nations at the 2026 Asia-Pacific Motorsport Championship (APMC) in Thailand.
The 18-driver contingent competed over three days at Bira Circuit in Pattaya from October 23 to 25. Leading the medal haul was Mariano Axel Nocom, who successfully defended his Junior Karting Sprint title, while Dino Russo Pastor and Vincent Reign Ardina each claimed bronze in Karting Slalom.
Selected by the Automobile Association Philippines (AAP), the country’s national sporting authority for motorsport, the team represented the country across five disciplines, going up against some of the region’s best drivers.
Axel Nocom delivered the standout performance of the weekend, dominating Junior Karting Sprint from start to finish. The young Filipino secured pole position in Qualifying before winning both Heat 1 and Heat 2. He completed his perfect weekend with a lights-to-flag victory in Sunday’s Final, crossing the finish line three seconds ahead of his nearest rival to claim his second consecutive APMC gold medal.
The Philippines also enjoyed success in Karting Slalom, with Dino Russo Pastor claiming bronze in the Senior Class and Vincent Reign Ardina securing another bronze in the Cadet Class.
Other notable performances came from Ezekiel Rafanan, who narrowly missed out on a medal after finishing 4th in Auto Gymkhana against a competitive field of 36 drivers. Akhina Therese Santos also placed 4th in Ladies’ Karting Slalom, while Zadig De Jesus finished 5th in the Junior Class.
The combined results placed Team Philippines 5th overall among 24 competing nations, with host Thailand securing the Nations Cup title, followed by Uzbekistan, Hong Kong and Chinese Taipei.
The result adds another three medals to the Philippines’ APMC record, following its championship-winning campaign in Sri Lanka in 2025, where the team collected two gold, two silver and two bronze medals.
“Supporting young, talented drivers has always been at the heart of AAP’s mission. From the qualifying rounds to the race days, we witnessed the team’s exceptional skills, talent, and determination, and they did not disappoint,” shared Mark Desales, AAP CEO. “On behalf of AAP, congratulations to the entire Team Philippines for securing 5th place overall! Thank you for making the country proud and leaving your mark once again on the international motorsport stage.”
