Filipino karter Ryan Sy delivered a strong comeback drive at the 2025 Macau Kart Grand Prix, held last April at the Coloane Karting Track. Despite a weekend marked by setbacks, a well-executed strategy in the Finals saw him climb into the Top 5 and secure a spot on the podium.
Coinciding with Round 2 of the ROK Cup Asia, the event brought together 34 of the best Senior karters in the region, including WSK regulars Sun Yibei and Tang Zixuan. Undeterred by the stacked field, Ryan qualified a strong P5 — just 0.254 secs off pole.
However, his weekend took an early hit in Heat 1, where he was caught in a multi-kart incident at the start. Unable to avoid the chaos, Ryan made contact which later earned him a drop bumper penalty. The damage also affected his pace, forcing him to limp to the finish in 19th place.
He rebounded in Heat 2, showing greater composure at the start. Holding firm through the opening laps, Ryan kept his ground and brought the kart home in 6th, limiting the impact of the earlier setback.
Starting from P12 in the Super Heat, Ryan had a clean launch and began climbing the order. But an overambitious move mid-race led to a spin, dropping him to the back of the field. Still, he fought back hard to salvage 16th at the flag.
After all the earlier missteps, the 15-year-old approached the 20-lap Finals with caution and a clear strategy. Instead of going gung-ho at the start and risking a DNF, he conserved his tires to allow a late-race charge. The strategy paid off. He avoided the opening-lap chaos and gained a spot to P11. Ryan then methodically picked off his rivals, moving up a place almost every other lap. With better tire management than his rivals, he broke into the top 5 in the closing stages and held off a late challenge to secure 5th — just 0.116 secs ahead of 6th in a tense photo finish.
His impressive recovery drive earned him a place on the podium, highlighting his talent on the international stage.
Beyond the track, Ryan was also honored at the AAP 29th Annual Motorsport Awards, receiving a Plaque of Citation for his participation in the 2024 IAME Series Asia — a testament to his growing presence in the regional karting scene.
Ryan Sy: “It feels good to be able to compete on the world stage and race on different tracks. It’s also rewarding to see my improvements over time, gaining more and more experience at every race. Of course the goal is to win, but the learnings are just as valuable.”
Ryan Sy is supported by KR Global Motor Sport, KidiX Driver Performance, KidiX Asia Academy, Bell Helmets, PCRC, Domuschola International School, MAX888, and WrapTech.
For more info and updates, Like the Ryan Sy Racing page on Facebook and follow @ryan_sy_racing on Instagram.
