Honda Racing Indonesia Unveils Driver Development Strategy and 2026 Driver Line-up

JAKARTA, Jakartaweekly.com—Honda Racing Indonesia (HRI) has announced its driver lineup and racing strategy for the 2026 season, with a strong focus on nurturing young talent and strengthening the team’s identity. The announcement was made during a press conference held at Honda Culture at Vault Automotive Museum.

One of the new initiatives introduced by HRI this season is the establishment of HRI Team Management, a driver development platform designed to create a more structured pathway for nurturing racing talent.

The program will provide opportunities for young drivers to progress from racing simulators and karting to touring car competition in the Mandalika Festival of Speed (MFoS).

As the first driver to join the program, HRI introduced Rachel Cia, who will compete in the ITCR 1.500 class behind the wheel of a Honda City Hatchback RS. Rachel is best known as a female drifter and the winner of the 2023 Women’s Drift Challenge. The 2026 season will mark her debut in touring car racing with Honda Racing Indonesia.

Honda Racing Indonesia Director Alvin Bahar said the arrival of new talent is part of the team’s efforts to ensure continuity amid the ever-evolving motorsport landscape. According to him, this season represents an important milestone as a new generation steps forward to carry on the culture and spirit of Honda Racing Indonesia.

“Every season brings different challenges and dynamics. However, what never changes is the spirit of the people within this team to keep learning, keep improving, and continue giving their best,” Alvin said in a statement released in Jakarta on Saturday, May 30, 2026.

In addition to introducing a new driver, HRI has retained the championship-winning lineup from last season. Alvin Bahar will once again compete in the ITCR Seeded A class using the Honda Civic Type R FL5. The 2026 season marks his 24th year with HRI, during which he has amassed 13 national championship titles.

Meanwhile, Avila Bahar will continue competing in the ITCR 1.200 Seeded A class with the Honda Brio RS. The young driver has collected five national championship titles since beginning his career through the Honda Brio Speed Challenge in 2016.

In the same category, Andri Abirezky has moved up to the Master class with the Honda Brio RS. Having joined HRI in 2024, he secured the ITCR 1.200 Seeded B national championship in his debut season and recorded the fastest lap time in the fourth round of MFoS 2025.

Yulian Karfili, Communication Strategy Sub-Division Head of PT Honda Prospect Motor, said motorsport remains an important platform for Honda’s technology development and character building. According to him, racing not only tests speed but also the ability to continuously learn and adapt to change.

Since entering Indonesian motorsport in 2002, Honda Racing Indonesia has collected 24 national championship titles in the Indonesia Sentul Series of Motorsport (ISSOM). In 2025, the team also secured several national titles in its debut appearance at the Mandalika Festival of Speed, including championships in ITCR 1.200 Seeded A, ITCR 1.200 Seeded B, ITCR 3.600 Seeded A, as well as two constructor titles.

For the 2026 season, HRI has also unveiled a new visual identity featuring a predominantly black-and-red livery that will be used across its race cars. The new design symbolizes the team’s renewed spirit and marks a new chapter in the development of Honda Racing Indonesia in the national motorsport arena.

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