Honda Racing Indonesia unveils Rachel Cia for 2026 season
Honda Racing Indonesia (HRI) has introduced Rachel Cia as a new driver for the 2026 racing season, part of the team’s regeneration strategy to develop young talent in national motorsport. Yulian Karfili, Communication Strategy Sub-Division Head at PT Honda Prospect Motor, stated that racing is crucial for Honda’s technology development and innovation, serving as a reminder to adapt and grow amid challenges. “For Honda, racing is integral to developing and proving technology, while also reminding us to keep evolving under pressure and change. In racing, it’s not just about speed but also the ability to learn, adapt, and progress without losing identity,” Karfili said during a press conference at Honda Culture at Vault Automotive Museum in Jakarta on Friday.
Cia will compete in the ITCR 1.500 class using a Honda City Hatchback RS. Previously known as a female drifter and winner of the 2023 Women’s Drift Challenge, her arrival marks the start of HRI Team Management, a talent development platform designed to create a structured racing career path. The programme offers development opportunities from racing simulators and go-karts to touring cars in the Mandalika Festival of Speed (MFoS), with top talents eligible for international events like the Mandalika 6 Hours and Sepang 1,000 KM.
HRI Director Alvin Bahar said the current season is exciting due to new generations of drivers bringing fresh energy to the team. “We are proud that Honda Racing Indonesia is built not only by on-track results but also by the hard work, loyalty, and passion of our team members who have been with Honda for years,” he added.
Alongside Cia, HRI retains drivers from the previous successful season. Alvin Bahar will compete in the ITCR Seeded A class using a Honda Civic Type R FL5, marking his 24th season with HRI after driving six different Honda models and winning 13 national titles. Avila Bahar will race in the ITCR 1.200 Seeded A class with a Honda Brio RS. Starting his career in the 2016 Honda Brio Speed Challenge at age 14, he now has five national titles to his name. Andri Abirezky has moved up to the Master category with a Honda Brio RS. Joining HRI in early 2024, he immediately won the ITCR 1.200 Seeded B national championship in his debut season. He also recorded the fastest lap in the fourth round of MFoS 2025 with a time of 25 minutes 8.860 seconds and has two national titles in his career.
Since entering Indonesian motorsport in 2002, HRI has secured 24 national titles in ISSOM competitions. In 2025, HRI made its debut at the MFoS at Mandalika Circuit, winning National Championships in ITCR 1.200 Seeded A, ITCR 1.200 Seeded B, ITCR 3.600 Seeded A, and Team Constructor titles for both ITCR 1.200 and 3.600 classes. This season, HRI also unveiled a new black-and-red livery with a more aggressive design, symbolising the team’s renewed spirit and energy on the track.