Despite consistently placing within the Top 2 throughout the weekend, Ryan Sy finished 5th in the Finals of the RMC International Trophy Asia -- still an impressive debut for the 15-year-old racer in his first official Senior Class karting event.

Competing at the Bira International Karting Circuit in Thailand with the Kidix Asia Academy, the Filipino driver faced the challenge of heavier, faster karts and significantly tougher competition. 

"Even they see a slight opening, they’ll either send it on the inside or outside depending on how brave they are. It was really difficult to fight for position on track,” revealed Sy, who competed against over 50 karters, including Asian and European champions vying for a spot in the Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals.

Supported by KR Global Motor Sport, KidiX Driver Performance, KidiX Asia Academy, PCRC, Domuschola International School, MAX888, WrapTech, Carmona Racetrack and the Automobile Association of the Philippines (AAP), Sy belied any concerns about his ability to compete at this level. 

In Heat 1, he quickly moved up to P2 and maintained that position, finishing close behind Japanese karter Tomoki Terashima. He replicated this result in Heat 2, getting even closer to the leader but ultimately settling for another 2nd place.

Heat 3 required a tire conservation strategy, leading to setup and strategy changes. This prevented him from challenging for the lead, but he successfully managed tire wear and track position, holding off RMC Grand Finals champion Armand Hamilton, Hayato Miyamoto, and multiple-time Thai champion Toby Gale to secure another 2nd place finish.

These consistent 2nd-place finishes earned Sy pole position for Super Heat B on Sunday. He capitalized on this opportunity, leading from start to finish and securing his first Senior Class win with a commanding 4.887-second lead.

The win boosted Sy’s confidence heading into the Finals. However, despite starting on the front row, Ryan dropped to P4 by the end of the first lap and lost ground to the leaders. 

A suspected power issue hampered his performance, forcing him to defend against a hard-charging local GT3 driver, Ananthorn Tangniannatchai. 

The fight for victory turned into a fight for survival, with Sy ultimately finishing in 5th place.

Despite the technical issue affecting his Finals result, Sy demonstrated his ability to compete with top-level Senior Class karters. 

“It was really unfortunate to miss out on a podium given my pace this weekend. However, 5th in my first Senior race in a grid full of some of the best drivers in Asia is still a really good result. Looking forward to the rest of the year as we have more races in the region planned out with some races in Europe. Our ultimate goal is to learn by competing in strong grids and work our way to the front,” Sy said.