Southeast Asia's Rally Ascent — Indonesia and Thailand Are Drawing a New Map
More APRC entries, growing domestic leagues, shifting sponsorship landscape — regional motorsport is changing
The 2026 FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship season has recorded its highest Southeast Asian entry count in five years. With Indonesia and Thailand at the forefront, the infrastructure of domestic rally competition in the region is developing at pace. WSJ reports on what is driving the change.
Indonesia's rally scene has undergone rapid growth since 2024. The Indonesia National Rally Championship (INRC), restructured after a period of fragmentation, has more than doubled its registered driver count from approximately 40 in 2022 to over 90 in 2026. The central driver of this growth is a shift in domestic marketing strategy among automotive manufacturers. Toyota Indonesia and Mitsubishi have each launched driver development programmes offering vehicle and cost support to young competitors, and rival manufacturers have begun following suit. The reduction in effective entry costs is the primary factor in the expanding participation base.
This column space is a paid placement for sponsor companies. Exposure across all WSJ articles, distributed in 23 languages worldwide.
Inquire About Placement →Share this article
Comments
0Related Articles
WRX का अंत — विश्व रैलीक्रॉस चैंपियनशिप Euro RX बनी, नए युग की शुरुआत
FIA विश्व रैलीक्रॉस चैंपियनशिप 2025 सीजन के बाद समाप्त हुई और 2026 में FIA यूरोपीय रैलीक्रॉस चैंपियन…
The Global Expansion of Electric Motorsport — From Formula E to EV Rally, a 2026 Status Report
In 2026, FIA-sanctioned electric motorsport categories have grown to twelve worldwide. Formula E's e…
Women Drivers on the Rise — The Wave Spreading Through Global Motorsport in 2026
Women drivers are a growing presence in global motorsport in 2026. FIA Women in Motorsport Commissio…
FOUNDING READER
This journal exists because 100 people believed in it before the world did.
Seat #001 could be yours.