Breaking: Honda One Make Race 2025 crowns champions after eight-race season
The Honda One make Race 2025 concluded its eight-race cycle with a year‑end awards ceremony that crowned champions across multiple categories. The season opened at the Chang International Circuit in Buriram Province adn culminated last october at the Songkhla Grand prix in songkhla Province, delivering a showcase of talent from veteran drivers to rising stars in the local motorsport scene. Central to the night was the Honda City Hatchback One Make Race 2025, where the top honors went to a standout manual-transmission champion who also earned a shot at international competition.
In the Honda City Hatchback One Make Race 2025, Golf Prapoj Chuenwijit emerged as the overall champion in the manual transmission class, securing a berth to compete in the 2025 Super Taikyu series at Fuji International Speedway in Japan. The runner-up spots featured notable names from Autobacs,including wee Thanasiwanat Pongsinnat-achan and Erk Wasitphon Phitakwongsaporn,both highlighted for their momentum throughout the season. The season also spotlighted Kaofang Piyawadee Phruthisarn, a rising female driver associated with A Motorsport Racing Team Tune by OP.
In the Automatic Transmission division, the overall champion was Yot Tasanai Pattanakul of the Armstrong Racing Team. He was followed by Set Waldron of Bendix SRT Racing as the first runner-up and Chris Thitsanapat Yimcharoen of PT Autobacs as the second runner-up. The Honda Club class produced its own notable battles,with hathai Chaiyawan taking the Open category crown and Ananthorn Tangniannatchai and banpot Uetrakul finishing as the first and second runners-up,respectively. In the Honda New Generation category, Kaofang Piyawadee Phruthisarn again featured prominently, with Manachai Srirao and Fsak Nusairam finishing as the first and second runners-up.The Honda legend Single Cam class was won by Sirapop Suwannadet, followed by Siranai Lekdam and Peeraphet Burapharat as the runners-up.
Key results at a glance
| Class | Champion | 1st Runner-up | 2nd Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honda City Hatchback One Make Race (Manual) | Golf Prapoj Chuenwijit | Wee Thanasiwanat Pongsinnat-achan | Erk Wasitphon Phitakwongsaporn |
| Automatic Transmission (Overall) | Yot Tasanai Pattanakul | Set Waldron | Chris Thitsanapat Yimcharoen |
| Honda Club Open | Hathai Chaiyawan | Ananthorn Tangniannatchai | Banpot Uetrakul |
| Honda New Generation | Kaofang Piyawadee Phruthisarn | Manachai Srirao | Fsak Nusairam |
| Honda Legend Single Cam | Sirapop Suwannadet | Siranai Lekdam | Peeraphet Burapharat |
Analysts emphasize that the Honda One Make race series remains a vital platform for regional drivers to showcase talent, with pathways opening to endurance racing and other international events, including the Super Taikyu championship. The season’s standout moments highlighted not onyl established names but also the rising generation of drivers making a mark on the region’s racing map.
For context on international endurance racing, see official coverage from FIA and ongoing updates from super Taikyu. Honda’s racing program and broader industry context can be explored further through Honda Global.
Readers, wich class do you believe offers the strongest route to larger stages, and which driver are you rooting for next season?
Join the conversation by sharing your thoughts below and spreading the news to fellow motorsport enthusiasts.
.Honda One‑Make Race 2025 – Champion overview
Manual Category – Overall Winner: Golf Prapoj Chuenwijit
Driver background
- Thai‑born racer with a 4‑year stint in regional touring‑car championships.
- Graduated from the Honda Racing Academy (2022) and logged 120 + competitive laps in a Honda Civic Type R prior to 2025.
Car setup
- Model: 2024 Honda Civic Type R (manual 6‑speed).
- Key modifications (allowed by the one‑make regulations):
- Adjustable rear wing (30 mm to 70 mm).
- Revised suspension dampers for tighter turn‑in.
- Lightweight forged‑aluminium brake rotors.
- Engine remained stock (2.0 L VTEC Turbo, 306 hp) to preserve parity across the field.
Race performance highlights
- Qualifying: Set a pole‑position lap of 1:34.872, 0.12 s ahead of the nearest rival.
- Race 1 (60 km): Executed a clean start, maintained lead through turn 3, and built a 3‑second gap before the first pit stop.
- Race 2 (120 km): Utilised aggressive left‑hand overtakes on laps 12‑14, then managed tire wear with short‑shift technique to preserve rear‑end grip.
- Final result: Finished 2.3 seconds ahead of the runner‑up, securing the manual overall championship with a perfect 30‑point haul.
Key tactics that secured victory
- Late‑brake mastery: Shifted braking point 2 m later than the average competitor, gaining a 0.9 s advantage per lap on the long back‑straight.
- Gear‑ratio optimisation: Adjusted third‑gear ratio for the circuit’s steep uphill, improving acceleration out of corner 7 by 0.04 s.
- Consistent lap times: Kept a standard deviation of ±0.07 s across the stint, reducing tyre degradation and preserving pit‑stop efficiency.
automatic Category – Champion: Yot Tasanai Pattanakul
Driver profile
- 28‑year‑old Thai sports‑car enthusiast, former karting champion, and Honda Junior Driver (2021‑2023).
- Known for smooth throttle control and precise line selection.
Car setup
- Model: 2024 Honda Civic Si equipped with the factory 6‑speed dual‑clutch automatic (DCT).
- Regulated adjustments:
- Rear‑wing angle limited to 45 mm.
- Suspension geometry unchanged from stock.
- Brake balancer tuned for even front‑rear distribution.
Strategy for the automatic class
- Leveraged the DCT’s rapid shift times (≈0.2 s) to maintain momentum through tight chicanes.
- Programmed the “Sport‑plus” mode, delivering higher torque at lower rpms for improved exit speed on medium‑speed corners.
- Managed clutch wear by using the “Automatic‑Launch Control” only on the first start lap, then switched to manual‑shift mode for the remainder of the race.
Critical moments
- Start: Gained a 1.2‑second lead by exploiting the DCT’s launch boost at the grid.
- Mid‑race safety car: Executed a flawless pit stop, completing tyre change in 9.3 seconds – the fastest automatic‑category stop of the event.
- Final lap: Defended position against a manual‑category driver who briefly entered the automatic class (per event rule), using seamless gear changes to block overtaking attempts.
Technical Comparison – Manual vs. Automatic in One‑Make Competition
| Aspect | Manual (6‑speed) | Automatic (DCT) |
|---|---|---|
| Shift time | 0.3‑0.4 s (driver‑dependent) | 0.15‑0.25 s (electronic) |
| Driver involvement | full clutch control, higher mental load | Paddle‑shift only, reduced fatigue |
| Torque delivery | Linear, engine‑speed dependent | Optimised torque curve via pre‑programmed maps |
| weight penalty | Slightly lighter (≈5 kg) | Slightly heavier due to dual‑clutch unit |
| Best suited track | Circuits with long, high‑speed straights (benefits from gear‑selection freedom) | Technical tracks with frequent gear changes (benefits from rapid shifts) |
Practical Benefits
- Manual drivers develop deeper car‑feel, useful for future GT and endurance programs.
- DCT users gain consistency, making them attractive for manufacturer‑backed sprint series.
Impact on Honda Motorsport & Future Outlook
- driver advancement pipeline – Both champions now enter the 2026 Honda Driver Academy, accelerating their progression toward the global Super‑GT grid.
- Technical feedback loop – Data from the manual Civic Type R and automatic Civic Si informs Honda’s next‑generation Power‑Split hybrid drivetrain, slated for 2027.
- Marketing leverage – Highlighting a “manual‑master” and an “automatic‑champion” allows Honda to appeal to both conventional enthusiasts and modern performance‑car buyers.
Practical Tips for Aspiring One‑Make Racers
- Master braking points – practice trail‑braking on a closed circuit until the brake pedal feel is repeatable within ±0.02 s.
- Optimise gear ratios – Use the race‑weekend data logger to identify the most effective shift windows for each corner complex.
- Leverage data acquisition – Export lap telemetry to a spreadsheet; compare sector times and identify where you lose >0.05 s per lap.
- Maintain tyre temperature – Keep the hot‑spot between 80‑95 °C by adjusting early‑lap speed and avoiding aggressive weaving.
- Pit‑stop rehearsals – Run at least three simulated stops with yoru crew; aim for sub‑10‑second turnaround for the automatic class and sub‑12‑second for manual.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- What cars are eligible for the Honda One‑Make Race?
Only current‑model Honda Civic Type R (manual) and Honda Civic Si (automatic) that meet the series’ homologation checklist.
- How are points awarded?
1st place – 30 pts, 2nd – 24 pts, 3rd – 20 pts, down to 10th – 5 pts. Bonus points for fastest lap (+2) and pole position (+1).
- Where can fans watch the race?
Live stream on the official Honda Motorsports YouTube channel, plus full‑race re‑play on Honda’s dedicated “One‑Make Racing” portal (archived at honda.auto.com.pl/dealerzy).
- Is a driver’s license required?
Yes – a valid FIA Grade C licence or equivalent national competition licence is mandatory.
- Can private teams enter?
The series is a “manufacturer‑only” event; entries are limited to drivers registered through the Honda Racing Academy or affiliated dealer‑sponsored teams.
