YOUNG karting sensation Miura Cañete made history by becoming the first Cebuana to finish on the podium in an international karting race after securing third place in the final round of the 2026 Rotax MAX Challenge (RMC) Asia Trophy last Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, at the LYL International Karting Circuit in Malaysia.
The breakthrough result came in a dramatic finale that saw Cañete battle at the front of one of Asia’s most competitive karting championships, earning her first international podium.
Competing under the Mercedes Driver Development (MDD) program, Cañete shared the Micro MAX podium with fellow Filipino and MDD teammate Jacob Ravina, who took the overall victory.
For the young Cebuana, the podium capped a season of international racing, rapid development and steady improvement.
From rookie to podium finisher
Miura’s international campaign began in Thailand, where she finished 12th in her first overseas RMC Asia Trophy event.
Racing outside the Philippines for the first time brought an entirely different challenge — unfamiliar circuits, new competitors, different racing conditions and a field featuring some of Asia’s strongest young karters.
But the Cebuana quickly adapted.
Race after race, her pace improved, her racecraft became more calculated and she grew increasingly comfortable racing wheel-to-wheel with experienced international competitors.
By the time the championship reached Malaysia, Miura was no longer simply learning from the field. She was racing at the front.
At the LYL International Karting Circuit, Miura immediately showed her pace by qualifying third. In Heat 1, she finished just 0.206 seconds behind Ravina, with the two MDD drivers pulling nearly seven seconds clear of the rest of the field.
A milestone for Cebu
Cañete’s third-place finish carried significance beyond the championship standings. It made her the first Cebuana to finish on the podium in an international karting race, adding a new chapter to Cebu’s motorsport history.
For Cebu, where karting has produced talented young drivers like William Riley Go and Matteo Guidicelli, Miura’s achievement represents a significant breakthrough.
For the Philippines, it was another strong showing on the international stage, with Filipino drivers taking two of the three podium positions.
Rise of a young racer
Miura’s Malaysian feat was a product of a season of international competition, with each race providing another opportunity to learn and improve.
Her development was particularly notable given the challenges of competing internationally while based in Cebu. Much of her coaching and race preparation involved remote analysis and feedback, with lessons from each race carried into the next.
That progression was evident throughout 2026.
The driver who arrived in Thailand as an international rookie left Malaysia as a podium finisher.
The Malaysian finale delivered a 1–3 finish for the Philippines, with Jacob Ravina taking the victory and Cañete completing the podium for MDD.
From her first overseas race in Thailand to her strong finish in Malaysia, Canete’s 2026 RMC Asia Trophy campaign was marked by speed, resilience, maturity and continuous improvement.
She arrived as a young Cebuana racer looking to prove herself on the international stage and left Malaysia having established herself as one of the Philippines’ promising young karting talents. / PR