Motor Expo has returned to national-level motorsport after a seven-year break by sending Motor Expo Racing Team into the opening round of RAAT Thailand Endurance Championship 2026.
The six-hour endurance race was contested by three Thai drivers: Chamaiporn Paphatphong, Chariya Nuya and Phongphon Narapithak. Together, they drove the Honda CR-Z number 63 to second place in TC4 and fifth overall among all classes.
Motor Expo Racing Team race result
The Motor Expo Racing Team Honda CR-Z number 63 finished second in TC4 and fifth overall in the opening event.
The team’s pace was clear from qualifying on May 30, 2026, when it set the second-fastest lap in class and earned a front-row start. Across the six-hour race, the drivers and pit crew managed pace, driver changes and pit strategy to reach the chequered flag successfully.
TC4 rules and Honda CR-Z number 63 setup
The Honda CR-Z number 63 was modified and set up for TC4 technical regulations under the Royal Automobile Association of Thailand, or RAAT.
The class controls engine displacement to balance competition. Naturally aspirated race cars are limited to 1,550 cc, while turbocharged or supercharged cars are limited to 1,350 cc.
Within that framework, the CR-Z package relies on weight management, suspension tuning, braking durability and stable long-run performance rather than engine power alone.
The challenge of a six-hour endurance race
Endurance racing is not only about outright lap speed. It requires driver consistency, vehicle stability, tire and fuel management, and clean pit work across each stint.
The fifth-place overall result therefore reflects both the durability of the hybrid sport hatchback and the precision of the team throughout the race distance.
Bangkok Motorhaus Perspective
Motor Expo Racing Team’s comeback is impressive because it returned with a result, not just a presence. A TC4 second-place finish and fifth overall in the first round show that the drivers, car and pit crew were ready from the start.
The choice of Honda CR-Z is also interesting. The hybrid sport hatchback already has a strong design and technology identity, and endurance racing turns that image into a durability and efficiency story.
The key to this result was consistency. TC4 regulations limit engine displacement, so teams win through stable lap times, reliable braking, tire and fuel management, and clean pit timing. If Motor Expo Racing Team can keep this standard, it can help renew interest in hybrid sport race cars among Thai enthusiasts.
