Thai motorsport is about to shift up a gear in 2026, as Tasanapol 'Tern' Inthraphuvasak becomes the first Thai driver to compete in FIA Formula 2 after signing with French powerhouse ART Grand Prix, a team that's churned out world-class racers like nobody's business.
His name might not ring bells with casual fans yet, but amongst Formula devotees, Tern's been building a reputation as one of Thailand's most promising talents over the past couple of years. The 2024 season saw him make his FIA Formula 3 debut with AIX Racing, where he snagged a second-place finish at Hungaroring in his first year, not bad going. He moved to Campos Racing for 2025 and really started turning heads: sprint wins at Silverstone and Hungaroring, also a feature victory at Monza's 'Temple of Speed', helped him finish seventh out of more than 30 drivers.
That consistency caught ART Grand Prix's attention pretty sharp-ish, and they've signed him up for what'll be his rookie F2 season, the final proving ground before drivers reach Formula 1, motorsport's ultimate endgame.
The 2026 FIA Formula 2 campaign kicks off at Melbourne's Albert Park from March 6-8 2026, where Tern will be flying the flag as the only Thai driver on the grid. It's more than just one racer's achievement though: it's a sign that Thai motorsport is genuinely maturing, with home-grown talent increasingly capable of competing at the sharp end internationally. Whether Tern can maintain his trajectory remains to be seen, but for now, Thailand's got its most legitimate shot yet at Formula 1.