Chompoo Araya Speaks on Son's Go-Kart Trophy Dispute

Chompoo Araya has spoken publicly for the first time about the go-kart controversy surrounding her son, 'Nong Payu' — the child of Chompoo Araya and Not Wisarut — who crossed the finish line first at Super Kart Thailand Round 3 in the Cadet-B category but was not allowed to receive the winner's trophy on the podium after a technical protest concerning his engine compression shirt.

At the launch of the 'A Celebration of Wonders 2027' campaign at CentralWorld, Chompoo shared her feelings: 'As a mother, you feel it more than your child. Whatever the child feels, we feel even more. But in the end, everything that happens is for the best. It's an experience — okay, lots of encouragement — and the kid moves on faster than adults. I've said it before and it's true: this case is no different.'

Asked if she fears her son has lost his passion for racing, she replied: 'Oh no. We talked about it. This isn't the first obstacle he's faced. He's encountered many before and stayed committed to this day. He's still committed.'

On how they discussed the incident with him: 'We spoke honestly about what happened that day because we experienced it together with him. He was in the situation and knew exactly what happened. We explained the truth, and it didn't take long for him to understand. He watches F1 content, so these things are already part of the sport. When it happened to him, it wasn't new — it can happen to anyone.'

Regarding the tears many saw: 'No need to explain. It's done. As a mother, it's passed.'

On rumors about a trip to Italy: '(Smiles) Nothing concrete. Dad has his business trips, and the kid has sharp ears like any child — he just wanted to tag along, that's all.'

Will Payu continue racing? 'Actually, from the start, this year we treated it as a single program. We'll keep discussing what to enter next year because during the racing season he has to train, and that sometimes clashes with school. We'll plan again at year-end. Our family has five people — we still have his older sister Sai and Glae. When we travel, it affects everyone, so we must plan carefully so Payu can pursue his dream while we all still enjoy quality time together. There are many race programs to choose from; we'll shop around and pick what suits him and our schedule.'

On how this reflects Thai family values: 'Uh, don't make it deep — I'll cry (laughs). Don't stir it up. Just thank you everyone, really. Nothing more to say except I've seen nearly all of it and thank you.'

On the phrase 'I raised my own': 'It's probably the bond. It's probably the bond, right? We've seen each other through every stage of life.'