Thai Singer Defends Young Kart Racer Against Cheating Claims
Actor-singer Ath Rachai has defended eight-year-old Storm, son of celebrities Chompoo Araya and Not Wisurat, after his karting win was challenged over alleged engine modifications. Ath Rachai insists the victory was due to Storm’s smoother driving and skill, not a more powerful engine, and argues any irregularities should have been spotted before the race. He calls for the karting community to focus on driver ability and treat the sport as a fair competition.
Ath Rachai explained that the outcome of the race should be judged by correctness versus incorrectness, emphasizing that winning comes from driving skill, not from a more powerful engine. He noted that he himself has never used a modified engine and still regularly finishes on the podium, proving that the driver matters most. Ath Rachai said the kart’s cylinder head is an external part visible to the naked eye, and any irregularity should have been raised before the race, not after the child’s victory. He added that while some competitors may choose older or newer cylinder heads seeking extra power, the difference is minimal and professional teams would not allow a significant advantage. Ultimately, he believes the dispute should be set aside and the focus returned to the drivers’ ability to drive smoothly, corner quickly, and maintain good rhythm. He urged people to view karting as a genuine sport where success depends on talent, not on who the child’s parents are or how wealthy they are.
