Indonesia's Teen Racer Abraham Hutapea Secures ROK Cup Superfinal Ticket

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - At just 14 years old, Indonesian racer Abraham Benedict Aviandra Hutapea has earned a place at the prestigious ROK Cup Superfinal 2026 in Italy, an achievement that comes less than two years after he first stepped into national karting competition.

“I keep training, but I don’t want to expect too much. Reaching the final itself is already something to be grateful for. Please just pray for me,” Abraham said in a statement from Jakarta on Friday, September 11, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

The young driver clinched his ticket to Italy by finishing second overall in the National Championship Eshark Rok Cup 2026. Although he placed fourth in the sixth and final round on September 6, his consistent podium finishes throughout the season secured him the runner-up spot in the Junior category standings.

Under championship rules, both the champion and runner-up in Junior and Senior classes qualify for the Superfinal.

Abraham’s rise has been rapid. He only began competing nationally in January 2025 with TKM Racing Team, after previously treating karting as a recreational pursuit. Guided by former Formula 4 Asia driver Keanon Santoso, he transitioned into regular competition before joining Dewa United Motorsport in January 2026.

Across six rounds this season, the ninth-grade student from Pelita Harapan Kemang Village maintained steady performances, repeatedly reaching the podium in Junior newbie and non-seeded classes.

Ahead of his debut in Italy, he has intensified his physical training and practices twice weekly at Sentul International Karting Circuit. He is also studying past race footage to understand the competitive dynamics of the Superfinal, which gathers top drivers from around the world.

The event will run from October 13–17 at South Garda Karting in Lonato, Italy, with Abraham and the Indonesian team scheduled to depart in early October for acclimatization. His initial target is to reach the final stage of the tournament.

Beyond racing, his mother, Asyma Sianipar, highlighted how karting has shaped her son’s character. “Abraham used to be very shy. But thanks to karting and its environment, he has changed. He now talks more with others and manages his emotions better,” she said. ***