Under the Helmet – The Untold Story of Pangpond Akalavut

A deep dive into the journey of Pangpond Akalavut Mankalasut. From a boy captivated by the roar of engines and the thrill of speed, to a familiar face on screen, and now a bona fide racer on the grid. His childhood dream wasn’t handed to him; it was earned through relentless practice, countless challenges, and an unwavering will to prove himself. In the high-stakes world of racing, fame holds no weight. Every victory must be fought for with sweat, focus, and an unbreakable racing spirit.

Q: Could you tell us about your very first race?
A: The first model I drove was a Vios, and now I’m driving an Altis. I race exclusively for Toyota Gazoo Racing Thailand, which means I only compete in the one-make race series. Other competitions are no longer one-make races, and my contract specifies that I will only race in this event.

Q: Was it difficult transitioning from the Vios to the Altis?
A: Back when I was racing the Vios, the Yaris model wasn’t yet on the market. The rule is that the car used in each class must be the same model currently sold at that time. For example, now that the Vios is no longer sold, they use the Yaris or Yaris Ativ instead. The idea is to show that a street car can be turned into a race car with only slight modifications. My Vios had a 1,500 cc engine, and I raced it for a year. That first year was all about learning, though I did have a background from being into cars, driving fast, tuning cars, and also racing go-karts, so I already had some sense for racing lines from karting. But it wasn’t 100% correct technique, it was more self-taught. When you race in this series, they provide a coach, so I learned the proper techniques of real racing.

In my second year, the Vios was replaced by the Yaris, which had a smaller 1,200 cc engine. It sounds easier because it’s slower, but actually it’s harder. When a car is that slow with little acceleration, you have to figure out how to drive it fast, and that’s where focus really matters. In that second year, I made it onto the podium because I had improved quickly and was committed to gaining experience. Even in the Vios, I was close to podium finishes, consistently placing in the single digits out of 20 cars in my first season. By my second season, I had mastered the correct racing lines and reached as high as third place.

When I moved to the Yaris in my second year, my plan was to take it seriously. In my first year, I didn’t get much practice time, much less than other drivers, because of work commitments and budget limitations. Most people in the series could practice whenever they wanted, they just had to pay for it. I had to adapt quickly during race weekends. Still, I developed fast enough that in my second season I was close to finishing first. In one race, I started in ninth place, fought my way up to first, but then collided with the leader just before the final lap. The incident was caught on camera, and since it showed me making contact that prevented him from continuing, I was penalized. Both of us still crossed the finish line, but I was demoted to third place, and he moved up to second. Then in Chiang Mai, the fourth race of the season, I started in second place behind Rotor. I passed him on the first lap and led the race all the way to the finish, taking first place.

Q: So, with your combined points over two years, you ended up in fifth place, right? How did that lead to moving up to Altis?
A: Yeah, my total points over those two years put me in fifth place overall. Toyota then promoted me to the Altis category, which is the highest level in the Toyota series because it’s the fastest and most powerful class with 1,800 cc. Naturally, the costs are higher, and you need to have a certain driving level before they’ll move you up. I’d been driving for three years in total before they promoted me.

Q: And this is your second year in Altis now?
A: That’s right, year two.

Q: How was your first year?
A: Oh, the first year in Altis was intense. At the first race, I was so excited I literally cried. I was overthinking, putting a lot of pressure on myself, imagining every possible scenario. My boyfriend had to bring me back to my senses. Once I snapped out of it, I just went for it, started eighth on the grid, pushed forward without overthinking, and made it up to fourth. I chased the leaders hard but ended up making a mistake and hit the wall at Bangsaen. Luckily, the car was still drivable, but I had to switch strategy—no more chasing, just defending my position because the damage slowed me down. I finished fourth in that first race.

In the second race it rained, and I hit the wall again. In the third race at Buriram, I started fourth, moved to third, but got rear-ended in the first lap and ended up finishing fifth.

Q: Sounds like every race was a fight for survival.
A: Totally. I’ve been fighting since the Yaris days. Back then, someone accused me of breaking the rules and said my car was illegal. I had no intention of cheating; we were a big team and I was also the event host, so that made no sense. But they inspected the car, and yes, the part wasn’t identical to others. In a one-make race, every car has to be the same. The part functioned the same but didn’t have the same engraving, so I was disqualified despite winning that race.

In Altis, race three last year, I got hit. Then came Chiang Mai, where I’d won in the Yaris before, so I had high expectations. But during practice and qualifying, I was at the back of the pack. That made me question myself, was it me? I started dead last and finished sixth. After that, Toyota rebuilt my engine completely for the Buriram race. I started fourth or fifth, took the lead from the first corner, and fought hard until the final lap. But in turn 10, the car died. Just like that, I lost the win. My season points didn’t make the top five like I’d planned, but I told myself it was okay. The first year is all about learning the car.

Q: And this year?
A: This year’s first race was at Bangsaen. I started eighth, but it didn’t go to plan because I made poor setup and tire choices. In a one-make race, every detail matters. Tires, parts, settings. But I pushed up to fifth in the end.

Q: At least it was smoother than before.
A: Yeah, though I’m still wondering what surprises Phuket will bring.

Q: When’s Phuket?
A: August 15.

Q: And after that?
A: Buriram, twice, actually. Normally it’s Buriram in September, Chiang Mai in November, and back to Buriram to close the season. But this year, it’s two back-to-back Buriram races in September, then a break in October, and Chiang Mai in November.

Q: What’s your goal now?
A: To win and join a factory team, Toyota Thailand’s team, specifically. To get there, I have to win the annual championship in Altis. That’s the ultimate proof of victory. You don’t need to win every single race, but you have to be in a strong position overall, just like in F1, knowing when to push and when to play smart.

Q: Have you ever had race dates clash with acting?
A: No. Racing always comes first. The race calendar comes out one to two months in advance, and filming schedules usually lock a month or two before shooting. If I know I have a race, I tell them right away.

Q: Which came first? acting or racing?
A: Acting. Without acting, I probably couldn’t have made my racing dream happen.

Q: How did it all start?
A: After becoming somewhat well-known, people recognized my face even if they didn’t know my name. I was at my friend’s garage getting exhaust work done. I always did a quick hard acceleration when leaving the shop. The shop owner knew I liked cars and had some driving sense, but I didn’t have any formal proof. That day, he asked if I wanted to be a race driver because Toyota was looking for racers. At first, I was confused. Racing is expensive, and I’d already tried it once and found it too costly.

I focused on karting instead, doing endurance events to build skill. But that day, he told me to send my profile because he knew someone inside. Turns out, what caught their attention was the sound and control when I accelerated that day, they even followed me out to watch. I was up against many candidates, including two very famous actors. I couldn’t rely on fame, so I sold them my dream and my commitment. Eventually, I got in. I’ll never forget the day I got my first team shirt, it felt like a dream within a dream.

Q: How did you progress after joining?
A: Year one, I focused on learning. Year two, I understood the flow better and improved. Year three, I didn’t need to learn the basics anymore, just fine-tuned my skills, like steering technique to manage tire wear and reduce damage.

Q: Do you get involved in tuning the car?
A: Not really, that’s the mechanics’ job. I just need to understand what’s being done.

Q: Do you talk to anyone during the race?
A: Yes, usually to my coach. Someone like P’Man or P’Ton, both GT drivers. They mostly update me on incidents ahead or gaps behind, and whether I should push or hold position. In my first year, I needed constant updates, but now I know racing is really about you and the track ahead. Too much talking can actually distract you.

The path to becoming a professional racer has been far from effortless for Pangpond Akkarawut. From a boy captivated by the sound of engines to a well-known face on screen, and now a determined competitor on the circuit, his journey has been driven by focus, perseverance, and the will to prove that being a celebrity offers no shortcuts in motorsport. In a world where every second counts, it’s his commitment, adaptability, and love for racing that keep him pushing toward the next checkered flag.