SEMERANG, Indonesia — Filipina drift driver Bella Cañete, age 13, delivered another standout performance at Round 2 of the 2025 Indonesia Drift Series (IDS), claiming three championship titles at the Mijen Circuit in Semarang and repeating the same clean sweep she achieved in Round 1.
Representing Akuma Drift Team, a rising Indonesian outfit, Cañete drove Car Number 828 to an impressive clean sweep of accolades.
She was named Top Qualifier and Champion in the Women’s Drift Challenge (Pro Amateur Division), and later claimed the Champion title in the Indonesia Drift Series NewGen Category, which featured emerging male and female talents from across the region.
In the Women’s Drift Challenge, which featured six participants in the Pro Amateur division, Cañete set the bar early by securing the Top Qualifier position. She proceeded to defeat Karina A of Franchi X ARDF Motorsport in the semifinal round and clinched victory over Zanetta Salsabila in the finals. Ari Santi Dewi of Victor Garage completed the podium.
Her campaign in the IDS NewGen Category was marked by skill and resilience. Competing against fifteen drifters, Cañete placed sixth in qualifying after overcoming a mechanical issue with her shifter during Friday’s practice and managing the challenges of a wet track with puddles over the weekend. Thanks to the swift and expert intervention of her technical crew from Artworks Motorsports, she returned to the track on Saturday and Sunday with renewed focus and precision.
In the Top 8, she prevailed over Rezky Audrey of Bride IDN. Advancing to the Top 4, she faced Athariz Fairell of ASC Monster Drift, one of the event’s top three qualifiers, and delivered a composed run to move forward. In the semifinal, she outperformed Juan Viers of Victor Garage, who had qualified second. Cañete concluded her winning streak in the final round with a decisive victory over Mhd. Aryasatya of Matair Sidewalts, the fourth-ranked qualifier. Notably, Cañete was the only female driver to reach the podium in the NewGen Category, underscoring her exceptional talent in a highly competitive mixed-gender field.
Cañete’s triple-title achievement in Semarang marks her second full-category sweep this season, underscoring her growing influence on the regional drifting scene. At just thirteen years old, she is the youngest female drift driver currently competing in Southeast Asia.
Her continued success not only brings pride to the Philippines and Indonesia but also represents a meaningful step forward for youth and gender representation in motorsports. Competing at such a young age, Cañete stands as an inspiration for the next generation of racers.
Supported by Akuma Drift Team and a committed group of mechanics and mentors, Bella Cañete’s rise signals a new chapter for Southeast Asian motorsport, one marked by diversity, determination, and undeniable talent.
