17-year-old Vietnamese of British descent makes history for Vietnamese motorsport

Born and raised in Ho Chi Minh City, Dat is the son of a British father and Vietnamese mother.

He officially secured the championship on Sunday morning after being awarded the title during the final round in Sepang, Malaysia.

The victory was effectively sealed a day earlier, following the completion of two qualifying races in Round 5, where he maintained a commanding 94-point lead over his closest rival, Australia’s Seth Gilmore (297 points to Gilmore’s 203).

With only 90 points remaining across the final three races, Dat’s unassailable lead meant he became champion regardless of the remaining results.

Representing Evans GP, an Australian racing team, Dat entered the Formula 4 Southeast Asia Championship in May, and quickly emerged as the series’ standout talent.

Over the course of five rounds across Malaysia and Thailand, the Vietnamese driver demonstrated unmatched pace and consistency.

During the first round in Sepang on May 3 and 4, he swept all three races.

He repeated the feat with another clean sweep during Round 2 in Buriram, Thailand on May 24 and 25.

During Round 3 in Bangsaen, Thailand on July 5 on 6, he faced challenges due to grid penalties, but still managed a race win to maintain his momentum.

In Round 4 in Sepang, Malaysia on September 6 an 7, Dat responded to Gilmore’s Race 2 victory with a commanding win in Race 3 to reinforce his lead.

Heading into the final round, Dat had won nine of the 11 main races, claimed six pole positions, and recorded seven fastest laps.

“This is a truly special moment for me,” Dat shared after being crowned champion.

“I’m incredibly happy that all the hard work throughout the season paid off, but I know this is just the beginning. 

"I’m grateful to my family, my team, and everyone who has supported me on this journey.

“I hope this result brings pride to Vietnamese sport.

“Looking ahead, I’ll continue pushing myself in other championships. 

"My goal for 2026 is to move up to F3 and keep growing as a driver."

Rising star on international stage

Dat, who is a student at an international school in Ho Chi Minh City, began racing through karting before progressing to higher levels of formula and GT racing across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

His breakthrough came in 2023 during the F4 India Championship, where he claimed a win at the Madras International Circuit and finished fifth overall with 186 points.

In 2024, racing part-time in F4 China, he still made an impact by winning two races and securing one pole and one fastest lap.

At circuits like Shanghai and Ningbo, he achieved the coveted ‘pole-win-fastest lap’ triple, underlining his readiness to compete for championships.

In the same year, Dat became the first Vietnamese driver to race in the Formula Regional European Championship (FRECA).

Although his best result was 18th in Barcelona, his participation against top-tier talent was a vital step in his development.

In early 2025, he made history by earning his first points in the Formula Regional Middle East Championship (FRMEC).

He also began exploring GT racing in 2025, competing in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia.

He impressed immediately by finishing fourth at the Inje Speedium circuit in South Korea, showcasing his adaptability to high-powered, 620-horsepower machines.