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FILIPINO RACING CHAMPION JUHA TURALBA SET FOR FERRARI CHALLENGE EUROPE DEBUT AT LE MANS

LE MANS, France - Filipino racing driver Jose Antonio “Juha” Turalba is set to make his Ferrari Challenge Europe debut with Emil Frey Racing during Le Mans race week this June, marking one of the biggest international motorsport opportunities ever secured by a Filipino driver.
Turalba will compete in the Ferrari 296 Challenge, Ferrari’s latest purpose-built race car producing approximately 700 horsepower and capable of speeds exceeding 300 km/h on the legendary Circuit de la Sarthe at Le Mans.
Developed directly from the Ferrari 296 GTB platform, the 296 Challenge is one of the highest-performance cars currently used in international one-make racing and represents a major step toward professional GT racing.
Ferrari Challenge Europe is Ferrari’s official racing championship and is widely regarded as the most competitive regional Ferrari Challenge series in the world. The championship features professional teams, elite amateur drivers, and race weekends held alongside some of the most important events and circuits in global motorsport.
Turalba’s debut will take place during Le Mans week at the world-famous Circuit de la Sarthe in France, the same venue that hosts the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race. While he will not compete in the 24-hour race itself, he will race in Ferrari Challenge support races during one of the biggest weeks in international motorsport, placing a Filipino driver on one of racing’s most visible global platforms.
The 2026 campaign will continue through Portugal, Hungary, and Ferrari Finali Mondiali in Barcelona, Ferrari’s annual world championship event that brings together Ferrari race teams and drivers from across the globe.
The move comes after a dominant local season. In 2025, Turalba was crowned SEAOIL Radical Challenge Philippines SR1 Champion and Rookie of the Year, winning nine out of eleven races during the season. Radical Challenge Philippines is currently regarded as the fastest racing series in the country, making the championship an important benchmark in his progression from Philippine motorsport to European competition.
Turalba’s rise has been built across multiple disciplines and formats. A former Asian karting champion, 2023 Mazda Miata Spec Series champion, and now Radical Challenge Philippines champion, he has steadily progressed through increasingly competitive levels of racing.
The opportunity to join Ferrari Challenge Europe followed strong international performances in Ferrari race cars, where his pace, technical feedback, and data-driven approach drew attention from instructors and Ferrari racing personnel. Combined with his Radical championship campaign in the Philippines, it helped open the door to a 2026 Ferrari Challenge Europe program with Swiss-based Emil Frey Racing, one of Europe’s most established racing organizations.
Having already reached the highest current level of Philippine circuit racing, Turalba now takes the next step onto the European stage.
Beyond the cockpit, Turalba brings a rare technical and professional profile to the grid. He is an aerospace and mechanical engineer, FAA-certified helicopter pilot, and serves as Vice President for Sales and Marketing at Active Group, a Philippine real estate developer known for creating vibrant environments and inspiring experiences. His engineering and aviation background has shaped a racing approach heavily focused on vehicle dynamics, telemetry, precision, and performance analysis.
Turalba’s 2026 Ferrari Challenge Europe campaign includes:
Round 4: Le Mans, France | 10–13 June 2026
Round 5: Portimão, Portugal | 16–19 July 2026
Round 6: Budapest, Hungary | 10–13 September 2026
Round 7: Barcelona Finali Mondiali, Spain | 18–22 November 2026
As Turalba joins Emil Frey Racing for Ferrari Challenge Europe, the campaign marks a major new chapter for Philippine motorsport: a national champion stepping beyond the local ceiling and onto one of the world’s premier international racing stages.
“Winning the Radical Challenge Philippines was important because it confirmed that I could compete consistently at the highest level currently available in Philippine circuit racing. I’ll be working with one of Europe’s top professional racing teams and competing in an environment that represents the global standard of motorsport. That exposure is incredibly valuable for me as a driver.
Ferrari Challenge Europe is a major step up, and there’s no bigger place to begin than Le Mans. I know the competition will be extremely strong, but I’ve prepared seriously for this opportunity and I’m proud to represent the Philippines on this stage."