Source:
Central News Agency (CNA) “Good Life,”
“[Article Title],” July 31, 2025, retrieved from: https://howlife.cna.com.tw/life/20250731s011.aspx

 

On the 31st, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung held a flag presentation ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ main hall for Taiwan’s team participating in the 30th Asia Cross Country Rally. Minister Lin encouraged the i Taiwan Rally Team of the Safe Driving Association to continue bringing glory to the country and to let the world see the TAIWAN TEAM in the automotive arena.

The i Taiwan Rally Team of the Chinese Safe Driving Association upholds its founding mission: to enhance the driving skills, safe driving practices, vehicle electronic equipment knowledge, mechanical operation principles, proper operation methods, and timing of personnel from special units such as fire services, rescue teams, and the military. This year marks the third consecutive year they have voluntarily held the “Firefighting and Rescue Training Through Racing” program for the National Fire Agency under the Ministry of the Interior. Led by team captain Chen He-Huang, the team’s three main drivers include four-time women’s champion of the Asia Cross Country Rally Chen Yi-Wen and veteran rally driver Huang Tai-Wei. They are partnered with co-drivers Zhang Qi-Yuan from Taipei City Fire Department, Chen Bing-Yang from Tainan City Fire Department, and Shen Wen-Wen from Taichung City Fire Department, all aiming to defend their championship titles in the T1-E and women’s categories at the 30th Asia Cross Country Rally.

At the flag presentation ceremony, i Taiwan Rally Team captain Chen He-Huang delivered a speech highlighting three themes: “Letting the world see Taiwan through racing,” “Promoting Taiwanese brands through racing,” and “Passing on off-road safe driving through race-based training.” He reported the team’s achievements over the years to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Fire Agency Director.

Since 1996, the i Taiwan Rally Team has competed globally with cars painted in the Republic of China (Taiwan) flag, increasing international visibility for the nation and comforting overseas Taiwanese communities during events. Last year, the team entered the T1-E category with Taiwan’s first domestically made electric vehicle, attracting extensive international media coverage and bringing Taiwanese automotive brands onto the global stage.

In the past two years, the “firefighter safe driving training through racing” program has cultivated six firefighting personnel—including Xie Meng-Hong, Lin Zheng-Wei, Chen Jun-Yuan, and three champions Li Ya-Ting, Hong Rong-Zhu, and Liu Li-Jun—who have become seed instructors for off-road safe driving in fire and rescue operations.

The 2025 event marks the 30th anniversary of the Asia Cross Country Rally. Organizers extended the race to nine days (August 8 to 16) with a record-breaking total distance of 3,247.72 kilometers, posing a more rigorous challenge for both vehicles and drivers. In preparation, team captain Chen He-Huang gathered domestic manufacturers last year to further develop the drivetrain system for their rear-wheel-drive electric rally car. They also invited a popular YouTube influencer granddaughter with 630,000 followers to serve as co-driver, aiming to offer Taiwanese audiences a fresh perspective on the race.

 

Women’s champion driver Chen Yi-Wen and her new partner Shen Wen-Wen have started intensive training in advance. Whether the i Taiwan Rally Team can achieve great results again with their domestically produced rear-wheel-drive electric vehicle, and whether Chen Yi-Wen can complete her fourth consecutive championship and claim her fifth women’s title in the Asia Rally, remains to be seen.

 

(Text and photos courtesy of the Society of Safe-Driving Association)