Anna Inotsume adds more top ten results in Formula Regional Japan

Despite bad luck in both races, Anna Inotsume secured two more top-ten finishes in the Formula Regional Japan Championship at Suzuka.

Photo credits: FRJ

Despite bad luck in both races, Anna Inotsume secured two more top-ten finishes in the Formula Regional Japan Championship at Suzuka.

Qualifying at what is arguably the most demanding circuit on the calendar proved to be a tricky one. After Inotsume moved into the mid-pack with a lap time of 2:00.005, a competitor spun into the gravel in the esses and got stuck, prompting a red flag and halting the session.

Qualifying resumed with only 3 minutes and 30 seconds remaining, sending all cars—except the #37, which remained in the pits—back on track in traffic to attempt one final flying lap. Inotsume was unable to improve her time and retained seventh place.

In the second qualifying session, the field initially took a cautious approach. Only on the second timed laps did the quick times start to come in—including from Inotsume, who moved into seventh with a 2:00.351. On her third fast lap, she broke the two-minute barrier and temporarily reclaimed seventh place. However, Yukata soon bettered her lap. A crash at the Degner Curve brought the session to an early end. Only after she exited the car did it become clear that it was Inotsume herself who had gone off at the fast double right-hander. Fortunately, she was uninjured.

Starting Race 1 from seventh on the grid, Inotsume made a good launch but was immediately compromised: the two cars ahead failed to move off the line, and she had to squeeze between them in close quarters with the competition. She pulled it off cleanly and gained positions, climbing to fifth.

However, she couldn't stay with the leading group for long and eventually lost ground. At the same time, she managed to build a gap to the cars behind—until lap five, when Iries crashed at Turn 9, hitting the tire wall under the overpass and triggering a safety car. Due to Suzuka’s length, recovery only required two laps, and the race resumed soon after.

At the restart, Inotsume came under pressure from behind. Her pursuer ran wide at the exit of Degner and dropped back after putting two wheels into the gravel. Moments later, the #51 Zhanbin car spun at the exit of the hairpin and came to a stop on track, bringing out a second safety car on lap 10.

Following the restart, Inotsume was heavily attacked into the hairpin. The driver behind misjudged the gap, braked too late, and hit her rear axle, spinning her around. Both drivers continued but lost time and positions. On the final lap, another car went off in Turn 1 and crashed into the wall. As the incident occurred on the last lap, the race continued under green. Battles intensified throughout the field, culminating in a major collision between two front-runners. Inotsume was able to capitalize, gaining a position to finish sixth.

In Race 2, Inotsume started from seventh once again after one of her rivals was forced to start from the pit lane. This time, she didn’t get the lightning start she had in Race 1 and dropped to eighth. Although the field gradually spread out, she regained her position by mid-race. The second half of the contest saw fewer battles and more stable gaps, with a relatively calm and orderly race compared to the chaotic opener.

The only moment of tension came when Inotsume went off in the esses and ran through the gravel. Though she was able to rejoin, the time loss dropped her down the order. She ultimately crossed the line in tenth place, still scoring valuable points.

With these results, Anna Inotsume now sits eighth in the championship standings. The next round will take place at Sportsland SUGO on August 30–31.