Anna Inotsume claims maiden podium in Formula Regional Japan

Anna Inotsume secured her first podium finish in the Formula Regional Japanese Championship with a second-place result at Fuji Speedway in front of the FIA WEC, marking her most successful weekend in the series to date.

Photo credits: Formula Regional Japan

Multiple-time touring car champion Anna Inotsume added a new trophy to her cabinet as she stepped on the podium of the Formula Regional Japanese Championship for the first time in her career, with a second place finish at Fuji Speedway at the fifth round of the season.

Inotsume claimed both Saturday and Sunday's title in last year's TCR Japan championship with a dominant run – and has since then moved to single seaters after a one-off appearance in Formula Regional Japan at the end of last year, which resulted in a superb double top-five on debut at Fuji.

In her full time rookie campaign, Inotsume has learned the machinery – the Dome F111/3 Regional F3 car – and made consistent progress, collecting a pair of top five finishes at Okayama and another P5 at Motegi, in a very consistent first half of the season.

Heading to Fuji, a circuit that has historically been a friendly ground for the Japanese racer, Inotsume returned to the venue where she took her first start in the series, again aiming to continue her development in single seaters.

The fifth and penultimate round was held as a support event to the FIA WEC 6 Hours of Fuji and had the largest grid of the season to date.

After positive practice sessions, Anna Inotsume entered the two qualifying sessions that would shape the starting grid for both races with high hopes; under clear skies, cars hit the track for Q1, which saw Inotsume set a 1:40.436 lap to secure fifth on the grid of race 1. Pole position went to Yuki Sano, ahead of TGR-DC Racing School teammate Kazuhisa Urabe.

In Q2, Inotsume had another positive run to clock a 1:39.924, finding half a second in between sessions. The time gained her sixth on the grid of race 2, with an unchanged front row.

Race 1 went green on Saturday in the early afternoon, with temperatures reaching 30°C. Pole sitter Sano was off to a slow start and Urabe managed to seize the lead. Sano, who had dropped to third, however, was soon back into second and from there he engaged in a close battle for the win with Urabe.

Inotsume had a good getaway and settled into fourth, gaining a position over Yoshiaki Nakamura. She then followed championship leader Michael Sauter, who progressively closed in on the leading duo and joined the fight for the win. By lap 4, Sauter found a way past Sano – and then focused ahead on Urabe, who he would catch and attack a few laps later. On lap 7, the two made contact at the Dunlup corner, which ended in disaster for Urabe, who dropped down the order and eventually retired.

Inotsume was quick to move up to third place, trailing Sauter – who was passed for the lead by Sano – and preceded Sebastian Manson before the safety car neutralized the action on lap 8. Once the green flag waved again on lap 11, Sano set the fastest lap of the race and pulled away, ultimately claiming victory 3 seconds clear of Michael Sauter. Anna Inotsume was third across the finish line, having brilliantly held off Manson and Nakamura in the final stages of the race.

What was initially a great third place finish soon turned into an even more remarkable second pace, as Sauter was handed a 10 second penalty for the collision with Urabe which demoted the Swiss driver to sixth and promoted Inotsume to a higher step of the podium.

Photo credits: Formula Regional Japan

After clinching her maiden podium finish, Inotsume lined up sixth on the grid of Race 2, aiming to keep momentum. The driver of the #62 Helm Motorsports car had another great launch and moved up to fifth at lights out, picking up a position when Sauter fell down the order on the first lap due to a clutch issue.

Just ahead, Urabe managed to snatch the lead from Sano off the line, however the latter quickly caught up and got back ahead at Turn 3

Inotsume followed closely Jesse Lacey, settling in her rhythm and, while she eventually fell a few tenths behind the car ahead, she consistently managed to extend her gap over Sebastian Manson behind.

Ahead, Sano continued to stretch his lead, leaving Urabe and Nakamura battling for second. When Urabe went deep into turn 1 on lap 9, Nakamura grabbed second place and never looked back. Positions remained unchanged throughout the second part of the race.

Inotsume improved her lap times consistently and by lap 8 she started gaining again on Lacey ahead, with the top-five really close pace-wise. The only female driver on the field held on comfortably throughout the 15 laps and crossed the finish line in fifth place, securing more valuable points after her most productive weekend in the series.

"First podium in FRJ and third podium in front of the FIA World Endurance Championship", Inotsume wrote. "While I am grateful for this wonderful day, I am also thankful for the days that were so challenging and really hard", she added. "It was the time where I was able to train and grow my mindset."

"Thank you to the team who accepted and guided me, the sponsors who gave me the opportunity, the people who helped me, the fans, I was lucky enough to run on a great stage."

With now one double-header left on the calendar, Anna Inotsume sits sixth in the championship standings, only two points behind the top-five in the points' table.

The sixth and final round is scheduled for 12-13 October, again at Fuji International Speedway, in support of the Super Formula Championship.