2022 TCR Japan vice-champion in both the Sunday and Saturday series Anna Inotsume will return to the championship in a Dome Racing entry.
Anna Inotsume made headlines in 2022 claiming her maiden TCR win at Fuji Speedway; she would eventually complete the Saturday and Sunday series in second place in the drivers' championship standings, with two wins, 9 podiums, 1 pole positions and 3 fastest laps to her name.
Inotsume is set to enter her third season in the Japanese TCR series - her second full campaign, after a partial season in 2021 - in the #98 Dome Racing entry sponsored by Jupiter. She will drive again a Honda Civic TCR FK7, sporting a colorful manga-inspired livery that will not go unnoticed on track.
"I am full of gratitude for having the opportunity to participate in the full season for the second year" - said Inotsume. "My goal is to win the series championship in my first season with my personal sponsor Jupiter", she added. "I'm still an inexperienced driver, but I want to deepen my learning and progress with each race."
The 28-year-old from Tokyo has previously raced in the Kyojo Cup, where she was also runner up, in the Super Taikyu Series and has made one appearance in the Asian Le Mans Series in 2019, in a LMP3 prototype.
Having raced cars since 2015, Inotsume also explored opportunities in single seaters in 2019, when she raced in the JAF-F4 Championship, claiming one podium, and was part of the W Series selections in Almeria in 2019. She currently sits in 116th place in the TCR World Ranking, which ranks the performance of over 900 drivers around the world, from all TCR sanctioned events.
"The team will participate in the TCR Japan Series with Anna Inotsume for the third year", Dome Racing's team manager Kenji Shirono stated. "Last year, we were able to achieve two wins and second place in the points ranking, and both Inotsume and the team were able to grow significantly throughout the season."
"This season, we will have great support from Hagoromo 6 and Jupiter, so in order to live up to the expectations, we will aim for the title and build a fast and strong car in both qualifying and races."
Inotsume already completed the pre-season test at Fuji on 15th March; the 2023 season is set to kick-off at Suzuka on 13-14 May, for the first of a five-event schedule that will also include rounds at Okayama, Motegi, Fuji and Sportsland Sugo.
2023 TCR Japan Calendar
R1 - Suzuka, Japan / 13-14 May
R2 - Okayama, Japan / 10-11 June
R3 - Motegi, Japan / 19-20 August
R4 - Fuji Speedway, Japan / 7-8 October
R5 - Sportsland Sugo, Japan / 26-25 November