Australian competitors Paige Raddatz and Joanne Ciconte will make their season debut in the Kyojo Cup this weekend, an internationally acclaimed all-female formula racing championship to be held in Japan at the Fuji Speedway.
Ciconte, who has made her way to the category after a season in the F1 Academy series, will compete with Hong Kong-based team KCMG for the five scheduled rounds – all of which will be held at Fuji Speedway.
The season begins with Round 1 from 8-10 May and will conclude on 1 November following the fifth round.
Each round features a sprint and a feature race, providing ample time for racing. The cup will be held alongside other prominent Asia-based racing series such as Porsche Carrera Cup Asia, the Fuji Champion Race Series, the Inter Proto Series, and Super Formula.
Seventeen-year-old Ciconte told ABC Sport she has long-term aspirations to compete in Super Formula, a Japanese open-wheel series that has been a stepping stone for several current Formula 1 drivers such as Liam Lawson and Pierre Gasly, as well as former McLaren driver Stoffel Vandoorne.
“I think it would be unbelievable to race in Super Formula because it’s the second-fastest open-wheeler category, apart from Formula 1,” Ciconte said.
“I really see a future based in Super Formula, so that’s another goal of mine in the next couple of years.”
Ciconte has already accumulated substantial seat time in the Hybrid KCMG KC MG-01, taking part in Pre-Season Testing and finishing in the top five by the end of the two-day session.
Fellow Australian competitor Paige Raddatz is also confirmed to race with Fujisan Shizuoka Racing (FSR), placing a second Australian driver on the grid at Fuji Speedway.
The 21-year-old from Sydney impressed at a shootout event with multiple teams in attendance, so much so she was able to earn a seat with FSR.
With a karting background, Raddatz transitioned into open-wheel racing, competing in three rounds of the Indian Formula 4 Championship, achieving multiple top-ten finishes in a highly competitive international field.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to complete a few test days to get used to the car and the track; the first test was a massive learning curve, but the last two tests have been quite successful,” Raddatz said.
Raddatz notes the subtle differences compared to the FIA-spec F4 cars she’s driven previously.
“At the end of the day, it’s an open-wheel race car so the driving technique is much the same; there are just a few minor things I’ve had to adapt to, such as a slightly heavier feel in the braking system and a different tyre,” Raddatz said.
“I can’t wait to race at Fuji – it’s such a fast track, with lots of elevation changes and spectacular scenery with the mountains.”
“A lot of the girls in the series have a lot more experience in cars that I do – if I can finish in the top 10, that would be a very positive result and give me a strong foundation to build upon.”
More on the Kyojo Cup can be found on the category’s website at www.kyojocup.jp.
