Miki Koyama

Miki Koyama made history in 2022 as the first woman to win an FIA-sanctioned, all-gender single-seater championship, cementing her status as Japan’s top female driver and proving she belongs on track with anyone.

EARLY YEARS

Born September 5, 1997, in Yokohama, Japan, Miki Koyama caught the racing bug early—like, age five early. Whatever sparked that initial interest in motor racing, it stuck. By the time she was twelve, she was already finishing second in karting competitions, showing the kind of grit and competitive edge that would define her career. She eventually moved through Formula Toyota Racing School before making the leap to Japanese F4 in 2015, setting the foundation for what would become a groundbreaking motorsports journey.

OTHER INTERESTS

Koyama keeps her personal life largely out of the spotlight. No public hobbies, no side hustles plastered across social media, no pets making cameo appearances in interviews. What we do know is that she’s laser-focused on racing—her time and energy seem entirely devoted to getting faster, smarter, and better behind the wheel. If she’s into anything outside motorsports, she’s keeping it to herself, which is frankly refreshing in an era of oversharing.

EARLY SUCCESS

Koyama’s career trajectory hit a significant milestone when she became the inaugural champion of the all-female Kyojo Cup Series in 2017, then backed it up by winning the title again in 2018. Those back-to-back championships proved she wasn’t a fluke—she was consistent, competitive, and ready for bigger challenges. But the real breakthrough came in 2022 when she dominated the Formula Regional Japanese Championship, winning seven out of seventeen races and outscoring her nearest rival, Sota Ogawa, by a commanding 69 points. That title wasn’t just impressive; it was historic. She became the first woman to win an FIA-sanctioned, all-gender single-seater championship, a barrier-breaking achievement that put her name in the record books and turned heads across the motorsports world.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2017: Inaugural champion of the all-female Kyojo Cup Series.
• 2018: Won the Kyojo Cup championship for the second consecutive year.
• 2022: First woman to win an FIA-sanctioned, all-gender single-seater championship (Formula Regional Japanese Championship), with seven wins from seventeen races and a 69-point margin over nearest rival Sota Ogawa.
• 2023: Joined the Anest Iwata Racing with Arnazu team as third driver in Super GT GT300, alongside Igor Fraga and Yuga Furutani; completed 12-lap Rookie Test at Fuji Speedway on April 21, certifying her for Autobacs SUPER GT Series.
• 2024: Became the second female driver to win a Super Taikyu race outright (fifth round at Suzuka) driving the Team APR No. 31 Lexus RC F GT3—the first woman to do so since Hisami Sato in 1993; participated in Formula E’s first all-female test session with Lola Yamaha ABT.
• 2025: Won both rounds one and two of the Ferrari Challenge Japan at Suzuka Circuit driving the No. 88 Ferrari 296 Challenge; competed in Super GT GT300 with R’Qs Motorsports No. 31 Lexus LC500h GT300, finishing 22nd at Okayama, 19th at Fuji, and 12th at Sepang.

INSPIRATIONS

Koyama has kept quiet about who or what inspired her racing career. No childhood heroes plastered on bedroom walls, no legendary races she watched on repeat, no family motorsports legacy fueling her fire. What we do know is that the excitement of motor racing grabbed her at age five and never let go—sometimes that’s all the inspiration you need.

REPUTATION

Widely regarded as Japan’s top female driver, Koyama has earned respect not just for breaking barriers, but for how she’s handled the transition from single-seaters to GT racing. Adapting to the Super GT GT300 class meant learning to manage ABS for the first time and adjusting to the weight of the car—challenges she tackled head-on. As she admitted in a 2023 interview, “At first I was often going over the limit, so I had to pull back from the limit and adjust the set-up of the car, but the feeling wasn’t bad.” That kind of self-awareness and willingness to refine her approach has only solidified her reputation as a serious, thoughtful competitor. She’s part of the Toyota Gazoo Racing Driver Challenge Program, which speaks volumes about how the industry views her potential. The media coverage has been consistently positive, celebrating her historic achievements while recognizing the skill behind them. She’s not just a feel-good story—she’s fast, and she’s getting faster.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

Koyama isn’t thinking small. Her initial target? Become GT300 champion. After that, she’s got her eyes on GT500 and Super Formula—the top tiers of Japanese motorsports. As she put it, “I want to make the most of the opportunities I’m given, do my best in the current environment, and if I can get good results then the path could get a little wider again.” In 2025, she’s juggling two series: competing in Super GT GT300 with R’Qs Motorsports and dominating the Ferrari Challenge Japan, where she’s already scored back-to-back wins. She’s also continuing her relationship with the Lola Yamaha Apt Formula E Team as a test driver, keeping her options open and her skill set sharp. Koyama knows the motorsports path can narrow as the years go by, but she’s determined to keep pushing doors open—and so far, she’s doing exactly that.

References:

51gt3.com – Miki Koyama Official Profile
Namu Wiki – Miki Koyama
Motorsport.com – Miki Koyama Interview 2023
W Series Fandom – Miki Koyama
Dive-Bomb.com – Woman Spotlight Wednesday: Miki Koyama
Rejected Princesses – Miki Koyama
Daily Sportscar – Miki Koyama and the Women Who Preceded Her in Super GT