Marie Iwaoka
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Marie Iwaoka emerged from Mazda’s women’s motorsport program to conquer TCR Japan, claiming the 2023 championship before successfully transitioning to Formula Regional racing.
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FULL BIO: Marie Iwaoka
Marie Iwaoka is a Japanese touring car and formula racer who broke through the TCR Japan ranks to claim the 2023 championship title. Her journey from Mazda’s women’s motorsport initiative to championship success represents one of Japan’s most compelling female racing stories of the 2020s.
EARLY YEARS
Details about Marie’s early life remain largely private, with no publicly documented information about her birthdate, family background, or childhood influences that led her to motorsport. What we do know is that her racing journey began through a women’s motorsport initiative run by Mazda in Japan around 2015, suggesting either a natural aptitude for driving or an early fascination with speed that caught the program’s attention.
OTHER INTERESTS
Marie keeps her personal life and interests outside of racing completely private, with no public information available about hobbies, creative pursuits, or other activities beyond the cockpit.
EARLY SUCCESS
Marie’s racing career launched in 2015 with electric cars as part of Mazda’s women’s motorsport project—an unconventional but forward-thinking entry point that would prove prescient given the industry’s electric future[2]. She spent several years honing her skills before making the leap to TCR Japan in 2021 with Dome Racing behind the wheel of a Honda Civic. Her debut season showed immediate promise with a second-place finish at Suzuka in the Saturday series, though she finished 11th overall in both Saturday and Sunday championships that year[2]. The foundation was clearly solid—she just needed time to build on it.
NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS
- 2022: First TCR Japan race win at Fuji, followed by another victory at Suzuka; earned 7 podiums and 2 pole positions, finishing 2nd in championship[2]
- 2023: Won TCR Japan championship with 5 wins and 2 additional podiums driving for Dome Racing[2]
- 2023: Made Formula Regional Japan debut at Fuji Speedway with 5th and 4th place finishes[2]
- 2024: Finished 6th in Formula Regional Japan championship with one podium (2nd at Fuji)[2]
- 2024: Competed as guest in Toyota GR Cup North America at Virginia rounds[2]
INSPIRATIONS
Marie has not publicly shared details about her racing inspirations or mentors, though her career path through Mazda’s women’s initiative suggests the program itself played a crucial role in shaping her motorsport journey[2].
REPUTATION
Within Japan’s racing community, Marie has established herself as a consistent competitor who delivers when it counts. Her progression from TCR newcomer to champion in just three seasons demonstrates both natural talent and the ability to learn quickly under pressure. The fact that she seamlessly transitioned from touring cars to formula racing speaks to her adaptability—a trait that’s earned respect from teams and competitors alike. Her role in advancing women’s motorsport through her success with Mazda’s initiative has also positioned her as an important figure in Japanese racing’s ongoing diversity efforts[2][4].
FUTURE GOALS/PLANS
For 2025, Marie has signed with Fukuda Racing to compete in Japan’s Kyojo Cup series, marking another new chapter in her evolving career[5]. While she hasn’t publicly outlined long-term goals, her willingness to tackle new series and her proven ability to master different racing disciplines suggest she’s far from finished climbing the motorsport ladder.
References:
RacingYears Marie Iwaoka Profile
Speedqueens Blog Career Summary
Snaplap.net Career Overview
Southeast Asian Female Racers Article
2025 Kyojo Cup Season Entry List
Have Marie updates or corrections? Please let us know – We’d love to keep this profile current.
