RIO SHIMONO Capitalizes on AIMI SAITO’s Spin to Take Championship Lead

August 16, 2025

GRRL! SUMMARY:

RIO SHIMONO delivered when it mattered most, turning a third-place starting position into her third win of the season after race leader AIMI SAITO spun in wet conditions with six laps remaining. The victory catapults Shimono into the championship lead, proving that sometimes the best drivers are the ones who stay calm when the track gets slippery and others start making mistakes.
MAKO HIRAKAWA showed impressive racecraft to secure her second podium of the season with a smart second-place finish, while RIONA TOMISHITA claimed her breakthrough first podium with third place. Both drivers capitalized on the chaos ahead of them and demonstrated the depth of talent in this field – when opportunities arise, these women know how to seize them.
The drama intensified when MIKI ONAGA, who had charged from last place after missing qualifying, received a brutal 30-second penalty for an illegal start that dropped her from a potential top-five finish to 16th. Meanwhile, Saito’s championship hopes took a serious hit as her spin not only cost her the race win but also relegated her to a back-row start for tomorrow’s final – a reminder that in racing, one moment can change everything.