ANNA INOTSUME Delivers Clean Top Six Weekend in Rain-Soaked F Regional Japan

May 27, 2025

by MARCO ALBERTINI // from www.racers-behindthehelmet.com

• ANNA INOTSUME made a smart debut with series newcomers Hitotsuyama Racing at Okayama, qualifying fifth twice and fourth once as rain transformed the weekend. While others struggled with the wet conditions, the 2023 TCR Japan champion adapted well to secure solid grid positions after initially running ninth and seventh in dry practice sessions.
• Across three challenging races affected by weather delays, crashes, and safety cars, INOTSUME kept her nose clean and capitalized on others’ mistakes. She finished fifth in the abbreviated first race (run entirely under safety car), sixth in race two after being overtaken by charging competitors, and sixth again in race three despite losing a position to Umegaki early on.
• While the weekend featured dramatic action including multiple crashes, grid penalties, and last-lap drama that shuffled the podium, INOTSUME’s consistent approach paid dividends. Her incident-free performance stands out in a field where several drivers struggled with the conditions, positioning her well for the championship fight ahead with Hitotsuyama Racing.

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