RIO SHIMONO Dominates Fourth Win as RAMI SASAKI Claims Career-First Podium

August 18, 2025

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

GRRL! SUMMARY:

RIO SHIMONO delivered a masterclass performance, leading flag-to-flag from pole position to claim her fourth victory in just six races this season. The Impul driver’s commanding drive extended her championship points lead over MIKI ONAGA, who faced an uphill battle starting from 15th on the grid. SHIMONO’s dominance shows she’s not just winning races—she’s controlling this championship with the kind of authority that separates champions from also-rans.
RAMI SASAKI broke through for her career-first podium finish with a brilliant charge from fourth to second place, showcasing the kind of racecraft that transforms promising drivers into proven winners. The KCMG driver’s aggressive moves at TGR Corner, first dispatching RIONA TOMISHITA for third then overtaking Hirakawa for second while setting fastest lap, demonstrated she belongs at the front of the field. This breakthrough result could be the confidence boost that unlocks even bigger performances ahead.
RIONA TOMISHITA secured her second consecutive podium with a gutsy final-sector pass on Hirakawa, proving her recent form is no fluke but the emergence of a genuine contender. Her late-race move around the outside at TGR Corner that failed was immediately followed by a successful strike at the Hairpin—the kind of persistent attacking that separates drivers who settle for positions from those who seize them. Meanwhile, MIKI ONAGA’s recovery drive from 16th to sixth showcased championship-caliber determination, gaining ten places in twelve laps to keep her title hopes alive.