Ayumu Nagai is a Japanese racing driver who traded motocross for four wheels and has been clawing her way up through Japan’s competitive Kyojo Cup series since 2021, racking up four podiums while chasing her first win.

EARLY YEARS

Born on May 7th in Tokyo, Ayumu Nagai got an early start in motorsports—at just three years old, she was already sitting on a motorbike. By age seven, she was fully committed to motocross competition, a sport she tackled alongside her parents and older sister. The Nagai family didn’t just dabble; they were all in, and Ayumu thrived in the dirt-slinging, adrenaline-fueled world of two-wheeled racing.

Standing at 160cm with blood type B, Nagai grew up athletic and competitive. Her talent on a bike became undeniable during her high school years when she placed third in the All-Japan Championship Ladies Class as a first-year student. That podium finish wasn’t just a trophy—it was proof she belonged among Japan’s best female riders.

OTHER INTERESTS

Nagai has always been drawn to sports, which makes sense given her family’s motorsports background. Beyond racing, she’s demonstrated a natural athleticism that likely contributed to her ability to transition from motorcycles to rally cars and eventually circuit racing. Her profile notes simply that she’s “good at sports,” a modest understatement for someone who competed at a national championship level before she could legally drive a car on public roads.

EARLY SUCCESS

After years of motocross success, Nagai made the bold decision to switch to rally racing in 2019. It was a significant pivot—trading dirt bikes for rally cars meant learning an entirely different skillset, but she adapted quickly. By 2020, she was competing in the All-Japan Rally Championship’s JN-6 class, finishing fifth overall in the series standings that year while driving a Toyota Vitz CVT for Cusco Racing. Her co-driver was Noriko Takeshita, and together they tackled events like the Shinshiro Rally and the Tour de Kyushu.

The rally experience proved invaluable. Navigating unpredictable gravel stages and tight technical sections built the racecraft that would serve her well when she transitioned to circuit racing. In 2021, Nagai joined the Kyojo Cup, an all-female racing series in Japan designed to develop women drivers and provide a pathway toward higher levels of motorsport. From Suzuka—a city synonymous with Japanese racing—Nagai brought her two-wheeled tenacity and rally-honed skills to the track.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2014: Competed in All-Japan Motocross Championship, placed third in Ladies Class as a high school freshman.
• 2020: Finished fifth in All-Japan Rally Championship JN-6 class standings.
• 2021: Began competing in Kyojo Cup.
• 2023: Finished fourth overall in Kyojo Cup season standings.
• 2024: Finished sixth overall in Kyojo Cup with 45 points; scored her first podium of the season with second place at the finale.
• 2025: Competing with Dojo Racing (#46) in Kyojo Cup; finished fourth in Round 1 Final; currently eighth in points standings.

INSPIRATIONS

Information about Nagai’s specific inspirations is not publicly available, though her family’s deep involvement in motocross clearly shaped her early passion for motorsports. Growing up in a household where everyone raced likely normalized the idea that women belong on the track just as much as men—a mindset that continues to drive her today.

REPUTATION

Nagai has built a reputation as a consistent competitor in the Kyojo Cup, described as a “mainstay” of the series since 2021. Over four seasons, she’s earned four podiums and demonstrated steady improvement, though the elusive first win remains just out of reach. In 2024, she finished sixth overall with 45 points and regularly placed in the top ten throughout the season. Her performances have been characterized by flashes of brilliance—like her sixth-place Sprint finish and fourth in the Final during a July round—mixed with occasional struggles, including a no-score result later that same weekend.

Racing for series newcomer Dojo Racing in 2025, Nagai started the season strong with a fifth-place finish in the opening round, showing she could compete with the established front-runners. By May, she’d climbed to eighth in the points standings with 18 points, demonstrating the kind of grit that’s defined her career. She’s known for being aggressive when opportunities arise—overtaking competitors like Mako Hirakawa on track at Fuji Speedway—but also for her ability to manage races strategically after years of rally experience taught her patience and precision.

Her Japanese racing profile describes her simply as someone who will “do her best” (頑張ります), a humble statement that underplays her fierce competitiveness. Those who’ve followed her career know she’s chasing a bigger goal: she’s publicly stated she wants to become “the fastest female racer in Japan,” a bold declaration that shows she’s not content with just participating—she’s here to win.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

As of 2025, Nagai continues to race with Dojo Racing in the Kyojo Cup, which is scheduled to run five rounds throughout the season. The series is transitioning to F4 cars, a significant step up in performance and complexity that will test all competitors’ abilities to adapt. For Nagai, this represents both a challenge and an opportunity—mastering F4 machinery could open doors to higher-level racing series in Japan and potentially beyond.

Her stated goal remains clear: she wants to be the fastest woman in Japanese motorsports. With four podiums already under her belt and consistent top-ten finishes, that first win feels increasingly within reach. Whether it comes in 2025 or beyond, Nagai has proven she has the skill, determination, and racing pedigree to make it happen. She’s spent two decades in motorsports already—from dirt bikes to rally stages to circuit racing—and she’s not slowing down anytime soon.

REFERENCES

How has the Kyojo Cup grid adapted to the series’ new era?
2025 Kyojo Cup season – Wikipedia
Nagai Ayumu – eWRC-results.com
Kyojo Cup: 2025 season guide – Feeder Series
2025_KYOJO_永井歩夢 – ドライビングアスリート
永井 歩夢 – KYOJO CUP 公式Webサイト
Kyojo Cup: Aimi Saito wins season finale, clinches 2024 crown
Feeder Series weekend review, results and standings: 08–11 May
21/10/23 日本一速い女性レーサーになりたい
Japanese Women’s Motocross Championship