June Okanoya

WEC racing //

n/a

June's Socials:

June's Sponsors

(let them know June sent you)

nickname:

n/a

Birthday:

January 7, 1954 (71)

Birthplace:

racing type:

WEC racing

team(s):

racing status:

height (cm):

161

residence:

n/a

inspiration(s):

June Okanoya was inspired by Hiromi Sakai and Maya Sato.

guilty pLEASURES:

FOLLOWING:

June Okanoya is mentioned in contexts related to female racers and her own racing career, but there is no specific information found in the provided search results about any motorsports racers she is a fan of or follows online. The sources discuss her racing history and other racers but do not list names of racers she follows or admires.

GRRL! Number:

GRRL-0542

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profile updated: June 12, 2025

June Okanoya stands as a quietly revolutionary figure in Japanese motorsports, recognized for her impressive second-place class finish in the 1995 SUPER GT series and her continued influence as a course announcer for national clubman races.

EARLY YEARS

Limited information exists about June’s early life before entering motorsport. Unlike many professional racers with documented early careers, Okanoya emerged on the racing scene without the advantage of a prominent family name in racing or extensive media attention on her pre-racing activities.

EARLY SUCCESS

Okanoya’s breakthrough came in 1995 when, in just her second career start in the prestigious SUPER GT series, she secured a second-place finish in her class. This remarkable achievement demonstrated not merely participation but genuine competitive skill in one of Japan’s most challenging motorsport championships. Her early performances were characterized by exceptional self-confidence and precision driving in an era when female racers faced significant skepticism.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

1995: Runner-up in class at SUPER GT event (second career start)[2].

REPUTATION

Though her competitive racing career was relatively brief, June earned respect for refusing to be categorized as merely a novelty in a male-dominated sport. Her approach was straightforward—she raced to win, not to make statements about gender representation. This authentic competitive spirit has cemented her legacy as a genuine racer first and foremost. Inspired by compatriots Hiromi Sakai and Maya Sato, she has in turn become a figure who helped normalize women’s presence in Japanese motorsport through both her driving accomplishments and continued involvement in the racing community.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

Moving forward, June continues her role as a course announcer for national-level clubman races in Japan, with a focus on promoting grassroots motorsport and developing new talent. Rather than returning to competitive driving, her current trajectory suggests a commitment to leveraging her experience and racing knowledge to enrich motorsports coverage and community engagement, particularly supporting the development of national club-level competitions.