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Mako Hirakawa traded ballet shoes for bucket seats and became one of Japan’s most compelling rally talents, earning her spot among the elite finalists in the FIA World Rally Championship’s Beyond Rally Women’s Driver Development Programme.

EARLY YEARS

Born December 7, 1996, in Japan, Mako grew up surrounded by speed. Her father, Akira Hirakawa, and her older brother, Ryo Hirakawa—who would go on to become a Super GT champion and Toyota Gazoo Racing’s World Endurance Championship star—were both racing drivers. But instead of following them straight to the track, she took a different route first. Mako spent years studying ballet, developing the discipline, focus, and body awareness that would later translate surprisingly well to the precise, physical demands of rally driving. It wasn’t until she was 18 that she finally made the leap into motorsport, starting with karting—a relatively late entry compared to most professional drivers who begin in childhood.

OTHER INTERESTS

Before racing became her calling, ballet was Mako’s world. The art form taught her grace under pressure and the importance of muscle memory—skills that prove invaluable when she’s sliding a rally car through tight corners at speed. While her racing career has taken center stage, that background in dance remains a unique part of her story, setting her apart in a sport where most competitors have known nothing but motorsport since they could walk.

EARLY SUCCESS

Mako made her racing debut in 2018 in the Kyojo Cup, Japan’s all-female racing series designed to develop women drivers. She didn’t ease into it—she went straight to the podium, finishing second overall in her rookie season. The Kyojo Cup became her proving ground, where she honed her racecraft against other talented women drivers. By 2025, she remained a regular frontrunner in the series, consistently finishing on the podium and demonstrating the kind of speed and consistency that catches attention beyond Japan’s borders. Her performances in the Kyojo Cup also led to opportunities in the Super Taikyu endurance series, where she competed in the ST-Q class for Toyota Gazoo Racing’s Rookie Racing team, sharing the track—and sometimes the car—with other rising female talents.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2018: Finished second overall in her debut Kyojo Cup season[1].
• 2024: Selected as one of 15 finalists for the FIA World Rally Championship’s Beyond Rally Women’s Driver Development Programme[2].
• 2025: Competed in multiple Japanese Rally Championship events in the JN-2 and JN-5 classes, including the Kumakogen Rally, Tour de Kyushu, and Rally Mikawawan[3].
• 2025: Continued competing in the Kyojo Cup, securing a third-place finish at Fuji Speedway[4].
• 2025: Participated in the MCSC Rally Highland Masters[5].
• 2025: Named to Toyota Gazoo Racing’s 2026 development motorsport program under the docomo business ROOKIE team[6].

INSPIRATIONS

Racing is literally in Mako’s DNA. Her brother Ryo’s success—clinching the 2017 Super GT championship and competing at the highest levels of endurance racing with Toyota—showed her what was possible. Her father Akira’s involvement in motorsport provided the family foundation. But rather than feeling pressure to live up to the Hirakawa name, she carved her own path, taking the scenic route through ballet before finding her way to the driver’s seat. The influence is undeniable, but the journey is entirely her own.

REPUTATION

At 27, Mako has earned respect as a serious competitor who came to racing later than most but made up for lost time with raw determination and consistent results. Her selection for the Beyond Rally Women’s Driver Development Programme—competing against talented women from across the globe—validated what Japanese motorsport insiders already knew: she’s fast, focused, and not content to stay in anyone’s shadow, even her famous brother’s. Her performances in both circuit racing and rally events demonstrate versatility that’s rare among young drivers. She’s known for being approachable and professional, representing the new generation of women pushing into a sport that hasn’t always welcomed them.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

In January 2025, Mako married fellow racer Takuro Shinohara, a Super GT GT300 competitor and 2024 championship runner-up. She continues racing under Toyota Gazoo Racing’s development program for 2026, competing with the docomo business ROOKIE team. While the Beyond Rally Women’s Driver Development Programme offered a potential path to a fully supported 2025 FIA Junior WRC campaign, her focus remains on building her rally credentials in Japan while maintaining her circuit racing commitments. Whether she ultimately specializes in rally or continues splitting her time between disciplines, she’s positioned herself as one of Japan’s most promising female racers, with manufacturer backing and the skill set to take the next step when the opportunity arrives.

REFERENCES

[1][2] Hirakawa: From ballet to Beyond Rally – WRC.com
[1] Mako Hirakawa | Racing career profile | Driver Database
[3] Mako Hirakawa: A Rising Star in Japanese Rally Motorsport and His Career Highlights
Mako Hirakawa – NamuWiki
[5] Hirakawa Mako | eWRC-results.com
[6] TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Announces 2026 Development Motorsport Program
Takuro Shinohara – NamuWiki
The Kyojo Cup – Speedqueens
Anna Inotsume takes overall podium, Aimi Saito wins ST-Q
WRC reveals its 15 Women’s Driver Development finalists – DirtFish
[4] 2025 Kyojo Cup season – Wikipedia
Why you should watch the Kyojo Cup season finale
How has the Kyojo Cup grid adapted to the series’ new era?
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Presents its 2025 motorsport team setups