Rina Ito

Rina Ito is a Japanese motorsports driver who’s spent over a decade proving she can hang with the boys in everything from rally stages to endurance racing circuits across Japan and the Asia-Pacific region.

EARLY YEARS

Born October 24, 1986, Ito didn’t exactly take the traditional route into racing. Like fellow Japanese driver Keiko Ihara, her first taste of motorsport came in 2006 when she was 20 years old—working as a scantily-clad grid girl[1]. She continued in that role on and off until 2017[2], but it only took a couple of years before she decided the view was better from behind the wheel than beside it.

OTHER INTERESTS

Information about Rina’s interests outside of motorsport is not available in the research provided.

EARLY SUCCESS

Her senior rallying career kicked off in 2010, when she began competing in Japanese and Asia-Pacific events, usually piloting a Mazda 2 Demio[3]. But she didn’t limit herself to rally—by 2013, she was racing a Toyota GT86 in the Fuji Champion Cup and a one-make series for that model[4]. In 2013, she also competed in the “86 Style” event at Fuji Speedway alongside other female drivers including Nanami Tsukamoto, Oda Chiho, Megumi Hachigo, and Yumi Yoshida[5]. She traveled to Korea in 2015 for the Korea Speed Festival, driving a Hyundai Veloster Turbo through three races with a best finish of seventh[6]. That same year at the Wakasa Rally in Fukui Prefecture, she and co-driver Hiroshi Arai grabbed a third-place podium finish in the JN-3 class—her first rally podium[7]. Her best overall rally result came with a 24th place finish in the Shinshiro Rally, where she beat 20 other drivers and finished second in class[8]. In 2017, she drove a Toyota Vitz and earned her first top-twenty finish: 20th overall in the Kumakogen Rally[9].

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2015: Third place podium in JN-3 class at Wakasa Rally with co-driver Hiroshi Arai[7].
• 2017: First top-twenty overall rally finish—20th at Kumakogen Rally[9].
• 2018: Third place finish at Toyota Motorsport Festival in Phuket, Thailand[10].
• 2020: Winner of the first Kyojo Cup race, finishing ahead of Rina Ito was Miki Onaga[11].
• 2022: Competed in multiple rounds of Super Taikyu Series with Team Bride in ST-5 class, including the 24 Hours of Fuji[12].
• 2022: Part of Team Bride squad (with Hiroaki Nagai, Yuta Kamimura, Daisuke Ito, Hiroki Kokuzawa) that won the ST-X championship at Suzuka S-Tai finale[13].
• Multiple years: Competed in MINI Challenge Japan with SYCG Racing, accumulating 2 victories and 21 podiums driving a MINI JCW[14].

INSPIRATIONS

Information about Rina’s specific inspirations is not available in the research provided.

REPUTATION

Ito has built a reputation as a versatile driver who doesn’t stick to one discipline. She’s competed in rallying across Japan and internationally in New Zealand[15], raced in endurance events like the grueling 24 Hours of Fuji, tackled one-make series for Mini and Toyota GT86, and even traveled across Asia to compete in events like the Toyota Vios Lady Cup in Thailand[16]. Her 2016 move into the Professional class showed she was serious about leveling up[17]. By mixing rally stages with circuit racing and endurance events, she’s proven she can adapt to whatever machine and surface you put in front of her—whether it’s a Mazda Demio on gravel, a Honda Fit in a 24-hour race, or a MINI JCW on tarmac.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

Information about Rina’s specific future goals or plans for 2025 and beyond is not available in the research provided.

REFERENCES

Rally Wikia – Rina Ito
Speedqueens – Rina Ito
MZRacing – Rina Ito Grabs First Podium at JRC Wakasa Rally
Speedqueens – September 2019
Club4AG – 86 Style 2013 Event Coverage
Nation Thailand – Toyota Motorsport Festival kicks off in Phuket
Super GT World – Japanese Motorsport In The Time of Coronavirus
Daily Sportscar – 56 Cars Entered For 2022 Fuji Super TEC 24 Hours
Daily Sportscar – HELM Motorsports Crowned ST-X Champions
BMW & MINI Racing – いとうりな (RINA ITO)
Speedqueens – The Toyota Vios Lady Cup
eWRC Results – Rina Ito / Yuichi Arai | Wakasa Rally – JRC 2015