Zhao Yunqing

Zhao Yunqing—known on track as “Emily” Zhao—is a Chinese racing driver currently competing in Japan’s all-female Kyojo Cup series, making history as the only driver on the 2025 grid to jump straight from karting into open-wheel racing.

EARLY YEARS

Zhao started karting at age 11, initially treating it as a hobby before the thrill of speed got under her skin. By 12, she was competing seriously in kart races, discovering that the fun of driving was matched only by the desire to win[1]. The transition from casual weekend warrior to legitimate competitor happened fast—once she experienced her first race, there was no looking back.

OTHER INTERESTS

Information about Zhao’s interests outside of racing is not currently available.

EARLY SUCCESS

Zhao built her racing foundation in karting’s Senior Max category, competing in high-level international events across Asia and Europe. In 2024, she raced in the Rotax Max Challenge Asia Festival at Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia[2], going wheel-to-wheel with some of the region’s top karting talent. That same year, she competed in the WSK Final Cup in Lonato, Italy, in the OK-N category—finishing 36th in the final but gaining invaluable experience racing on European soil[3]. These weren’t small regional events; they were the kind of races where talent scouts take notes and futures get decided.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2024: Competed in Rotax Max Challenge Asia Festival at Sepang in Senior Max category[2].
• 2024: Raced in WSK Final Cup at Lonato, Italy, in OK-N category[3].
• 2025: Became the only driver to jump directly from karting to Kyojo Cup’s open-wheel era with ATeam Buzz Racing[4].
• 2025: Competed in all five rounds of Kyojo Cup at Fuji Speedway driving car #57[5].

INSPIRATIONS

In her own words, Zhao has dreamed of racing since childhood, a passion that drove her decision to join Kyojo Cup and pursue single-seater racing in Japan[6]. The opportunity to compete in an all-female championship while developing open-wheel skills clearly aligned with long-held ambitions.

REPUTATION

As a rookie in 2025, Zhao faced one of the steepest learning curves on the Kyojo Cup grid. Racing observers noted that she and her team, Buzz Racing (also series newcomers), struggled to find their footing early in the season[7]. By mid-season, the 17-year-old was still hunting for her first points, sitting at zero with two rounds remaining[8]. But here’s the thing about being the only driver brave—or crazy—enough to skip the usual feeder series ladder: every lap is a masterclass, every session is survival school. Zhao wasn’t just learning a new car; she was learning how to be a racing driver in real-time, in front of everyone, with nowhere to hide.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

With the 2025 Kyojo Cup season serving as her baptism by fire in open-wheel racing, Zhao’s immediate focus is clearly on closing the performance gap and scoring her first championship points. The experience gained running all five rounds at Fuji Speedway—learning racecraft, tire management, and the technical demands of Formula Regional machinery—positions her for continued development in single-seater competition.

REFERENCES

[1] Zhao Yunqing Interview – Kyojo Cup Official Website
[2] Kyojo Cup unveils new format, drivers ahead of new era – Racers Behind The Helmet
[3] Zhao Yunqing Emily – Kartcom
[4] How has the Kyojo Cup grid adapted to the series’ new era? – Racers Behind The Helmet
[5] 2025 Kyojo Cup season – Wikipedia
[6] Zhao Yun Qing Driver Profile – Kyojo Cup Official Website
[7] Kyojo Cup: 2025 season guide – Feeder Series
[8] How has the Kyojo Cup grid adapted to the series’ new era? – Racers Behind The Helmet