RISING STAR RADDATZ SET FOR JAPANESE RACING DEBUT

MEDIA RELEASE/Paige Raddatz – Photos: supplied

Rising Aussie racing star Paige Raddatz is set to showcase her talents on the world stage, locking in a deal to compete in the Japanese-based Kyojo Cup with the Fujisan Shizuoka Racing squad starting with this weekend’s opening round.

Raddatz comes with a strong pedigree in the Australian go-karting scene; as well as winning eight Ladies Karting Championships, she was also the first Australian female racer to win a round of the Rotax Pro Tour.

Last year, Raddatz made the progression to cars, competing in a round of the Indian F4 Championship where she finished as the highest-placed female competitor in an impressive eighth place.

2026 will mark Raddatz’s first full season in a car racing category and she is excited for the first round at Japan’s famed Fuji circuit, but is expecting her debut race meeting to be a challenge.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to complete a few test days to get used to the car and the track; the first test was a massive learning curve, but the last two tests have been quite successful,” Raddatz said.

“The language barrier has been tricky to deal with, but my team has provided an interpreter to help with the communication process. I’ve also been coached by Jake Parsons, another Aussie living overseas – his guidance has been really beneficial for helping me settle in.

“Apart from that, it’s just been a big adjustment being away from home for long periods of time, and getting used to the Japanese culture – the way they go motor-racing is much more process-driven than Australia, where we tend to be more relaxed.”

Raddatz will be racing a Formula 4 car in the Kyojo Cup, but says there are some subtle differences compared to the FIA-spec F4 cars she’s driven previously.

“At the end of the day, it’s an open-wheel race car so the driving technique is much the same; there are just a few minor things I’ve had to adapt to, such as a slightly heavier feel in the braking system and a different tyre,” she said.

“I can’t wait to race at Fuji – it’s such a fast track, with lots of elevation changes and spectacular scenery with the mountains.”

Raddatz is setting modest goals for the opening round of the Kyojo Cup.

“A lot of the girls in the series have a lot more experience in cars that I do – if I can finish in the top 10, that would be a very positive result and give me a strong foundation to build upon,” she said.

The Kyojo Cup will consist of two qualifying sessions and three races, with live streaming on the Kyojo Cup YouTube Channel.

Kyojo Cup Round 1 Schedule

All times are in local Japanese time.

Thursday, 7 May

10:00am – Practice 1 (30 min)

1:40pm – Practice 2 (30 min)

3:00pm – Practice 3 (13 laps)

Friday, 8 May

9:50am – Practice 4 (30 min)

1:40pm – Practice 5 (30 min)

3:15pm – Practice 6 (30 min)

Saturday, 9 May

9:30am – Qualifying (20 min)

3:00pm – Sprint Race (10 laps)

Sunday, 10 May

8:00am – Qualifying (20 min)

12:45 – Vita Race (10 laps)

2:00pm – Final (15 laps)

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