Kyojo Cup 2026 Season Opens at Fuji Speedway
Two Australian drivers to make their series debuts this weekend
Series Overview
The Kyojo Cup is an all-female single-make racing championship featuring identical cars. The season consists of five rounds, all held at Fuji Speedway in Japan, with each round comprising one sprint race and one feature race.
2026 Schedule
Round Dates Round 1 May 9–10 Round 2 July 18–19 Round 3 September 5–6 Round 4 October 10–11 Round 5 October 31–November 1Driver Profiles
Joanne Ciconte (17)
Ciconte arrives in the Kyojo Cup following a 2025 campaign in the all-female F1 Academy series, where she was the youngest competitor. She now races for team KCMG.
"The Kyojo Cup cars are faster and different from F1 Academy cars," Ciconte noted, acknowledging a learning period ahead.
Her transition to single-seater cars began in 2024, after a background in junior karting. She has set clear objectives for her debut season:
- Finish in the top five
- Secure podium finishes
- Focus on personal development
Ciconte earned her seat following a December test. Looking beyond the Kyojo Cup, she has expressed interest in advancing to Super Formula, the Japanese open-wheel series that has produced Formula 1 drivers including Liam Lawson, Pierre Gasly, and Stoffel Vandoorne.
In addition to her Kyojo Cup commitments, she is scheduled to compete in two rounds of the 2026 AU4 championship, beginning with its opening round in May—one week before the Kyojo Cup season opener.
Paige Raddatz
Raddatz joins Fujisan Shizuoka Racing, making the transition from kart racing to open-wheel cars. Her prior open-wheel experience is limited to three rounds of Indian F4 in 2024.
"Driving technique is similar between karts and open-wheel cars," Raddatz explained, noting that only minor adaptations are required.
Her stated goal for the season is to finish in the top 10.
Background
Both drivers secured their contracts through Kyojo Cup auditions held in December.
Ciconte maintains a rigorous training schedule that includes daily workouts and simulator sessions. She has credited her 2025 F1 Academy experience with providing valuable insight into the demands of international competition and managing the associated mental pressures.