But beyond
the front-running WRC team, a lively motorsport scene exists in the country,
which has led to 27-year-old Mako Hirakawa landing a place at the Beyond Rally
Women’s Driver Programme final.
Mako has forged
a unique journey into the world of rallying. Whilst she initially trained to be
a ballet dancer, her father’s passion for motorsport meant she was introduced
to cars at an early age, and that sparked a love for speed and competition that
eventually led her to pursue a career behind the wheel.
“I started
circuit racing when I was little” explains Mako, “but my father started
rallying and that’s so that’s why I started too.”
Now, she is
seven years into her rallying career and has found inspiration in Katsuta.
“Rallying as a sport is not as
popular as soccer or baseball here in Japan so it's exciting to see Taka doing
well. I feel that because Taka is a Japanese driver doing WRC, it gives a lot
of courage and excitement to other Japanese drivers.”
And the WRC ace is a friend of the
family too, which means Mako can talk about all things rallying when he heads
home.
“My brother is friends with Taka. Taka
rarely visits Japan, but sometimes when he does, I can talk to him about rally.
Not so much the specifics or to get advice, but we talk about the sport. He is
a role model because, like me, he started in circuit racing and then went into
rallying and became so popular.”
She will
need to channel all her inner fighting spirit for the challenge ahead, as the
coveted final presents some new challenges.
“Almost
every day I practice pacenotes, I write them or watch videos. This is my
personality; I don’t mind taking little steps day by day to reach my goals. The
final will be my first time in a left-hand drive car and of course, there are
nerves, but I want to make good use of the opportunity and learn. I will do my
best.”
Europe
Poland
Turkey