An excited Keiko Ihara is looking forward to her second endurance event at Fuji in eight weeks as she prepares for this weekend’s 6 Hours of Fuji with OAK Racing.
The Japanese racer, who won the Asian Le Mans round at Fuji Speedway in August is confident ahead of her home race in the No.35 OAK Racing Morgan-Judd LMP2.
“It is fantastic to see so many fans already here cheering me and Kazuki (Nakajima) on,” she said. “I enjoyed the win here in August and although it was on different tyres the laps I completed will definitely help me.”
Ihara, who raced at Fuji for only the first time in the 2012 FIA World Endurance Championship round, will be among the crowd favourites.
“With Alex (Brundle) and Gustavo (Yacaman) as my team mates we have a very good package for sure. The competition is very tough with many good cars and drivers but we will be fighting for a good position I am sure. With the fans' cheers and support we will have some extra tenths of a second."
Ihara, who is an active member of the FIA Women in Motorsports Commission and FIA Drivers Commission, is adamant that she can add more trophies to the one she claimed here at Fuji Speedway in August.
Sam Smith
