マレーシア・ニュース
セパン１２耐に日本人女性参戦
[ モーターレース ] セパン・サーキットで行われる、ムルデカ１２時間耐久レースに世界で初めてエントリーする女性ドライバー、三上さんが昨日（8/15）にマレーシア入りし、開口一番、レース上では男も女も関係ないと宣言した。彼女が所属するのはチーム・レッドブルでスタッフは全て女性。６回目を迎える今年のレースは８月２７日に行われ、77台・２２１人のドライバーで栄冠を競う。札幌市出身の三上さんは当日は自身の誕生日にあたり、このレースにかける思い入れは強い。
[ 8月16日 22：26 ＭＣＳ]
ニュース・ソース
Kazumi fears no male driver
[ MOTOR RACING ] KAZUMI MIKAMI , who is the first international woman
driver in Sepang's 12-hour Merdeka Millenium Endurance (MME) race,arrived
yesterday and immediately declared she fears no man on the racing track.
""I am ready to compete with anybody - man or woman; it makes no difference on a race track," said Kazumi, who will be driving for the X-1R RedBull Racing Team in an all-woman team - with seasoned campaigners Deanna Yusoff and Phillipa Yoong.
Accompanied by her manager - cum-translator, Youichi Murayama, Kazumi said women drivers were fast making their mark all over the world and she would not be surprised MME would have a woman driver winning the endurance race soon.
Introduced in 2000, the MME has yet to have a woman winner. However, in 2002, Yasmin Hani and Tuty Edrianti Jusat were second in the Open class.
Entering its sixth edition this year, the race, at Sepang Circuit on Aug 27, will be completed by 77 cars and 221 drivers, divided in four categories according to the engine capacity of race machines.
""The race will be special because Aug 27 is also my birthday. I hope to get a great birthday present by finishing on the podium," said Kazumi, who was born in Sapporo City.
Despite not having experience driving on Sepang Formula One track, Kazumi said it was just a temporary setback, adding she was looking forward to the practice sessions.
""My first experience driving at Sepang Circuit will be on Wednesday, and I am excited to get my first drive on the great race track I've heard so much about," she said, adding she was attracted to the MME due to the growing popularity of the event, easpecially among Japanese drivers.
Among the top Japanese drivers for the Merdeka Millennium Endurance race are Super GT drivers Hiroki Katoh and Ryo Michigami former Japan GT drivers Kunimutsu Takahashi and Genji Hashimoto and Yasuhiro Morita, who is Bridgestone's Chief Representative Officer for the region.
Currently racing in japan's Formula Toyota Championship, Kazumi - who stands at 165cm and weighs 44kg for an ideal drivers's figure - said she has always loved the thrills of racing and the excitement of the competitions.
[The Malay Mail 16/8/2005]
