Joanne Ciconte will participate in Japan’s Kyojo Cup with KCMG in 2026. The 17-year-old driver moves up to the all-female racing series, putting her only a few steps away from Super Formula. The Australian will hope for a successful run at the Kyojo Cup.
Speaking about the big move, Ciconte said: “I’m super excited to race in Japan this year, and the all-female Kyojo Cup is a fantastic next stage in my development, with the series just one step below Super Formula where so many drivers on the cusp of F1 will be going wheel-to-wheel.
“I had a great taste of the exacting demands of international motorsport last year with F1 Academy, which was a support to F1 at seven events last year from China through to the final race on the streets of Las Vegas. I scored points, but I’m hungry for even bigger and better results as I continue to race for Australia on the world stage.”
Racing career before the Kyojo Cup
Previously, Ciconte had vast experience in karting. In 2024, the Australian stepped up from karting. She competed in the Australian F4 Championship, the Spanish Championship, and the Central European Zone F4 Championship. The Aussie also competed in the Formula Winter series, where her experience deepened.
In 2025, she made her F1 Academy debut with MP Motorsport. It was her first full season of racing cars. While the season had its ups and downs, it taught her valuable lessons for the future. She finished the season in 14th place in the Drivers’ Standings after securing eight points.
For the Kyojo Cup, Ciconte is supported by sponsors such as Nike, ATLANTIS Fisheries Consulting Group, Kaboodle Kitchen, and Fleet Space Technologies. The Kyojo Cup consists of five rounds and is set to be held at Fuji Speedway from 8th to 10th May through to 1st November.
