Rio Shimono will step up to the Formula Regional (FR) Japanese Championship in 2026, joining Dr. Dry for her first campaign at regional single-seater level. The move follows a commanding title-winning season in the Kyojo Cup, where she established herself as one of the most successful drivers in the series’ history.
At 25 years old, Shimono will combine her FR programme with a return to Kyojo Cup competition, where she will aim to defend her crown next season.
A dominant Kyojo Cup campaign
Shimono enters FR Japan as the reigning Kyojo Cup champion, having delivered a season of remarkable consistency and control. She won eight of the ten races on the calendar, missing victory only twice, and secured the title well before the final round.
That level of dominance underlined her technical growth and race management, convincing Dr. Dry to promote her within its single-seater structure.
A long-term partnership between Shimono and Dr. Dry ahead of 2026 FR Japan step up
Shimono’s step up continues a partnership that spans several seasons. She previously raced for Dr. Dry in Formula 4 Japan and returned to the team during her title-winning Kyojo Cup campaign with Itochu Enex Wecars Team Impul with Dr. Dry.
As a result, continuity will play a key role in her transition to FR machinery. The familiar engineering environment should allow Shimono to focus on adapting to higher downforce, increased power, and longer race distances.
Experience across multiple disciplines
Before focusing on single-seaters, Shimono built experience across a variety of categories. She became the first female driver to compete in TCR Japan, claiming victory in the Saturday Series’ Bronze class in 2020. She also contested Super-FJ championships and multiple seasons of Formula 4 Japan, gaining mileage at circuits used by the FR calendar.
That breadth of experience has shaped her driving style and prepared her for the demands of a more advanced single-seater platform.
Balancing progression and continuity
Rather than leaving Kyojo Cup behind, Shimono will return to defend her title in 2026 alongside her FR campaign. The dual programme allows her to continue leading Japan’s premier female single-seater series while measuring herself against a mixed-gender grid at a higher level.
Through this approach, Shimono targets steady progression rather than a rushed transition, using FR Japan as a proving ground for the next phase of her career.
A milestone moment
Shimono’s promotion reflects the growing pathway between Kyojo Cup success and mainstream single-seater racing in Japan. By stepping into FR Japan with the same team that backed her championship run, she reinforces the value of continuity, performance, and long-term development.
As the 2026 season approaches, Shimono will arrive on the FR grid not as an experiment, but as a proven champion ready for her next challenge. She will join TOM’s Formula signings Yuzuki Miura and Masan Muto.
