Japan’s reigning Super Formula champion and next hopeful to reach Formula 1 has endured a tough first season racing in Europe.
Ritomo Miyata scored points in his first ever Formula 2 weekend, but sits 19th in the drivers’ championship with two events of the 2024 season left.
A best result of fifth – secured twice in the same weekend at the Australian Grand Prix, just three rounds into the years, was as good as things have got for the Japanese driver.
It’s unknown whether he will remain in the series for 2025, but he hasn’t done his chances many favours with his performances.
Ex-Arrows driver Toranosuke Takagi is Ritomo Miyata’s racing coach
Ritomo Miyata was mentored by Formula 1 driver Toranosuke Takagi, who drove for Arrows before the turn of the millenium.
Takagi has played a major role in Miyata’s development, and will be good voice to have at a testing time for him.
He hasn’t lost all hope yet though, with two rounds at Qatar and Abu Dhabi left to make up for his poor season.
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Speaking to the Formula 2 website, Miyata lauded Takagi for the role that he has played in opening up opportunities for him.
“My racing teacher. He is an ex-Formula 1 driver, from 1998 to 1999, he was driving for Arrows,” said Miyata.
“When I drove in karting, Toranosuke Takagi supported me massively especially because in motorsport you need a lot of money, and that can be very difficult.”
Takagi helped Miyata achieve Toyota backing
In the tough and competitive motorsport landscape, it’s known that sponsorship is the only way forward for most drivers.
Those who are privileged enough to come from high earning backgrounds even need support to reach the upper echelons of motorsport too.
Miyata also mentioned the importance of Takagi in helping him to secure a Toyota scholarship and set his career on a good path.
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“He helped give me the chance to drive in some top categories and to come over to European motorsport,” he said.
“He also gives me advice about how to be a professional driver, then he helped get me the Toyota scholarship and that’s how I am became a Toyota Professional driver and now (Akio Toyoda) and Toyota Kazoo racing have supported me a lot.”