Ritomo Miyata: My Greatest Influences

Ritomo Miyata is coming to the end of his rookie campaign in FIA Formula 2 with Rodin Motorsport but before we get to end of the 2024 campaign, we sat down with him to talk about those that have helped get him to this point.

The Japanese driver reserves special mention for his parents as well as plenty from back home that have laid the path for him.

PARENTS

“They gave me the motorsport world. My parents are motorsport fans, of course of Formula 1 but also of the World Endurance Championship, and MotoGP, so they love motorsport and they took me to karting. They used to come to my races, but they have not come to any this year, but maybe soon they will come.

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“When I drove in karting, every weekend we went to the track but when I arrived at the top categories, they didn't go to the track, they stayed away and would watch on the internet. But they still support me, although now that I live in Europe and they live in Japan, it's far away, but we still chat a lot and they watch all my races.

“My family understands my character as their son, so this is really good because Japanese is my main language. But they speak English and other languages so this has been helpful for me coming over to Europe because they have taught me about the culture and the people, so they have been very good to me.”

TORANOSUKE TAKAGI

“My racing teacher. He is an ex-Formula 1 driver, from 1998 to 1999, he was driving for Arrows. 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.

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“He helped give me the chance to drive in some top categories and to come over to European motorsport. 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.

“Toyota has ex-Formula 1 drivers Kamui Kobayashi and Kazuki Nakajima, they did GP2 and which is now F2 so they know the F2 world and the Formula 1 world. This is good because actually for Japanese drivers going to Europe is a big challenge. But they know about spending time in Europe and with European people, so they told me about it and this has been very helpful for me.”

AKIO TOYODA

“He is the Chairman of Toyota, so the big boss. He loves motorsport and he pushed me to get the Formula 2 opportunity. He knows drivers want faster cars and to develop in cars, he knows all about it, so that's why he pushed me into the Formula 2 world. I am also doing Endurance Racing thanks to him, so I have been getting a lot of opportunities because he supported me a lot. I really want to say thank you very much to Morizo san.

“He understands motorsport, and that it is a very difficult challenge to move out of Japan. I am Japanese, Toyota is a Japanese manufacturer so it's easier for us to just drive in Japan because going to Europe or America, it's very difficult for us. But Morizo san understands how to support drivers, so now I am a WEC reserve, racing in F2 and also in endurance racing, and this is because of his big support.”