Education
Hosei University.
井原 慶子
Hosei University.
She is one of the top female racing driver to race a internationally at a high level She recorded the top result as a female driver in the world from 2012 to 2014.She became the 1st female driver to stand on the WEC(World Endurance championship) podium in 2014. (Fuji round,Bahrain round) She also became the 1st female winer of Asian Le mans series in 2014.
She was a fasion model and race queen, a model who appears in a swimsuit or other fashionable apparel at race circuits, before deciding to become a racing driver.
When she was a second year of University student and needed to earn money to pay for a Mogul skiing event camp. As part of her modelling work Keiko was chosen to be a ‘F1 Benetton Image girl’.
Visiting race circuits changed her destiny. With no knowledge whatever of motorsport she was shocked by the exhaust roar and speed of racing cars and fascinated by their overwhelming power and vibrancy.
She thought ‘One way, no pedestrians, flat out in a racing car…me too!!’ At this stage she did not even have a driving licence so started going to a driving school.
Shortly after obtaining a driving license,She made her race debut Ferrari challenge in Japan in 1999. Keiko Ihara has been to more than 50 countries around the world to participate in International racing.She participated British Formula renault,French F3,British F3,et cetera She became the first female driver to get a podium finish 3rd in the 50 years history of the international championship Macau Grand Prix in 2002.
She came 3rd in Formula Bayerische Motoren Werke Asia series.
Ihara has been participating World endurance championship as sole female driver since 2012. Ihara joined the Gulf racing Middle East to compete at the FIA World Endurance Championship in the LMP2 class with Jean-Denis deletraz and Fabien Giroix as codrivers.In 2013, She raced tow rounds for Gulf racing Middle East and for with OAK racing,both in the LMP2 class.
Driver’s ranking of 22nd in the 2013 FIA WEC. She also became NIon SANgyo Gloval Ambassador "Zero emission mobility"
After that, She stood on the podium back to back at the FIA World Endurance Championship (She teamed with co-drivers Gustavo Yacaman and Alex Brundle to finish third at the 6 Hours of Fuji,Bahrain)
She scored the highest result as a female driver in the world. She became Bayerische Motoren Werke i series Ambassador in Japan.
In 2016, Keiko Ihara joined the Mazda Prototype team for the 12 Hours of Sebring, March 17–19.
Ihara will team with drivers Tom Long, Joel Miller and Ben Devlin in the Number. While working on her race career, She is making efforts to improve social and environmental education and transportation in Japan.works for Japanse government as a part time. Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry council for industrial structure committee
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Japan house advisory committee
Policy adviser of Mie prefecture
Appointed as an Driver representative for the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission since 2012
Appointed as Women representative for the FIA Drivers Commission since 2012
In 2016,She build up Mazda Women in Motorsport Project as Asian representative for the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission.
Participate in social contribution activities as a fellow of the United States-Japan Leadership Program.
Career summary
* Season still in progress. † – Charity race guest.
24 Hours of Le Mans results
Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results.