Noda will drive the #53 Honda-powered SF23 in all 9 Tremendous Components races this 12 months, taking the place initially occupied by Toshiki Oyu after which Riki Okusa in 2023.
The announcement makes her the primary feminine driver to compete in Japan’s premier single-seater sequence since Tatiana Calderon, who drove for Drago Corse between 2020-21 however with out including a single level to her title.
Noda, who will flip 18 subsequent month, had already acquired her first style of a Tremendous Components automobile on the post-season check at Suzuka in December, the place she ended up simply over two seconds off the tempo of the frontrunners.
Nonetheless, she has by no means competitively raced in her house nation previous to 2024, having spent the whole thing of her skilled profession in Europe.
“I am pleased that I’ve determined to take part in Tremendous Components. I am taking a giant step, and I am feeling a combination of pleasure and nervousness proper now,” she mentioned.
“It is like a dream to have the ability to run in the identical race as my seniors, who’ve far much less expertise, comparable to high Japanese drivers and overseas drivers who’ve achieved outcomes on the earth and are anticipated to do properly sooner or later. I hope I can study quite a bit, and I need to have enjoyable with out worry of failure.”
Picture by: Masahide Kamio
Juju Noda, TGM Grand Prix
Noda hopes her entry into Tremendous Components will promote equality in motorsport – and thus encourage extra females to think about this occupation.
“I hope that this participation within the race will result in a evaluation of the foundations to make it extra equal for ladies, and can assist dispel numerous unfavourable stereotypes,” she mentioned.
“If we will create a Tremendous Components that’s in keeping with the instances, the place points comparable to a gender-equal society and gender points are attracting consideration in at this time’s society, I imagine it would result in additional growth of home auto racing. I’ll do my finest to turn into a superb function mannequin for feminine racing drivers.”
TGM consultant Kazuhiro Ikeda mentioned Noda was recruited after she impressed the squad throughout her first two days in a Tremendous Components automobile final month.
Nonetheless, Ikeda was additionally clear that she must step up a gear to race in opposition to her extra skilled rivals.
“On the official check that passed off the opposite day, she confirmed a efficiency that far exceeded our expectations,” mentioned Ikeda.
“Juju has a unprecedented sense of velocity that she has cultivated over time, and we hope she is going to step as much as Tremendous Components. She has confirmed that she is totally certified.
“Nonetheless, that is the place the true battle begins. With a view to turn into a real high driver, Juju herself might want to put in much more effort, together with bodily coaching, aggressiveness in racing, technical understanding, and suggestions on car steadiness.
“In fact, we’re required to make efforts to additional develop Juju’s expertise.
“If we will use the expertise and knowledge we now have cultivated by way of working with numerous gamers to help Juju, we’ll.
“The outcomes obtained from this can be an amazing asset for Juju, the staff, and the motorsports world. We hope that everybody will be a part of us in supporting this dream and the challenges of the long run.”
Noda will dovetail her Tremendous Components marketing campaign with a drive within the BossGP sequence in Europe.
She is the primary driver to be introduced by TGM for the 2024 season, with the id of her team-mate but to be revealed.
Each Nobuharu Matsushita and Rasmus Lindh examined for the Honda-powered squad at Suzuka final month, however it’s unclear who will get the seat that beforehand belonged to Cem Bolukbasi.
Bolukbasi had been hoping to proceed his journey into Tremendous Components for a second season however it’s understood that he wanted to convey a considerable finances as a way to retain his seat.