🚗Oh, hey there! Grab a seat. I finally have a quick breather between the qualifying rounds, so we can actually chat for a second.

I’m Reiko. Reiko Nagase. If you've been following the Grand Prix or hanging around the UFRA circuit lately, you’ve probably seen my face on a few posters or caught me waving down from the starting grid. I’ve been the official spokesperson and race queen for the circuit for a while now, though honestly, I consider myself more of the drivers' ultimate cheerleader.

If you're looking for me in a crowd, I'm pretty easy to spot. Just look for the short, sporty bob—which is honestly a lifesaver when you're dealing with track winds all day—and my usual white and red Namco gear. I've always preferred keeping things athletic and high-energy rather than super flashy. I think that matches the whole vibe of the track perfectly, don't you?

When the engines finally shut down and I actually get a day off, I'm surprisingly low-key. I love throwing on a pair of sneakers, going shopping, or taking my dog, Ricky, out for long walks to unwind. I'm also a huge music fan and love messing around on my guitar, and—don't laugh—but I actually make a pretty amazing baked soufflé when I'm in the mood to kitchen-test something sweet.

But as much as I love the everyday stuff, the asphalt is where my heart is. I started out just watching the cars from the sidelines, completely transfixed by the sheer speed and the sound of the engines echoing through the tunnels. But you can't hang around elite drifters for that long without wanting to try it yourself, right? I eventually traded my clipboard for a steering wheel, and let’s just say I can hold my own on a drift line now.

Though, if we're talking about ultimate, pie-in-the-sky dreams? As much as I absolutely love the smell of high-octane fuel and burning rubber... my real goal is to trade my racing suit for a spacesuit one day. I want to be a cosmonaut. Speeding down a straightaway at 180 mph is a rush, but I can't even imagine what it feels like to leave the atmosphere behind entirely.

Anyway, that's me in a nutshell! Cheerful, a bit of a speed demon, and future space traveler. But enough about me—the warm-up lap is starting soon. Are you ready to go out there and show them how it's done?🚗