Summer Olympics is always a spectacular showcase of human power, including running, cycling, and many more. While equestrian events include horsepower into play by harnessing the water and wind, no racing event in Olympics allows four-wheelers now. But this was not the scenario all along.

History of Motor Racing in Olympics

In the 1900 Paris Olympics, motor racing was contested alongside at the Exposition Universelle World’s Fair, which was held simultaneously. The event hosted a total of 17 car and motorcycle races. Though officially the event was never considered as a part of the main Games, even as demonstration sports. According to Olympic historian David Wallechinski, none of the winners of the event were awarded medals. But some claims are present to the contrary. At the 1908 London Olympics, motorsports made an appearance in form of both auto racing and motor boating. Auto racing was included in the preliminary program but failed to reach the final level. On the other hand, three types of motor-boating races were completed with one gold medal in each category.

The Debate over the Texas Motor Speedway

A new provision was added later to the Olympic Charter prohibiting entry of any mechanical propulsion-dependent event, discipline, or sport. Despite that, organizers proposed to include auto racing in Olympics as a demonstration sport, while looking to bring the Summer Olympics in Dallas in 2012, at the Texas Motor Speedway. But ultimately, Dallas lost out to New York as the U.S. bid city for the Olympics venue. According to Eddie Gossage, the president of the Texas Motor Speedway, it was decided to use the speedway solely as a motor racing facility. Making this vision true, the speedway recently hosted the 2021 NASCAR All-Star Race.

The Current Scenario

The scenario is likely changed in 2015 when the officials of FIA came up with the idea of organizing an electric Formula E race as a demonstration sport during the Tokyo 2020. Though not fully implemented, the latest 2020 Olympic Charter no longer features the previous explicit ban on all motorsports, and additionally a series of virtual auto races E-sports were included in the Tokyo 2020 Inaugural Olympic Virtual Series, possibly bringing new hope for motor racing in the near future.

When it comes to racing, first place is everything. This 14-year-old racer has already tasted success by taking pole position in her very first F4 race.

Racing Like a Pro

When Juju Noda, the daughter of former Formula 1 driver Hideki Noda, was just 12 years old, she was already the captain of a Formula 3 team. That was two years ago, and now that she is 14, she has taken the next step in her professional racing career. Juju had to wait until she was 14 to be legally allowed to race in an open-wheel Formula 4, and the young racer didn’t waste any time in seizing her opportunity.

Racing Debut

In Noda’s Danish F4 debut in June, the young driver proved that she has what it takes to become a star. For the first of three season-opening races, Noda qualified in first place. She won her pole position after her racing rival Conrad Laursen’s qualifying time was disqualified. Noda took the opportunity of pole and ran with it as she stormed to take the race victory. Not only did Noda manage to put herself in pole position in her F4 debut, she also won her first race.

One to Watch

Everything that Juju Noda is doing so far in her career is a sign that she will become a motor racing star in the future. She is already four years ahead of Formula 1 star Max Verstappen, who didn’t win an open-wheeled race until he was 17. Noda finished the first race weekend of the F4 season with 37 points, placing her in fourth in the rankings, and she had four more race weekends to increase her ranking.

Juju Noda has already gotten her first taste of success in the world of open-wheel racing. She looks set to become one of the brightest stars of the future and could race with the elite sooner rather than later.