Autopolis Awaits Khashiu, Nakamura and Co. as FHolo Tsuyo/Zako Title Fights Tighten

Ōita, Japan, 3 October – The mountains of Kyushu are set to echo with the sound of Dallara SF19s and SF23s this weekend as the Autopolis SuperPrix (Autopolis SP) plays host to Round 2 of the Formula Hololive Japan Tsuyo/Zako Cup. After a bruising and incident-filled start at Okayama, the championship picture is already tense, with momentum swinging between established contenders and surprise winners.

In the Tsuyo Cup, Mohamed Khashiu (Tsunomaki Watame, car no. 3) arrives as the man to beat. After a subdued start with 6 th in Okayama Race 1, Khashiu struck back with a commanding drive in Race 2, giving Watame her first Tsuyo victory in Formula Hololive. He leads the standings on 290 points, with Lorenzo Ricci (Houshou Marine, no. 6) sitting second on 257 points after winning the opener and salvaging eighth in Race 2.

Behind them, consistency will be the weapon for Yukihara Touka (Yukihana Lamy, no. 63), who bagged a podium in Race 1 at Okayama and holds third on 194 points. Daniel Barguer (Hoshimachi Suisei, no. 41) and Mohd Shaqif Redza (Momosuzu Nene, no. 77) share fourth on 175, each showing flashes of winning pace but still searching for stability.

Autopolis, with its mix of high-speed sweeps and technical hairpins, will test how well teams have adapted to the new SF23 chassis balance. Drivers like Jace Kinsai (Takane Lui, no. 61), fresh off his 3rd place in Okayama Race 2, and Jake Martinez (Hiodoshi Ao, no. 05), who continues to impress as a DEV-class Tsuyo entrant, could be spoilers for the front-runners. For veterans such as Danilo Goyena (Usada Pekora, no. 11), the weekend is a chance to reclaim lost ground after a muted start to his title defense with only one fourth place finish to his name.

The Zako Cup storylines are no less fierce. Airi Nakamura (Akai Haato, no. 81) has surged to the top with 325 points after back-to-back podiums at Okayama, her controlled aggression marking her out as the title favorite. Yet Hanami Kiriko (Himemori Luna, no. 31) lurks quite far behind on 238, while Maverick Deuxieme (Omaru Polka, no. 46) sits third on 220 after capitalizing on mistakes by rivals.

Okayama also delivered two fresh winners: Tyler Williams (Amane Kanata, no. 57), who stunned the paddock with victory in Race 1, and Aqua Azurii (Oozora Subaru, no. 48), who overcame a chaotic Race 2 to claim her maiden Formula Hololive triumph. Azurii’s win catapulted her to fifth in the standings with 204 points, and with her confidence high, Autopolis could be the stage for her push into the championship fight.

Other names to watch include Callum Gibbens (Roboco, no. 64), currently fourth overall, and Rey Mark Rosales (Shiranui Flare, no. 20), whose pace remains strong despite inconsistency. DEV-class entrants like Shawn Goh (Ichijou Ririka, no. 66) and Dag Patterson (Rindo Chihaya, no. 78) will also aim to disrupt the established order.

The Okayama opener reminded the field that the Tsuyo/Zako Cups are as much about survival as speed, with multiple incidents caused by aggressive kerb-riding and technical attrition. Autopolis is notorious for punishing overconfidence, particularly at the downhill braking zones, and teams have been warned once more to prioritize finishing.

With just two rounds and four races left in the postseason, every lap at Autopolis will matter. For Khashiu and Nakamura, it’s a chance to consolidate their leads. For Ricci, Touka, Azurii, and a chasing pack of hopefuls, it’s an opportunity to strike back before the final showdown. The stage is set for another weekend of drama, strategy, and high-stakes racing in the heart of Kyushu.