Aziz Muazif Claims Victory at Atlanta SP with Stunning Defensive Drive, Shazren Redza Takes Championship Lead

Braselton, GA, 7 September - In what was a calculated affair at the Atlanta SP, Ayunda Risu's Aziz Muazif secured his first victory of the 2024-25 Formula Hololive International season, after a brilliant defensive drive that kept Ryan Kagawa at bay for the entire race.

Starting from second on the grid, Muazif quickly overtook polesitter Kaminari Riba and maintained his lead despite relentless pressure from Kagawa. The race was decided by a mere 0.7 seconds, with Muazif expertly holding off Kagawa, particularly at the Turn 10 chicane, where he consistently forced his rival into a longer line.

This win marks Muazif’s second career victory, propelling him up to 11th in the overall standings. Kagawa, despite a strong performance and a close finish, had to settle for second place, marking his best result of the season for Nerissa Ravencroft.

Pole sitter Kaminari Riba, who looked set to challenge for the win, saw his chances evaporate after a costly pit stop. A lengthy delay relegated him down the order, ultimately finishing 8th on track but later promoted to 7th due to post-race penalties.

Mohd Shazren Redza showcased yet another impressive race, climbing from 16th on the grid to finish 9th, and later 8th after penalties. With this result, Shazren overtakes Javier Lusby in the championship standings to take the lead. Lusby’s race ended in disaster after a mid-race crash left him in 24th place, allowing the Koseki Bijou representative to surge to the top of the leaderboard a quarter into the season.

The Atlanta SP saw its fair share of drama and crashes. Shaneil Marcman failed to finish after suffering a steering failure at the very start of the race. Ludwig Boschwald and Ahmed el-Ashour both spun out at Turn 5 on separate laps, while retiree Liam Kai was forced off the track by Hanaori Miyuki on Lap 11, ending his race early. Miyuki finished 4th but received a 15-second penalty for forcing Kai off, dropping her further down the standings.

Jonathan Waters was also handed a 30-second penalty after rear-ending Sven Jensen at Turn 5 on Lap 32, demoting him from 18th to 22nd place.

Championship Standings After Atlanta SP:

1. Mohd Shazren Redza – 735 points

2. Ryan Kagawa – 665 points

3. Javier Lusby – 596 points

4. Hanaori Miyuki – 515 points

5. Zeke Wimberley – 509 points

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Aziz Muazif’s victory has shaken up the standings, with the season now wide open. As the championship progresses, the picture starts to appear in terms of the championship contention. With the INT Epilogue GP @ Suzuka looming in three weeks time, the drivers and teams are looking to find ways to get one ahead of each other in the ARO's second biggest weekend of the year.