Barguer Ends Suisei's Drought, Azurii and Subaru Makes History as Tsuyo Race Tightens

Yeongnam, 24 April — Round 2 of the Formula Hololive Japan Series qualifiers at Korea International Circuit proved decisive in the race toward World Tsuyo Cup qualification, as dramatic results across both splits reshaped the championship landscape with just one round remaining.

With only the top half of each split—and the best-performing 11th-place finisher overall—earning promotion to the Tsuyo Cup, Yeongnam delivered a mix of long-awaited victories, breakthrough performances, and costly retirements that have left several contenders on the brink.

Daniel Barguer, representing Hoshimachi Suisei in the #41 Dallara SF23, finally returned to victory lane, ending a three-year win drought for the vTuber and securing his first Formula Hololive win since March 2023.

Barguer’s performance was composed and decisive, capitalizing on an early lead and superbly executed overcut strategy. His victory not only revitalizes his campaign but also elevates him to the top of the Split A standings with 375 points, essentially guaranteeing him and Suisei a spot in the World Tsuyo Cup.

Behind him, Chaka Labradores, driving for Natsuiro Matsuri in the #7, delivered one of the standout drives of the weekend to finish second, vaulting himself firmly into Tsuyo contention after sitting outside the cutoff at Fuji.

Third place went to Sammy Ake, representing Shirakami Fubuki in the #22, marking a dramatic turnaround from a low-scoring opening round.

However, the race’s defining story was attrition. Early championship leader Ozne Wizard (Inugami Korone, #56) could only recover to tenth, while multiple top-five contenders—including Jake Martinez (Tokoyami Towa) and Mohamed Khashiu (Tsunomaki Watame)—failed to finish.

The result has dramatically tightened the standings. Barguer now leads, followed by the 4th place finisher Callum Gibbens (Roboco), while Wizard drops to third, leaving the final Tsuyo positions highly contested heading into Autopolis.

Split B saw a historic performance from Aqua Azurii, representing Oozora Subaru in the #48, who claimed victory in dominant fashion.

The win marked Azurii’s third in Formula Hololive competition and delivered Subaru her fourth FHolo victory—and an unprecedented 11th win across all ARO competitions, making her the winningest talent in ARO history.

Ho Phu-My, driving for Tokino Sora in the #36, secured second place with a consistent drive, while Hanami Kiriko (Himemori Luna, #31) completed the podium in third.

Further down the order, Airi Nakamura (Akai Haato) and Rustim Kurashio (La+ Darknesss) capitalized on the chaos to secure strong finishes, significantly improving their championship positions.

As in Split A, attrition played a major role. Several key contenders—including Hoshizono Ryo (Nakiri Ayame) and Rudy (Mizumiya Su)—lost crucial points after finishing outside the top ten or retiring.

With two rounds completed, the championship standings in both splits are now sharply defined.

In Split A, Barguer leads on 375 points, tied in dominance with Split B leader Azurii, who also sits on 375. Both drivers have effectively secured their Tsuyo Cup qualification, barring extraordinary circumstances.

Behind them, the fight for the remaining Tsuyo spots is intense. Positions from third to tenth in both splits remain fluid, with margins small enough that a single result in the final round could determine promotion or relegation.

Drivers currently inside the cutoff—such as Joshu Asahi (Hakui Koyori) and Jace Kinsai (Takane Lui)—will aim to consolidate, while those just outside face a must-perform scenario.

With only the Autopolis finale remaining, the Yeongnam round has set up a showdown for Tsuyo Cup qualification.