Fuji Frenzy: Aoki and Barguer Wins As The Tsuyo Series Grid Is Set

Shizuoka, Fuji, February 17, – The Color Rise Harmony 500 @ Fuji delivered a breathtaking display of skill and strategy as Hololive GT3 drivers battled for supremacy in the final round of the 2024–25 Japan Series Qualifiers. In a round that split the field into two fiercely contested segments, Split A and Split B, top drivers not only secured impressive victories but also clinched their spots in the coveted Tsuyo Series, while the remaining competitors set their sights on focusing their attentions to their Zako Series standings.

The action in Split A was dominated by a standout performance from Takane Lui’s Tamoyuki Aoki, who claimed a debut victory for the driver and a win successfully defended for Lui with a commanding effort. Close on her heels was Himemori Luna’s Misaki Sakura, whose consistency since Autopolis earned her a solid second place. Kazama Iroha’s Ed Skye rounded out the podium, setting the stage for an intense championship battle.

Notably, mid-field contenders such as Inugami Korone’s Sean Poly and Hiodoshi Ao’s Jake Martinez who started at the back with a poor qualifying result, but made it up through fast and consistent race pace and delivered spirited performances, though the two eventually trailed the frontrunners. Further down the order, drivers like Alticer Antanarau for Nekomata Okayu and AZKi’s Krzysztof Salmonman fought hard, yet the race underscored the razor-thin margins that separate Tsuyo Series qualifiers from those destined for the Zako Series, as their results from the previous rounds put them in a position where they do not qualify for the Tsuyo.

Over in Split B, the race witnessed a dynamic contest that reshaped the championship landscape. Leading the pack, Hoshimachi Suisei who realized her dream of performing at the Budokan last month, saw her representative Daniel Barguer set a blistering pace and winning for the first time in Hololive GT3 since 2023, while Akai Haato’s Airi Nakamura and Usada Pekora’s Danilo Goyena ensured that the top positions remained fiercely contested as they secured the podium positions.

Other notable performances included Omaru Polka’s Maverick Deuxieme and Tokino Sora’s Ho Phu-My, each contributing to the deep competitive field. After leading second placed Barguer by over twenty seconds, he had to make a second pit stop due to not enough fuel on Lap 46, Deuxieme exited behind Phu-My who was running 4th. With permutations at the time, Deuxieme needed to pass Phu-My to move him inside the Tsuyo cutline. About 4 laps later, Deuxieme passed Phu-My for 4th, trading Phu-My for Deuxieme for a Tsuyo spot. Despite hoping for Deuxieme to pas Goyena which would've moved Phu-My in a Tsuyo spot, Goyena secured 3rd and the Usada Pekora driver made it in at the expense of Phu-My.

The race results have now crystallized the Tsuyo Series line-up. The top 19 finishers in the combined standings – featuring powerhouses such as Houshou Marine’s Lorenzo Ricci, Natsuiro Matsuri’s Johan Sinful, and Takane Lui’s Tamoyuki Aoki – have secured their spots, while the wildcard head-to-head saw Saerin of Otonose Kanade edge out competitors like Jake Goodwin for the final Tsuyo Series berth. The remaining drivers now turn their focus to the Zako Series.

The Color Rise Harmony 500 @ Fuji has set a high benchmark for the remainder of the season. With unforgettable performances, strategic masterclasses, and a dramatic head-to-head battle for the last Tsuyo spot, the stage is now set for the championship battles to come in Hololive GT3's final foreseeable Tsuyo and Zako series.