Hiyuta Asano Clinches Victory on INT Debut for Gigi Murin, Ferreira Nabs Podium on Debut in Indonesia GP

Bogor, Jakarta – October 29, 2024 – The Indonesia GP at Sentul delivered a weekend of high drama and unexpected triumphs, marred by crashes that plagued the Turn 6-7 chicane, an unforgiving complex that claimed multiple cars throughout the race. The opening lap alone saw five drivers taken out at this notorious section, setting the tone for what would become an incident-filled race.

In his Formula Hololive International debut, Japan’s Hiyuta Asano showcased exceptional composure and speed, rising from a P5 start to seize victory. Asano’s win marks a promising start to his FHolo INT career, bringing pride to the Gigi Murin team and capturing the attention of fans who were initially focused on Indonesia’s home talent heroes.

Joining Asano in debut glory was Tomas Ferreira, who skillfully brought his FuwaMoco machine home in second place. Ferreira’s podium finish gave the FuwaMoco team something to celebrate, especially as teammate Nichi Michan led in the early stages before a spin put him out of podium contention. Michan eventually recovered to finish 6th, ensuring a successful, if mixed, result for FuwaMoco’s Indonesian GP campaign.

Indonesian driver Evelyn Kuromi initially crossed the line in third, bringing hope of an Indonesian double podium. However, a rear-ending incident with Haziq Yazid at Turn 6 on Lap 48 earned her a 30-second penalty, dropping her out of podium contention. Ludwig Böschwald, who had been steadily moving through the pack, capitalized on Kuromi’s penalty to secure third place, leaving local fans bittersweet as their home hero was denied her place on the podium.

Another standout debutant, Joshua Azurid, took pole position but was unable to convert it into a podium. Though his pace was undeniable, he fell to fourth, unable to keep up with the leaders. Javier Lusby, meanwhile, looked set for a podium finish until a costly mistake on the final lap among others saw him go off at Turn 6, a mishap that not only cost him a trophy but may have wider implications in the standings.

Turn 6-7 proved disastrous, claiming a significant portion of the field over the course of the race. Grave Prower, making his debut for Gawr Gura, was one of five cars wiped out in a massive opening-lap incident at Turn 7. Mohd Shazren Redza spun out on the exit of Turn 7, while both Liam Kai and Bernardo Santiago clashed while fighting for 15th on Lap 26, further fueling the race’s incident count. In total, Sentul’s notorious chicane proved to be the downfall of multiple drivers, raising questions about its safety for future events.

While the Turn 6-7 chaos dominated headlines, other drivers had eventful races as well. Enzio Ferrari put in a solid drive to finish 8th in place of the absent Kaminari Riba, while VTRP owner Dag Patterson finished 10th on his first start as the new driver for Ceres Fauna. Meanwhile, Angela Sims made a return to the grid but struggled to finish, retiring on Lap 27 in her Anya Melfissa entry. Ryan Kagawa endured a challenging day marred by multiple incidents, yet managed to finish 11th, even with heavy damage and a two-lap deficit.

The season standings remain close at the top, with Ryan Kagawa holding onto the lead with 1243 points, despite a difficult race at Sentul. Javier Lusby, his closest competitor, sits only 41 points behind at 1202, with Tomas Ferreira’s second-place finish propelling him into third with 876 points. Meanwhile, Yuri-Rafael de Oliveira and Juani Castanto round out the top five, both within striking distance of the leaders.

As the series heads towards Sepang in December, the majority of drivers and teams will look to rebound from the wreckage of Sentul. Safety and strategy will be top of mind as their eyes are set into the second half of the season.