Jensen and IRyS Win Rain Hit Zako and Tsuyo Race Rescheduled Due To Issues as HoloType World Tsuyo/Zako Phase Opens

Mie, Suzuka, 2 October – The Suzuka 200 Minutes was a mixed bag, with the Saturday Zako race providing an attritional but entertaining race in heavy rain, and with the sunny Sunday Tsuyo race supposedly being the championship deciding opener, both in the HoloType World Series, doubling as Round 7 of both HoloType International and HoloType Japan. Instead, it delivered a weekend of extreme weather, accidents, and ultimately, a cancelled main event that left the series with more questions than answers.

The Zako race, shortened from 44 laps to 31 due to torrential rain, turned into a survival test. With standing water across key braking zones, the early laps saw a flurry of offs. On Lap 3, Chihanic driver Dag Patterson and Kaminari Riba for Shishiro Botan went off together at Turn 10, the first in a long string of DNFs. The infamous Turn 1 braking zone became a wrecking yard, claiming AZKi driver Misaki Sakura, Joddy Pranata for Hoshinova Moona, and others as they locked up and slid into retirement.

The most dramatic crash came on Lap 26 when Oozora Subaru’s driver Aqua Azurii tangled with Ozne Wizard (Inugami Korone), who had overshot Turn 1 and was stranded between the curbs. Azurii clipped Wizard, was launched into the air after contact with Isekaijin Mikolev (Sakura Miko), and was forced out of the race. Wizard started Lap 26 ahead of Azurii and finished ahead of the Subaru driver on countback, denying her a vital point.

Through the carnage, Sven Jensen (IRyS, EN International) emerged with his first career win. After being virtually anonymous during the Qualifiers, Jensen finally showcased his pace and consistency, navigating the downpour with remarkable composure. Behind him, Rey Mark Rosales (Shiranui Flare) again settled for second place, cementing his reputation as the ARO's perennial bridesmaid. The fan-favorite podium was completed by Enzio Ferrari (Raora Panthera), whose third place was met with roaring cheers from the drenched grandstands after struggling so much with low finishes this season.

Further down the order, Isekaijin Mikolev recovered from his earlier contact to finish a gritty fourth for Sakura Miko. Dan Evans (Airani Iofifteen) delivered a strong fifth, while Hanami Kiriko (Himemori Luna) brought home sixth. The top ten was rounded out by Chaka Labradores (Natsuiro Matsuri), Jeff Rohan (Tokoyami Towa), Hinochi Taiyo (Kaela Kovalskia), and Jake Martinez (Hiodoshi Ao) who was the highest Ligier finisher in tenth.

The Tsuyo race, however, never made it past Lap 4. Despite emergency adjustments to kerbing and ride heights before the start, drivers repeatedly lost control through Degner 1, slamming into the curbs and triggering multi-car pileups on Laps 1, 2, and 3. By Lap 4, the race direction was forced to throw the red flag and abandon the contest entirely. Hours later, the ARO confirmed that the race would not be resumed and instead announced a replacement event at Fuji Speedway, scheduled for Friday, October 10.

The Suzuka weekend, intended to set the tone for the Tsuyo/Zako phase, instead highlighted the fragility of both machinery and organization under pressure. For the Zako class, Jensen’s breakthrough, Rosales’ persistence, and Ferrari’s popular podium stood out as rare bright spots in the storm. For the World Tsuyo drivers, frustration was the only result, as the Tsuyo series now shifts to Fuji with unanswered questions about safety, setup, and resilience, while the World Zako prepares for the two flyaway races to finish the HoloType World season.