Kiriko and Luna Shine Again, Ricci and Marine Break Through at Okayama 200 Minutes

Mimasaka, Okayama, 24 October — The Okayama 200 Minutes delivered another unforgettable chapter in the HoloType Japan Series, with Hanami Kiriko giving Himemori Luna her first ARO win in two years in the Zako class, while Lorenzo Ricci captured Houshou Marine’s maiden HoloType win with this Tsuyo victory after a race of attrition and redemption.

For Luna’s camp, the win was historic. The last time a Luna-backed car topped the podium was in October 2023, when Mohd Shazren Redza inherited victory in Hololive GT3 at Suzuka. Luna’s last on-track triumph dated even further back—to Buriram, during the 2023 FHolo JP season, also by the same driver who won at Suzuka in Hololive GT3. But at Okayama, Kiriko’s pink colored Oreca #31 returned the smiling princess to glory.

Kiriko drove a controlled yet fierce race where she started 4th, maintaining pace throughout the race, went ahead in the lead by an overcut strategy and decided the victory by slicing through lapped cars with ease, where others struggled. Runners-up Rey-Mark Rosales for Shiranui Flare struggled to get past lapped traffic as well as Kiriko did, and coupled with Rosales being behind Kiriko since the start, meant that the Elfriend could not break through in what has been another 2nd place finish for Rosales.

Completing the podium was Misaki Sakura, representing AZKi, whose pink Oreca made quiet but impressive progress from mid-pack. Seo Byeong-eun for Koganei Niko and Kaminari Riba for Shishiro Botan rounded out the top five after staying there since the start, both scoring vital championship points.

Elsewhere, Jake Martinez made his second start with Tokoyami Towa, the first in HoloType, finishing sixth. Martinez showed strong pace but was hampered by a brief pit stop delay. Despite that, it was another encouraging outing as Towa’s new driver pairing continues to gel.

Chihanic Dag Patterson can be content with seventh, same goes for Chocomate Raijin Kaczynski in 8th. Polesitter and Vivid, Allie Jay had her own pit stop issues with her underfueled car and finished 9th.

Ozne Wizard for Inugami Korone could only manage 10th after being mired in midfield the entire race. With Rosales' second place, he now leads the Zako Seris standings, with Seo Byeong-Eun only 31 points behind. Kiriko's win propels Luna’s team to third overall with 312 points—just 46 shy of the lead—with two races to go.

Meanwhile in the Tsuyo division, the story belonged to Lorenzo Ricci and Houshou Marine. After a heartbreaking Tsuyo opener exit at Yeongnam, Ricci’s red-and-black Oreca finally delivered on its promise, fending off a relentless Mohamed Khashiu in the Tsunomaki Watame machine until his late pit stop on Lap 60, winning from Kazama Iroha's Ed Skye to win by ten seconds.

Ricci took command midway through the race after polesitter Alticer Antanarau messed up his pit stop strategy bu underfueling his car. From there, it was a masterclass in consistency as the Italian held off heavy pressure over the final stint to secure Marine’s first-ever HoloType victory.

Skye’s second place nonetheless extends his championship lead to 377 points, staying ahead of Ricci and Sammy Ake for Shirakami Fubuki, who did not score at Okayama after mechanical issues.

Third place went to Mohamed Khashiu, representing Tsunomaki Watame, who rebounded from two difficult rounds to score her first podium of the Tsuyo phase. Khashiu was one of the few cars able to keep up with the leaders’ pace across the long stints.

Further down the field, Vladislav Domaschnev for Aki Rosenthal came home fourth, while Ho Phu-My for Tokino Sora continued their solid season with a fifth-place result.

It was another dismal outing for Daniel Barguer and Hoshimachi Suisei, whose Oreca suffered yet another engine failure before the halfway mark. Suisei’s team remains pointless this season, a shocking turn for one of the pre-season favorites. Joining Barguer and Ake on the sidelines was Jace Kinsai for Takane Lui who was involved in a Lap 1 collision at Mike Knight corner with Callum Gibbens and Roboco. The former DNF'd. Ayame driver Hoshizono Ryo had an off at the same corner seconds prior, and then also DNF'd after 32 laps with him coming to the pits after hearing the instruction form the crew to retire the car.

With Okayama in the books, Ed Skye (Kazama Iroha) retains the Tsuyo lead on 377 points, while Ricci’s win propels Marine to second at 290, tied with Fubuki’s Ake but ahead on countback. The Zako standings, meanwhile, have Rosales (Flare) narrowly on top with 358 points, chased by Seo Byeong-eun (Niko) and now Hanami Kiriko (Luna), both within striking range.

The HoloType Japan Series continues the Tsuyo/Zako phase with the World Series Mandalika 200 Minutes next month—a race that will not only shape the national title fights but also feed into the World Series finale stretch in December.