Lusby Clinches Crown, el Ashour Nabs Win For Kaela as Mandalika Finale Delivers High-Stakes Drama

Mandalika, 22 June 2025 – Under the tropical sun of Lombok’s Mandalika street circuit, the 2024-25 Formula Hololive International season reached its dramatic conclusion last weekend. Javier Lusby’s Vestia Zeta #07 Dallara held firm amid a flurry of penalties and late-race heroics to secure the championship, while multiple VTubers and their drivers marked pivotal career milestones in a 26-car finale.

Opening laps saw Ahmed El-Ashour in Kaela Kovalskia’s #58 Dallara bird-dog the field, as Misaki Sakura (making her debut in Kureiji Ollie’s #13 Dallara) and Mathias Zacarias (Nanashi Mumei’s #21) carved through the pack to take provisional podium spots. Alex Grant, also in his first FHolo appearance for Cecilia Immergreen’s #34 entry, battled mid-pack despite being involved with collisions. Championship leader Ryan Kagawa (Nerissa Ravencroft #76) and Joshua Azurid (Mori Calliope #4) both contested for points after struggling from outside the top 15 in qualifying. Frustration boiled over late in the race when Kagawa tagged Sven Jensen (Irys #86), earning a 30-second penalty for a DNF-inducing collision. Mid-race, Aziz Muazif (Ayunda Risu #62) collected Dan Evans (Airani Iofifteen #15), drawing a matching 30-second sanction. Earlier, Nichi Michan (Mococo Abyssgard #52) was handed 15 seconds for brushing Alex Grant in the opening laps at Turn 16. Those penalties, combined with a lack of pace by title hopeful Yuri-Rafael de Oliveira (Pavolia Reine #01), opened the door for Lusby. Azurid said to reporters after the race: "GGs to everyone involved especially in the Final Fight. Hats off to Zecretaries. And thank you to the Deadbeats for getting me this far to be in the conversation at all. Let's win it next season.", after he finished As the final laps ticked down, Ahmed El-Ashour and Kaela Kovalskia surged anew to claim his first Formula Hololive victory, fending off a charging Misaki Sakura for second, while Mathias Zacarias held third in Nanashi Mumei’s #21 Dallara—his final appearance for Nanashi Mumei. With his 5th-place finish, Lusby tallied enough points to lift the crown, capping a season-long charge from early setbacks to eventual glory, after a consistent charge. The weekend also marked farewells: Grave Prower (Gawr Gura’s #99) and Mathias Zacarias bid adieu to ARO competition, with announcements on their next moves expected in the coming days. As the field packs up from Mandalika, the 2025 season leaves behind new champions, fresh talent, and the promise of another thrilling chapter in Formula Hololive International.