Motegi 400: A Story of Fuel Fumbles and First-Time Winners In Penultimate HoloGT3 Weekend For 2024/25

Motegi, 25 June – Last weekend’s penultimate round of the 2024–25 Hololive GT3 Japan Series at Twin Ring Motegi delivered high drama in both the Zako and Tsuyo 400 races. Despite commanding early pace, several front-runners were undone by late pit stops for fuel, paving the way for breakthrough victories—and three debutantes to make their mark.

In Saturday’s Zako race, debutant Yukihara Touka (Yukihana Lamy’s #63 Honda) led comfortably until a late-race refuel dropped her down the order. That error opened the door for Mohamed Khashiu—driving Tsunomaki Watame’s #3 Lexus—to claim his first ever ARO and Hololive GT3 win, the talent’s first top-step visit since July 2022 at Suzuka’s East Course. Behind Khashiu, Vladislav Domaschnev (#19, Aki Rosenthal’s Lexus) and Callum Gibbens (#64, Roboco’s Lexus) completed the podium, after Jake Goodwin (#30 Ookami Mio Honda) lost the podium after running out of fuel, and then making a pitstop before he crossed the line. He was running in 2nd.

Sunday’s Tsuyo championship delivered similar heartbreak. Danilo Goyena (Usada Pekora’s #11 Honda) and polesitter Saerin (Otonose Kanade’s #59 Ferrari) both dominated large portions of the 400 km, only to run dry with a few laps remaining and dive into the pits. Capitalizing on their misfortune, Mohamed Shaqif Redza in Momosuzu Nene’s #77 Nissan grabbed his maiden victory, while Chaka Labradores (#7, Natsuiro Matsuri’s Lexus) and Rim Elgore (#48, Oozora Subaru’s Lexus) sealed second and third. Early drama saw Joshu Asahi misjudge his braking into Jake Martinez at Turn 11 on Lap 5, collecting the Hiodoshi Ao Ford and sending both cars spinning, while Hanami Kiriko—making her series debut in Himemori Luna’s #31 Honda—also suffered a late-stop setback after locking up into Turn 10 on Lap 25.

Also on Sunday, debutant Sammy Ake (Shirakami Fubuki’s #22 Nissan) impressed in his first GT3 outing, finishing 14th. Yukihara Touka rebounded to 13th in Zako after the late pitstop, while Kiriko DNF'd. Kiriko was seen being disappointed at being out of the race mid-race, knowing that Nakamura was about to win, but after Nakamura herself had issues, which put Kiriko and Himemori Luna back in contention, optimism came back to her.

With only Suzuka’s Finale 500 to follow, Motegi’s late-stop sagas and first-time winners have reshaped the Zako and Tsuyo standings. The final weekend promises another round of high-stakes racing as champions are crowned—and new stars emerge in ARO competitions.