Nakamura and Salmonman Tops Honda Showing in Sepang As Haato Joins Elite Five-Club

Sepang – 25 April – The Sepang International Circuit roared to life last weekend as the 2024–25 Hololive GT3 Japan Series switched gears into its Tsuyo and Zako phases. In the Tsuyo Series Sepang 500 on Sunday, Akai Haato’s Airi Nakamura steered her #81 Honda NSX GT3 to victory, fending off reigning Split A winner young hotshot Misaki Sakura in another Honda and Joshu Asahi’s #54 Koyori NSX for a clean podium sweep by the marque. With her fifth career Hololive GT3 win, Haato cements her place among the series’ most successful drivers—joining an exclusive club that includes Oozora Subaru, Tokino Sora, Himemori Luna and Yukihana Lamy. Behind the Hondas, Danilo Goyena (#11 Honda) and Jake Martinez (#05 Ford Mustang GT3) rounded out the top five, while Split A winner Takane Lui's driver Jace Kinsai’s title contender in the #61 Nissan yawned across the line in 16th, keeping the championship battle wide open.

Saturday’s Zako Series opener saw AZKi’s Krzysztof Salmonman dominate in the #12 Honda NSX, leading home Masa Raido’s BMW for Todoroki Hajime and Mikolev’s spirited #35 Honda for Sakura Miko. Sepang stalwarts Jeff Rohan (#10 Honda) and Alex Grant (#63 Honda) completed the top five, while Murasaki Shion’s loyal representative Kizuhara Leo brought the curtain down on the #8 NSX with a battling sixth place in her final Hololive GT3 outing. Both Leo and Shion bow out of Hololive GT3 as the series bids farewell to its Origin Outfit era.

As the sun sets on Sepang, the Tsuyo Series championship—and the consolatory Zako crown—now make their way to Yeongnam in South Korea, where the championship battles for both the Tsuyo and Zako will continue. Only time will tell if the Hondas can maintain momentum throughout the entire Tsuyo/Zako season.