Nissan Ends Drought with Dominant SUGO 500 Performances

Murata, Miyagi, 25 November - The 2024-25 Hololive GT3 Japan Series began with a seismic shift at Sportsland SUGO, as Rustim Kurashio and Tyler Williams claimed emphatic victories in Split A and Split B, respectively. These results marked a significant milestone for Nissan, which had managed only three wins in the last 24 races since 2023, until this weekend.

In Split A, Rustim Kurashio, representing La+ Darknesss, secured his and La+’s maiden wins in Hololive GT3, delivering a flawless drive from pole. However, the race was far from straightforward. Early on, Kurashio faced stiff competition from Ed Skye, driving for Kazama Iroha, who surged to the lead with a daring move in the opening laps. Skye’s two-stop strategy, however, proved his undoing, as he lost precious time in the pits and ultimately finished seventh.

As the race unfolded, Zeke Wimberley, making his debut for Shirakami Fubuki, emerged as Kurashio’s chief rival. Wimberley took the lead midway through the race and looked poised for victory until Kurashio reclaimed the position with five laps remaining. Wimberley, despite the late challenge, secured an impressive second-place finish in his first outing for Fubuki.

Johan Sinful, representing Natsuiro Matsuri, battled through the field from sixth to claim the final podium spot. His consistent and aggressive driving kept him ahead of the midfield chaos, underscoring his status as a championship contender. Tyler Williams, driving for Amane Kanata, delivered a commanding performance in Split B, storming to a dominant win with a 34-second gap to his closest competitor. The victory marked Williams’ second win for Kanata and the manufacturer’s third overall in Hololive GT3.

While Williams ran away with the race, the battle for second was far more intense. Mohd Shaqif Redza, driving for Momosuzu Nene, achieved a career-best finish in second place. Meanwhile, Vladislav Domaschnev, representing Aki Rosenthal, put on a late-race charge to snatch third, overtaking Ri Liu (Sakamata Chloe) and polesitter Joshu Asahi (Hakui Koyori), who had been locked in a thrilling duel throughout much of the race.

Isekaijin Mikolev, representing Sakura Miko, endured a difficult race. After running solidly in the midfield, Mikolev spun off at SP In and was collected by Masa Raido (Todoroki Hajime), resulting in race-ending damage for Mikolev. Raido managed to continue but finished outside the points.

ReGloss’s debut in Split B was marked by mixed fortunes. Joey, driving for Juufuutei Raden, secured an encouraging sixth-place finish, while Shawn Goh (Ichijou Ririka) struggled with setup issues before crashing out. Ho Phu-My (Tokino Sora) had a nightmare weekend as his car failed to start, leaving the 2022 champion stranded on the grid and finishing last. More importantly, for Nissan, their struggles over the past two years have been well-documented, with just three wins in 24 races before this round. The victories by Kurashio and Williams at SUGO mark a significant turnaround, putting the manufacturer back in the spotlight. Both drivers credited improvements in car setup, car changes and strategy as key factors in their success. After SUGO, in both splits, the Nissan teams occupy the first two spots in the standings, with Kurashio and Wimberley in the Top 2 in Split A and Williams and Shaqif Redza in Split B. Behind the Nissans in both splits are Lexus teams, with Johan Sinful and Vladislav Domaschnev third in Splits A and B respectively. The grid now turns its attention to Okayama, where the fast and technical circuit will challenge drivers to balance aggression with precision. Nissan will look to build on its newfound momentum, while rivals such as Lexus and Honda aim to strike back. With new contenders emerging and championship stakes rising, the next round promises even more drama and excitement.