Patterson’s Triumph at the Malaysia GP and Drama-Filled Farewell for Fauna and Watson Amelia

Sepang, Selangor, 22 December - The Malaysia GP @ Sepang delivered a thrilling race marked by intense strategy battles, dramatic DNFs, and bittersweet farewells for Ceres Fauna and Watson Amelia. In a race defined by high pitstop activity due to smaller fuel tanks, strategies varied widely, with every driver making at least two stops. Dag Patterson, driving for Fauna in her final Hololive race, showcased strategic brilliance, converting a front-row start into a commanding victory. After winning this all-important final race for the team, and for Fauna, Patterson became emotional as the feelings and the weight of the win finally sunk in. He commented "What a way to go out for the Ceres Fauna car, happy Saplings all throughout...!" as the #98 car crossed the finish line for the final time in ARO competitions before Fauna's graduation.

Dan Evans, starting from pre-qualifying in 27th to qualifying in 15th in main qualifying, became the story of the day, climbing through the field to finish a stunning second place. A well-executed strategy allowed him to capitalize on mid-race chaos, securing a career-best result for Airani Iofifteen. Championship leader Ryan Kagawa took third, extending his points lead over Javier Lusby for Vestia Zeta, who struggled to eighth. The notoriously technical Sepang layout claimed several victims. Ethan Berthelsen and Hanaori Miyuki collided at Turn 12 on Lap 1, spinning Berthelsen into a race-ending crash. Shazren Redza’s crash at Turn 13 on Lap 32 was mirrored by Miyuki at the same corner just two laps later. Corey-Rico Mendez’s DNF came after a wide Turn 11 sent him spinning out.

The Turn 1 chaos on Lap 27 saw Nichi Michan rear-end Shazren Redza, causing Michan to spin and block the track. Pole-sitter Hinochi Taiyo, directly behind, lost valuable time as Michan struggled to rejoin the race. Ahmed El-Ashour, trying to avoid the incident, was spun out and collected Juani Castanto, who retired in his final race for Ouro Kronii. A dramatic end saw Tomas Ferreira penalized 30 seconds for rear-ending Enzio Ferrari at Turn 9, dropping Ferreira to 12th. Ludwig Böschwald and Haziq Yazid were among those involved in early collisions, but both managed to continue, salvaging top-20 finishes for their teams. The race also marked the last ARO outing for Ceres Fauna and Watson Amelia, with their drivers Dag Patterson and Bernardo Santiago delivering spirited performances. Patterson’s win was a fitting sendoff for Fauna, while Santiago finished a respectable 15th in Amelia’s final race, though the latter's season has been defined by inconsistency. As this season reaches five races to go, Kagawa’s consistent podium form sees him comfortably ahead in the standings, while Zeta’s eighth-place finish narrows her chances of closing the gap. Dan Evans’ strong performance positions him as a potential spoiler for upcoming races. The 2024 Formula Hololive International season is entering its split rounds at Phillip Island and Buriram, with several drivers gaining momentum and others facing challenges to regain their form.

Hot drivers include Dag Patterson (Fauna) who secured a commanding victory at Sepang in Fauna's final start, while Dan Evans (Iofifteen) secured a second-place finish. Ryan Kagawa (Nerissa) maintained his dominance with a solid third-place finish at Sepang, solidifying his reputation as the most consistent driver this season. Joshua Azurid (Calliope) is also on the rise, delivering a steady fourth-place finish. Hinochi Taiyo (Moona) demonstrated his potential with a strong pole position and flashes of brilliance throughout the race.

Cold drivers, such as Javier Lusby (Zeta) and Tomas Ferreira (Fuwawa), have faced concerns about their performance at the Malaysia GP. Ahmed El-Ashour (Kovalskia) had a disappointing weekend with an unlucky collision, while Nichi Michan (Mococo) had a disappointing race with repeated errors.

Castanto (Kronii) had a disappointing conclusion to his career with an unfortunate crash. With the next round split between Phillip Island and Buriram, logistical challenges and potentially shortened race distances will test both drivers and teams. Kagawa enters with momentum, but Zeta and Yazid must recover quickly to keep their title hopes alive. Meanwhile, Evans’ form could shake up the midfield, and Ferreira will seek redemption after his Sepang penalty.