Preview: ReGloss Hot in the Zako, Tsuyo's Title Fight to Take a Twist?

Sepang, 1 August 2024 – The anticipation is building as the Hololive GT3 Japan Series gears up for an exhilarating weekend at the Sepang International Circuit. The Sepang 400 marks the second round of the 2024 season for both the Tsuyo and Zako Series, promising a weekend full of high-octane action and fierce competition.

The Zako Series race kicks off the weekend on Saturday, 3 August. Drivers who missed the cut for the Tsuyo Series will be vying for a chance to prove themselves and to mark their credentials for next season's Qualifiers. Reigning HoloGT3 champion Callum Gibbens, representing Roboco, will be looking to dominate the field after narrowly missing out on the Tsuyo Series this season. With a reasonable performance in the opening race at Tsukuba, Gibbens aims to find more in the tank as he aims a win at the Malaysian track.

Shishiro Botan's Kaminari Riba, fresh off a maiden victory at Tsukuba, is expected to be a formidable contender and aims to continue his winning streak after a strong win at Tsukuba. Meanwhile new entrant Tamoyuki Aoki will make her mark for Shirakami Fubuki in her Hololive GT3 debut this weekend, and several new entries representing the ReGloss Hololive members including newly appointed Hanni Pham for Otonose Kanade and Shawn Goh for Ichijou Ririka, add an exciting dynamic to the grid with their fresh talent and striking liveries. These guest entrants bring unpredictability, with the potential to shake up the standings.

The Tsuyo Series race on Sunday, 4 August, will feature the top 20 drivers, including the 2024 Qualifiers Champion Rustim Kurashio for Laplus Darknesss. Kurashio's consistent performances in Qualifiers have made him a favorite for the championship, but with only a 10th to fall back on from Tsukuba, he's gunning for more.

Other key contenders include Tyler Williams for Amane Kanata, who is eager to capitalize on his win at Okayama, and Jake Goodwin for Ookami Mio, coming off a recent victory at SUGO in Formula Hololive despite DNFing last race at Tsukuba. Mohd Shazren Redza, representing Himemori Luna, aims to continue his strong start to the Tsuyo season, while Rim Elgore for Oozora Subaru, who took the first race victory at Tsukuba, will look to maintain his lead in the standings.

Consistency is key for Kurashio, who will aim for another podium finish. On the other hand, with a victory at Okayama under his belt, Williams is viewed a strong contender to win as well.

For Mohd Shazren Redza in particular, Shazren will aim for top-five finishes and potentially a win in his swansong season for Luna before he switches over to Formula Hololive International for Koseki Bijou full-time.

With high temperatures and a challenging circuit layout, the Sepang International Circuit will test the drivers' skills and endurance, with 200kms of racing in each race, expect on-the-edge driving and close battles to the line, as well as the continued development of the series' title challenges.

Stay tuned as the action unfolds at Sepang, and see which drivers will rise to the occasion in both the Tsuyo and Zako Series.