Prower Prevails as Fuji Opener Delivers Drama in Delayed Formula Hololive Qualifier

Shizuoka, 2 February — The 2026 Formula Hololive season roared into life last Sunday with a dramatic and incident-filled Ridin’ On Dreams GP @ Fuji INT, the opening round of the International qualifiers, as Grave Prower delivered a statement victory in the #52 Mococo Abyssgard EN car. Originally scheduled for Saturday, the race was postponed to 3:00pm JST after organisers cited host fatigue and final race preparations, a delay that did little to dampen the intensity once the lights finally went out.

Prower controlled the race from the front, managing tyres and traffic over the full GP-distance to secure maximum points in the first outing under Formula Hololive’s revised 2026 format. Behind him, Evelyn Kuromi brought the #53 E. R. Bloodflame EN car home in second, continuing her strong late-2025 momentum with a drive that involved cutting through 2nd place with late race pace.

The final step of the podium went to Mohd Shazren Redza in the #14 Koseki Bijou EN car, who capitalised on late-race drama to secure third. Shazren Redza kept a clean line throughout the closing stages as the battle ahead of him unravelled, ensuring a valuable haul of points in the tightly contested INT split.

Ayrin initially crossed the line third in the #85 Hakos Baelz EN car in an aggressive drive, but post-race penalties dropped her to fourth. On Lap 64 of 66 at Turn 12, Ayrin ran wide while battling Takeda Adachi in the #17 Ninomae Ina’nis EN car, lost control, and spun across the track, collecting Adachi and causing a race-ending collision. The stewards issued a 30-second time penalty for causing a DNF, reshuffling the final podium order.

Haziq Yazid completed a strong run to fifth in the #90 Shiori Novella EN car, followed by Joddy Pranata in the #69 Hoshinova Moona ID entry, who emerged as the leading Indonesian-classified driver after a calm and efficient performance. Tyler Williams brought the #92 Ouro Kronii EN car home in seventh, which he recalled, was "not bad of a return to INT", ahead of Alex Grant in the #34 Cecilia Immergreen EN machine and Sven Jensen in the #86 IRyS EN car, rounding out the top nine.

Further down the order, Aziz Muazif claimed tenth in the #62 Ayunda Risu ID car, with Hinochi Taiyo, Mathias Zacarias, Hiyuta Asano, Ryan Kagawa, and Angela Sims completing the top 15 and scoring the final points on offer.

The race was marked by attrition, with several high-profile retirements. Takeda Adachi was eliminated in the late collision with Ayrin, while Dan Evans retired the #15 Airani Iofifteen ID car with engine failure. Enzio Ferrari’s #60 Raora Panthera EN and Javier Lusby’s #07 Vestia Zeta ID entries also fell victim to mechanical issues. Earlier in the race, a separate Turn 12 incident on Lap 21 saw Corey-Rico Mendez run wide in the #50 Takanashi Kiara EN car and collect Tawan Bhumin in the #25 Fuwawa Abyssgard EN entry, leaving both with damaged cars and effectively ending their chances of a competitive finish.

With one round complete, Prower leaves Fuji atop the International standings on 200 points, followed by Kuromi on 175 and Redza on 150. Ayrin’s penalty still leaves him fourth overall, while Yazid, Pranata, and Williams form a tightly packed chase group heading into the next qualifier race.