Rosarian Kuromi and Deadbeat Azurid Strike as Title Race Ignites

Spielberg, May 24 – The 2024–25 Formula Hololive International season roared into its penultimate double-header with Split B’s Spielberg SP and Split A’s Mugello SP with dramatic swings in form and fortune with only one round to go.

In Austria at the Red Bull Ring, Evelyn Kuromi’s E. R. Bloodflame entry blitzed the field to claim her second SP victory in Split B after winning at Buriram. A flawless start saw her fend off Pavolia Reine’s Yuri-Rafael de Oliveira as she romped into her second win. Merakyat Yuri-Rafael de Oliveira's spirited 2nd placed charge allowed the Brazilian to remain in title contention, but barely, with a 379 point gap between himself and the leader. Championship leader Ryan Kagawa’s title bid took a blow when he misjudged a turn-one dive-bomb into Mohd Shazren Redza, ending the latter’s latest challenge and dropping Kagawa down the order. With Vestia Zeta’s Javier Lusby also tangled in early traffic, and both driver finished outside the top 10, the standings slightly opened with Kagawa a position ahead of Lusby, setting up a fierce showdown in Mandalika in June.

At Italy’s Mugello Circuit, Split A witnessed Joshua Azurid replicate his recent Cinderella run, taking back-to-back wins for Mori Calliope’s team. After a controlled climb through the pack, Azurid edged out Enzio Ferrari’s Raora Panthera and Mathias Zacarias in Nanashi Mumei’s penultimate start in FHolo. Zacarias’ podium marks a poignant farewell chapter for Mumei’s program, as her final start looms in Mandalika. Behind them, core contenders Corey-Rico Mendez and Hiyuta Asano salvaged solid points, but the spotlight remains on Azurid, whose charge from outside the top twenty to championship contention has breathed fresh life into the title fight.

With only Mandalika being the decider, Kagawa leads on 1,916 points to Azurid’s 1,853, Lusby’s 1,810 and de Oliveira's 1537. Next month's Mandalika finale promises to be a war of attrition, where one misstep could hand the crown to any of the top four. Will it be Hololive English's first FHolo crown with either newcomer Kagawa and Nerissa, or veteran Calliope with her hotshot driver Azurid? Or will the title remain in the Indonesian archipelago with either faux-cat Zeta and savvy veteran Lusby or dark horse, or peacock contender Reine with de Oliveira?