Ryo, Evans, Seo and Saerin Headline Festival Weekend Victories at the Ridin’ On Dreams 600

Shizuoka, 23 March — The 2026 HoloProto World Series roared into life earlier this month with the Ridin’ On Dreams 600 @ Fuji, an event that simultaneously opened the HoloProto Japan Series and the HoloProto International Series. Held during Hololive’s biggest annual celebration, the 2026 Super Expo and the 7th Fes: Ridin’ On Dreams, the four-split spectacle delivered drama, mechanical heartbreak and breakthrough victories across the grid as drivers chased points that counted toward all three championships.

The weekend began with short qualifying races on March 1 that determined the starting grids for the main events. In Split A, Danilo Goyena representing Usada Pekora in the #11 Oreca started on pole but was immediately beaten off the line by Hoshizono Ryo representing Nakiri Ayame in the #18 Oreca into Turn 1. Ryo controlled the six-lap sprint thereafter to secure pole position for the main race, while Raijin Kaczynski representing Yuzuki Choco in the #74 Oreca suffered an engine failure mid-race that forced him to the back of the grid for the feature. Split B saw Dan Evans representing Airani Iofifteen in the #15 Oreca defend aggressively from the start to claim pole position, while Kaminari Riba representing Shishiro Botan in the #43 Oreca and Corey-Rico Mendez representing Takanashi Kiara in the #50 Oreca produced one of the most entertaining moments of the qualifying races with a fierce wheel-to-wheel battle through much of lap three.

Split C marked the first clear sign of Ligier’s competitiveness in the 2026 HoloProto package. Seo Byeong-Eun representing Koganei Niko in the #29 Ligier started on pole and maintained control of the sprint race, while fellow Ligier driver Rudy representing Mizumiya Su in the #45 Ligier surged from third to second with a strong launch. Split D followed a similar pattern, with Saerin representing Otonose Kanade in the #59 Ligier leading the field from pole while Masa Raido representing Todoroki Hajime in the #82 Ligier and Shawn Goh representing Ichijou Ririka in the #66 Ligier rocketed into second and third respectively. The trio maintained formation until the checkered flag, confirming Ligier’s early dominance in the lower splits. The qualifying races were not without casualties; Lorenzo Ricci representing Houshou Marine in the #6 Oreca suffered an engine failure that forced him to start the main race last.

By the time the Ridin’ On Dreams 600 main races began on March 6 and 7, the narrative was clear: the Ligiers were the cars to beat in Splits C and D, while Splits A and B remained wide open between Oreca entries.

Split A’s main race saw Ryo deliver a measured and disciplined drive in the #18 Oreca, defending his lead under relentless pressure from Goyena and Mohamed Khashiu representing Tsunomaki Watame in the #3 Oreca through the middle portion of the race. In the closing laps, Tawan Bhumin representing Fuwawa Abyssgard in the #25 Oreca emerged as the final challenger, but Ryo held firm to secure the opening victory of the season. Bhumin finished second ahead of Goyena, while Khashiu and Maverick Deuxieme representing Omaru Polka in the #46 Oreca completed the top five. Mechanical failures struck multiple runners, with Rey Mark Rosales representing Shiranui Flare in the #20 Oreca losing power on lap 20 and Sammy Ake representing Shirakami Fubuki in the #22 Oreca suffering a Mecachrome engine failure on lap 27. Ake nonetheless limped home fifteenth to salvage a single championship point. Former Fuji winner Grave Prower representing Mococo Abyssgard in the #52 Oreca finished tenth after a quiet race.

Split B belonged to Evans, who converted his pole position into victory with a composed performance in the #15 Oreca despite late pressure from Joshua Azurid representing Mori Calliope in the #4 Oreca, a guest driver ineligible for points. Kaminari Riba secured third place in the #43 Oreca, completing a strong result for the Shishiro Botan entry. Mohamed Shaqif Redza representing Momosuzu Nene in the #77 Oreca finished fourth ahead of Hiyuta Asano representing Gigi Murin in the #44 Oreca, whose top-five finish marked a successful Fes-week debut for the EN Justice entry. The race was also marked by reliability issues, as Mendez’s promising run ended when the #50 Oreca suffered an engine failure on lap 31 while running inside the top five. Earlier in the race, Aqua Azurii representing Oozora Subaru in the #48 Oreca retired with an engine failure on lap 15, leaving her classified last.

Split C confirmed Ligier’s breakthrough moment in the championship. Seo Byeong-Eun controlled the race from the start in the #29 Ligier, while Rudy maintained second position in the #45 Ligier to secure the manufacturer’s first 1-2 finish in HoloProto competition. Dag Patterson representing Isaki Riona in the #68 Ligier had been running strongly in second place before suffering a catastrophic engine failure on the penultimate lap, handing the position to Ryan Kagawa representing Pavolia Reine in the #01 Oreca. Sven Jensen representing IRyS in the #86 Oreca finished fourth, with Chaka Labradores representing Natsuiro Matsuri in the #7 Oreca completing the top five. At the other end of the field, Allie Jay representing Kikirara Vivi in the #51 Ligier struggled for pace throughout the race and finished last, even behind the stricken Patterson.

Ligier dominance continued in Split D, where Saerin delivered one of the weekend’s most commanding performances in the #59 Ligier. After leading the field from the start, she maintained control throughout the race to secure a statement victory for the Otonose Kanade entry. Masa Raido finished second in the #82 Ligier, while Shawn Goh completed a clean sweep for the manufacturer with third in the #66 Ligier. Yuri-Rafael de Oliveira representing Nerissa Ravencroft in the #76 Oreca finished fourth ahead of Daniel Barguer representing Hoshimachi Suisei in the #41 Oreca. Mechanical trouble struck again during the race when Jake Martinez representing Tokoyami Towa in the #10 Oreca suffered an engine failure on lap 11.

Following the opening round, Ryo, Evans, Seo Byeong-Eun and Saerin lead their respective World Series split standings with 200 points each, immediately placing them inside the provisional qualification positions for the 2026 World Tsuyo Series. In the International standings, Evans heads the table ahead of Bhumin and Kagawa, while the Japan standings see Ryo leading the Split A classification and Seo Byeong-Eun narrowly ahead of Saerin in Split B. With Tsuyo qualification spots awarded to the top eight drivers in each world split and the top ten in the Japan standings, the Fuji results have already begun shaping the competitive landscape of the 2026 season.

With one of the most high-profile race weekends of the year now complete under the spotlight of Super Expo and the 7th Fes celebrations, the opening chapter of the HoloProto season has delivered both expected contenders and surprise standouts. If Fuji was any indication, the fight for Tsuyo qualification — and ultimately the world titles — promises to be fiercely contested throughout the remainder of the 2026 campaign.