Sugo Shaken By Returning Giants As Kaczynski And Gibbens Break Years-long Droughts In HoloGT3 Opener

Miyagi, 7 December — The 2025–26 Hololive GT3 Japan Series roared back to life at Sportsland SUGO with a pair of 200-kilometre races that produced long-awaited triumphs, landmark milestones, and an early championship picture few could have predicted. Across two fiercely contested rounds, Raijin Kaczynski, representing Yuzuki Choco in the Lexus #74, and Callum Gibbens, driving for Roboco in the Lexus #64, each snapped multi-year win droughts—setting the tone for a season already brimming with redemption arcs.

Race 1 saw an emotional breakthrough as Kaczynski stormed to victory, delivering Choco’s first Hololive GT3 triumph in three years. A commanding drive from the veteran, marked by tire management excellence and precise defensive craft, allowed him to secure the 400-point maximum and an early lead in the standings. Behind him, Jake Goodwin, representing Ookami Mio in the Honda #30, claimed second after a late charge, while Mohamed Khashiu, representing Tsunomaki Watame in the Lexus #3, completed the podium with a quietly efficient run that positioned him well in the early championship fight.

Further back, the Lexus armada flexed its muscle, with strong top-five finishes from Ri Liu, representing Rindo Chihaya in the Lexus #78, and Honda’s resilience shown through Danilo Goyena, representing Usada Pekora in the Honda #11. Several racers became embroiled in costly incidents—most notably penalties issued to Ho Phu-My for a collision with Sammy Ake, and a harsher 60-second sanction given to Yukihara Touka for triggering retirements for both Chaka Labradores and Hoshizono Ryo that costed her initial 3rd place finish as she plummeted down to 20th.

Race 2 delivered another kind of catharsis, as Gibbens muscled the Roboco-backed Lexus to her first win in two seasons. The #64 machine was dominant all race, with Gibbens leading the lead pack to secure the second major storyline of the weekend. Behind him, Misaki Sakura, representing AZKi in the Honda #12, produced her strongest performance in a year to finish second, while Tyler Williams, representing Amane Kanata in the Nissan #57, capitalised on early chaos to take a well-earned third.

Further highlights included a resurgent fourth place for Vladislav Domaschnev, representing Aki Rosenthal in the Lexus #19, whose pace faded late but still held off a hard-charging Maverick Deuxieme, representing Omaru Polka in the Nissan #46. The midfield featured the usual SUGO unpredictability, from Rustim Kurashio’s (La+ Darknesss, Nissan #39) consistency to Lorenzo Ricci’s (Houshou Marine, Lexus #6) top-six recovery. Meanwhile, incidents were fewer than in Race 1, but several runners—such as Ri Liu, Dag Patterson, and Ed Skye—suffered tough results that left them with significant ground to make up.

By weekend’s end, the championship standings reflected the story of two comeback giants: Choco and Kaczynski atop the leaderboard with 578 points and Roboco and Gibbens close behind at 544. Consistency rewarded the likes of Rustim Kurashio, Mohamed Khashiu, and Jake Goodwin, who all emerge as early threats in a season shaping up as a Lexus vs. Honda vs. Nissan strategic battle. As the grid now turns toward the Fuji double-header in February, the SUGO 400 has already delivered what the Hololive GT3 Japan Series does best—emotion, intensity, and the revival of old contenders hungry for glory.