SUGO SP: Kinsai and Boan's Breakthrough, Touka and Kiriko's Miseries

Miyagi, 31 October — The 2026 Formula Hololive World Tsuyo/Zako Cup turned SUGO into a theatre of breakthrough victories and bruised egos, as the Zako and Tsuyo fields tackled Round 2 across a weekend that offered two very different definitions of survival.

Saturday’s Zako Cup, scheduled for 3 PM JST (6 AM GMT), ended before its intended distance. With more than 75% of the field classified as DNF, the race was cut short at 55 laps, turning the closing stages into a fight simply to remain on the circuit. When the dust settled, Jace Kinsai, representing Takane Lui in the #61 car, emerged victorious. For Kinsai, it was his first Formula Hololive race win—and his first victory across all competitions this year. The result gave the Luitomo a reason to celebrate, with Lui’s fans being able to savor a long-awaited breakthrough amid the attrition.

Meanwhile the Yukimins' Yukihara Touka had no luck even getting off the grid at the race start properly, as a steering failure sent her into the pit wall, and ricocheting off into the other side of the track, confirming her status as the last place driver, all before she crossed the start line.

The triumph vaulted Kinsai to fifth in the Zako Cup standings on 204 points, putting him firmly in the championship conversation after arriving at SUGO with just four points from Sepang. Yet the lead remains with Nichi Michan, representing Airani Iofifteen in the #15 car, whose 328 points give the reigning frontrunner a 90-point advantage over Mohd Shaqif Redza, representing Momosuzu Nene in the #77 car, on 238. Hiyuta Asano, representing Gigi Murin in the #44 car, sits third on 235, just three points behind second. Kinsai’s breakthrough has added another contender to a crowded Zako Cup fight, but he still has ground to make up.

Sunday’s Tsuyo Cup, also held at 3 PM JST (6 AM GMT), delivered a different kind of milestone. Lexi Boan, representing Shirogane Noel in the #08 car, claimed her first Formula Hololive victory, securing Noel’s first win in the series since the Autopolis SP in 2024. After a weekend in which the Zako field was battered into an early finish, Boan’s triumph offered the Tsuyo Cup a cleaner headline: a new winner, and a drought finally broken for the Shirogane Knights. She added that "We have never been more back", highlighting Noel's rise to the top of the Formula Hololive food chain.

At the front, however, Airi Nakamura, representing Akai Haato in the #81 car, remains the benchmark. Her 2nd place finish at SUGO brought her total to 388, extending her lead over Alticer Antanarau, representing Nekomata Okayu in the #5 car, who sits second on 363 following his promotion to 3rd after Sammy Ake's penalty for his collision to Ryan Kagawa. The gap is 25 points between 1st and 2nd, with Chaka Labradores third on 281. Callum Gibbens and Ho Phu-My also gained ground with strong SUGO results, while Boan’s win suddenly makes Noel’s camp an intriguing name to watch as the season progresses.

Not everyone left SUGO celebrating. On the final lap, Aqua Azurii, representing Oozora Subaru in the #48 car, went wide exiting SP Out while running third, spun into the wall, and surrendered a podium after fighting back from an earlier excursion. Her post-race reaction summed up the cruel comedy of motorsport: “...you have an excursion, make a comeback by reaching the podium, then you fumble that podium on the last lap…”.

There was less humour in Hanami Kiriko’s reaction to her collision with Joddy Pranata. Kiriko was incensed after the incident, which undoubtedly led to her unforced error of spinning at the S curves on Lap 50, adding a flashpoint to a weekend already full of consequences.

With the final round in Okayama ready for the drivers next month, SUGO has left both championships with compelling questions. Can Michan hold off the rising Zako challengers? Can Nakamura keep Antanarau at arm’s length? And can the new winners turn one spectacular weekend into sustained title momentum?