Wimberley Wins Buriram SP as Sims Crash From the Lead

Buriram - 9th March 2024, Buriram International Circuit saw a dramatic race unfold yesterday as Zeke Wimberley (#98 Ceres Fauna) scores his third Formula Hololive win in five races, winning the Buriram Superprix after starting sixth.

Qualifying saw Angela Sims take her first pole since the Phillip Island Grand Prix last December, with Sean Golael next to her on the front row, having been on provisional pole for most of the session until Sims stole the pole position from him. Championship leader Jake Martinez started 10th, and 2nd placed Aziz Muazif in the standings started in 3rd place.

With the Superprix having no scheduled pitstops, tire management was crucial with the track temperatures over 40 degrees Celsius.

The race got underway, and there were multiple side-by-side battles at the first few laps, but for Hanaori Miyuki who started in 17th, she saw the exit doors early in the race as she was involved in a collision with Keiko Takaboshi which sent her into a spin and with serious suspension damage, putting her out of the race.

Sims set the early pace with her building a gap over second placed Muazif who overtook Golael at the start. There were scares in terms of the gap dropping off midway through the race, and lapped cars causing Sims some trouble, but the lead went unchallenged until late in the race.

With ten laps to go before the finish, there were more drama, as Kento Kai hopped the inside kerbs at the inside of Turn 12 after making a bold dive into the corner trying to overtake Takeda Adachi and was taken into a spin, and when he rejoined, he collected Kate Garcia, putting her out of the race.

One lap later, there was more drama, as Sims tried to move down the inside of Keiko Takaboshi at Turn 12 who was about to get lapped, but Sims clipped the inside kerbs at the inside of Turn 12, caused damage to her suspension and put herself out of the race, trying to clear the lapped car.

That left Wimberley who made a remarkable climb from sixth to second with one more car to overtake, and that was Sean Golael. And that he did, with about three laps to go, he found a gap at Turn 5, tried to hand it with Golael, and he did it successfully, Wimberley was first. He would remain uncontested for the win, despite scares from two more lapped cars right at the finish. Nature is recovering faster than many would predict after this win.

After the race, Wimberley did not hold back about the tire issues: "The tire falloff is so bad, like we lost four to five seconds on pace after 40 plus laps. I mean, it's great that I won, but man these tires fell off so bad, it's like power creep. I hope we never have to deal with this again. Terrible."

With three races to go, it's now shaping up to be a guaranteed three horse race, with the top 3 only separated by 37 points:

1. Muazif - 775 points

2. Martinez - 756 points

3. Wimberley - 748 points
   

As the 2023-24 Formula Hololive International season approaches its climax, the next stage is the Red Bull Ring, and everyone should not miss what would be a riveting final three races of the season.