Yeongnam On The Horizon: HoloType Japan Tsuyo/Zako Season Set to Kick Off

Yeongnam, 6 September — The 200-minute opener of the 2025 HoloType Japan Tsuyo/Zako Series arrives this weekend at Yeongnam, a race that rewards steady pace, clean traffic management and pit-stop execution. All entries run the Oreca 07 (ReGloss runners in Ligier PS217), making set-up and driver consistency the defining variables across five rounds. Qualifiers form was led in Split A by Shirogane Noel's Lexi Boan in the Oreca 07 #08 and in Split B by Amane Kanata's Tyler Williams in the #57 — both drivers showed one-lap pace and racecraft that translate well to a long distance. Roboco driver Callum Gibbens and Nekomata Okayu's Alticer Antanarau also posted strong qualifying scores and arrive buoyed by recent consistency.

The favorites for the Tsuyo Series are Mohamed Khashiu, driving Tsunomaki Watame’s Oreca 07, whose measured race pace and stint management make him a podium threat; Alticer Antanarau in Nekomata Okayu’s Oreca, who while less consistent, can be lightning quick at times; Lorenzo Ricci in Houshou Marine’s #6 car, a proven winner over distance; Danilo Goyena in Usada Pekora’s #11, a consistent top finisher; and Ed Skye in Kazama Iroha’s Oreca, also consistent in results. Nakiri Ayame’s Hoshizono Ryo and Rose-tai member Vladislav Domaschnev round out candidates who can mix it at the front if they avoid mistakes.

In the Zako field, Chaka Labradores in Natsuiro Matsuri’s #7 and Jeff Rohan in Tokoyami Towa’s #10 should be quick off the line; Misaki Sakura takes over AZKi’s Oreca and is a wildcard with strong race experience; Rey Mark Rosales in Shiranui Flare’s Oreca and Sammy Ake in Shirakami Fubuki’s Oreca bring pace and grit — both are likely to feature in mid-race skirmishes that decide final positions. In addition, this will be Sakura's return to HoloType Japan, now in her preferred ride, the AZKi #12 replacing Krzysztof Salmonman.

Expect the race to be won off-track as much as on it: pit timings, tyre life, on-track and how teams handle lapped traffic will swing the outcome. Yeongnam’s long straights and sweeping corners punish poor aero balance and gives teams a headache in terms of how to set up their cars; reliability and kerb discipline will be vital after the kerb-heavy incidents seen earlier last week in FHolo.