16/04/2025 – 14:00 Local Time, Sashii Circuit

The PF1 Hirochi GP exploded into madness almost instantly after the lights went out, delivering one of the most chaotic opening laps the grid has seen all season. What was expected to be a tactical showdown turned into an absolute demolition derby in the first few corners, with nearly half the field failing to make it to the chequered flag.

Lights Out – and Absolute Mayhem

The drama kicked off just seconds into the race when Tijs de Vries (Torment) slammed full speed into Joon-ho Park (Parma) right after the launch. Park’s car was launched into the air, spun 180 degrees, and landed upside down in a sickening crash that brought out gasps from the crowd. A terrifying moment, but one that the safety systems handled admirably — Park walked away unharmed, though his day ended before it had truly begun.

The carnage didn't stop there. Mere seconds later, at Turn 1, Alonso Rubio (Karlen) and Karl Graun (CSS) came together. The contact sent Rubio hard into the barriers at speed, forcing another retirement before the first sector was even completed.

Then all hell broke loose. Liam Accello (Okudai) smashed into Thiago Guanzalo (Parma), and as chaos unfolded around them, Timau Flais (Lotech) also clattered into the back of Liam. Accello’s car launched into the air and landed on top of Flais's machine. The halo device once again proved its worth, protecting both drivers from a potentially grim outcome. But it didn’t end there — Liam’s car, now upside down, slid back onto the track. Moments later, Callum Penrose (PU) flew straight into Javier Martínez (Torment), retiring the latter on the spot. Penrose managed to limp on for another lap before understeering violently into the barriers at Turn 1 on Lap 2. That marked yet another DNF in a rapidly shrinking field.

More Trouble, More DNFs

As if the pileups weren't enough, another blow came during an intense Lap 1 scrap between Karl Graun and Žiga Grasjan (Lotech). Grasjan eased off ever so slightly heading into the straight, but Graun — perhaps trying to make up for the earlier incident — ploughed into the back of the Lotech car. Žiga was sent airborne and crashed back down hard, destroying the front right axle and leaving him stranded. That was the end of Graun’s day, and another name crossed off the list.

Both Parma drivers, already carrying damage from the first-lap mess, eventually came to a stop in the gravel at Turn 5. They had simply taken too much punishment to continue, beaching their machines and joining the ever-growing list of DNFs.

The Calm After the Storm

Following the absolute chaos of the opening stages, the rest of the race cooled off significantly. The survivors held their positions with smart driving and damage limitation in mind, as the field had thinned dramatically by mid-race.

Peter Kroftmann (PRB), who had started on pole, kept his nose clean and delivered a clinical drive to take the win. Despite the madness around him, he never put a foot wrong. Behind him, Clément Rautte (Campus) finished just under five seconds back, with Daan Dumfries (CPR) closely behind in third.

Here’s how the top ten finished:

1. Peter Kroftmann (PRB) – Winner

2. Clément Rautte (Campus) – +4.810

3. Daan Dumfries (CPR) – +4.920

4. Niccolò Bergaggio (Campus) – +4.910

5. Sam Ashford (Karlen) – +5.360

6. Kian Namara (CSS) – +4.0260

7. Žiga Grasjan (Lotech) – +30.400

8. Danilo Zravit (PU) – +2.470

9. Sebastian Dmitri (CPR) – +1.370

10. Luca Baumfarn (Okudai) – +2.130

Notably, Žiga Grasjan somehow managed to finish despite being involved in a high-speed collision earlier in the race — a gritty and determined effort from the Lotech driver.

Final Thoughts

The PF1 Hirochi GP will go down as one of the most chaotic races in recent PF1 memory. Ten cars failed to finish, including both Torment and Parma entries, all due to brutal collisions in the opening laps. But amid the destruction, Kroftmann’s cool-headed drive was a masterclass in control and awareness.

Sashii proved once again it’s not for the faint-hearted — and if this race is anything to go by, the rest of the season could be just as unhinged.