World Grand Prix Championship 11 - series complete

[Falcania]

In the times of old, Falcanian warriors would spend the night before a decisive battle kneeling before the family shrine, hoping for the inspiration to fight with the fury of their ancestors.

Crax had never known his mother, and his father had been a drunk and a lout, so he was making the best of it with the only photo he had of his parents together. He could scarcely be further from the knights and lords of ancient Falcania. And yet here he was, on the brink of... glory. That was the only way to describe it. Glory before the Free. Glory before the Chosen King. Glory before the Kingdom, before Atlantian Oceania, before the world.

The papers and blogs back home were all ablaze with these words. Glory, and honour, and victory. All so medieval and ridiculous. Stang was no noble, no, he grew up a criminal. His sponsor was no better. Falcania wasn't run by ancient, noble lords like in the songs, it was run by people like Julian Marquis, cruel, cold men, men who would sacrifice honour and glory for coin. What was it he liked to say? "It's all about the money, kiddo." Even the King - he had been Chosen because his men had won the civil war, and he'd kept his throne by running the nation like a business. Look at what he did to Ser Herberd Jay - the man had been the second most powerful person in Falcania, and King Falcon had run him out of the country. Exile! From a man who liked to present himself as a friendly, sensible, charismatic voice-of-the-people. Famously, before the war, he was the tea boy for the Foreign Directorate.

Was Stang going to win this race? And bring glory, honour, and victory to the Free Kingdom?

Sky above and stone below, it is so close I can taste it.

He set down the empty glass next to the picture of his mum and dad, and picked up his helmet.

[Ancharmunn]

The smile exchanged by Donal O'Connell and Cole McCleary told it's own story. For both the World Grand Prix Championship had started off disappointingly. McCleary's attempt his muscle his way into the aviation market had failed when no team took up his Aer Ancharine brand's offer of sponsorship. For O'Connell that had the knock on effect of leaving him waiting until the last minute to secure a race seat for the season, and even then it was only with a works team. With the third works team.

Now though, at the end of the season, at the Tynealan Grand Prix, at the Aer Ancharine Tynealan Grand Prix, this was more like it, this was [/i]. McClearly had his place, even if just for a weekend, as one of the movers and shakers within the sport. For people like him the parties for the great and the good at the grand prixs were just as important as the races themselves. Docked in one of Ballyfeeaknock's more exclusive marinas was his very own super yacht, and for anybody who was somebody, the party to be at and be seen at this weekend was on his Angel of the Waves luxury cruiser.

For O'Connell the reasons for getting in the WGPC had been similar. He enjoyed the racing, but the main attraction for him was the status that came with it. The big pay-cheques, the exclusive parties, the playboy lifestyle, the recognition. For a while there had been scant little of any of those. Four races into the season he'd failed to pick up any points. There had been the opening lap crashes, the embarrassment of finishing firmly amongst the tailenders, the constant lappings. There was the complete anonymity, the constant failure to be allowed into the good clubs, bars, parties and so on.

The there had been Kelssek, that sixth place finish that had kickstarted his season. From then on he'd finished in the points five races in a row, including on the podium in Starblaydia. Gradually he came to get the recognition that he craved and all that came with it. Finally, he was somebody. A non-finish in The Babbage Islands whilst team-mate iBen Toralmintii finally adding to his single point from Liventia had put a slight dampener on things.

This weekend however would be O'Connell's. The championship may well be coming down to a head to head battle between Stang Crax and Jai Kardaeri, but it wasn't their faces plastered all over Ballyfeeaknock. From full page newspaper adverts to massive twenty stories projections of his face on the side of high rise building it was Donal O'Connell who was omnipresent. Every driver wanted this finish the season on a high note, but this was Ancharmunn, this was the Tynealan Grand Prix. This was going to be Donal O'Connell's race.

[Liventia]

Aer Ancharine Tynealan Grand Prix

Free Practice session
Every team's second and test driver, as well as WGPC Works teams first drivers, took part in free practice. Drivers had two hours to set as many laps as they wished up to a limit of 40 laps. In free practice sessions, only lap times are recorded and not combined times.

Pos	Car	Driver			Team/Constructor		Best Lap	Invl	To best
1	21	Donal O'Connell		WGPC Motorsport Works Three	1:47.108		
2	8	Edward Masterson	Team Revél-Celstar		1:47.156	+0.048	+0.048
3	6	Marie Pitkanen		RBK-Continental Racing		1:47.162	+0.006	+0.054
4	2	Jai Kardaeri		Carvenlo Motor Racing		1:47.268	+0.106	+0.160
5	15	Stang Crax		Vilita & Turori Motorsports	1:47.291	+0.023	+0.183
6	T22	Sotil Morua		Carvenlo Motor Racing		1:47.477	+0.186	+0.369
7	T24	Jie Hui Tan		RBK-Continental Racing		1:47.640	+0.163	+0.532
8	10	Marc Rangneri		Yogutz Lantzia			1:47.811	+0.171	+0.703
9	T23	Seamus Donaghue		Postbank Synergent Feria	1:47.953	+0.142	+0.845
10	T28	Generoso Ramírez	Vilita & Turori Motorsports	1:47.962	+0.009	+0.854
11	4	Xabier Overtoon		Postbank Synergent Feria	1:47.976	+0.014	+0.868
12	18	Ludwig Leviossa		WGPC Motorsport Works Two	1:48.192	+0.216	+1.084
13	20	iBen Toralmintii	WGPC Motorsport Works Three	1:48.218	+0.026	+1.110
14	T26	Nauja Panigoniak	Yogutz Lantzia			1:48.345	+0.127	+1.237
15	12	Lukas Forbes		Obeveklig-Farautoo		1:48.901	+0.556	+1.793
16	T30	Jordan Dalante Saceta	WGPC Motorsport Works Two	1:49.608	+0.707	+2.500
17	T27	Johannes Fagerholm	Obeveklig-Farautoo		1:49.613	+0.005	+2.505
18	T29	Gaspard Villemarie	WGPC Motorsport Works One	1:50.042	+0.429	+2.934
19	19	Alexander Tingis	WGPC Motorsport Works Two	1:50.178	+0.136	+3.070
20	T25	Andrea McIntyre		Team Revél-Celstar		1:50.434	+0.256	+3.326
21	17	Daniel Freldra		WGPC Motorsport Works One	1:50.677	+0.243	+3.569
22	T31	Ryan Milner		WGPC Motorsport Works Three	1:50.850	+0.173	+3.742
23	16	Karl Shumertstak	WGPC Motorsport Works One	1:51.346	+0.496	+4.238

[Liventia]

Aer Ancharine Tynealan Grand Prix

Qualifying
Drivers had one hour to set up to ten flying laps. Drivers will start based on their best lap time.

Pos	Car	Driver			Team/Constructor		Best Lap	Invl	To best
1	14	R.L. Cruisin		Vilita & Turori Motorsports	1:46.405		
2	1	Matthew Portland	Carvenlo Motor Racing		1:46.434	+0.029	+0.029
3	21	Donal O'Connell		WGPC Motorsport Works Three	1:46.556	+0.122	+0.151
4	4	Xabier Overtoon		Postbank Synergent Feria	1:46.623	+0.067	+0.218
5	6	Marie Pitkanen		RBK-Continental Racing		1:46.648	+0.025	+0.243
6	7	Jason Evans		Team Revél-Celstar		1:46.750	+0.102	+0.345
7	5	Thomas Colson		RBK-Continental Racing		1:46.769	+0.019	+0.364
8	2	Jai Kardaeri		Carvenlo Motor Racing		1:46.844	+0.075	+0.439
9	15	Stang Crax		Vilita & Turori Motorsports	1:46.945	+0.101	+0.540
10	18	Ludwig Leviossa		WGPC Motorsport Works Two	1:47.191	+0.246	+0.786
11	9	Enaut Londoso		Yogutz Lantzia			1:47.295	+0.104	+0.890
12	10	Marc Rangneri		Yogutz Lantzia			1:47.416	+0.121	+1.011
13	8	Edward Masterson	Team Revél-Celstar		1:47.428	+0.012	+1.023
14	16	Karl Shumertstak	WGPC Motorsport Works One	1:47.666	+0.238	+1.261
15	17	Daniel Freldra		WGPC Motorsport Works One	1:47.786	+0.120	+1.381
16	20	iBen Toralmintii	WGPC Motorsport Works Three	1:47.934	+0.148	+1.529
17	19	Alexander Tingis	WGPC Motorsport Works Two	1:48.795	+0.861	+2.390
18	11	Vitaliy Aaltonen	Obeveklig-Farautoo		1:49.425	+0.630	+3.020
19	12	Lukas Forbes		Obeveklig-Farautoo		1:49.522	+0.097	+3.117
20	3	Rado Semarche		Postbank Synergent Feria	1:51.006	+1.484	+4.601

[Eastfield Lodge]

Here he was, Alexander Tingis, about to start what he thought would be his last ever professionally competitive race. And it would be on the grandest stage of them all, the World Grand Prix Championship. It hadn't been getting here, being a test driver for a works team was frustrating yet understandable; he was competing against much better racers, and much younger as well in most cases, with reflexes honed at their peak, while Tingis' were just beginning to falter, slow down. Then came the opportunity, a chance to actually race, although at the inexplicable expense of Sacenta, who was doing really rather well. But Tingis knew that this was the cruel nature of professional racing, that even if you were doing well, you were still prone to being replaced, as the team decides it needs someone better to take the helm.

The first race didn't go well, not at all. Qualifying 18th of 20 drivers, he was the last of the finishers to actually finish, three laps down on the leader and a lap down on the person in front of him. But he'd beaten his teammate, Warkus' Leviossa, who failed to finish. The last mid-season test was a surprise, being the tenth quickest in overall time out of all the drivers who had taken part. Not too fast, but very consistent, a style which had rather become his trademark. The Ad'ihani grand prix saw a slight improvement, with Tingis qualifying 16th out of 20, and the race itself was going fine, with Tingis running as high as 7th at one point, before an oil leak forced a retirement with just 7 laps to go. Last weekend, the Babbage Grand Prix featured a hopeless qualifying, with Tingis just struggling to keep the car from sliding in the corners and as a result, qualified 19th, 2 and a half seconds off the pace. The race was a repeat of Starblaydia, last of the finishers, and a lap behind the person in front. But at least he wasn't three laps down on the lead.

This weekend was a special one though. His last weekend in professional racing. The last race in what had been a illustrious yet frustrating career for Tingis; several domestic titles in various formats like rallying and street racing, but internationally, his search for glory was fruitless. The Whittoria Auto Racing series had yielded some good races, but no race wins, and then the two Nationstates Grand Prix championships. The two championships which cemented Tingis in the Eastfield Lodge hall of fame, yet yielded nothing material. Finished second both times, both times to the Vilitan Gary Cook, the first after taking the championship to the final day, needing to finish highly to overtake Cook. He had managed to qualify in pole position with Cook all the way at the back of the grid, but on race-day all he managed to do was to crash, 6 laps into the race. The wall had come barrelling up to him and the trophy slipped out of his grasp. The second time around, it was the same situation. Needing a lot more points than Cook in the last race, but this time, Cook took pole, with Tingis in third, and this time, Tingis lasted 10 more laps around the circuit, before crashing into the same wall that took the title from him the previous year. Yet that season, the biggest story, for Tingis personally, wasn't the whole championship battle, but how he had nearly died going at speed. At the Port Lodgertia circuit, back home in Eastfield Lodge, losing control of the car and becoming a passenger as the car pinballed its way off the wall three times. Tingis had been unconscious for several weeks as a result, and it made him and his family realise, finally, the cost they could be paying if this continued. The NSGP was supposed to be his last hurrah, but the opportunity to race in the grandest racing championship of them all destroyed his resolve. All he could hope know was to finish in one piece, and finish well, in his last ever race.

Here, at the Ballyfeeaknock International Circuit, a circuit which has suspiciously few straights, or even straight section of tarmac, he would define how he would think about himself for the rest of his life. The rest of the country would revere him, remember him for years to come, so this was a personal journey. Again, he was extremely slow, qualifying 17th, 2.39 seconds off pole. Everybody was talking about the three championship battles up front, the Falcanian Stang Crax having a slender three point lead over the Starblaydi Jai Kardaeri. But Kardaeri Carvenlo team had a five point lead over the Vilitan team of Crax, but back home, there would be those dedicated fans watching Tingis in last race as well as the race up front.

Sitting on the grid, with the WGPC Works car underneath him, waiting for the lights to turn. All the other cars were beginning to rev up the engines, keeping the tires warm enough to have grip. Tingis looked into the crowd on the right, and then to the pit lane on the left. His wife would be there, clutching the headphones like a lifeline and watching the TV fearfully, hoping that he would return alive and in one piece. The grandstand was full, the colourful flags of many different countries being flown, but dominated by the flags of the hosts, cheering on their driver. Tingis' eyes fell upon the small Easfield Lodge contingent, exuberant as ever. They had stayed behind him no matter what and how he did; well, badly or otherwise they would be there for him, cheering him on.

Here was Alexander Tingis, sitting in the cockpit of his car, waiting, reflecting upon his life. At the front of the grid, the lights began to change, the first set of red lights appeared. The noise of the cars was deafening. Second set on, third set on, the crowd making itself heard over the engine noises. Fourth set of lights on. Tingis breathed deeply, trying to relax, trying to focus on the start. A couple of seconds delay, then, the red lights switch off, replaced by a row of green ones.

The final race had begun.

[Ancharmunn]

But for the backend of R.L. Cruisin's Vilita & Turori Motorsports car blocking his view of the opening couple of hundred metres of the track Donal O'Connell had had as near a perfect weekend as he could have hoped for. Here he was on home track defending a podium place from the very start of the race. All that had cost him pole position was a momentary lapse of concentration during his flying lap as he'd realised just how well he was driving. Off the track all was well as well, he'd not paid for a single drink all week as fans had swarmed to be his mate. Glancing up towards the grandstand there were hundreds of Charmunnry flags or various banners in support of him.

“Thirty seconds until the lights go on.” his race engineer crackled over the radio, “You've been in fantastic form over the last few races and especially this weekend. You know the plan, now let's go out there and finish the season off with a fantastic result. Good luck Donal.”

Taking in a few last moments of contemplation O'Connell tilted his head back, closed his eyes and let out a deep exhalation. All the while taking in the noise of the track. The faint sounds of the pit crews going through their very last minute tasks, himself and nineteen other drivers revving up their cars, the expectant buzz among the crowd, and just perhaps the sound of a hot knife slicing through butter as the tension of the championship battle between Crax and Kardaeri went into it's final, deciding round.

By the time he'd regained his focus the starting lights had just begun to show. Now was race time, this was his home grand prix, the final race of the season, this was it. The row of red lights lingered for a couple of seconds, before disappearing. Using local knowledge of how long the lights tended to stay on O'Connell was able to get a jump start on Cruisin and Portland on the row ahead. Managing to get himself onto the racing line he was able to squeeze out of the first corner in first place. The local lad had got off to a perfect start. This, was, it.

[Liventia]

Aer Ancharine Tynealan Grand Prix

Race – 53 laps

Pos	Car	Driver			Team/Constructor		Time/behind    Interval
1	4	Xabier Overtoon		Postbank Synergent Feria	1:38:02.199	
2	21	Donal O'Connell		WGPC Motorsport Works Three	     +4.408	 +4.408
3	9	Enaut Londoso		Yogutz Lantzia			    +16.643	+12.235
4	8	Edward Masterson	Team Revél-Celstar		    +20.444	 +3.801
5	1	Matthew Portland	Carvenlo Motor Racing		    +26.469	 +6.025
6	14	R.L. Cruisin		Vilita & Turori Motorsports	    +27.965	 +1.496
7	2	Jai Kardaeri		Carvenlo Motor Racing		    +42.537	+14.572
8	5	Thomas Colson		RBK-Continental Racing		  +1:22.082	+39.545

9	7	Jason Evans		Team Revél-Celstar		  +1:41.041	+18.959
10	18	Ludwig Leviossa		WGPC Motorsport Works Two	  +1:42.256	 +1.215
11	12	Lukas Forbes		Obeveklig-Farautoo		     +1 LAP	    LAP
12	17	Daniel Freldra		WGPC Motorsport Works One	     +1 LAP	 +1.930
13	3	Rado Semarche		Postbank Synergent Feria	     +1 LAP	+13.989
14	19	Alexander Tingis	WGPC Motorsport Works Two	     +1 LAP	+10.644
15	16	Karl Shumertstak	WGPC Motorsport Works One	     +1 LAP	 +7.956
16	20	iBen Toralmintii	WGPC Motorsport Works Three	     +1 LAP	 +5.843
NC	11	Vitaliy Aaltonen	Obeveklig-Farautoo		 RET Lap 47
NC	6	Marie Pitkanen		RBK-Continental Racing		 RET Lap 34
NC	10	Marc Rangneri		Yogutz Lantzia			 RET Lap 28
NC	15	Stang Crax		Vilita & Turori Motorsports	  RET Lap 7

Final World Drivers' Championship standings

Pos	Car	Driver			Team/Constructor	
1	15	Stang Crax		Vilita & Turori Motorsports	122
2	2	Jai Kardaeri		Carvenlo Motor Racing		121
3	1	Matthew Portland	Carvenlo Motor Racing		 91
4	14	R.L. Cruisin		Vilita & Turori Motorsports	 82
5	8	Edward Masterson	Team Revél-Celstar		 73
6	4	Xabier Overtoon		Postbank Synergent Feria	 54
7	9	Enaut Londoso		Yogutz Lantzia			 45
8	12	Lukas Forbes		Obeveklig-Farautoo		 44
9	10	Marc Rangneri		Yogutz Lantzia			 42
10	21	Donal O'Connell		WGPC Motorsport Works Three	 39
11	7	Jason Evans		Team Revél-Celstar		 35
12	3	Rado Semarche		Postbank Synergent Feria	 29
13	19/T30	Jordan Dalante Saceta	WGPC Motorsport Works Two	 28
14	6	Marie Pitkanen		RBK-Continental Racing		 28
15	11	Vitaliy Aaltonen	Obeveklig-Farautoo		 21
16	5	Thomas Colson		RBK-Continental Racing		 11
17	18	Ludwig Leviossa		WGPC Motorsport Works Two	  8
18	20	iBen Toralmintii	WGPC Motorsport Works Three	  5
19	1/T22	Sotil Morua		Carvenlo Motor Racing		  2
NC	16	Karl Shumertstak	WGPC Motorsport Works One	  0
NC	17	Daniel Freldra		WGPC Motorsport Works One	  0
NC	19	Alexander Tingis	WGPC Motorsport Works Two	  0

(Had Kardaeri and Crax been tied on points, Crax would have won the title on countback by virtue of having more race wins.)

Final World Teams' Championship standings

1	Carvenlo Motor Racing		214
2	Vilita & Turori Motorsports	204
3	Team Revél-Celstar		108
4	Yogutz Lantzia			 87
5	Postbank Synergent Feria	 83
6	Obeveklig-Farautoo		 65
7	WGPC Motorsport Works Three	 44
8	RBK-Continental Racing		 39
9	WGPC Motorsport Works Two	 36
10	WGPC Motorsport Works One	  0

Final World Constructors' Championship standings

1	Carvenlo Motor Racing		214
2	Vilita & Turori Motorsports	204
3	Team Revél-Celstar		108
4	Yogutz Lantzia			 87
5	Postbank Synergent Feria	 83
6	WGPC Motorsport 		 80
7	Obeveklig-Farautoo		 65
8	RBK-Continental Racing		 39

OOC: I shall attempt to run the next WGPC series from April through June, so keep an eye out for the next signup thread in March. Preliminary invitations for team entries next term have now been sent out; a further judgement call on whether or not to invite more teams will be made nearer the time. As with this season, driver signups will be open to all.