World Grand Prix Championship 12 - everything thread

[Liventia]

SEASON 12

Welcome to the RP thread for the 12th NationStates World Grand Prix Championship. This season, ten constructor teams and two WGPC Motorsport teams are taking part in the championship.

Teams and drivers
Goldmund-Teller (FLC, 4-4-4)

#1 Stang Crax (FLC, 2-3-1)
#2 Xeb Kallasdun (PDY, 3-3-0)

Carvenlo Motor Racing (LEN, 5-5-2)

#3 Jai Kardaeri (STB, 2-2-2)
#4 Sotil Morua (ASG, 2-2-2)
#26 Ekain Okendo (ASG, 2-1-3)

Vilita & Turori Motorsports (VIL, 5-3-4)

#5 R.L. Cruisin (VIL, 2-2-1)
#6 Allian Marquis (FLC, 1-2-3)

Yogutz Lantzia (ASG, 5-3-4)

#7 Enaut Londoso (ITB, 3-1-2)
#27 Alexandra Mayari (NEK, 1-2-3, f)
#8 Lee Rogers (FLV, 1-3-2)

Obeveklig-Farautoo (PIS, 5-3-4)

#9 Vitaliy Aaltonen (PIS, 3-1-2)
#10 Victor Hall (AUD, 3-2-1)

WGPC Motorsports One (WGPC, 3-3-3)

#11 Johannes Fagerholm (PIS, 1-3-2)
#12 Shayna Barstowe (NCM, 3-1-2, f)

WGPC Motorsports Two (WGPC, 3-3-3)

#14 Matt Hingis (APX, 2-2-2)
#15 iBen Toralmintii (TUR, 1-3-1)

McPahan Racing Team (AUD, 5-5-1)

#16 Alexander Lund (AUD, 1-2-3)
#17 Roger Bunn (TIS, 2-3-1)

WM Barton Race Team (LIC, 5-3-4)

#18 Bartosz Macdonald (LIC, 3-1-2)
#19 Matthew Portland (LEN, 2-2-2)

BrennickSport (FLV, 3-5-4)

#20 Johnny Boudermann (FLV, 2-2-2)
#21 James Davies (FLV, 3-3-0)
#29 Malachy Byrne (ANC, 3-1-2)

MSA-SinVal Racing (EFL, 3-4-5)

#22 Louis Krindle (EFL, 3-2-1)
#23 Lukas Forbes (LIC, 2-1-3)
#31 Victoria Gardner (EFL, 1-2-3, f)

Aer Ancharine Motorsport Racing (ANC, 4-5-3)

#24 Donal O'Connell (ANC, 2-3-1)
#25 Andreas Schroeder (MYT, 2-2-2)
#30 Juan Kermit (DAR, 2-1-3)

Current free agents
James Ferguson (TYR, 2-1-2)
Edmund O'Connor (GRN, 3-1-2)
Yves Robert (SIC, 2-2-2)
Ryan Milner (BRP, 2-1-3)
Isla Cherry (GTX, 1-3-2)
Holt Freezer (MNG, 2-2-1)
Zoran Radić (SVC, 2-2-1)
Luka Botan (WYZ, 3-1-2)
Narein Sugumaran (SUB, 2-1-3)
Mikhail Kruzlov (RKQ, 3-1-1)
Percy Lahi (SEC, 3-1-2)
Pedro Delip-Koki (THT, 2-1-3)
Kosuin Mazingii (SHM, 2-3-1)
Einur Birkirsun (BMO, 2-3-1)

Race calendar
April 6–8: Circuit Alexandre Bruneau (Grand Prix du Cotdelapoms)
April 12–14: Talbott Autodrome (AirLEN Grand Prix of Liventia)
April 18–20: Eysturoy Motorbana (Polarian Grand Prix)
April 25–27: Vilitan Mountain Challenge Course (Vilitan Grand Prix)
April 28–30: Hessington Island Course (Hessington Island Grand Prix)
May 2: Eelandii in-season test
May 5–7: Highpoint Raceway (Falcanian Grand Prix)
May 9–11: Eleco Estates Raceway (Karditani Grand Prix)
May 13: Audioslavia in-season test
May 15–17: Nekoni International Circuit (Grand Prix of Nekoni)
May 20, 21, 23: The Rastred'Madaa Street Raceway (Grand Prix of Paradystopia)
May 26–28: Woznintz Circuit (Syndicatian Grand Prix)
May 30–June 1: Iturributa Street Circuit (Iturributan Grand Prix)
June 2–4: Ballyfeeaknock International Circuit (Aer Ancharine Tynealan Grand Prix)

Circuits for in-season tests
Woznintz Circuit (The Inevitable Syndicate)
Eelandii Grand Prix Circuit (Turori)
Silverspasecasarthe (Audioslavia)

This season's rules
There will be one qualifying session per race, during which drivers may run up to 12 timed laps. Drivers must start the race on the tyres with which the fastest lap was set.

Each race event will consist of a practice session, a qualifying session and a race session.

Each practice session will involve every driver. They will have 120 minutes to set up to 27 timed laps of each circuit (adjusted accordingly per circuit).

A single qualifying session lasting 60 minutes, during which drivers can set up to ten flying laps, will be used to determine race start positions.

Points system: Points will be awarded to the top ten drivers: 25, 18, 14, 10, 8, 6, 4, 3, 2, 1. There will be two championships: a drivers' championship and a constructors' championship. The two WGPC Motorsport teams will be considered to be two separate constructors.

Finishing: All drivers who complete at least 90% of race distance, rounded up to a full lap, will be considered to be a "classified finisher".

Race distance: All race distances are a minimum of 305 km. The number of laps is calculated by 305 km divided by the track distance, rounded up to a full lap.

Fuelling: There is to be no refuelling during races.

Tyre changes: All teams must use at least two sets of tyres in each race in dry conditions, on different tyre compounds.

RP bonus: RP bonus is applied directly to driver attributes. Users with teams will RP for their teams and gain bonus for both active drivers. Users with drivers will RP only for their drivers (but not for the team they sign for) and gain bonus for their driver. If their driver is an active driver they will also gain a small bonus to the team.

Free agent signing period rules
The free agent signing period will last until 8pm British Summer Time on 4 April 2013. During this time, drivers and teams should RP negotiations. Both sides MUST post confirmation of a deal (therefore both drivers and teams are encouraged to look for more than one deal so you don't get shortchanged) in this thread, in bold, in an RP to the extent of "driver has signed with team as a second/test driver".

Drivers who are well RPed but do not receive offers from teams may be offered seats with the WGPC teams. Therefore, it may be worth holding out and declining an offer of a test driver's seat in the hope your driver is offered a racing seat with the WGPC teams.

[Nova Cambria et PBI]

To say Shayna Barstowe was concerned would be an understatement. She had a fantastic season last year in Coupe Villeneuve, the Cotdelapomais open-wheel racing championship- despite it being her first full season, she finished in third place in the drivers' points rankings. Despite being Nova Cambrian, she was fairly attractive and thus was quite popular with the sponsors.

Sponsors! The sponsors all wanted her to try her luck in the WGPC despite her not being entirely positive she was good enough. The CEOs of all these multinational corporations didn't understand that getting a ride in the world's premier racing series wasn't as easy as just showing up for a meeting and mentioning all the money behind her and being awarded a ride for the season. Right?

Maybe it was! There had been some sons and daughters of wealthy families who were clearly underqualified before. And hell, 3rd place was pretty good- the Coupe Villeneuve had graduated Alexandre Pouliot, who was a star in Hodori! Yes, cognitive dissonance! Thats how we do it! Shayna was ready to meet with the bigwigs...

[Vilita]

VTF1 Await Goldmund-Teller Fate on driver Crax

After a very successful debut campaign in the World Grand Prix Championships for Season 11, Vilita & Turori Motorsports were dealt a blow to their driver lineup when World Champion driver Stang Crax was named to the driver roster on the newly created Goldmund-Teller team out of Falcania. The Goldmund-Teller team, most likely the brainchild of the all-over-the-place Julian Marquis, was formally announced prior to the 12th World Grand Prix Championships and instantly appeared a competitor for the Constructors championship with Crax behind the wheel, Marquis on the pit box and Goldmund-Teller behind the finances.

Now, however, the Goldmund-Teller entry seems to be in doubt as the sponsoring nation, Falcania, has yet to file the necessary paperwork for the side to compete. If the Goldmund-Teller team should fold prior to season start, VTF1 is still likely to welcome back World Champion driver Stang Crax to retain his seat and defend his title with the team he won it with.

Should Goldmund-Teller enter with Crax as their driver, however, VTF1 officials have stated there will be 'no reunion' between the parties if things turn sour in Falcania. In a brief but succinct statement, the VTF1 indicated that they are fully supportive of their 'primary' driver, R.L. Cruisin, and, as necessary, will begin the search for a second driver throughout the season testing process.

VTF1 officials are widely expected to arrange a private test session to recruit at the very least, a test driver, and as necessary, a race driver to fill the seat vacated by the World Champion. While the Vilitan Mountain Challenge Course is the most likely location for the test session, it is possible that officials and financers will push to move the test to the brand new Grand Prix Course at Eelandii on the Island Emirate of Turori. The brand new racing facility was not included on the initial schedule for the World Grand Prix Championship as either an event or a test session and course officials will be looking to show off the new course to WGPC officials who are still finalizing the season's venues.

Vilita & Turori Motorsports are currently inviting free agent drivers to submit their resume to the team for consideration for the teams driver seats and special test session.

[Mangolana]

Mangolana Gazzette

Mangolana Driver enters WGPC

Top Mangolana driver Holt Freezer is now approved to be a free-agent driver in the World Grand Prix Championship (WGPC). Freezer comes off a historic run in the Mangolana GP Championships with 4 titles in 5 years including 3 straight to end his career their. Holt, who is now 32 years old is currently looking for a team driver job with one of the 11 racing teams in the WGPC. Mostly though, Holt is looking for a contract to stay in the region close to home which of course would be a team based in Rushmore. That basically seems to limit it down to 2 teams out of the 11, Obeveklig-Farautoo from Polar Islandstates and Yogutz Lantzia from Astograth, two very successful teams in the WGPC. Though if contract offers do not come from there, Freezer will not be picky.

With 11 teams set to field 2 car teams this year, their are now 11 spots remaining, but 4 of those are on the WGPC Motorsports teams which are owned and run by the WGPC. This can be an advantage because of the full support from WGPC but also a disadvantage for the driver as these teams most of the time do not have as good equitment or personal. Holt has openely said before though that racing for a bad team or testing for a good team, he would always pick the racing for a bad team anyday of the week. Plus, at 32 years old, who wants to be a test driver as who knows how much longer your career will last. With a limited amount of time left, Freezer wishes only to do the thing he loves, that is race the hardest he can.

[Schmiegelland]

Sjandle Union-Tribune
Your home for Schmiegellan news

Kosuin Mazingii, Schmiegelland's best driver, has been accepted as a free agent in the WGPC 12. Kosuin currently does not have a team, hence the fact that he is a free agent. He won the Schmiegelland Racing Tour last year, winning with the underdog Kolasap team Shamnegiir. Kosuin is arranging to meet some teams to apply in.

Stats on Kosuin Mazingii:

Age: 23

Experience: 3 Years of racing, one Schmiegelland Tour Championship win


Kosuin is apparently willing to accept offers from any team that would like to enlist his service.

[Flevans]

Lee Rogers, yesterday.

Lee Rogers Seeking WGPC Comeback

As the field begins to set itself for the 12th World Grand Prix Championship, one of the faces seeking a spot on the grid should be familiar to long-time fans of the series. That face, is the face of Lee Rogers, a former winner in the series and veteran of 3 seasons. Rogers is perhaps best known for his role as teammate to 2-time World Champion Matthew Portland in both his championship winning years at JIM (Jeffgordonville International Motorsports). However, Rogers himself was a force to be reckoned with in those seasons, winning 2 Grands Prix and was a championship contender in his own right in WGPC 10, enough to secure the Constructors' title for JIM that season.

Rogers' career as a WGPC driver began in WGPC 8. During the course of the season, Rogers collected 2 podium finishes and 45 points, enough for a respectable 7th in the standings. The following year saw Matthew Portland join the team, and after a difficult start to the season, the team began to surge when Portland went on a streak of 4 2nd places in 5 races. Rogers initially struggled to match his teammate, but he found form late in the season and surprised many by taking JIM's first WGPC victory in the Grand Prix of Ad'ihan, the penultimate race that season. The win turned out to be very important in the championship, as the man who finished 2nd, less than 3 seconds behind him, André Luis Caconde, was seemingly on the verge of his first championship, and beating Rogers to the win would've allowed him to seal it then and there. Instead, in one of the defining moments of WGPC history, the stalwart Globo/Velog F1 gave in after 71 of 75 laps in the Casari Grand Prix, allowing Matthew Portland to win and take the title. Meanwhile, Lee Rogers, after suffering a puncture, was engaged in a thrilling battle of his own with Caconde's teammate, WGPC 7 champion Joe Allon. Winning it would've meant JIM stole both both titles from pre-race favourites Globo/Velog, but it was not to be. Rogers finished the season 4th in the championship with 38 points, 13 behind his teammate Portland, 34 of which came in the second half of the season.

WGPC 10 began very well for Lee, as he finished 5th at the Liventian Grand Prix, and won his 2nd Grand Prix at the Grand Prix of Quintessence of Dust, thus giving him an early championship lead. It was not long-lived, however, as Caconde won the next race for Carvenlo Motoring, as Rogers encountered difficulties with car reliability which would plague him for most of the season. A new car release for JIM's home race at Carson Park saw Rogers return to the front, hounding Joe Allon all race before having to settle for 2nd place. He then collected his first pole at the Tentalon Grand Prix, and again finished 2nd, leaving him equal third in the standings, 16 points behind Caconde, 7 ahead of Portland, and well in the championship fight with 3 races to run. Unfortunately, the Pacitalian Grand Prix that season was not one to remember for Lee Rogers, as a poor qualifying effort saw him 12th on the grid, 11 places behind Matthew Portland. Portland would go on to dominate the race, while Rogers retired on lap 7 after colliding with another driver, attempting to make up for his poor qualifying run. Then, the next two races were cancelled, leaving Rogers' WGPC 10 to end on a very sour note.

Since then, the collapse of Jeffgordonville into anarchy has prevented Rogers from returning for WGPC 11, but the 31-year-old is nonetheless determined to come back into the WGPC with a bang, despite not starting an officially-sanctioned race since the Pacitalian Grand Prix. Instead, Rogers has focused on conditioning himself, training his body and his mind, and he believes he can come back even stronger than he was before.

"It was really tough those weeks just after hearing the last two Grands Prix were cancelled," said Rogers in an interview, "I really though I could've won the championship that year, and I was really focused on that, especially with everything that was going on at home. So to have it taken away... it was really tough. And it was even tougher when I couldn't make it in time for WGPC 11. So I've spent my time making sure I'll never let another opportunity to be World Champion pass me by. I know I'm capable of it, and I want to prove that I'm right. That I'm every bit as good as the other top drivers, Portland, Kardaeri, Caconde, Allon, and Stang Crax."

Although Rogers does not lack in experience, talent, or determination, he does lack in the money department, having no sponsors at all, which could prove very damaging given that there are some very promising rookies with big backing looking to make their debut. Still, he is rumoured to be in negotiations with the yet-to-be-confirmed Goldmund-Teller team, which would place him alongside defending World Champion Stang Crax, and is also rumoured to be interested in a race seat at reigning Constructor's Champions Vilita & Turori Motorsports, as well as the new McPahan Racing Team. Rogers also confirmed that he is interested in participating in the VTF1 private test session, should it come to pass.

BrennickSport Confirmed To Join WGPC 12

Today it was announced by WGPC officials that BrennickSport would indeed be joining the WGPC in it's 12th edition. This no doubt comes as a relief for many Flevan racing fans, who are probably tired of seeing BrennickSport dominate the FRS. David Brennick held a conference shortly after the announcement, where he confirmed the team's sponsors and drivers, and stated that he would not place expectations on the team before the first official pre-season test. Still, knowing David Brennick, it can be assumed that he will be targeting either multiple podiums or a race win in the team's first season. The team has been aggressively recruiting engineers and designers from the now-defunct Velog and JIM teams, both of which are former Constructors' Champions in the WGPC. This bolsters BrennickSport's already impressive crews in these divisions, so a race win may not be out of the question for the debutant team.

With Johnny Boudermann and James Davies confirmed as the team's drivers, the team certainly doesn't lack for talent in the cockpit either. On paper, the Boudermann-Davies lineup is potentially one of the best balanced lineups on the grid, with Davies' natural aggression and raw speed offset by Boudermann's very smooth, easy style. What the on-paper results don't tell you is that relations between Boudermann and Davies are very strained as a result of Davies' habit of taunting Boudermann throughout last year, which were only compounded after the two capped off the closest title battle in FRS history by Davies crashing into Boudermann. It is not confirmed yet who will take on the role of team's test driver, but it is believed that David Brennick is looking for a foreign driver for this role. The position may turn out to be one of the more highly-contested ones, as many people do not believe that BrennickSport's driver lineup will survive this season, but only time will tell.

The team also has full backing from Schneider Motors, as it has done in the FRS for several seasons now - Schneider, like BrennickSport, has ceased all operations in the FRS in order to focus fully on their WGPC efforts. Schneider engines have been renowned in the FRS for being the best balanced engines there, and it is likely that they will attempt to maintain this reputation as they step up to the world stage. All in all, the addition of BrennickSport to the WGPC grid promises to make the coming year potentially one of the best in motorsport history.

The BrennickSport challenger for WGPC 12, the B28-W.

[Tyrants]

The folder was sat on the coffee table as James Ferguson, Tyrants Moto 1 champion 2 years running, came down for his morning run. On the cover was a bright yellow Post-It:

Have a nose through these and tell me which ones you like the look of.
Jay. X

James smiled. The folder was overflowing with press releases and marketing spiel from every team with spare seats still available: his manager had outdone himself this year. James studied the press releases for hours, compiling a list of the teams he liked the most. He then sent a letter out to each of them, in order to secure a race seat. He knew it'd be a hard slog, but he knew he could well be racing in the WGPC this year. And that was a prize all in itself.

[Subramani]

Narein Sugumaran, 24 year old, was well known in Subramani as a Childhood actor. Even though he has won most converted awards in Subramani for his acting skills, his heart was always in Racing. He wanted to be champion driver, and he knows he first needs to get a contract with a team to prove his mettle.

His cornering skills might not be the greatest, but he is a reliable driver and his hoping to at least get himself a test driver contract this season. He knows his success would mean a lot to young aspiring car racers in Subramani as the county has never had a driver compete in International Level Racing event. Subramani with his emerging market would mean, whichever team contracts Narein would have an entire country supporting them and also entire set of industrialists and rich people from Subramani would be more than happy to sponsor the team. Moreover, his childhood acting skills would mean, he would be a natural if and when his team, wants him to act in any commercials for the sponsors.

Name: Narein Sugumaran
Age: 24
Sex: Male
Achievements: Won Subramani National Racing Championship for three consecutive years.
Skills: A -2, C-1, R-3
Charecteristics: Highly ambitious, tends to get angry quickly, calls spade a spade, good acting skills, reliable driver, tends to be very attached to his team mates.

[The Inevitable Syndicate]

Motor Racer Needs Some Labour

23rd March 12013

---

Wozinitz, THE INEVITABLE SYNDICATE---- Oh man, the WGPC always gets me pumped, and this season is promising to bring even more action to the table, with Syndicatian driver Roger Bunn stepping up to the plate as a Free Agent. Mr. Bunn has talked to us here at ILN in an exclusive interview, found below.

FJ: So, Mr. Bunn, you've been selected as a Free Agent in the WGPC this season. How does it feel?

RB: Oh my. It's great, it really is. I'm very proud to be hopefully representing the country, as it's been a long time since a Syndicatian Driver has taken the world stage by storm.

FJ: It really has. Not since the phenomenal Benny Quipp, way back in the '50s. Tell me, has Quipp's "boy racer" attitude inspired your own?

RB: I would say it has. Quipp was always about taking the corners fast and hard, even if it meant pushing the car to it's very limits. I'll admit, I'm not the best driver in the world, but if I can win, I'll win with style, hard and fast.

FJ: And have you had any offers from some of the prestigious teams competing in the Championship?

RB: I haven't yet, but I'm looking into places such as McPahan, Vilita & Turori Motorsports, and Goldmund-Teller. Any team in Atlantian Oceania would be fantastic!

FJ: Indeed. It seems the Audioslavian team would be right up your alley - Fast and grippy, but may be unreliable, from what other media has shown.
RB: Well, all they have to do is shoot me an e-mail!

FJ: Have you also heard the news that Wozinitz Circuit has been selected as a test track for the season?

RB: I did hear that! While I'm not overjoyed, as it's a fine track, that could have made it to the actual circuit selection, I'll be pleased to be having a drive on home turf at least once during the season. Hey, at least I can't screw up in front of the home crowd! Haha!

FJ: Haha, yeah, that wouldn't be too great. One last question: What can we expect from you if you do make it into a team?

RB: I'm a true Syndicatian, so you can expect what you normally would from anything. The absolute best, when it works.

Here's Hoping Bunn gets snapped up as soon as possible - he seemed ready to race among the greats!

Freddie Johnson
ILN Sports

[Paradystopia]

"Full name please."
"Number 773E2."

A raised eyebrow told Xeb his answer wasn't valid.

"Sorry ... Xebandhra, Xeb Kallasdun ..."
"Xebandhra with an 'x' or a 'z'?"
" 'x' ... please"

He wondered how many other potential Grand Prix competitors would be currently filling out tedious forms. Name, age, address, etc. Shoe-size, number of children, etc. What he had for breakfast last Sunday, etc ,etc. It was deeply infuriating but then again, it wasn't like they'd make it easy to change your nationality.

"Last city of perminent residence please."
"Shvor, Xehmlyoradnixia. The Glorious Commune."
"Oh blimey, another Communadi?"
"My mother's Paradystopi."

A swift glance from the female bureaucrat told him that this fact meant nothing. He relaxed back into his chair, he knew well that now this interview was going to slowly deteriorate. To many Paradystopi, claiming you had any connection whatsoever to the mysterious Commune produced a similar effect to asking the same Paradystopi whether they would mind terribly if you were to murder and eat their younger siblings in front of them. He knew he should have persuaded his mother to move to the Lymryk isles. Pteronurians aren't quite so prejudice.

"I just need to go get a form 69B, additional slip 1C. You'll be alright here for a few moments won't you?"
"Yes ... thank you?"
"Be right back!"

Another form? Yeah right. Off to find your friend more like for a quick 5 minute chat about 'those dirty 'nadis'. Xeb allowed his mind to wander. Formula 1 and the WGPC. He had already written letters to some of the teams practically pleading for a chance to race in their colours. An image of his father swum through his reverie. It had been 3 years since he'd last seen him. 3 years to the day today in fact since he'd watched his father's anguished tears disappear into the distance. 3 years since the fateful move from Rhatzvy to Shvor and the end of an era. Xeb's mother was an executive mechanic, or something like that. She mended cars and bossed people about. His father; a Communadi farm labourer. His parents had never had the most peaceful relationship, not at far as he could remember anyway and looking back, a violent split had been on the cards for nearly a year. However, it was this period that Xeb looked to.

After their arguments, both his parents had the same stress management device, the family car. From an early age, he had been taken on glorious flights of fancy. Speeding through empty streets, galloping over rough terrian and screaming 'round the tight corners. Soon Xeb had taken a big interest in driving and eventually became his parent's chaffeur for after the evermore frequent nightly altercations. From his mother, he acquired a fearless confidence at the wheel and from his father, a keen motoracing fan, a strong grasp of the fundamentals of racing lines and such. Amidst the social choas, Xeb had found his calling. Driving, the faster, the better.

"Here we are."

The rotund bureacrat had returned. Xeb noticing her surrepticious look to check he hadn't stole any of her office supplies.

"Current occupation, or, if currently unemployed, most recent occupation."
"Formula One Driver"
"Can you please take this seriously Mr Kallazun?"
"It's Kallasdun and I am, or intend to be, a formula one racing driver."
"But for this form, we require your most recent job experience."

Xeb sighed.

"Fine. Test driver at Rhino Automotive. Shvor, The Glorious Commune."
"Thank you."

In his head, he was praying that a team would get back to him.

I have already sent a few TGs (to teams I think Xeb would ICly have a reason for wanting to be part of) but will considor any offers. Cheers.

[Nekoni]

Driver Spotlight: Alexandra Mayari

Alexandra Mayari, 22. Born and raised in Nekoni's third largest city of Derneo, Alex first got into racing through watching it on TV at age 5. At age twelve, she was racing herself in amateur karting. Her first vehicle was a simpler being than what she's used to now: a 125cc engine, top speeds in the seventies, fewer than 50hp, but Alex had a knack for it. She could hit an apex as smooth as the best of them, and although she didn't quite have the nerve of the older drivers to max it on the straights, she held her own in the small tournaments at the city's kart track.

As time went by, academic life took over. Alex didn't take to the wheel again until age seventeen, where she was allowed to drive a real car. At 18, she wanted to race again, and one supportive parent and a driver's licence later, she was able to juggle her school life with the track in a single-seater. Whilst the Nekoni Touring Car Championship had existed for some time before (its inaugaral series was in 2000), Alex wasn't particularly interested in it: she preferred the open-wheel racing, the lack of driving aids giving a far, far greater link between driver and car.

Whilst single races and meets were good, they weren't exactly getting her anywhere. Nekoni didn't have a proper open-wheel championship like the NTCC. Her fortunes turned around when the street circuit in the capital, Varea, was completed in 2011. The first race in August on the track was a 2 hour invitational, and her name was on the list. On a sun-baked afternoon, the race took place, and out of 32 open-wheeled drivers, Alexandra came home in sixth, both the highest female driver and the highest ranked driver under 21.

The race was a success, leading to the first 24hr race in January 2012. Fifty drivers (which included Alexandra) at 5pm sharp set off for an entire day. Alex had trained for the race by using a simulator for months in advance, and it showed. Six hours in, Alex was leading the way, and could have won it, but disaster struck at 3:20am when, mis-judging the speed of entry and the wear of the tires, she spun at the Victory Roundabout and collided into the tire wall. No physical injury, but the damage to her mentally was easily visible. After the race, and after an all-clear from the ambulance, she practically vanished off the face of the Earth. Almost nobody knew where she had gone. Alexandra, it seemed, had disappeared, and her dreams had turned to ash.

Except they hadn't.

Alex had headed home to Derneo, packed her things, and headed for Marina Point, specifically the International Circuit. There, she worked for a solid eight months on driver technique, countless laps of the circuit in every kind of vehicle she could get her hands on, and working as a mechanic on race-day to pay the bills. Clearly, the circuit owner was watching the 2012 race, as in sympathy, he allowed her to set up a room on-site and live there. It wasn't an easy life, but every day she learnt new things: racing lines, conserving tire/engine efficiency, driving for endurance at two, four, six hours at a time, and most importantly, curing her Achilles heel of night racing. NOTHING was going to come between her and redemption.

2013 came, and Alex departed for Varea. Last year's drama was clearly fresh in everybody's minds, as TV and radio coverage was all about her alleged 'comeback'. 5pm struck and the race began. The demons of last year's early exit had been fresh on her mind, and she played it safe for the first half. If she could make the dawn, THEN she could think about winning. Her conservative approach showed in the rankings: at 5am, with twelve hours to go, out of the 41 remaining drivers, she was tenth. As the new day broke, she stayed there, just trying to hold in place until she knew she could make a break for it. At 7:03, with 10 hours to spare, and three laps to make up, it was do-or-die.

The comeback was on, and it was fierce. Immediately she stalked her prey and took ninth on the slipway. The very next lap broke the course record, and half an hour later, she was making up ground at a rate of two seconds a lap. Opponents were easily overtaken by a combination of Alexandra's pinpoint apex finding and excellent braking judgement. With three hours to go, she was on the podium, and with a single hour to go, she was practically neck and neck with the race leader. This battle was not like the others. The cars traded positions over and over. Whilst Alexandra had the lead coming out of the park, over the line her rival driver just was more courageous on the straights.

Minutes left, the rain came down, and most drivers opted for wet tires, but Alex gambled. The time lost on a dry set, she worked out, was worth taking relative to having a pit-stop. So, as her rival pitted, she carried on. Whilst the first few laps of her plan were a little hairy (almost spinning at the Park Hairpin a coupple of times), her resolve meant history didn't repeat itself. As the klaxon went to indicate the end of time, Alexandra's orange and red car was the first over the line. Only by five seconds, but in racing, five seconds is enough.

Alexandra became an overnight celebrity, practically. Her comeback, combined with her flame-red hair and her car's livery, led to her fans dubbing her as The Phoenix, and since her win, the flower displays at the Victory Roundabout where she spun off in 2012 have been decorated to resemble one. Whilst her DNF has still not quite escaped her head, she is a confident driver, and knows exactly how far she can push any car she drives. This year, she is looking to expand her popularity by signing as a free agent for the prestigious WGPC. Time will tell how she does or what team she is picked for, but you can be sure that with her around, you'll be in for some exciting racing.

[Bearded Moose]

Minute by minute, the sunbeams captured my face until they reached my eyelits. Silently, I opened my eyes and realised what time it was. Sheer experience had taught me that whenever the sun managed to peek to my pillow at this time of the year, the church bells would indicate that it was past eleven already. Kalliope's hairs were shattered over my chest like a mayan sun. Once again, we had discussed plans for the future all night until she, exhausted from sobbing the tears away, fell asleep. She had it all worked out, a home, a fine job as mechanic for me and kindergarten teacher for her, maybe a dog or who knew... a little Birkirsun or Birkirdottir. Needless to say we didn't come to an agreement tonight.

As I tried to move her head off my chest and into another pillow, she murmured a few words but didn't wake up. I stretched my arms one more time before I left the bed. This wasn't going to be a fun day, I realised, as we both had the day off. Insofar as you can speak about a day off when you're unemployed. Whilst trying to find a clean bowl to throw some cereals into, I grabbed the papers that were stuffed in the post box by the overenthousiast mailman. I almost spilled the milk when I read the frontpage from the sports section. It wasn't 'Selection for WC Qualification made' that caused my hand to tremble, but the little box in the bottom-left corner.

New Circuit List for BMRacing Season Announced

Last night, the Dovan Cola BMRacing Union president Ante Jerkoic has
announced the list of tracks that will host this years racing competition.
The top class division of racing clearly has chosen to steer its future in a
new direction. Instead of the familiar circuits, it was decided that this
years races will be challenged on oval tracks. When asked for the motivation
behind this remarkable 180-turn, Jerkoic declared that this would create
greater excitement for the fans and a new challenge for the racers. Despite
not receiving an opinion of last years champ Birkirsun yet, we can assume
that we will not be pleased with this change.

Damn right I wasn't. After years of hard work, I had mastered myself the art of the perfect technique. No rider in Bearded Moose could steer a car with the same swiftness. The more difficult a track was, the more chances for me to catch up with the quicker cars. In the end, I was nearly the only one, or at least the only one that could aim for victories, who didn't have a dad with a big cheque-book behind me. Racing for minor teams had taught me enough about mechanics to be able to solve most of the technical problems myself. A capability that was appreciated by most of the pit-crews, but shunned by opponents. Because I always could be found with my arms elbow-deep in my engine, I quickly was nicknamed Greasy Einur.
Nonetheless, the papers had headlined 'Greasy Einur wins his first championship' last year, the result of years of toil and practice. But this small announcement, this damned box of three by two in the morning paper, declared all my work null and void. Riding the oval wasn't much for me and I didn't have enough cash to put on the table to get a faster car... I could as well just quit racing like that.
Once again, Kalliope made a humming sound. Yup, she probably dreamt of me leaving the wheel forever, but how could I just give up all I had focused myself on for the past ten years? Ever since uncle Thor allowed me to drive his worn-out 'scrap heap', I had dreamt of that championship. The thing hardly could hit 70 km per hour, but it was a start. With one sig, I realised that I couldn't let other people waste my dream. If I couldn't become the fastest man of Bearded Moose in Bearded Moose, I would have to proove my capacities somewhere else. For a long time I had just been staring at the poster of the WGPC in my basement. Crax, Portland, Allon, Wilkins, ... I knew the names of the heroes from the past and the prevent.

"Honey, what're you doing?" a soft voice whispered behind me.
"Nothing, Kalliope, just reading the papers." I replied.

I should get in touch with the WGPC. They probably weren't waiting for me, but they could always use an additional test driver, no?

[Polar Islandstates]

"Ah, welcome, Vitaliy, welcome. Have a seat."

"Alexsander."

"Mr Jordahl, to you, if you don't mind."

"I beg your pardon?"

"Things are going to be a little different this season, Vitaliy. I've invested an awful lot of my own money into this team and I'm not getting much out of it. Last season you were outperformed by your teammate. I can't really expect that from my lead driver. I expect you to do much better."

"I don't understand, what are you saying?"

"I'm saying I invited you into my office this morning to run the rule over you. My secretary called it a motivational speech in my diary but I like to think of it more as looking after my investments."

"So... what, my job's at risk?"

"Your job? Your seat in the Obeveklig-Farautoo car for next season is very much at stake if you don't perform well this season, yes. I've spent a small fortune improving the car, as per your complaints last season. I've replaced almost the entire crew again, after your complaints, and Lukas isn't going to be here this season, so you can't complain about him, either. In fact, I'm even going to give you the folder of applicants for the spare seat so you can handpick your partner for next season, so you can't complain about who that might be either."

"I'm sorry...?"

"You look confused, Vitaliy. Let me explain: last season, you may not have realised this, but you were a diva. Bad results were never your fault, they were always someone else's. The car, the pressure of Lukas, the crew, the tyres, blah blah blah. So, this season, you're getting what you want. If results don't improve, then we'll know the problem was you all along, and you'll be out on your arse next season."

"I... see."

"Good lad. Now, finish your Seasogs and get out."

"You never offered me a Seasogs."

"Didn't I? Just as well, there's a big file of applicants waiting for you on my secretary's desk as you leave. I suggest you start reading."


FAO: Free Agents.
I will be reading the RPs of you all closely, but if you want to be considered for the spare O-F seat then just send me a quick TG, nothing fancy. Some people will have their eyes on other teams and some people will want to mention an interest in the O-F seat just to make an RP more interesting, and that's all fine, I'll just be considering the options between those that formally state and interest in the seat via TG - everything else I'll assume is RP spice.

[Mytannion]

Driver Profile.

Name: Andreas Schroeder
Team: Not applicable
Nationality: Mytanar
Age: 21
Date of Birth: 02/05/1995 (currently August 2016 according to the Mytanar calendar).
Place of Birth: Thessia, Mytannion
Palmares: Thessian Karting Championship, Mytanar National Karting Series, Mytanar Racing Championship, 2 x Estanian Union Grand Prix Championship.

Schroeder got involved in karting at an early age, when he was just 8 he was competing against 13 and 14 year olds at his local circuit in Thessia and often finishing high up the leaderboard too. In his first whole season (aged 9), he achieved two victories and three other podium finishes - enough to finish 5th overall - and he wasn't finished there as he moved up to 3rd place in the overall championship in the following season and then finally won the Thessian Karting Championship aged 11, winning all but one race (17 out of 18), and managing an unprecedented points total of 439, a record to this day. This was against kids that were often three years older than him and really showed off his potential at a very early age.

With that early win, Schroeder got qualification to the National Karting Series, which was usually for kids aged 14-16. This however reflected Schroeder's ability and showed just how good he was as he competed in the Series aged 12. He didn't have a great first season though, finishing 14th of 22 in the Championship and only managing a single podium in the 18 race series. He was fairly consistent though, managing a fair few points finishes and this is something he has carried through to this day. In his second season in the NKS he improved, managing to finish 5th. He won two races and got another five podium finishes along with that. Once again it was his third season that brought victory, aged 14 he became the youngest NKS Champion ever, winning 12 of 18 races, with podium finishes in four other races. 364 points was then the record until it was broken by the next Mytanar racing prodigy Felix Scholz a couple of years ago - but he's 17 and it'll take him a bit longer to break into the top levels of auto racing.

Schroeder visited the prestigious Mytanar Racing School to hone his talent, spending a year there, under the watchful eyes of some Mytanar racing legends from various different disciplines including Marat Jaakalinen the former Greater Cotswalds Rally Championship participant who is renowned for being a talented driver and an even better mentor. He said that, "He's an extremely talented driver, very reliable and only 16. If he keeps this up I'm sure he will reach the top. It's special to see a kid of his age out on the track. He's clearly got the right racing mentality already." Jari Ukkonen, former McGlen Racing driver in the Rushmori GP series followed with similar comments: "It's really surprising to see someone of his age with such talent, we're already trying to secure him sponsorships for the future and gain him some contacts in the racing world. His talent is second to none and he's such a reliable driver too, he's got a cool head and that's crucial."

Ukkonen wasn't joking about gaining the 16 year old Schroeder some contacts either as he soon had him over in Astograth, visiting Lantzia and their reputed development programme where he spent six months getting a bit more experience testing prototypes and learning more about his craft. He soon returned to Mytannion and made the full step-up to single-seater racing, competing in the Mytanar Racing Championship at the tender age of 16 and 6 months, having finished his visit to Lantzia just a month before in the September of 2013. Schroeder raced for NMC-Shock (Shock being one part of the Shock-Frontline rally team Marat Jaakalinen raced for, also competing in auto racing of a different type), and he managed to finish 3rd overall in his rookie season - named the Rookie Driver of the Year and awarded with a move to top outfit Stabilhertz - a team who had a far superior car and one which allowed Schroeder to win the Mytanar Racing Championship aged 17. He won, becoming youngest champion ever, with a dominating performance, scoring 10 wins and a record 14 pole positions across the season.

He was granted a top-level Mytanar racing licence in 2014, and as he turned 18 he knew he'd be able to race at home or abroad at any level of competition. He secured huge sponsorship from both the Provisional Mytanar Government and Johansen Paper Company, which certainly made him an attractive proposition to some of the smaller teams on the Estanian Union GP circuit who were seeking sponsorship to help their cause. He was picked up by Pontinurii team Beukhof-Dwingen, he won races in Mytannion, Pontinur, Crelaand, Othebia (all twice), and Oppland. He also managed podiums in Klenfland, Accardola and Lefira, meaning a points total of 270 and the EUGP Championship aged 19. He stayed with Beukhof-Dwingen for a second season, once again winning the EUGP Championship, this time with 13 wins including a memorable win in Klenfland with all the odds stacked against him (including the hopes of the regime there). He managed a record points total once again, with a massive 369 points. There was only one race where he didn't manage a single point (funnily enough it was his second race in Klenfland).

In 2015 Schroeder got further sponsorship, from Geisler, the automobile parts giant. This was enough to get him a short-term contract in the Rushmori GP2 series, where he briefly impressed (between late 2015 and the early months of 2016), before leaving and hoping to gain a contract in the WGPC.

He has previous links with Lantzia and he has a visit scheduled with the Yogutz Lantzia team at their headquarters in Lermendia and a try-out at the Akialden Ducal Autodrome. He has commented that he likes the speed and the reliability of the Yogutz Lantzia car in the past, which would suggest he thinks similar of the Obeveklig-Farautoo vehicle too as the two are fairly similar in terms of where they are currently at with acceleration, cornering and reliability. The racing history of them two teams certainly interests Schroeder. He did also publicly announce that he'd be fairly pleased with a Works team lead driver spot, which would allow him to show off his full driving ability albeit in a slightly worse car.

It'll be interesting to see how Schroeder does, he's only young but has the talent to seemingly have the world at his feet, if he can secure a driver spot anyway. If he manages that, will he find the step-up in quality too difficult? That will remain to be seen.

[Darmen]

Juan Kermit watched as the car flipped over. He watched as it landed on top of another car. And he watched as it crashed into the guard fence.

He laughed. It was a video game after all, not a real crash involving real people and real cars. And as the car he had been driving before he flipped it went through the car it had landed on, he laughed again, enjoying the glitch in the games graphics.

It had been a long time since Kermit had raced. He had given up a sure career in the Darmeni Auto Racing Federation to pursue an international career in the WGPC, something that had been his dream since he had been a young child. But now Kermit was nineteen years old, and he was ready to fulfill that dream. He almost had in the last season, but his only chance at glory had come during the Preseason Driver Test in Liventia, where he had only managed to finish a meager... last place. His fastest lap was good enough to rank 18th, but his overall time after twenty laps was six seconds slower that the man in front of him, and a minute and a half slower than the man who did his twenty laps the quickest.

But that was last season. This is this season, and Kermit was a new man, ready to go. His agent had already sent his name to all of the teams that were looking for a driver to sign. Now they were just waiting for a response.

Kermit hit the reset button. And within three seconds of the green flag, had managed to flip his car again.

"Dear me, I hope you don't drive like that this season," said his agent.

"Any news on teams that want to sign me?" asked Kermit.

"Nope not yet," said his agent, watching Kermit flip the car again and again, "Say, how are you so good at flipping cars in this game?"

"All you've got to do is set the car up right, and then hold down the A button for about six seconds before the dropping of the green flag. The car flips every time."

"Why do you enjoy doing it so much though?"

"Because, I'm bored, and there's nothing more exciting then flipping cars in video games."

[Bearded Moose]

Sitting in an uncomfy chair in the Souvarov Airport, I took a sip from my Dovan Coke and watched the hostess in the travel agency boot at the corner. Her hairs were in a tight nod, the smile was printed on her face by a sponsoring toothpaste company. When I had walked up to her a few minutes ago, she had the typical airport friendliness which said 'Hello consumer, we welcome your money and you!'. I only realised the moment she presented me a bunch of leaflets that I had no clue where I would go to.

I had told Kalliope that I would spend some time with my old buddy Otar, going rafting and fishing in the mountains of Dmitarvili, the most northern state of our nation. Otar was born there, quite some years ago, and despite living in my home village Eylikvar for close to two decades, he hadn't been able to resist the call of the mountains and moved back to Gruzda, the state capital of Dmitarvili. In fact, I had asked my mate to join me on my trip to the WGCP. What had started as an insane idea, a moment of lunacy between a paper and a morning cereal, had taken a concrete shape over the past few nights. I had no longer a future in the Doval Cola BMRacing Championship and no job to keep me at home. If I didn't dear the leap now, I would never be able to take that step.

But now I was here, in a seat that became more and more itchy each second and I didn't know what I was doing. Whilst making my suitcase, I had printed everything I could find about this season's teams. I had been in a hurry, since Kalliope could've come every second, so there wasn't much of an order in the files, but everything was there. The setups, riders and needs of ten teams, some colourfully decorated, were scattered all over the small plastic table. Taking another sip from the Coke -I didn't even like the taste, but the price was low-, I checked where I could go to. Only thinking about applying for Carvenlo or Vilita&Turori gave me the chills. Those teams had blasted the opponents last year and wouldn't need a boy from Bearded Moose. Goldmund-Teller, build around the World Champion, got pushed on the same stack. Too much ambition, killed the cat, as the notorious proverb said. Looking to the notes McPahan, I realised I was too young to die.
There were only six piles left on the table when Otar dropped by. During the phonecall, I hadn't been too detailed. 'How about a foreign trip to learn something about the WGCP?'. He'ld been fine, but didn't know what we were up to. After welcoming each other, ironical brofists included, i had one question I needed to ask.

"Otar, pick a number from one to six."

Ignoring my question, he looked to the post-its I had made.
Yogutz-Lantzia. Quick car, experienced first driver.
Obeveklig-Farautoo. Better beverages, team build around one man.
WM Barton. Why not? Open spot.
Brennick Sport. Interesting car, only test driver.
MSA SinVal. Good cornering, but maybe a bit slow.
Aer Ancharine. Great cornering. Already has my type of racer.

"So, you're gonna apply to professional WGPC Teams."
"Ehm, yes."
"You're gonna walk in, say 'hi, I'm Einur Birkirsun and I want to ride in one of your cars.'"
"Ehm, yes."
"And then you think they will give you a seat, despite the fact that you ain't got a cent to pay them for that."
"Ehm... yes?"

Each yes had been spoken in a higher, less self-confident key.

"It's madness, isn't it, Otar?"

I started to cram the papers back in their original folders.

"Pure madness. Not a chance. Let us go that hostess and order some tickets."
"What?"
"First, we'll go to the Polar Islandstates, they could use a guy with good cornering that's willing to live in Aaltonens shadow. Then to Astrograth, other team name, same story. Then to Licentiapacisterra, same story. Dude, Einur, those teams have fine cars but could improve themselves with a guy like you, even if it were only as test driver."

Before I managed to utter a sentence, Otar went up to the hostess. With the words 'Hi, gorgeous, you don't have to date me tonight if you hook me and my friend up with a few airline tickets.', a whole new world opened up.

[Astograth]

So You Want To Drive For Yogutz Lantzia

You're feeling mighty confident in your skills, then. Well, it's not really as hard as it seems, except for the driving bit, which in an ideal world would fall in with our "no crashing, no losing" policy 100% of the time. All you have to do in order to be Yogutz Lantzia's proud second (or test!) driver is follow these simple steps:

1. Be in shape
If you have to ask, you're not.

2. Have a résumé
We need some proof that you've driven a car before. A racing car at that, so don't bother with your driving licence.

3. Get sponsors
Notice the plural, and how your uncle's hardware store won't cut it. Probably the hardest step on this list, unless you've never driven a carbon-fibre chassis at 300+ km/h. In which case try and go do that first.

4. Get to Lermendia
It's in eastern Astograth. You can catch a connecting flight from the capital Rumiatzi, make sure your sponsors cover your travel costs. If they won't, you seriously need new sponsors.

5. Meet your bosses
They're at the Lantzia headquarters in Lermendia, home of Astograthian motorsport, and they're lovely. Really.

On the left is Urtun Sisko, owner of the Lantzia luxury vehicles company. He and the Yogutz dairy corporation put down the money and have final say on everything to do with the team - including your eventual contract and whether it might be better to just kick you out the door. On the left is Errando Katzuso, team principal; he's responsible for all the teams' technical details - such as car performance, pit strategy, and research and development - even if not directly involved in them. He is Sisko's right-hand man as far as the racing team is concerned, and without his support you'll never get a contract.

6. Drive
If they like you enough back at HQ you'll be taken out to the Akialden Ducal Autodrome, on the city outskirts, and made to drive some laps in last season's car, the Lantzia 650.

This is a very fast and challenging track, site of Formula Astograth's most famous annual race and sadly excluded from the WGPC calendar - but don't remind them of that! Do your best, though you'll get particularly good results if you stick to our "no crashing, no losing" policy, even if you're not racing anybody. Screw up this step and you are irredeemably done for, unless you can get the WA Bank or whatever as your sponsor.

7. Sign the contract
If you're offered one, just sign it. You don't even have to read it or call your lawyer or anything, we've sorted it out already.

8. No crashing, no losing
Self-explanatory.

[Eastfield Lodge]

Initial testing

"...What do you mean, it just fell off?"

"The steering rack, it literally just fell apart."

"And how do you know that it was the rack, and not you being over-enthusiastic with the wheel?"

"Because I think it happened on the straight section, because I couldn't turn onto the line."

Matthew Tyrtin was standing next to the remains of the team's attempt at a WGPC standard car, but so far, it wasn't going well. The cars they had made so far could corner well, but lacked pace and quite especially lacked reliability. In the three or four weeks that testing had been done, the cars had caught fire (once, six times in a day), blown their engines (three times), broken the fuel tank twice and quite often, the electrics simply failed. One car even chewed its own front wing off, which in turn punctured all four tyres and blew the engine.

But this was the first time the steering had failed. Well, that was what Louis Krindle was claiming, anyways. For all Matthew knew, it could well be Louis' aggressive driving style (extremely fast, both in straight lines and in corners, but hopelessly bad when it came to keeping the car out of the barriers). But before Matthew could reply, John Gandens, the team's chief mechanic, had come over with some more info.

"Louis is right, the steering rack has actually splintered. A small but critical fracture, so yeah, that's another car out of the running."

"You know, I think we should have worked on obtaining more reliable suppliers and parts for the car before all else, as opposed to the cost-saving exercise of bolting whatever on."

"You know what Louis, you're right. Well, it seems that you'll have a week without any practical testing while all this is sorted out."

"Which will probably be spent on the simulator, most definitely not crashing into walls deliberately whilst trying to see how bad an impact I can create. Definitely not playing around."

"Yeah, whatever."

---

Driver Factfile: Louis Krindle

Age: 28
Place of Birth: Walston Brook, Eastfield Lodge
Height: 5'9''
Weight: 9st 4lbs

Profile: From a very young age, Louis had always shown an unhealthy interest in racing of all forms, his preferences getting faster and more furious with age. When he was 8, he entered himself into a local karting competition that was dominated by the older kids. In his first proper race, he took the lead within two corners and led for the rest of the race, lapping everybody by the end. The organizers saw how fast and competitive young Louis was, and within a year, he was racing in the regional series, winning most of the races with a rather unnerving ease. Having won the regional series twice, and an interregional championship to boot, he went on to dominate various national championships and was quickly snapped up by SinVal as a test driver, who were then the main suppliers of karts in the empire. He quickly rose up through the ranks, and soon found himself in demand from many different forms of motorsport.

He ended up being transferred between many different types of racing, but applying his innate skill was enough for him to do well in each of them. But in the end, at the age of 20, he found his calling, his speed haven. The Formula ICEL championship. He joined it with the team near the bottom of the rankings, the SinVal team that had nurtured him after his karting days. The car itself wasn't the best; it was slow and couldn't corner as quickly as the rest, although it was reliable. With Krindle as one of its drivers, the team soon found themselves climbing; they finished third in the Constructor championship, with Louis fighting for a top three finish, in just the second season after Louis joined. Obtaining that third place the next season, he then left the nest the season after, joining the top team at the time, MSM racing. With the two forces combined, the two titles immediately followed, Louis qualifying on pole in all 10 races (a record) and then going on to win 8 of them, finishing second behind his teammate in both of them. He repeated the feat again the next season, earning himself the reserve driver status for the EL team in the fourth NSGP series (underling to a certain Alexander Tingis). And he was quickly called into action, after Tingis was critically injured at the 4th race of the season, in Eastfield Lodge.

But the first three of four races went catastrophically, starting from the front row but failing to finish in any. But he won the next two races, before a mid-pack finish and two more retirements, after which Tingis had recovered sufficiently to make his return. So a mixed bag, but it demonstrated a growing problem for Louis: his ego. After all those easy victories, he thought that he'd be top of the world in a few short years, but his growing confidence brought with it a growing sense of invincibility and a more daring attitude, which increasingly led him to risk-taking just to become faster still. And it backfired quite badly. He returned to the ICEL, and showed that he didn't really pick up any lessons from his only stint in international racing, ploughing the car straight into the barrier on his first race back whilst trying to overtake. He went on to win the championship, but by a much smaller margin than he had previously.

[Mytannion]

Schroeder gains big bucks sponsorship deal.

Things get better and better for young Andreas Schroeder, the prospective WGPC driver representing Mytannion. The 21 year old already had lucrative sponsorship deals with Johansen Paper Company and Geisler (automobile parts), he could bring his team a fairly good amount of money from this alone - but his next deal with Euran mineral behemoth Dimined Mineral Exploration Industries, will almost triple the income he can bring to any outfit he could potentially be signed by. With Yogutz Lantzia already announcing interest in Schroeder, this could generate more interest in the skilled youngster.

Dimined Mineral Exploration Industries - a 78 year old Euran company which mines precious minerals throughout Rushmore, and more recently has invested in profitable infrastructure projects. The company is worth approximately £39.29bn and wishes to sponsor Schroeder to not only gain some more international attention, but to gain a foothold in the potentially lucrative Mytanar precious mineral mining market. There has been no press release on their end on the specifics of the deal in terms of the money they're going to be putting into the young driver.

There is the ethical issues this could bring though, with Dimined being criticised in the past for dubious business practices and poor treatment of workers both inside and outside of Eura. That could be a downside to the money that this brings to the table for Schroeder, with not many racing teams wanting to be associated with such a company. Still, smaller teams may turn a blind eye to the possibly incorrect practices in order to gain the valuable money that this would bring to the table. It's also an extremely valuable bargaining chip for Schroeder and his agent, they can effectively say they can help the team he drives for in their funding and this opens up options across the WGPC.

Schroeder will be travelling to Lermendia on Tuesday to meet his prospective bosses and have a drive at the Akialden Ducal Autodrome in the Lantzia 650, if the owners like him enough obviously. Which could be debatable, but the money he brings could be a hinging point on the decision. It should be remembered that Schroeder met team principal Errando Katzuso when he was only 16 - it'll be interesting to see if Katzuso remembers the young talent from five years ago and if that will have any bearing on the negotiations down in Astograth. Obviously Schroeder will want to keep his options open, with other teams remaining possibilities - but it could be a dream of his to race for Lantzia, a team who he looked up to when he was younger and took part in their programme too.

It could be an interesting few days for Schroeder who is one of the more active free agents at the moment and one who seems to be attracted a bit of interest from around the WGPC, when others haven't really had much interest declared in them, or even been spoken about publicly very much as of yet.

[Nekoni]

NTR News Network

Mayari Picks Up Sponsorship Deal

Nekoni's largest watchmakers, Fenice Chronography, today confirmed that they will be sponsoring Alexandra Mayari, the 22-year old WGPC hopeful, currently looking for a team for the new season. This contract includes TV, magazine and billboard advertising, and is to last until 2016 and will be renewed dependent on race performance, both in the WGPC and Nekoni-based events.

When asked whether the uncertainty of a team place was an issue, a Fenice spokesman said "We understand that a WGPC place is by no means guaranteed at the moment, and the three year contract period reflects this. Worst case scenario is that she doesn't make a team, and she can still attend the race meets that made her so popular here in the first place. Mayari is the ideal sponsor for us, as she is a major talking point in sport nationally at the moment, and it breaks new ground for us, as Fenice finally has a female representative."


Fenice Chronography are a watchmakers founded by Arturo Fenice in the small town of Mozakari in 1903. They quickly built up a reputation of reliable timepieces and chronometers, and by 1951 changed production to the capital, Varea. Over the next few decades, the company expanded, and in 1968, Fenice were commissioned by the Grand Premier to construct a watch for the country's 500th anniversary of independence, which was auctioned, breaking the country's record for largest auctioned item at the time at ₲27.9 million ($423,000: in 1968, ₲181 million ($2,750,000) in today's money).

Recently, Fenice are the official timekeepers of nearly all of Nekoni's sporting events, from athletics to motor racing. They sponsor sports stars from all different disciplines, with Alexandra Mayari being the first female to receive sponsorship.

[Flevans]

Cheston Park, BrennickSport private test. First test of the B28-W.

"1:31.761."

Johnny Boudermann tossed his helmet on the ground in disgust.

"31!? 31. How is that possible!? I was bloody flat-out!"

David Brennick didn't acknowledge his driver's complaints. He spun his wheelchair to face James Davies, leaning against the wall on the other side of the garage.

"Jimmy. You're up."

"Hell yes. Now, watch and learn, Johnny-boy. Let a real driver show you how it's done."

He cracked his knuckles and put on his helmet, did up his straps, and jumped into his car whilst Johnny looked on in disdain. James went for his out-lap, focusing on warming his tyres, and then bolted out of Kintobor down the front straight. He then immediately missed his braking point for Hammer, but the rest of the lap was sublime, and he came in on the next lap, got out of the car, and approached Brennick.

"1:29.632."

"Oh yeah! 2 seconds, Johnny-boy! How do you like that!?"

Brennick interjected before Johnny could respond, "I think that proves that this aero package," he gestured towards' James' car, "Is the right way forward." He then turned to the mechanics, "Get Jimmy's car fueled up for a 20 lap run. Then I want you to get this package on Johnny's car by the time James comes back in."

The mechanics immediately scrambled to get James' car fueled, and before you knew it, the 22-year-old was back on track. Meanwhile, Johnny continued speaking with Brennick while he waited for his turn to take to the track.

"I still think taking him to WGPC is a mistake, David."

"If I wanted your opinion, Johnny, I'dve asked for it."

"Do you really think we have a winner on our hands? Because if it's not, that stupid kid is gonna leave us completely in the lurch. And with a massive repair bill."

"I have faith in Jimmy. He is the quickest driver over a single lap that I have ever had driving one of my cars."

"He still hasn't broken Brooks' lap record here."

"Give him time."

"I don't deny he's fast. But he doesn't have the mentality to cope with not winning now that he's actually done that."

"And you do, Johnny? You've never been in a car that was never capable of winning races."

"I fully expect not to win a race this year. He expects to win."

Brennick paused, "So what will you do if he wins a race and you don't?"

"That won't happen. If this car can win races, it'll be me bringing home the winner's trophy."

"You've done one lap in the car Johnny, and with a dud aero package to boot. And you've already written us all off."

"We're going up against the best drivers, the best teams, the best everything. I'm just looking at it from a realistic perspective."

Brennick didn't answer. Instead, he went on to the radio and spoke to James, "Jimmy, give it all you've got."

"You got it, boss," James replied enthusiastically.

The garage fell to silence as Brennick and Johnny stared at the telemetry coming off James' car. It certainly seemed to be handling to James' satisfaction, as he whooped going through the faster corners flat out or near enough to it. He then blasted across the line, and the clock stopped at 1:28.750.

"Somebody get me the times from the WGPC test here last year," Brennick stated more than asked, his hand already outstretched, waiting for the timesheets. He then looked at them. The fastest lap was set by Matthew Portland for Carvenlo Motor Racing, at 1:28.744. There were no other times faster than the one James just ran. Brennick then passed them on to Johnny, looking somewhat pleased.

"So what, we have a car that's as fast as the top guys from last year. They'll be even faster this year."

"We will be too. This is far from the specification we will be running at the first race, Johnny."

"Right, well, we might win a race," Johnny conceded, "I'm still not convinced that we definitely will."

"Just be ready when we are, Johnny."

[Bearded Moose]

Urdahlschikane. Turn 10. Borealiiiiiiiiiiiiis... Parabolske!

The people sitting at the table next to me looked as if I was wearing a clownsuniform, or nothing at all, but in fact I had just been practising the turns of the Eysturoy Motorbana. I didn't believe that Otar would fix me up with a test drive on that circuit, but it didn't hurt to try it out as well. In the end, I didn't have a lot to do here except for slurping Seasogs and checking the scenery in Franz Josef Stadt. It was during my third beverage that Otar popped up.

"I told you I could fix it, mate!" he boasted.
"What you mean?" I wondered.
"Well," Otar switched subject, "you don't mind that I named myself your manager, do you?"
"I might be minding stuff if you don't tell me where you've been the last few hours."

For years we had been best friends, but his heads-over-heels-conversation style made me go bananas from time to time.

"Well, I've good news and lesser or maybe great news."
"Ok."
"What do you want to hear first, Einur?"
"What? I don't care. I don't care! Tell it goddamned, don't leave me hanging!"

While the pigeons on the terrace flew away in terror, Otar just smiled.

"This piece of paper," he explained whilst waving with it, "is an invitation to talk with Vitaliy Aaltonen. Maybe he'll allow you to race a bit, show some moves."

I pondered a little.

"Wasn't mr. Jordahl the chief of the team? If I ain't seeing that man, there probably won't be any signing..."
"No worries," Otar smiled, "Aaltonen decides who his teammates will be this year. All you've got to do is tell him why you would be a good teammate, assure him he'll still be the star of the team, a bit of bliblabloe, a drink, two drinks, maybe some stripsters or a short minitrip, ... Where was I? Oh, yeah, you can fix it."

Otar really couldn't speak two sentences in the same stream of consciousness.

"What's the other news?"
"I've been in touch with mr. Sisko's office. They are,... well... where's that paper again."

I'm not sure whether he was trying to piss me off or whether he was really going through that folder to find the correct page.

"Here it is. They are, and I quote, 'willing to consider Birkirsun as a very serious candidate', end quote."

Otar hardly managed to prevent himself from dancing on the table, but his tapping feet couldn't hide the excitement in his veins.

"Willing to consider... Better than what I could hope for. So, how will it work?"
"When we're done here, we'll relocate to Astrograth. We've still got a few days before the deadline, so that shouldn't be a problem. They've sent me a list with preconditions and let's say... You meet at least some."
"Some?"
"Yeah, some."

I sighed.

"How many some I don't meet?"
"Hey, hey, why so negative? I mean, let's see."

While his eyes went through the list, he hummed the freshest radio hit. Thank god or whatever divine creature you believe because you, dear reader, can't hear it, really an awful tune.

"So, you're in shape, right?"
"Right."
"And you've driven a race car before."
"Four seasons of Dovan Cola BMRacing Championship, one championship victory, twelve races won, I would call that driven a car before."
"We've got plane tickets to Lermendia."
"Quite expensive ones, but yeah."
"We've been in touch with the bosses who might let you drive some laps on the Akialden Ducal Aerodrome."
"That's great... Where's the catch?"

He looked over my shoulder, as if something interesting could walk past.

"Two little issues still around."
"How little?"
"Let's say, moderately little."
"Spill it, Otar."
"We're kind of lacking sponsors."
"Well, since you promoted yourself to my manager, you've got to fix that."

He couldn't help but look sour a little...

"But I think I cannot solve the second one, Einur. That's up to you."
"How do you mean?"
"There is that little addendum to their needs..."
"That is..."
"No crashing, no losing."

I scratched my hair. The second one... I could help myself on that. But no crashing... I would have a lot to prove in Lermendia. That talk with Aaltonen better went smooth.

[Falcania]

It was a good sound on the new engine. It was somewhere between a screech and a roar. That was what Julian had said. But Stang found it easier and easier these days to go numb when Julian was talking. That was one of the better things about racing for G-T, he mused. Last season, the team had been managed by Vilitans, curt, professional, and not particularly friendly to young Stang. Marquis was attached as a direct manager and promoter to Crax. Now he was team principal, and had so much on his hands, he couldn't swing by to micromanage Stang so often. He was more or less being left to his own devices.

He smiled, realising that as he'd been musing this, he'd been setting two personal bests on his laps around Highpoint. He was drinking less, too. By the end of last season, he was needing a voddy tonic to accompany his breakfast mice every morning. Just to get through the day without the voices. The more the thought, the more he was looking forward to this season. He had been in the Flow - the mythical battle-trance of the songs, where the body acted in perfect concert with the task at hand. The flow came easier to him every time he sat in the cockpit. His eyes widened, and took in all detail - the spray of gravel in his mirror, the spare inch he shaved off last lap's line, a diving sparrowhawk in the distance, an emaciated-looking teenager perched on the top of the security fence, the flashing light of the pace car.

Hang on.

He kept the wheel, braked maybe a smidge too hard, but recovered and continued the lap. Less perfectly than before, maybe, but he held on, waiting to see if the kid was there on his next lap. And... sure enough, there he was. Skinny, underfed like most Falcanians Stang used to know when he lived on the street, though not like the overplump middle-classes and chiselled warrior-frames of the Free Kingdom's elite. A poor boy, dark plumage, reminded him of someone. The kid was watching his lap intently, perched contentedly on top of a fence-post, arms on his knees and wings folded behind him. Definitely familiar though.

---

After the session, Stang made his excuses to go out, walking the paddock. The kid had moved to a different fence post, but Stang still had the criminal's talent for lurking, and Stang hunkered in the darkened lee of one of the moored Starlings that decorated and delineated Highpoint. The kid was looking now, through a pair of binoculars, looking down at the pitlane. Sky above, Stang thought, that was ballsy. Corporate security forces were ruthless enough, and Stang knew Marquis liked to surround his endeavours with hard, cold killers. If he was caught, that was the end of that.

If.

"Hey, kid," he muttered quietly, but his voice carried like a gunshot across the evening air. The kid froze. "Yeah, you."

The kid jumped down the other side of the fence, and turned to run.

Stang was caught by a sudden mad whim. He broke into a sprint from a standing start, pumped his wings and cleared the fence, landing at a run. The kid had a head start, but didn't know the area around the track, and he wasn't as fit as Stang, who cut him off by running over the top of a rock and landing in front of him as he turned down a switchback. The kid shoved at him, but Stang was a scrapper from youth, and made himself stern as stone. The kid stopped, and Stang tackled him to the floor.

"Sky above, kid, you're running down a fogging mountain. Be careful, you'll fall."

"You... you're him."

Stang was kneeling on the kid's chest as realisation dawned on his face. "That's right, kid, you've had your dick knocked into the dirt by a world champion. You okay?"

"Yeah, I think so. I won't run if you let me up."

"You probably should, kid. What's your name?"

"Allian."

"Ah... interesting. You're the one who wants to take me down on the track?"

"If someone will hire me."

"Ha. You're my manager's little cousin, I hear."

"I'm not much like him, I guess. I never met him. I hear he's a bit of an asshole."

"Ha! He is." Stang helped the Allian up, and shook him by the hand. "You're going to need to get the hell out of here before they find you. But, kid... good luck. I mean it."

[Polar Islandstates]

How had this happened? How exactly had Aaltonen gone from one of the more anonymous but fairly well liked members of the grid to a person pasted as something of a diva by the media?

He didn't understand it.

All those excuses that Jordahl was slamming him for now, trying to paint him as some sort of troublemaker... those well all just phrases for the press, weren't they? Weren't they? That was what he'd been taught to do by his press officer all those years ago, anyway. If you have a bad drive, and Thor knows Vitaliy had had enough of those last season, then just make up a nice happy-go-lucky excuse that nobody will really believe but that will keep the press people happy. Nobody took those seriously though, did they?

"Tyre balance wasn't quite right." = Bad drive.

"Timings of the pit stops let us down in some places." = Bad drive.

"The strategy wasn't correct today." = Bad drive.

"Lukas was having a good race and it felt right to back off and let him get on with it for the team's sake." = Bad drive.

"There was a lack of zip in the top gears today." = Bad drive.

Vitaliy had always thought them to be the most pathetically transparent phrases in existence, but apparently Jordahl believed them and was now punishing him for it, and the press appeared to be lapping it up. This was going to be a challenge to overcome.

And now there was the added pressures of being forced to apparently make all the decisions. Including writing a letter to this guy from Bearded Moose inviting him for a test drive, amongst others... How does one even write a formal letter like that? Book-smarts were never Vitaliy's strong point...

"Oi, Birkirsun, I'm actually very nice," he wrote.

Nah. Scrap that. He picked up the paper, screwed it up and threw it over his shoulder, where it landed neatly in the bin with a pile of other paper balls that were indicative of a long evening that had been in progress for a while.

Right. draft fifty seven...

[Paradystopia]

Gently ... gently ...

'Cwreeek!'

"Xebby? Is that you honey?"

Shit ... Stay cool.

"Xebby darling? You can't expect your mother to clean the kitchen by herself can you?"

Silence ... Maybe she'll think she imagined that damn floorboard ...

Xeb's mother stuck her head from the kitchen door. She had a peculiar ageless look created by the contradicting forces of her youthful, elfin beauty marred by all the signs of a stressful existence. One could never tell whether she looked either young or old for her age. She tranquilly smiled at him as he stood still balancing upon one leg to avoid the floorboard.

"C'mon Xebby. This is my only day off this week and the house is a tip. I need some help around here."
"Mum, I'm ... I'm going out."
"Where?"
"You know. Just ... out ... "
"No"
"No? What? Why!?"
"I already said Xeb. The house needs tidying. I am not your personal maid service. How do you expect to manage when you get your own place? I suppose you'd expect me to come along and tidy your trailer whilst you're off driving in this formula one you seem to be all obsessed about currently."
"No ... but ... well ... Look, right, I'm not going to be a formula one driver, okay? You can't just waltz in a get to drive. I ... the ... none of the teams will take me."
"Really?"
"None of them replied to my letters."
"These things take time dear."
"It's just infuriating. I wish we were back in the Commune. Paradystopia sucks. I can't do anything here. I can't drive my car fast without some stupid camera flashing me, the only race tracks they have are street circuits so I can't practice and they don't even have open-wheel racing and ..."
"You can do two things at once, yes?"
"... What? Yes ... "

Xeb's mother flung a teatowel at him.

"Well, come help me with the housework and let's talk this over."

Looking at the towel with disgust, Xeb muttered under his breath.

" ... blackmailer ... "
"I heard that. You know it's cute the way you act like a spoilt, little girl. I always wanted a daughter."
"Yeah, funny. Isn't it enough that you gave me a girl's name?"
"Xebandhra's not a girls name and anyway, it was your father's choice."

An awkward silence fell, broken only by the squeak of a dishcloth removing a tea stain. They had already had too many arguments regarding Xeb's father. With a short sigh, his mother continued.

"I've got a boys name anyway ... so what's the big deal?"
"Mikayla?"
"Mik."
"Who calls you Mik?"
"The guys at work, my friends. Basically everyone who's not my child."
"Did Dad call you Mik?"
"So, your racing career. Tell me about it ... "

Xeb was used to his mother's avoidance of talking about his dad. He paused for a moment so as to decide whether now was a good time to press his mother or adopt the safer strategy of changing the conversation.

"Well, there's three teams I'm really interested in but I just want to race again. I'm not fussy."
"Not fussy? Haha ... That doesn't sound like you ... "
"Hmph! Firstly, there's the Audioslavian team. McPahan Racing. Their car is awesome! Goldmund-Teller from Falcania. If I got their second driver seat, I'd be teammate to the reigning champion! Oh, and then there's the WM Barton Race Team of Licentiapacisterra because ... well, I wouldn't have to leave Esportiva and I'd be fairly close to the Commune and ..."
"Xeb."
"What?"
"Don't go back to the Commune darling. Please. There's nothing there for you."
"What about ... "
"No Xeb!"
" ... dad? ... "

Placing down the dishcloth and after drying her hands upon her top, Mik gently rubbed her temples.

"The man you are thinking of is not your father Xeb. Well, he is, but ... Aaarrggh!"

She brought her fist down upon the soapy water in the sink sending it splashing about the room. Xeb was confused.

"Whoa ... err ... so ... ?"
"I should've told you this before ... "
"What? So you cheated on dad? Some other guy got you pregnant and you ran away in shame?"
"No! You're ... you see ... "
"For fuck's sake mum! WHAT?!"
"You're a clone ... "
"I'm ... what ... "
"You are a manufactured person Xeb. You obviously have elements of mine and your father's DNA but you're ... you ..."

Mik slumped upon the damp kitchen floor. Xeb saw the tears streaming down her face before she buried her head within her arms.

"I'm a clone? A Communadi clone? But how, why ... what?!"
"Your father wanted a son, but he couldn't have one. He was, well, incapable. We saved up for months to take the only option available to us in the Commune, a slave-clone. We paid almost double to silence the scientist. It's not exactly practical to purchase a baby slave and had the authorities discovered you, you'd have been ... have been terminated and your father and I taken to Muskul'Nuul."

His mother began blubbing loudly again, Xeb silently sat next to her and placed an arm around her shoulders.

"Anyway, as you grew older, the scientist demanded more money to maintain the secret. We toiled to afford the ludicrous amounts he asked for and it drove us to anger, depression. We argued over-and-over again about how to escape the situation but I couldn't persuade your father to leave the Commune. Even for you. In the end, we decided. I would leave Rhatzvy to live in Shvor under a false name with friends and your father would stay to confront the scientist and maybe even the authorities. We couldn't tell you the truth, you were too young. It was your father's idea to lead you to believe we were splitting up. That way, if he never made it to Shvor, you wouldn't ask too many questions. I waited for nearly 3 years in Shvor for your father, I refused to believe he wasn't coming. Eventually, with the prospect of war between Cyborg Holland and Islo Aiz ens Islo Dorne and the Commune looking to participate, I fled and ... well, here we are ... Paradystopia. I'm sorry Xebby."

Xeb felt as though his body was dissolving itself from the inside. He felt fake. A mimic of a human. 22 years he had lived a lie. A clone? A fucking clone! His mother was still crying. Over and over she reiterated how sorry she was. His mum ... or should that be Mikayla Kallasdun now. Viaddin and Mikayla Kallasdun. he had pondered to himself why, if his parents had had such a messy break-up, his mother had kept his father's surname. His mind was a maelstrom. He didn't know what to think anymore.

Xeb rose to his feet without a word. Mik was still sobbing, head in arms. He left the kitchen, picking up the car keys on the way out. Saying nothing, he left the house. Fuck the flashing cameras, he needed to clear his head.