Posted: Sat Sep 29, 2018 1:01 pm
Ade Almost Aces Race
While Karli was hindered by a slow first quarter, Ade spent the first 10 laps climbing up the field. The #12 Omni Katoa car would start 12th. By lap 9, Ade was in 6th place. This was no easy task. Most cars were fighting for position. Some may have let Ade get an early position on him, hoping to take it back later. This was one of the easier courses to pass on. Every driver would be forced to pick their battles.
Ade passed Dom just before the finish line on lap 8. He realized taking that corner a certain way could help him make up time. The red, white and orange #12 snuck in front of the colorful MRT machine. It looked like the flag of Mattijana was battling with the flag of West-East Timor. Now Ade held 6th. The Vannish cars were in 11th and 14th.
The Vangazi driven Omni-Katoa machine showed no signs of slowing down through the second quarter of the race. Ade was riding his aggressive side, which was suited to Alixring and her open nature. It looked like Ade once again had a shot at winning. Last week he scrubbed out after leading a few laps.
Now everything was Ade's to lose. On his run up to 2nd, he passed some of the biggest names in the WGP2. Imoju passed WGPC veteran and home driver Juliano Lemos while exiting the first large banking curve. His car was dialed in with aggression. Imoju also passed Janne Laukkanen, who was looking red hot. The Nexus car had been running as high as 2nd. Ade even passed Darius Castellammare, who started on pole.
Ade felt on top of the world. He came in for a pit stop as scheduled. It seemed to go as planned. There was a problem soon after they returned to the track. One wheel hadn't been torqued down all the way. It was by sheer luck that the car made it back around the track. "I was all nerves on the way back to the pits", Ade said after the race. "It felt like the car was about to just drop to the ground and cause a wreck. Talk about nerve-wracking." The driver said her felt like "his life was on the line."
The incident left Ade struggling to catch up. By the fall of lap 29, Ade sat 9th. There was only a quarter of the race left. It was now or never.
Once again Ade had to pass Dom Falepeau. This time he braked late after the main straight and cut around him going into the curve. The Omni Katoa machine had been right on Dom's heels on that straight. It was a risky move which left him with barely enough grip to accelerate into the curve's apex. The engine howled in protest to the Vangazi's heavy foot.
The Katoa machine sounded more like the Vannish WGPC engine of old. It had a simple, but pure high pitched whine. This set Ade behind Jannik Markner. The indigo and red car would turn out to be one of the cars he just couldn't get past today. Early in the race, Laukkanen had held up Karli Schmitt for several laps. Jannik didn't exactly hold Ade back, but stayed firmly planted in front of him.
Now a Vangazi in a Timorian car was battling a Timorian in a Vannish car. This would make for great TV in Vangaziland. Both cars moved up the field together. The two had almost symbiotic ties as they cut from the bottom of the top 10. In the end, the only one who could hold off the pair wasn't human. The big bird took home the win and stood on the podium.
Jessica Franssen had a somewhat controversial statement about the result, saying, "I just can't tell if he's excited when I see him on the podium.", she said about Cocoabo #23. "His movement seems so. But the eyes." Jessica seemed worried about if the animal was being forced to drive to bring publicity to a company. "Fast Cocoabo definitely has talent behind the wheel though", she added. "If he does like to drive, I could see the bird driving in the WGPC proper."
Ade teared up when he stood on the podium. He wiped them from his eyes and fought not to shiver after realizing how close he came to the win. At the same time, he was standing on the big stage as an independant driver for the first time. Before he always had a GT2 co-driver. Now all the credit was his.
A reporter asked Ade what gave him the strength to fight back twice this race. He had previously been seen as hesistant on the track. The black driver laughed when the question was asked. He knew the reason but couldn't admit it. "Uh, I just felt the motivation", he said. "It's getting later in the season. Midway. There isn't much room to give."
The real reason he pushed harder was because he heard Sheila's shrill voice throughout the entire race. If he had failed, she would have had his hide all week. He was still scared to run into her. The trainer was caught on camera speaking to him.
"Nice race. Congratulations. You earned yourself a week of peace and simple light training. But only a week." The tall woman slapped him on the back and let Ade speak to the others in the Omni circles.
"You know, it's really funny", Ade said as he looked at the crowd of Vannish reporters. "Before this race, there was only one of you here. Now it likes like Vangaziland is watching again. Oh media. How could you?" Ade was playfully shaming the rabid Vannish networks. The reporters were glad to be behind the line of cameras as they cringed and avoided eye contact.
"Uh, Ade", interupted a nervous reporter. "Do you think you still have a chance at the driver's cup?"
"Certainly", Ade shouted enthusiastically. "Besides that, Omni is very much in the Constructor's chase. Thanks to Omni Katoa for the fast car this week." It looked like Ade and Jannik both filled in on weeks where their teammates seemed to stall. Karli fell back to 12th after a treacherous spin. Timo finished last in a performance he would surely have to improve upon.
Besides a few spins and close calls, the race was extremely clean. Every car finished on the lead laps, none failing to finish. It showed just how remarkable of a track Alixring was.
"I think this will quickly become one of the WGPO's classic tracks", Ade said about the track in Lisander. "there will be future classics here. Titles will be determined, right here in Lisander." Imoju seemed to get a dreamy look as he spoke of it. Perhaps he was dreaming of a day when he could possibly get a chance in the WGPC.
For now Ade showed he was worth at least keeping in the WGP2. Maybe he could even find a spot in Formula Hodori or the next new thing. "It's a big week for me", Ade said. "There's a big difference between having 5 points versus 19." He may not have been in contention, but he had made himself useful to his team.
While standing on the podium, Ade reached around Cocoabo to spray Jannik. The bird was slightly caught in the crossfire. They had done it together. Ade must have felt as if somehow he was connected to Jannik's success. He had pushed him up the field, after all.
While Karli was hindered by a slow first quarter, Ade spent the first 10 laps climbing up the field. The #12 Omni Katoa car would start 12th. By lap 9, Ade was in 6th place. This was no easy task. Most cars were fighting for position. Some may have let Ade get an early position on him, hoping to take it back later. This was one of the easier courses to pass on. Every driver would be forced to pick their battles.
Ade passed Dom just before the finish line on lap 8. He realized taking that corner a certain way could help him make up time. The red, white and orange #12 snuck in front of the colorful MRT machine. It looked like the flag of Mattijana was battling with the flag of West-East Timor. Now Ade held 6th. The Vannish cars were in 11th and 14th.
The Vangazi driven Omni-Katoa machine showed no signs of slowing down through the second quarter of the race. Ade was riding his aggressive side, which was suited to Alixring and her open nature. It looked like Ade once again had a shot at winning. Last week he scrubbed out after leading a few laps.
Now everything was Ade's to lose. On his run up to 2nd, he passed some of the biggest names in the WGP2. Imoju passed WGPC veteran and home driver Juliano Lemos while exiting the first large banking curve. His car was dialed in with aggression. Imoju also passed Janne Laukkanen, who was looking red hot. The Nexus car had been running as high as 2nd. Ade even passed Darius Castellammare, who started on pole.
Ade felt on top of the world. He came in for a pit stop as scheduled. It seemed to go as planned. There was a problem soon after they returned to the track. One wheel hadn't been torqued down all the way. It was by sheer luck that the car made it back around the track. "I was all nerves on the way back to the pits", Ade said after the race. "It felt like the car was about to just drop to the ground and cause a wreck. Talk about nerve-wracking." The driver said her felt like "his life was on the line."
The incident left Ade struggling to catch up. By the fall of lap 29, Ade sat 9th. There was only a quarter of the race left. It was now or never.
Once again Ade had to pass Dom Falepeau. This time he braked late after the main straight and cut around him going into the curve. The Omni Katoa machine had been right on Dom's heels on that straight. It was a risky move which left him with barely enough grip to accelerate into the curve's apex. The engine howled in protest to the Vangazi's heavy foot.
The Katoa machine sounded more like the Vannish WGPC engine of old. It had a simple, but pure high pitched whine. This set Ade behind Jannik Markner. The indigo and red car would turn out to be one of the cars he just couldn't get past today. Early in the race, Laukkanen had held up Karli Schmitt for several laps. Jannik didn't exactly hold Ade back, but stayed firmly planted in front of him.
Now a Vangazi in a Timorian car was battling a Timorian in a Vannish car. This would make for great TV in Vangaziland. Both cars moved up the field together. The two had almost symbiotic ties as they cut from the bottom of the top 10. In the end, the only one who could hold off the pair wasn't human. The big bird took home the win and stood on the podium.
Jessica Franssen had a somewhat controversial statement about the result, saying, "I just can't tell if he's excited when I see him on the podium.", she said about Cocoabo #23. "His movement seems so. But the eyes." Jessica seemed worried about if the animal was being forced to drive to bring publicity to a company. "Fast Cocoabo definitely has talent behind the wheel though", she added. "If he does like to drive, I could see the bird driving in the WGPC proper."
Ade teared up when he stood on the podium. He wiped them from his eyes and fought not to shiver after realizing how close he came to the win. At the same time, he was standing on the big stage as an independant driver for the first time. Before he always had a GT2 co-driver. Now all the credit was his.
A reporter asked Ade what gave him the strength to fight back twice this race. He had previously been seen as hesistant on the track. The black driver laughed when the question was asked. He knew the reason but couldn't admit it. "Uh, I just felt the motivation", he said. "It's getting later in the season. Midway. There isn't much room to give."
The real reason he pushed harder was because he heard Sheila's shrill voice throughout the entire race. If he had failed, she would have had his hide all week. He was still scared to run into her. The trainer was caught on camera speaking to him.
"Nice race. Congratulations. You earned yourself a week of peace and simple light training. But only a week." The tall woman slapped him on the back and let Ade speak to the others in the Omni circles.
"You know, it's really funny", Ade said as he looked at the crowd of Vannish reporters. "Before this race, there was only one of you here. Now it likes like Vangaziland is watching again. Oh media. How could you?" Ade was playfully shaming the rabid Vannish networks. The reporters were glad to be behind the line of cameras as they cringed and avoided eye contact.
"Uh, Ade", interupted a nervous reporter. "Do you think you still have a chance at the driver's cup?"
"Certainly", Ade shouted enthusiastically. "Besides that, Omni is very much in the Constructor's chase. Thanks to Omni Katoa for the fast car this week." It looked like Ade and Jannik both filled in on weeks where their teammates seemed to stall. Karli fell back to 12th after a treacherous spin. Timo finished last in a performance he would surely have to improve upon.
Besides a few spins and close calls, the race was extremely clean. Every car finished on the lead laps, none failing to finish. It showed just how remarkable of a track Alixring was.
"I think this will quickly become one of the WGPO's classic tracks", Ade said about the track in Lisander. "there will be future classics here. Titles will be determined, right here in Lisander." Imoju seemed to get a dreamy look as he spoke of it. Perhaps he was dreaming of a day when he could possibly get a chance in the WGPC.
For now Ade showed he was worth at least keeping in the WGP2. Maybe he could even find a spot in Formula Hodori or the next new thing. "It's a big week for me", Ade said. "There's a big difference between having 5 points versus 19." He may not have been in contention, but he had made himself useful to his team.
While standing on the podium, Ade reached around Cocoabo to spray Jannik. The bird was slightly caught in the crossfire. They had done it together. Ade must have felt as if somehow he was connected to Jannik's success. He had pushed him up the field, after all.