World Grand Prix Championship 18 [RP/results]

[Liventia]

Week 2: Test session 2

Conditions:      	Dry
Lap Record:      	00:01:13.420
Session Length:	 	180 minutes
Nation:         	SVJ
Circuit:        	Kauralahti International Circuit
Event:	        	Savojar Pre-Season Test

Drivers have 180 minutes to complete as many laps of the track as they like.

POS # DRIVER                   	FASTEST LAP	GAP TO LEADER
 1 52 Sayono Souzare           	00:01:15.235	00:00:00.000
 2 28 Sara Luna                	00:01:15.456	00:00:00.221
 3 19 Dom Falepeau             	00:01:15.516	00:00:00.281
 4 94 Ryker Lane               	00:01:15.521	00:00:00.286
 5 56 Terho Talvela            	00:01:15.624	00:00:00.389
 6 12 Anneliese Devereux       	00:01:15.670	00:00:00.435
 7 46 Kitti Armbruster         	00:01:15.710	00:00:00.475
 8 14 Sigur Bjarnason          	00:01:15.746	00:00:00.511
 9 77 iBen Toralmintii         	00:01:15.796	00:00:00.561
10 41 Jean Mercer-Daly         	00:01:15.807	00:00:00.572
11 37 Niklas Schonbaum         	00:01:15.815	00:00:00.580
12 25 Gregori Krupin           	00:01:15.957	00:00:00.722
13  7 Abdoulaye Goita          	00:01:15.999	00:00:00.764
14 51 R.L. Cuisin              	00:01:16.023	00:00:00.788
15 47 Erica Okumura            	00:01:16.106	00:00:00.872
16 22 Jasmin Kranjska          	00:01:16.494	00:00:01.259
17  8 William Archer           	00:01:16.685	00:00:01.450
18 85 Olivia Stone             	00:01:16.875	00:00:01.640
19 71 Rustom Ibuna             	00:01:17.043	00:00:01.808
20 50 Rudy Edwards             	00:01:17.171	00:00:01.936
21 42 Alex Dimitrianov         	00:01:17.728	00:00:02.493

[Abanhfleft]

Taras Matviyenko had booked a flight from Sorlovia to Cocoabo Park as soon as the test drives for Volkov Racing had wrapped up. He managed to slip into a few more sessions at the Cocoabo trials, but after having had a really good feeling about Volkov, he was feeling, while not exactly the complete opposite of good, not entirely on his game. Every time he was not in the car, he was on his phone, scanning his emails every now and then for an offer from a team, any team. And when he wasn't checking his emails he was looking at the motorsports news websites to see who else was getting offers and taking the remaining open seats in the competition. Because WGPC was a cutthroat competition after all where only the fastest survived, and the rest got left behind in the dust.

During one such break, Taras was busy scrolling through the news, scanning the article titles for both team and driver names. One such title caught his attention, and even before clicking the link he already knew that he just suddenly had more work to do in order to secure a seat.

Sara Luna signs for Volkov Racing

"Chyort," Taras muttered to himself. That was one option gone now. He had had a really good feeling about Volkov, and he head really hoped that he would be able to get that second seat. Clearly they thought that Sara Luna would be a better driver to put in that seat, and Taras couldn't blame them. Yes, he was consistent back in WGP2, but he was also consistently bringing up the rear more times than not. He didn't crash a lot, but that was because he didn't overtake a lot as well. But that didn't mean he wasn't miffed that he hadn't been the one chosen to get the seat anyway. No sane driver would like that.

"Options, options..." Taras said softly. "What other options do I have?" Not a lot, if he was being honest with himself. Taras was already 40 years old; a veteran driver in his own right. Then again, he didn't even get into an open-wheeler until he was 31, meaning that he probably had some of the least overall experience in racing compared to all the other drivers with which he was competing for a seat. However, Taras did have a background in providing feedback about the car and steering along its development, so hopefully he had that going for him. If it was his fate to become a test driver then so be it, but that wasn't really the reason why he decided to make the step up to the WGPC, was it?

And the teams still with open seats were rapidly dwindling, but the number of unsigned drivers was also high. Competition for those seats was only going to get more heated. And the criteria of these teams choosing their drivers for the coming season were as varied as the human race itself. Taras could still choose which teams he would apply for, but the choices were getting fewer and fewer. Volkov Racing was now no longer an option; the signing of Sara Luna was proof of that. Well, Taras had heard that other teams like Race Eelandi! were using the trials to scope out their second driver. Maybe he'd get an offer from them or maybe he wouldn't. Fireline Racing also hadn't yet announced their lineup for the season; maybe Taras could let Fireline know that he was still available and would gladly offer his services to the team if they so chose.

As Taras was typing out his email to Fireline (well, in actuality, he was typing an email to his manager/translator who would translate his original Ukrainian text to English or whatever language Fireline used primarily), he failed to notice that he was about to cross paths with someone else. In fact, he was so absorbed with writing his email that he didn't see the other person until they literally bumped into each other. "Chyort! I am sorry," Taras said in English. "I was not looking where I was walking." And then Taras looked more closely at the person he had bumped into, and he recognized the person. "Lane Carter? Is that really you?" he asked his former UrGa teammate. "How has it been? We did not have proper goodbye in WGP2. You just disappeared. How are you doing?"

---

Something about the preseason tests felt awfully familiar for William Archer.

The thing that set these tests apart from his time with Bitten Heroes in the previous WGP2 season though was the fact that William actually felt really comfortable in the PGP-01, as opposed to the KS-03 where he felt like he was always chasing after the car and having to adapt to it instead of the car adapting to him. So when he saw that he was setting some of the slowest times in the tests, and on the other hand his teammate Rudy Edwards was topping the charts (at least in Xanneria; Savojarna was a completely different story), it bothered him. If he was this slow in a car that he felt in tune with, then how in the world can he grab points and podiums for Preston.

Marty Lewis hadn't been too concerned about William's lack of pace back in Xanneria. In fact, he praised the young driver, saying that while William had a lot to learn about the car itself, he was confident that William would get to grips with the car soon enough. Unfortunately, that didn't happen when they went to Savojarna for the second test. Worse, Rudy Edwards actually went slowest of the 20 drivers out on the track for the first test on the Savojar track. William believed that results during practice shouldn't have to be taken so seriously, but it appeared that he was alone in that camp with regards to Preston. Everyone else was concerned about the fact that Rudy had lost quite a lot of pace once they had gone to a new track. Nobody had any explanation for it.

"This is going to be a very strange season, isn't it?" William asked himself.

[Former Citizens of the Nimbus System]

Excelsior Resort Myrtle Grand Prix Circuit, Xanneria
19th of October

Shana taps her fingers against her thigh as she stares up at the screen.

The countdown is… Well, it’s a little irritating.

All building up to something I’ve seen before… She sighs. And still the trepidation of whether it’ll all come together. Not the best.

“Looks like this is going well.” Virgil strolls up, flopping down into the chair beside her.

Shana chuckles. “Not much to be going well yet. Haven’t started anything.”

“Well then, there isn’t much to be going badly. Surely it must be going well.”

“Could make that argument.” She leans back in her chair, wry smirk across her face. “Matter of perspectives. Sounds familiar.”

The warmth of companionship – even slightly irritating companionship – does take the edge off the prior feeling. Slightly. Shana crosses her arms. “I still don’t quite get why we’re doing things this way this year. I mean, it’s Gertrude’s first year in charge – we’d want to make a big statement or something, right?”

Virgil purses his lips. “I wouldn’t say we’re not doing that… Sure, we’re not having the press conference immediately afterwards this time – but we’re still going live to the world. Pretty big deal.” He pauses. “Actually, have you seen Gertrude recently? Last week or so, I mean.”

“Not especially… Why?”

“It’s like there’s a fire lit under her – charging from place to place with this determined, furious look in her eyes… Can’t deny that I’m a little concerned for her.”

Shana frowns. “You want to go talk to her?”

“Maybe. She can confide in Vertilan and Lucia, obviously… Still,” he taps his hands together, mustering a smile, “another pair of ears can’t hurt. Two, if you’d like to come with.”

“Sure.” Shana smiles back, nodding in solidarity. “Happy to help.”

“That’s… That’s good. Than- oh, hold on. Here we go…”

---

The garage ahead is darkened, the only light shining in from the great open doors and glowing from the tyres as the Imagithermal converter within the Paragon Warp array does its work. Within, Ryker sits. He gives a brief glance across to Jean in the other UHSGV-4, the oddity of not having any other soul present with him a touch eerie.

Martin’s voice through his helmet is, therefore, a balm. “Okay, Ryker – get ready. Regular garage-leaving procedure; just need to time it correctly.”

“Understood!” He breathes, letting his fingers run across Coalescence’s steering wheel.

“Excellent. On ‘go’, then. Three… Two… One…”

And, as the livestream’s CGI-augmented footage switches to live footage, Coalescence ignites. Forward it goes.

---

---

---

The Bullhorn ---------------------------------------------------------------- Sport News

FIELD SPLIT BY HUNDRETHS IN XANNERIA TEST
World Grand Prix Correspondent Sol Yanforl

The top fourteen fastest drivers were covered by a single tenth in the first test for the eighteenth World Grand Prix Championship. WGP2 Champion Abdoulaye Goita set the fastest time, a 1:21.463, driving for Schkeska-VSK Viska Racing, also making their debut from WGP2, while veteran Sayono Souzare achieved fourteenth-fastest with a 1:21.541 for Polaris Racing Team.

The test session, taking place at the Excelsior Resort theme park in Xanneria, was the first outing for the WGPC 18 field and will be followed by another tomorrow. The track has not featured in a WGPO event previously but its long straights and high-speed corners should favour high-speed, low-drag cars.

While Viska and Badai Angin Tim Motorsport were fastest overall, Rustom Ibuna setting the second-fastest time of the day for the latter team with a 1:21.472, the field’s closeness made ascertaining differences in pace difficult. Analysts speculate that teams are concealing their cars’ limits before the season’s beginning, given that the condensed testing schedule for WGPC 18 offers further opportunities for running later in the week.

Explainer by Brenda Erdengard

Though anyone paying even a little attention to the last WGP2 season would be aware of Nexus Racing’s radical eight-wheeled design, it is perhaps the less visible feature of the wheels themselves that is the most substantial departure from the rest of the field.

Tyres not to scale.

The tyres, designed by First City start-up In Motion, were built with the Ultra High Speed Ground Vehicle Four in mind; they are substantially smaller than their competitors’ at 595 mm in diameter, allowing for four to be lined up on one side of the chassis and for easier design of the fairings that are Nexus Racing’s aerodynamic trademark.

Most notably, their inner edge is narrower than their outer edge, meaning that they are frustal in shape. According to In Motion, the major advantage of this is that when the car leans out onto one side during a turn, the frustal shape of the tyres on that side causes the wheels, and therefore the car as a whole, to be drawn into the corner, improving grip. Most teams achieve similar effects with regular cylinder-shaped wheels through changes to camber and toe, the wheels’ tilt and directional angle, but do so at the cost of traction.

In addition to this, the UHSGV-4’s suspension system extracts additional benefit from In Motion’s tyres by modifying their camber. While at speed on a straight, having as much of the tyre in contact with the circuit as possible becomes less desirable due to rolling resistance. Nexus Racing have designed their suspension around this problem, tilting the tyres up along a straight to ride along a specially-hardened outer edge and then returning them to their normal position to maximise grip for a corner. While this was previously an autonomous process, new footage from testing shows that Nexus Racing have reworked the system to be controlled by the driver pushing and pulling their steering wheel.

While In Motion’s tyre design did not appear to offer Nexus Racing enough advantages to perform well in WGP2, Viska’s surprise adoption of the tyres and subsequent second place in the Constructors’ standings in the same season proves that the concept is workable, though the suspension system (for which Viska has no equivalent) remains an open question. As tyre development becomes an increasingly important theatre in WGPC’s perpetual technological war, this unique approach may prove decisive for either team in the coming season.

[Sorlovia]

Kauralahti International Circuit
Post-WGPC Test Two

Twelfth place up from eighteenth was an improvement.

The pre-season was proving to be more challenging than he’d initially anticipated. It seemed that the streak of bad luck was continuing. The pre-season tests gave him an opportunity to fine-tune how he handled the Volkov car and allowed him to study how it fared on the rigorous demands of an official WGPC circuit. His results mightn’t look good at the moment but he’d proven that he had the ability to come from behind to secure better finishes. The tests were a learning opportunity and a chance to dust off his skills from the off-season.

Gregori was biding his time. Early in his career he’d developed a habit of carefully pacing himself. He would carefully take the time to learn about his new car and about himself in it. Driver burn out was a very real risk in the WGPC world. If a racer went into the pre-season tests with the mindset that he had to put it all on the line at the start he, or she, risked wearing himself out early on. He didn’t want to show his hand too early and risk giving away too much to the other drivers.

Come on Gregori! Get your head in the game!

He went over the test in his mind for what seemed like the hundredth time. He’d paced himself early on and had taken time to test the track. Perhaps he was pacing himself too much. The sharp corners and long straights of the Kauralahti circuit were his speciality. He should be seeing better results. But so far he had come in at eighteenth and then twelfth place. Perhaps he had gone from one extreme to the other in his effort at doing as best as he could. There was such a thing as shooting yourself in the foot after all. The time for watching and learning was over. It was now time to focusing on taking out a better finish.

“You’re holding yourself back too much,” Viktor said confirming his thoughts “I know you want to try and get a feel for the car Gregori. But this isn’t a Sunday drive we’re talking about here.”

“You’re right as always Vik,” Gregori replied with a sigh “these lower place finishes aren’t going to be a good look on my record. I know they’re not on my tally for the season as such but it still really does bother me.”

Viktor Stepanov had been Gregori’s race chief in WGPC17 and the two had become firm friends. He had agreed to join him for the new season with Volkov. Viktor managed his pit crew and served as an advisor. He was one of the few people with whom Gregori had a total honesty. After all, it was his job to help Gregori be the best racer he could be. He spoke plainly and said what he meant. The pair of them had watched the footage from the test twice now with Viktor pointing things out to Gregori, many of which he hadn’t noticed at first, with blunt honesty.

“It’s alright Gregori. You just need to pull finger and put your foot down. The Volkov car is a different beast to the MRT car last season. But it will respond to you better if you put it to the test. You’re in a high-performance specialist race car here Gregori. You’re not carrying an egg. Let the car have it.”

It’s time to get serious Gregori! More speed, more aggression and focus on your technique.

Gregori, in response to his twelfth place finish, would spend the next four hours out on a training circuit to hone his skills. The time had come to give the Volkov car all he had. Like Viktor had said it was a beast that needed to be used properly. It was a race horse. Not some delicate show pony that needed a constant gentle hand. It could handle being pushed to the limit. After all, that was exactly what it had been designed for.

[Twicetagram and JYPe]

Must-Do things in Esmerel!

---

Chars fixes the camera, before stepping in, with the Forest Cross Raceway in the background
Chars: Wassup guys! It's Chars here with another vlog! Today we're at Forest Cross Raceway, located in Esmerel! While this is just testing, I've still chosen to come here because of Esmerel herself. Today we look at what you should do if you wanna come here!

#1: Enjoy the technologically-advanced infrastructure and architecture

Camera shows Chars in front of a futuristic-looking building
Chars: This is just one of the many places you can see the sheer technology here! Esmerel is quite technologicalyl advance, and is definitely one place to be if you feel persuaded by the movies. If you're a sci-fi or tech geek, then Esmerel is the place to be. Just look at all these buildings!
Camera shows the amazing architecture around the area
Chars: If you like futuristic stuff, then Esmerel will be a buffet for you! Onto the next point!

#2: Enjoy the natural scenery in the countryside
Camera pans and shows a beautiful forest that looks like it came from a fairytale. Then , camera turns back to show a very grand mountain chain.
Chars: If you're more of a nature lover, then look no further than the countryside. This country has everything. Literally everything. Very beautiful scenery, and all kinds of it, from mountains to deserts to forests to coastlines and whatnot. Just look at this fairytale-esque forest! But wait, this isn't the end.
Chars covers the camera with his hand, and then reveals a beautiful coastline and beach
Chars: Beach-lovers should come here. One, the water is crystal clear and safe. Second, the sand is pristine. Premium form. It's so comfortable to lie down on, and the colour is also very lovely.

#3: Hang out in Lapiz Point
Camera shows the city centre of Lapiz Point
Chars: If you didn't know, Lapiz Point is the capital of Esmerel. It's not only the capital, but also the buzzing point. Esmerel is quite densely populated, which means you'll be seeing a lot of people everywhere. Don't worry though, it's quite safe. Here in Lapiz Point, there are many attractions.
A slideshow of popular places in Esmerel appears on the screen
Chars: There are so many places for everyone to be. Kids play centres, hipster spots, clubs, cinemas and historical sites. You name it! Do note that alcohol and drugs are not permitted here, so don't do drugs or be drunk. See you in Turori.
covers camera

[Sorlovia]

Volkov Racing HQ
Post-WGPC Test Two

The Volkov executives had been watching Sara closely. Her performance in the WGPC tests had very much impressed them. A seventh place finish in the first test, a second place finish in the second and a second place finish in the sprint race at Cocoabo. They had clearly made the right choice with her. It remained to be seen if that success would transfer to the WGPC season, she was still a rookie with the WGPC, but her performance so far gave Sergei and the board high hopes.

Gregori, on the other hand, seemed to be having a harder time. He had placed eighteenth in the first test and twelfth in the second. Those weren’t exactly the results Sergei would’ve wanted to see but he refused to see it in a negative light. The experienced racer of two WGPC seasons was just getting warmed up. History showed that Gregori had a habit of coming from behind to secure better finishes as the season progressed. It was just a matter of time. He was still getting a feel for the car.

“Give him time,” he said “Gregori is a highly skilled racer. He’ll pull out of this slump. Just you watch. But it might be a good idea to have the mechanics take a look at his car just to see if there is an issue with it.”

“Sara is doing well in her car,” Svetlana replied “but there are always a few quirks in the car that can be overlooked. I’ll have both cars brought in to the workshop for an examination. I’ll let Gregori and Sara know that we’re looking for feedback on the cars too.”

“Don’t be too quick to discount Gregori,” Sergei answered “he has a history of pulling good results out of what seems like a bad streak. He’s just dusting off his skills and getting a feel for the car. Our boy will pull through.”

During the first two WGPC tests the Volkov design team had finalized the design for the chassis. Sara and Gregori were using the B-chassis in the meantime. When the cars entered the workshop for the examination and tweaking they would be fitted with the final livery.

VOLKOV REVEALS FINAL DESIGNS

Sara Luna's Mark II Volkov

Gregori Krupin's Mark II Volkov

After watching the footage from the first two WGPC tests and examining the analysis from the cars it had been decided that the Mark I needed to be improved upon. The backup car had been the guinea pig for the engineers as the experimented with ways to improve. Sara and Gregori would be called on to provide feedback to help with the improvements. But in the meantime a prototype Mark II sat in the workshop waiting for their input. The Mark II used slightly different Tropicorp tyres that gave a greater amount of grip and traction on the circuit. The WGPC-spec engine had been altered ever so slightly to improve its performance while staying within the regulations.

The body work had been made more aerodynamic and streamlined. In truth the Mark II was similar to the original model albeit sleeker and more efficient. In the event that Sara and Gregori didn’t like the newer model the finalized appearance of the car could still be fitted onto the Mark I. It was just a case of repainting the cars and placing the new decals.

But before any final decision was made Sara and Gregori would be called in.

[Savojarna]

Racing, Finally

Kauralahti International Circuit, Savojarna

As Sigur Bjarnason approached Koivu, navigating the slingshot that would make or break a lap on this scenic Sumani track as it led onto the massive flat out section, his radio cracked. Krister Arlund was relaying a message. “Some good driving here, Sigur. Slow down a little on the pit straight; we’re sending out Kitti. I want you to stay behind her for two warmup laps, and then you try to overtake her for three laps. If you can’t manage, she will let you pass after the third lap and you switch. Don’t crash”, he said. Wanting to see the performance of the SVJ in a race, Sigur excitedly radio’d back. “Got it, two warmup laps, three race laps, then pass”, he responded. He used the warmup lap to appreciate this track, smooth with its new asphalt and beautiful in terms of the landscape. 12 corners, nested into the Sumani hills, were exactly up his alley. Village, the second corner on the road, may look spectacular, Sigur thought, but it wasn’t too hard to drive, more a game of chicken on the brakes. Then, however, came Kaivaa, hard even at warmup speeds as Armbruster almost sailed wide. He enjoyed the thrill of the banked NAKA corner and the technical challenge of the final stadium section, as the duo went on their second lap. Now he was feeling out his teammate - would she be clean, or leaving gaps here and there?

Out of Kivomäki, it was Sigur who left a gap. Feeling his wheels slip just a tad as he wanted too much out of the corner, he lost the initial slipstream down the straight. The approach to 12 was gone. He tried to gauge Kitti - would she pull through? Yes. Just a tad off the throttle, she tested the limit of the track. Village would be his first shot. From the slipstream, with DRS, he pulled up, just aiming to show her his nose and make his opponent sweat; there was no way he could beat her in the tight hairpin. Down to Kaivaa, he felt out where her openings were. A bit late into the spectacular downhill turn, leaving a spot inside. He’d remember that. Then, it went up the hill again. No way he could attack before Rantala, Sigur thought, when there was suddenly a little bit of a gap out of Koivu. Just a little bit slow on the gas, or a bit wide on the exit, was enough to give him his chance. In a race, he’d take it; now, with Krister’s warning in his ear, he lifted his foot again, being content to make his presence known. He dropped behind his teammate again through NAKA, taking her slipstream down towards Rantala and looking for where she’d leave a gap. She used to drive a bit round in the corners before, courtesy of the speed - would it be the same?

Sigur decided to take the gamble. Inside lane, out of the slipstream, braking into the tight corner, he pulled level. Armbruster left the space open, maybe because she went wide, maybe because she wanted to avoid collision at all costs. But now the Nephar had the inside line, and she made use of it. Drifting ever so slightly wide at Kivomäki and squeezing her teammate into the grass, Kitti Armbruster stood her ground. Down home straight, there wasn’t much of a chance, and the Savojas was looking for an opening, but decided to bide his time for the next few corners. Sticking in her wake as long as possible, Sigur stuck to the racing line in Village this time. No need for posturing, if he was expecting the next gap. He could match the Nephar’s time out of 3 and 4, and approaching Kaivaa, he made sure to pressure his teammate into exactly the mistake Sigur wanted. Inching forward on the inside as Armbruster slipped, went just a little bit wide, Savojarna’s flagship driver pounced on her mistake. His nose was on her side when the corner tightened, letting him hold his position and finish the overtake in the second part of the track. “YES!”, he shouted on the radio. “Feels so damn good to race again”. “Great move, Sigur”, his engineer radioed back, “now hold your position for three laps, starting at the line”.

The other side had never been Sigur’s favourite position, defending was not his strongest suit. But the sheer thrill of racing was enough to get him right into that zone, on this beautiful track that reminded him of his rallye times. Armbruster was trying hard, perhaps too hard. He nearly turned into the Nephar in Rantala, forcing her to back off in the last possible minute. In a race, she could have lost another position right now, he thought. In the practice session, he pulled away through the kink of 12 before lifting his foot a tiny bit, wanting to get the full experience of defending into Village. Here, Armbruster was hitting the point perfectly. Sigur wanted to be careful, covering off the inside as he turned in, but the Nephar had been more daring than he thought, diving in to his right and pulling ahead through the turn. I’ll get you back, Sigur thought, tucking in right behind his teammate’s wing through Kaivaa and Koivu. It was his bigger familiarity with the feel of a WGPC car that made the difference, as Sigur had a better feeling of how to get power onto the track out of Koivu that would make him suck up to her wing in the slipstream. Krister is about to hate me, he thought, as he branched out and floored the pedal right as the cars approached NAKA. Armbruster was never expecting the move as Sigur slipped around the outside of the banked corner and converted his speed into a won position out of the spectacular turn.

The duo would dance around each other for five laps before being recalled. Their speed may not be right up there with the best yet, but SVJ were making progress - and they were damn sure to have two talented drivers. Sigur climbed out of his car as they returned to the garage to close out the testing session, offering a hand to his teammate. “Well raced”, he said in his still grating Savojarsk accent. Perhaps the biggest compliment a Savojar could extend to a relative stranger. SVJ were going to be strong, and Sigur would have his fun on the track, he thought. It was well worth the earful Krister gave him about overtaking on the outside at well above 200 kph during a test session.

[Togonistan]

Savojar Pre-Season Test
Kauralahti International Circuit, Savojarna

Feels like music to the ears. That's what Dom thought when the Nordija engine in the back of his car let out it's sound. Mechanics were doing their last checks to ensure everything was working as intended. All cylinders on the engine were working like charm, tyre pressure was perfect and cooling systems were providing steady airflow. A young trainee had his head in the cockpit, busy filling the container of drinking system. He had been assigned a task to ensure the drivers would stay hydrated during testing. Dom in the meantime was pulling on his balaclava, adjust the HANS and eventually put on his helmet. He closed his eyes for a moment. He took a few seconds to clear his head of thoughts. To sort of get himself in the zone. He was about to go sit in that car now and hit the track. In WGPC. Pinnacle of the sport.

He opened his eyes and saw a mechanic next to the car doing a hand gesture, indicating that he should now go sit inside and make himself comfortable. Dom pat the guy on the back and climbed into the cockpit. One thing was sure, the seat was indeed comfortable. A perfect fit for his bodyshape. Dom put on the seatbelts and set up his steering wheel while listening to an engineer who had come beside him to hand out the last few instructions before Dom would head out on track. They were all set. Dom gave a quick handshake to the engineer before the latter would go on and take his seat in the garage. He put his thumb up, to which Dom responded with the same. Next moment, he would gently push the throttle and roll out to the pit lane.

Dom heard some crackling sounds from his earbuds, followed by a message from his race engineer: ''1,2,3. Radio Check.'' He smiled. For Dom, it was such a big confidence boost knowing there is someone by your side. ''Yep, I hear you loud and clear mate.'' He ran a few laps to get to know the track better. The green MRT car felt so stable as he guided it through the corners, obeying him like a well tamed stallion. Dom felt he would adapt rather quickly, which felt relieving and bizarre at the same time. Back in WGP2, he would always struggle with new machinery handed to him. Was it that over time he had learnt to adapt better? Was the MRT machine just fitting for him? Perhaps it was a mixture of both?

He was going lap after lap, great grip in the corners, but he did start to notice something. It felt as if he was lacking a bit on the straights. Just a tiny bit. Surely the team knew what they were doing and the car did feel incredibly balanced on the track, but still, Dom felt it could be even better. ''I know we are running a low downforce setup already, but can we maybe try and lower it even more? I feel we're lacking a bit on the straights, it's nothing too bad really but...'' before he could even finish his sentence, Dom already got a reply from his engineer: ''Copy that, box box. We will try another setup.''

With adjustments done, Dom head out on the track again. This time, it felt even better than before. Dom floored the pedal and flew through the straights, attacked the corners more aggressively and the car was still acting very tame in his hands. The way team had immediately acknowledged his feedback and how they worked together to get the best out of it was very encouraging for him. Everyone worked together for the common goal. By the end of the session, two MRT-s were at the top of the time sheets. ''That's the end of the session. Scenario 1, see you in the pits.'' First day of testing had been a great success.

Day 2

Dom felt great as he woke up in his motorhome. He was well rested and eager to get back on the track. Having gone through the usual morning rituals such as various physical exercises followed by a healthy breakfast, Dom would be amongst the first to make it to the pits. He spent some time chatting with various team members before they started preparations for the second day of testing. There was still a lot of work do be done, thus it was time for him to suit up again and head out on the track.

Dom tried his best to give the team as much feedback as possible, constantly communicating with his engineer through the radio. Both qualifying as well as race simulations were in order. Dom felt comfortable and driven by the confidence boost gained from the day before, kept taking bigger risks. He did run wide in a few corners during some laps, thus losing time, but in the end it was all for a bigger cause. Sure, it was important to provide as much feedback to the team as possible, but it was also important for him to understand the limits of the car. By the end of day 2, he had driven 3rd fastest time of the day. All in all, Dom felt happy as he drew back into the pits. The cooperation with the team and especially his race engineer had started off quite well. Perhaps they could have a few drinks together later?

[Nekoni]

NTR News Network Online
Rivoli's Rallycross Dreams Shattered
Written by Olivier Férrer

Despite a year-long campaign to bring a new kind of racing discipline to the already prosperous country of Nekoni by the WGPC's flag-bearer, the Autodromo Internazionale del Rivoli, at the eleventh hour, it seems that the international RX committee has decided to look elsewhere. Today from its offices, the committee showed the world that, despite having a solid-looking circuit utilising the newly built closing hairpin of Rivoli, a stealthy bid from the WGP2's Circuit Arnaud has won over the rights to be named the World RX of Nekoni.

Despite the appeal of an enclosed area such as Le Poignard to the circuit's southeast, the wide runoff of the chicane leading into the Pleiades Straight was almost destined to form the circuit's joker lap, and indeed it did. Drivers will start on the straight itself, but will drive in the reverse direction to the first right turn, at which point the circuit throws out a ready mix of surfaces, combining both pre-existing access roads with newly-forged gravel paths. For the event itself, an artificial dirt platform of six feet tall and twenty feet long will serve as a jumping transition between the road and gravel on the fast back straight, leading directly into the tightest turn on the course. This all combines to create what promises to be as fast, challenging and exhilerating for both spectator and driver as its bigger brother.

Whilst Arnaud is, as a result, enjoying the most on-track action it's had since the mid 1970s, this leaves an important question: what about Rivoli? Although its ommission from global rallycross may be seen as a glaring misstep in what is its 30th anniversary year, the future doesn't look as dark as one would think. The changes to the circuit have gone smoothly, and one could argue that it was these changes that caused the WGPC to select it as an official stop on the race calendar. It seems to have taken a position of familiarity in its third year on the calendar; with it appearing after the mid-season tests in Twicetagria, it marks the beginning of the second half of the season, the turning point, the beginning of the chase for the championship. Coupled with the circuit's permanent residence as the final race of the SuperFormula Nekoni, and the potential rumours of motorbike action to grace the picturesque valleys, it can be argued that this is only a minor fork in the road, and the future of the self-monikered "Most Challenging Circuit in the Land" will stay bright for many years to come.

[Mattijana]

Reverse Reverse! What Would the WGPC Look Like Backwards?

MFO SPORT

By Matej Jelic, Sports Writer and Commentator


It’s that time of year again. Racing drivers from around the world are jostling for seats like commuters on the 17:31 out of Petrovijanka. Teams are making last-minute panic signings to fill up their seats. We’ve now got a calendar made from all the greatest racing circuits from around the multiverse and the Eelandii Grand Prix Course (more on that later).
As a result, I was ordered by MFO sport to produce a two-part special answering the most burning WGPC-related question out there – which circuit would be the best to drive backwards?
To answer this vitally important dilemma, I was sent to the Kopylov InternazionRIng where the MRT simulator is based. Prior to any new driver signings, the boffins at the team that design the simulator need to test it to make sure their new multi-million Espo driver can actually train and that’s where I come in. A less important, but still relevant question is why on earth the simulator designers need to add details that a forward-facing driver won’t be able to see? The answer to that is actually pretty simple. If a driver spins, they need to be able to get going again without the whole system crashing like a rookie driving the Circuit d’Ares (more on that also later).
On taking my shiny new virtual car for a spin, I realised there would actually be quite a few criteria to take into account during my search. Obviously there’s the corners themselves, but there’s also things like elevation change, visibility and how likely you are to hit a wall if you get it all wrong.
So without further ado, let’s take a look at the scrambled contents of a backwards WGPC season.

Race 1: Ljubala InterNazionRIng, Mattijana
https://i.imgur.com/81XUWMW.png
Without any testing whatsoever, drivers and teams arrive at our very own Ljubala InterNazionRing for the very first race. With no chance to fix reliability gremlins and spend time getting used to cars, the weekend would probably be a case of survival of the fittest, but the circuit might add to the carnage too.
The high speed chicane of 23 and 22 become a lot harder and scarier when you’ve had the pit straight as a run up, whilst the flick through 21 before the turn 20 breaking zone makes for a pretty tricky sequence. Coming over the blind brow at 14 is a real thrill and the downhill braking zone into the long turn 12 hairpin is also a good challenge. The squiggly bits in the first sector do lose a lot of their entertainment value as they become a fairly basic acceleration zone, but the uphill braking zone into turn three might be a good place to send one.
There’d be bugger-all places to overtake and the pit-lane exiting straight onto the racing line at turn 23 would be suicidal, but it’s not a bad start to the season.
Rating: 7/10

Race 2: Talbott Autodrome, Liventia
https://imgur.com/GKzA4S2
With drivers now a little more acquainted with the feeling of driving a WGPC car, we roll onto the biggest technical challenge of the year in Talbott, the reverse of Ljubala in that it was pretty clunky to drive backwards but actually churned out more overtaking chances than the forwards version.
The right-hander at 21 is arguably a better overtaking chance than turn 1, and turns 16, 14 and 7 are also good places to line up a pass, particularly as the flick through 17 coming into the braking zone means there will probably be a fair few mistakes. Trying to take turns 13 and 12 flat out was fun and having the faster turn 10 before turn 9 was also an improvement, but the first sector felt pretty frustrating to drive, as did the slow corners in the final sector.
Rating: 4/10

Race 3: Hapilopper City Grand Prix Circuit, Hapilopper
https://i.imgur.com/z4BjjYR.jpg
Hapilopper was a bit of an enigma in reverse. On the one hand, it would be infinitely easier to overtake into the Triple Diamond Chicane and Oh Crap There’s a Wall compared to Downhill Pass and Chicken Bone Alley. On the other, the high-speed corners, like Downhill Pass and the aforementioned alley, that make the track fun in the right direction have slower corners afterwards and would therefore be way more boring backwards.
For a street/road track, it would be relatively easy to make a pass, Oh Crap There’s a Wall still has a wall and it would be easier to hit cars with chicken bones through the slower version of the alley, so a reverse race here wouldn’t be too awful.
Rating: 5/10

Race 4: San Marco Street Circuit, Filindostan
https://usercontent.irccloud-cdn.com/fi ... nMarco.png
Our double-header of street circuits takes us along to San Marco for a much more traditional street race experience than in Hapilopper.
The one piece of good news is that no overtaking opportunities are really lost – and one might actually be gained down at turn 17. Otherwise, the reverse version is even less memorable than its forward counterpart. Turns 14 and 15 are ruined by having the slower corner first and the X-chicane, the other decent part of the track, is reduced to a flat-out acceleration zone. Turns 9 and 10 are definitely better, but the rest of the circuit is almost identical backwards and the Rotonda still gives me horrible flashbacks to the ridiculous half-finished roundabouts in Somos City last year.
Rating: 2/10

Race 5: Autodromo Internazionale del Rivoli, Nekoni
https://i.postimg.cc/CLsnfpGh/rivoli2020.png
Rivoli is a great circuit – possibly the best on the calendar – and you know what? It’s pretty good in reverse too. The downhill blast through the final sector, especially the 16/15/14 complex and the double-apexer at turn 13, is even better when plunging downhill like the Mattijanan football team’s form this year, whilst the new turn 9 is still great backwards (as much as the old valley section would probably be better in reverse). Carousel becomes even more devilish thanks to the kink on entry while the sweeping turn 7 might just become flat-out going up the slope.
The turn 6/5 combo feels a bit clunky in reverse, overtaking would be trickier piling into the high-speed chicane at 2/1 and despite the downhill braking zone into turn 18 making things a bit trickier, the pit straight is long enough to make it a bit too easy to overtake. Nevertheless, Rivoli might well own the bragging rights in both directions if this is anything to go on.
Rating: 9/10

Mid-Season Test 1: Raichovskiy Circuit, Twicetagria
https://imgur.com/57rTOEi
It’s easy to write off the Raichovskiy based on its newcomer status and BTEC art graphics, but it’s not the multiverse’s worst track and call me bold, but I think it’s better in reverse.
You can go most of the first sector in a WGPC car without actually having to brake, which would make for either a ridiculously chaotic start to the race or a total anti-climax as the field strings out. The not straight back straight leads into a turn 8 that gets tighter as you go through it, meaning the braking zone is very tough to judge, and the massive spoon thing at turn 5 feels more exciting when the fast bit is on the exit. Turns 3 and 4 also have the ‘fast corner into hard braking zone’ combo that we’ve talked about already, which is a definite win.
There’d be bugger all in the way of overtaking opportunities, which loses it a mark or two, but maybe those crudely drawn arrows are pointing in the wrong direction after all. The lack of passing spots also wouldn’t be a problem in a test, so a Yiksvohcair event would be a big win in my eyes.
Rating: 8/10

Mid-Season Test 2: Circuit d’Ares, Île Saint-Joseph
https://i.imgur.com/gVSx2BE.png
Quite why the hairy street circuit/ultra-vanilla purpose-built circuit hybrid of the Circuit d’Ares is being used as a testing circuit, only the WGPC will be able to tell you. What I’m here to tell you is whether it would be better backwards and the answer to that is ‘gahhh, maybe’.
The first point to make is that most of the already limited runoff available is now completely redundant and so there is literally no margin for error, even on the purpose-built side of the causeway. That makes pretty much every corner with a fast build up pants-wettingly scary and would give the WGPC’s already overworked health and safety crew nightmares.
Derniere would probably be a slightly saner start to the race than La Herse, although the usually unremarkable remainder of the purpose-built section is made slightly spicier by the walls on the exit of Stands and Frontiere. Things really get crazy when the lap crosses back onto the island however.
On paper, Marche is an easier overtaking chance than La Herse. In practice, it’s narrow, bumpy and has a massive wall right behind it, so you’d have to be pretty ballsy to give it a go. Falaise is the one corner that becomes safer backwards, although Tanneur feels more natural coming before Basilique. The run down into turn 15, with the kink just before, makes it a certain lock up and crash site (talking from personal experience here). The downhill run through Frene, Sentinel and Impots is also pretty fun down the slope.
The uphill run through 4 and 5 is less hairy backwards, but the crest just after makes change-monnaie an actual corner and one which is very easy to take late and crash at. La Herse, presumably named because that’s the vehicle you leave in if you crash there, is also terrifyingly brilliant down the hill.
To summarise, a reversed Circuit d’Ares is a great simulator circuit, a deadly actual circuit and a really bad place to hold a test.
Rating: 6/10

So that pantheon of wackiness brings us to the end of the first half of the CPGW season. Fancy finding out what the rest are like? Just really bored because the actual season is still in testing? Join us soon for part 2.

[Diarcesia]

Early 20^th Century

Aldauren hummed the anthem of the Monarchy, Diarcesians Here, Now, and Forever, for the first time. For him, it was a glorious arrangement, with many notes that were unintelligible to the ancients but pleasing to his ears. He had grown to love this place from the bottom of his heart and made this fact known to his parents. This time, he would stay in one place for the long run. In the time since his most recent win with the horseless carriages, he had amassed a great many followers, all eager to be near the maverick who broke speed records.

Aldauren Ginintella was an elf who chose his words carefully but wouldn't suffer personal inquiries. Sometimes, he liked to joke that his tongue was his hardest weapon, because it could be just as deadly as a weapon of war. In addition to his tongue, he was armed with pen and paper, but he was not a politician, and never had been. He was no House Councilor, emperor, and certainly not an Hortator. And yet, he had become something of a lord of great importance in his own plane of Oblivion: the emergent realm of motorsports.

He was truly shocked to see the support he had amassed and come to depend upon. Some of his kin had been rallying behind him, whether from across the sea or not. His newfound fame had been noticed by Diarcesia's automakers and he had been given a great many gifts. What was next for him? Become a household name? A member of the sporting pantheon? One day, he told himself, he would return to his homeland, and he would put what he had to good use.

---

Cocoabo Expo: Day Three

For Aldauren, lap 12 made him take a deep breath. He was about to make an important decision as to how to tackle the remainder of the sprint race. He wasn't supposed to be here. As luck would have it, Cocoabo #23's special car freed up one extra driver to join the race, who happened to be himself. Further events like Goita's departure to take Viska's seat and the availability of yet another car gave Charyseine Valkyria and Athan Lille second chances, too.

With the exception of lap 12, everything went according to plan for him as lap 18 began. Adriana Kowalski zoomed past him in lap 12 and claimed the fastest lap, causing the elf to make a minor mistake as surprise took him. It was a shame she got retired on the next. She must have demanded too much out of the car.

He hoped to get at least to the top three, where the likes of R. L. Cruisin hang out. He didn't make it that far. He managed to keep up with Sara during her climb from P7, but he lost his momentum and Sara just kept chugging ahead—and further from him.

At least he finished. Over the course of lap 18, he would see and overtake the smoking form of Daryl Mizushima's car and gain a few more places ahead. Talk about bad luck for the pole sitter. He had the talent to be in the WGPC and taking the pole from one of the resident cocoabos was a gutsy move.

Aldauren grinned as the final lap was around the corner. It was great to see himself about to complete the trials with a good pace. He took a breather as he neared the finish line. P8.

Was it good enough for the teams? An honest assessment showed it would necessitate several drivers opting for other teams for him to get a remote chance for that coveted spot. If not, he still had options. He wouldn't mind being a WGPC test driver, and there was that open team principal offer back home.

For the rest of the event, he ate his lunch at a neatly tucked corner of the cafeteria and mingled with the team representatives and the other drivers. He congratulated Cocoabo #23, Sara, and Cruisin. He afterwards went to Daryl and Adriana to compliment their pole and fastest lap achievements, respectively, and commiserate on their unfortunate retirements.

---

Week Two: Test Session Two

Prior to the session, Gregori emailed her to talk about how they did yesterday. Sara had agreed to do runs with him together in their test facility when they get the chance. That would be a great opportunity to discuss their different options available in the middle of a race.

Now that they hit the Kauralahti Circuit again, Sara and Gregori's Mark I cars were separated by a few hundred feet. Gregori had to pit at the 23^rd minute, leaving room for Sara's engineer to tell her to floor it and see how fast the car could go. The WGPC works engine gladly obliged. Sara could tell that it was happy to lend its power to the Mark I. The engine was a simple but efficient one, putting out a steady stream of horsepower. The engineers kept a close eye on its telemetry to check on where they could make additional tweaks to give them a further edge. Sara's engineer was pleased to learn that she managed to finish the lap in 1:15.456.

Soon after rejoining Gregori after his pit stop, she noticed that he was running a bit faster today. Both were intensely focused; their eyes weren't off the race track if they could help it. The Kauralahti International Circuit was a fast course and it was easy to reach insane speeds. Both cars seemed to make the most of their tires. As the latter part of the session approached, Gregori’s car upped its pace, gaining on Sara’s. They both reached top speed at the DRS Zone Two after a perfect exit from Koivu. They were dialed in. The Mark I showed that they have an edge here yet again.

After the session, Sara's fastest lap attempt placed her second. Gregori put out a much slower fastest lap. He did tell her that he felt rusty. They should be able to discuss this session in a retrospective meeting later.

---

Volkov Racing HQ
Post-WGPC Test Two

Link

As Gregori and Sara entered the workshop, they saw for the first time the finalized livery of their Mark II cars. Sara was pleasantly surprised with how this particular paint scheme worked in the metal. It seemed as if a new layer had been added to the racing experience. It was a clean and efficient use of space.

Sara didn't know what the new livery might be called but she was certain it was a step in the right direction. With the third test event looming, she would later learn that the sound of the retuned engines was more pronounced and the movement of the Mark II more refined.

The two soon decided that the most effective use of the time they had left would be to put their knowledge of the Mark I and II cars into practice. They would work on the car and chassis over on the test track, a place that demanded a tight balance of performance and efficiency.

Here in Sorlovia, they also had time to reflect on what they had seen from the first two tests. They had pushed the Mark I hard even if these events were practice sessions, just to make sure that the car was tuned to them and the engineers' satisfaction. The two would continue to do so in their bid to put their best foot forward in the season proper.

Come the Grand Prix of Turori, Sara would be evaluated if Volkov made the right choice for her. For sure, it would be hard and she couldn't afford to hold back.

[Valentine Z]

Post 4 – Outcome not too good!

Adriana was definitely out for that race, but she certainly did not finish it without making a mark of herself. For one, come Lap 12, she clocked the fastest lap time of the race session. She was a bit saddened that she retired in the middle of the race, but it could have been worse – did not finish many laps to make an impact on something, or retiring just before a finish. Jolyn had that problem before back in WGP2, and so did Daryl from another country. The fastest lap was something of a personal accomplishment that Adriana held pride over, despite the fact that she was a little disappointed over the DNF (or the Retirement, as it was called in Grand Prix). It could have been a worst day ever, but Adriana being herself, decided to head over to the nearest park and interacted with a few Cocoabos there. They have been particularly friendly, as friendly as animals and people alike can be towards someone who is 22 feet tall. There was even one particular moment whereby a Cocoabo approached her and embraced her.

“Hm hm, well aren’t you the cute one!” Adriana squeaked, despite her stature. She pet it gently, followed by feeding some food to it. After all that was done, she proceeded to check her email in her mind.

“Oooh, a new mail!” she thought to herself, automating her walking process as she gets out of the park and was writing a reply.

To: Johan Struna
From: Adriana Kowalski Faith (adriana_kowalski_faith@valentine_z_official.vz)
BCC: Valentijn Maxwell Constantine, Clarissa Alanis Star, Jolyn Helen Ceeta, Jamie Izabella Lizbeth Eirian, Gwen Tracer Allison, Valentina Freya Yadana Aye
Subject: RE: Possible Testing Opportunity, MRT

Good day to you!

I have received your email regarding this opportunity, and I would like to thank you for this! With that, I will be confirming my attendance to the private testing session at the Kopylov InterNazionRing.

Thank you very much, and Best Regards! ^^
- Adriana Kowalski Lillian

That puts it at that, Adriana thought to herself. She was still wondering about her application to Fireline, but perhaps it was just that they have not replied to her just yet. Patience would be the key to these things, but at the same time, the wait has been nerving her in a slightest bit. She went back to her lounge, thinking hard about her possible outcomes and what she would need to do following all of that. A conversation with Angeline and Angela regarding her recent failure on the track helped things in a way, since it was best to talk about such a thing.

“I think I could work slightly better than this if I can tap into the vehicle’s sensors,” Adriana remarked to her two friends, who have been sitting and listening to her for a while as the conversation went on, “All the data and information about the roads are okay, but at the end of the day, I still need to know how the tires are doing, the engine status, and all that.”

“Don’t they already have that on your steering wheel, though? All the info you need!” Angeline asked, genuinely unsure.

“Oh, well… maybe deeper information. You know how it went with Clarissa and her stock car. Yeap, same principle! I need much more data than this, data that most people won’t need, or can’t work with.”

“That is pretty awesome!”

“So… what do you want to do now?” Angela asked, “I would like to spend maybe a day or just today here, if that’s all right.”

“Yeah, I don’t see why not. I have nothing planned for now as well. No other races to go to unless I got reply emails. In the meantime, I personally would like to interact with the folks around me!”

---

As Adriana leaves her lounge, there was a certain group of individuals that she is extremely curious and would like to talk to. Hapilopperians, perhaps, but she figured that she would talk to them some other time. It would be those robots that seems to be talking with a series of colors. The 189, as they would be called, it seems.

Relying on her navigational skills on top of the temporary signage, Adriana made her way to the lounge that The 189 might be in, provided that they have not left Cocoabo to go to another place. Unable to speak their language despite knowing the mechanics behind it, Adriana slowly knocked on the door, introducing herself.

“Hello there! I am Adriana Kowalski! From Valentine Z! I err… I was wondering if you guys would be free for a chat! Nothing important, really!”

She would then use her right hand to emit a constant white light, not so much to blind someone, but rather at an attempt at communication. With her being able to manipulate light, and with The 189 using lights as communication, perhaps this might just be the perfect match of a conversation.

[Auruna]

Lÿntere, Auruna
After the Cocoabo Test

"It was difficult to drive those cars when you're used to those endurance ones but in the end, it was fun. I want to drive them again."

Kinu's mind keeps telling him the same thing. Over and over again. He couldn't get over the feeling of driving a WGPC car especially in race conditions. With only a few seats left open, chances are slim but still, there's a chance... right?

Yeah... there's still a chance.

He reaches out to the remaining teams yet to have a full lineup, again. This time, he's not going to ignore any offers given to him. He wants to drive again. He wants to experience that feeling again.

The next day, he wakes up. Looks like it's going to be a pretty normal day. He checks his phone and notices a message. "One unread message..." It might just be some random message from one of his friends until he notices "...from Lukas Ziuvin - Mate, I'll be waiting for you in vc, take your time."

"Wait what..? What's happening?"

He quickly grabs a snack and coffee then heads to his computer. Opens his chat app then joins the voice channel where Lukas is waiting in... along with three other drivers.

"Oh hey, Lumi's here."

"Ah hey.. uh, what the hell is happening? Why did you message me?"

"Imagine being a driver and a race engineer at the same time, sounds fun."

"Wait.. don't tell me."

"Lukas Ziuvin, endurance driver and race engineer here, haha.

"Whoa, they allow it?"

"Yeah."

"That's great! Haha"

"I'll try to be your race engineer when you land a drive for a team."

"There's not much choices left here. You know, the driver market here is different from the usual. It's crazier than here for sure."

"Heh, yeah."

The conversation continues, now the three others, Laura Haukanna, Ivan Könä, and Aira Ekeränna, joined in. It might take them a while to eventually finish. Just give them some time.

[The 189]

-------- was not troubled by the size of the Valentians. In fact, she did not know it was out of the ordinary. She assumed they were simply another breed of humans commonly found on Earth. The ship was floating off the shore of the Cocoabo Park waiting for -------- and ----- to return from the park when Adriana approached. The ship and the other machines who had already returned saw her walk up the gangway and tap at the door the way humans liked to do when they approached a building.

------, ------, ----------, and -------- flickered at each other:

"Who is that?"

"She looks familiar. I saw her at the track."

"Is it one of the racing drivers?"

"Yes, she was driving a car."

"I think she's curious about the ship."

"Maybe she wants to work with us?"

"Let's find out why she is here."

The smaller machines stood some distance back from the hatch as it opened, giving themselves time to react if Adriana made an aggressive move -- but none of them were holding weapons. -------- and ------ waved hello while ------ reached for an Earth-made tablet that had a microphone for taking dictation. The tablet's software sometimes had trouble separating voices from the background noise of the 189's fans and engines, but it would be better than nothing. ------ was turning on the tablet and looking for the app it wanted, when it was interrupted by a long flare of white light. It looked up from the tablet, startled. Did the Valentians have a light-based language? Adriana didn't seem to be using any of the familiar languages of -----, but she was using light, and that was very interesting. The long white light looked a little like the word for 100 or a double zero in a longer number, or maybe the number 9 if someone was trying to be seen over a long distance. The machines were not sure what she was trying to tell them.

So far, ------ only knew of one light-based language native to Earth -- using flashes of light to communicate in Morse code. It didn't seem to widely used, but the machine thought it was worth a try to see if Adriana understood it. It flashed out in a very pale yellow, not quite white, but almost: "Hello. Do you understand this?"

[Filindostan]

Badai Angin Tim Motorsport Headquarters
Yogyakulta International Circuit
Yogyakulta, Pelita Raya Island, Filindostan

After the second set of test sessions in Savojarna, the team went to a detour in Yogyakulta first before flying off to Esmerel where the final set of pre-season testing sessions will take place. Rudolf has received a call from Joko saying that the team, including their drivers Alex and Rusty, is required to go back to Filindostan for an emergency meeting. Dolf was very anxious with the news, the team having been disappointing in the eyes of the media after a dismal last session in the Kauralahti International Circuit, where the two finished 21st and 19th places respectively. The emergency meeting might have meant that he and his team personnel could be replaced months before the season opener in Turori. He was already used to scenarios like these, as when he was previously in Kissan, Tsutomu Sugiyama usually give threats to him whether his demands are not met, like when they scrambled to look for a driver to complete their lineup prior to the pre-season test. Despite what the timesheet may say, the two had a fairly quiet session pouring a good number of laps in the BAP002 machine and the team seems to have sorted out the issues they had with Rusty's car in the first session of the Xanneria pre-season test.

Rudolf met with the entire team when Joko arrived to pull him for a one-on-one. "Hey Dolf, I will need to tell this to you first before announcing it to the team. You're..."

The team boss interjected, trying to confirm his worst fears. "...fired? replaced?"

"Ah no, Dolf, why you are thinking of that? I can see that we aren't pushing too hard in the Savojarna session as probably with the other teams. See, our sponsors wanted us to present the final livery of the car and they hope to see it in Esmerel. That was the condition on their title sponsorship without changing much of the color of the livery we have prior to the signing. What I was saying is you're going to need to present it this weekend. It doesn't need to be elaborate and costly, and we can do a press release with the car at the track tomorrow. We do not have time to do reservations, contact event organizers and such."

"I thought we would have to delay the launch until the first practice session at Turori?"

"Our guys at Descension did a good job in the data recovery of the blueprint of the final livery when you guys were away. Because of them, we were able to paint the cars with the blueprint soon."

"Okay then, Sir Joko."

"We should be back to the team and meet the staff."

that weekend

Dolf, Bryant, and Eko contacted media outlets and select personnel from their sponsors for the semi-private launch of the BAP002. He also told his drivers to arrive an hour before the press conference, which Alex did, but Rusty only arrived 30 minutes before the start, and earned a mouthful from his father. The ex-MRT and Eelandii VTGP driver had slept late due to jet lags and a online event as part of his obligations with his personal sponsors, but Dolf was having none of it.

The presscon started with the three sitting in a press room inside the circuit and the car under wraps just outside the room. Similar set of sponsors as of last season had their logos shown in the backdrop and in the projector, along with other new sponsors, along with the large logos of Telebuenas MotoMo'To! lingering and a larger duration in the projector. Rudolf started with the presentation of sponsors:
- Yogyakulta Tourism Board, the city's organization that mainly focuses on the tourism and beautification of Yogyakulta, which bares plans to make a new airport and a technology park to be built near the Yogyakulta International Circuit
- Cepat, oil and fuel brand from Petrofilindo, which also sponsors the Filindostani Grand Prix at Round 7 of the WGPC.
- Descension, a local BPO company which focuses on delivering different technologies. Most of the teams' engineers and support staff of the team were outsourced by this company, and thus its logo are incorporated in the car.
- Jaganya, a Filindostani food and nutrition company, carrying over their sponsorship from the KISMO team last season.
- Solymok, a Gergarian tyre company supplying the team's tyres for at least three WGPC seasons.
- Masayabee, a local fastfood chain known for their delicious Filindo Spaghetti, Mi Goreng, and Fried Chicken.
- Zalada, an online shopping service which is known for holding sales (the 4.4 Sale and the 8.3 Sale dedicated for the NSSCRA operation's car number (#83)). And finally, the title sponsor;
- Telebuenas MotoMo'To!, a Hispino telecommunication company, with the MotoMo'To brand launch specifically in Filindostani market for mobile phones, WiFi pocket mobile, and other telecommunication devices.

He thanked the sponsors first before announcing the launch of the car, in which a car covered in blue clothing was presented. But not before announcing the two drivers that will be driving for this season:
- Alex Dimitrianov (#42), Mattijanan WGPC veteran in his sixth season and his second season with the team. Started his career at SinoMotors Racing, and had racing stints at MRT, Fireline, and McPahan Racing. Finished 3rd in the WGPC 17 Drivers' Championship and helped Badai Angin capture 3rd in the Constructors' Championship. Currently has three race wins under his belt and eight podium finishes.
- Rustom "Rusty" Ibuna (#71), Sangtian-Filindostani/Fil-Sangtian WGPC driver in his third season and his first season with the team. Started his career at Mattijana Racing Team (MRT), and had stints at Eelandii VTGP. Finished 9th in the WGPC 17 Drivers' Championship. Helped MRT capture the Constructor's Championship in WGPC 16. Currently has one race win under his belt and four podium finishes.

Before unwrapping the car outside the press room, The team entertained questions from the media:

Journalist: Sources from the timesheets at Savojarna pre-season test show that the team might experience a second season syndrome and struggle this season. Any thoughts on this?
Rudolf: We wish not to dig deeper on that, in pre-season testing, every team may or may not show their cards pretty early in this season, so you can say that's what we probably did in that session. You can see that this is not the case though in the first three sessions, so nothing is certain until the first five red lights go out in Turori.

Journalist: Rumors have swirled that Rusty have negotiated a contract to drive for Badai Angin this season as early as after the Filindostan Grand Prix last season. Could you shed more light on this?
Rudolf: I'd rather not answer the question. If that's what happened then we should try to make these negotiations on bunkers or underground, right?

Journalist: You were able to confirm your driver lineup so soon in the offseason. May we know why?
Rudolf: We targeted to be stable after the end of last season. Although an option to keep Carsten (O'Rourke) in the team for this season can be explored, the availability of Rusty and the willingness of Alex to continue with the WGPC project made us decide to confirm the lineup early in order for us also to prepare for a championship fight this season.

Journalist: Were there other options should Rusty remained in Eelandii VTGP this season or both drivers not continuing this season?
Rudolf: We could have an option to promote Dom (Falepeau) to the 2nd driver seat this season as we were impressed with his showing in the past WGP2 competition, and with the amount of WGP2 drivers signing up, we had planned to sign anyone of them in case the lineup was not secured. But here we are, Dimitrianov and Ibuna looked a solid lineup.

Journalist: Where do you put yourselves this season?
Rudolf: With many new teams in this season, and based on where we finished last season, I can say we will contend for the title, we just need to sustain what we started in the beginning of last season and we faltered and allowed Terho Talvela and the TRAE team to run away with the championship.

Journalist: Which of the new teams you think will make an impression this season?
Rudolf: I'm looking at Preston, SVJ, and Volkov. Many would have raised their eyebrows at the Preston's advert in their team launch and they could be under pressure to perform well. The two ex-MRT drivers last season now had their own national teams, and in case of SVJ signed a controversial figure in Kitti Armbruster. Volkov would perform well but time will tell if Gregori Krupin will succeed in his first season as Number 1 driver.

Journalist: Which teams do you think will contend for this season's constructors' championship?
Rudolf: TRAE will be there for sure, they will be hungry to retain both championships, and they kept both drivers. Same with Nexus Racing. MRT, let's see but they were always there competing even with an unproven lineup, like in WGPC14 and WGPC16. And of course, our team.

Journalist: Who is your bet for the drivers' title come the finale at Mattijana?
Rudolf: I could say the calendar would be music to Alex Dimitrianov's ears. With the last two races in Liventia, which he won and dominated last season, and his home race, look for him to try to win it. But he will need to perform to expectations in the first rounds before arriving to that point.

Journalist: How about Rusty? Will you employ team orders and what do you do in case both drivers are in contention or only Rusty will be in contention at that point?
Rudolf: I think Rusty understand his role in the team this season, is to help the team win the Constructors' title. He can provide the points we need, but he understands that Alex is the main man of our team right now. We will do our best to achieve it and employ appropriate measures in case something not in the script occurs.

Finally, Rudolf accompanied the guests to the the area just outside the room where the car under blankets were stationed. Alex and Rusty slowly unwrapped the car.

The very next day, the team flew to Esmerel for the final pre-season testing sessions there. The team as Badai Angin has never run at the Forest Cross Raceway's old configuration, so it will be a new experience to the team, but the drivers already raced at the venue with the latest during the sixteenth season of the WGPC.

[Liventia]

Week 3: Test session 1

Conditions:      	Rainy
Lap Record:      	00:01:45.500
Session Length:	 	180 minutes
Nation:         	ESM
Circuit:        	Forest Cross National Raceway
Event:	        	Praesidium Bank Pre-Season Test of Esmerel

Drivers have 180 minutes to complete as many laps of the track as they like.

POS # DRIVER                   	FASTEST LAP	GAP TO LEADER
 1 56 Terho Talvela            	00:02:05.219	00:00:00.000
 2  7 Abdoulaye Goita          	00:02:05.332	00:00:00.113
 3 25 Gregori Krupin           	00:02:05.502	00:00:00.283
 4 37 Niklas Schonbaum         	00:02:05.535	00:00:00.316
 5 19 Dom Falepeau             	00:02:05.567	00:00:00.348
 6 12 Anneliese Devereux       	00:02:05.630	00:00:00.410
 7 94 Ryker Lane               	00:02:05.650	00:00:00.431
 8 22 Jasmin Kranjska          	00:02:05.672	00:00:00.453
 9 71 Rustom Ibuna             	00:02:05.704	00:00:00.485
10 42 Alex Dimitrianov         	00:02:05.769	00:00:00.550
11 47 Erica Okumura            	00:02:05.808	00:00:00.589
12 85 Olivia Stone             	00:02:06.072	00:00:00.853
13 52 Sayono Souzare           	00:02:06.107	00:00:00.888
14 51 R.L. Cuisin              	00:02:06.217	00:00:00.997
15 41 Jean Mercer-Daly         	00:02:06.237	00:00:01.018
16 28 Sara Luna                	00:02:06.283	00:00:01.064
17 46 Kitti Armbruster         	00:02:06.626	00:00:01.407
18 77 iBen Toralmintii         	00:02:06.657	00:00:01.438
19  8 William Archer           	00:02:06.844	00:00:01.625
20 50 Rudy Edwards             	00:02:06.912	00:00:01.693
21 14 Sigur Bjarnason          	00:02:07.026	00:00:01.806

[Aboveland]

Cocoabo Park, Cocoabo Forest
October 21st

Fucking bullshit. Janne broods, swerving across the Cocoabo Park circuit between turns three and four. He checks his mirrors periodically, so as to not run into anybody in his furious fit of reckless, discontent driving, and pumps the throttle on his way around turns five and six towards the far side of the racetrack.

Fucking… fucking shit fuck, assholes!, he mutters. What the fuck do they think I am? He lets out a grunt, audible through his helmet, and pauses frigidly for a moment as the fact that the connection between him and the pitwall is both uncensored and out of his control comes back to him. He remembers, however, that unlike what he’d thought nobody back at the pitwall actually knew him, despite his connection to TRÆ and their connection to Tropicorp. The way he’d been sent off, completely alone, to the Cocoabo Trials was, to him, nothing short of disgraceful. Sure, Terho had been all smiles and ‘good lucks’, but there was no way in hell that would make up for this, for sending him off alone somewhere he’d never been before, meeting people he’d never met before, racing a car he’d never seen before on a track he’d never heard of before. He’d been really, genuinely hurt by the fact he wasn’t tagging along to the pre-season tests; sure, he’d apparently go to the actual races with the team, but he feels, at the very best, insulted. Though he’s not one to stay angry for long, he does hold grudges and, surely, this would be a terrible footnote to his relationship with Terho and Edvin.

As he goes through the esses before making his way onto the final leg of the track, he also remembers his second contract with Nexus. Shit, he mutters to himself, thinking out loud. He’d been de facto brought into TRÆ’s sphere of influence following his lackluster WGP2 III campaign with the Nimban outfit, believing he was off the cards at the Wardship; however, right as he’d begun burrowing his way into the TRÆ ladder, he got a call from Nexus reaffirming his commitment. And, being the anxious idiot he is, he clearly said yes, of course, that’s still on, and effectively committed to being the protege of two different teams. And all that for a fifteenth placed driver?

***
Janne bites his lip, hard, blowing through his teeth and pronouncing the beginning of the expletive he’d used abundantly in his head throughout the qualifying session. Only a tenth and a hundredth lay between him and the expo race and, just like that, he was out for the remainder of the event. He looks beside him at the drivers--most human, one a bird and the other a cutesy little sentient trash bin--who’d done their runs alongside them, sees the looks of either joy or despair on their faces, and walks back towards the wall at the back of the room to sulk onto the plushy lobby-like chairs, hands thrust in his pockets, shoulders up to his ears and hair down below his eyes. As he takes a deep breath and blows into the collar of his overalls, he hears the metallic clack of the robot’s footsteps traverse the room, and the paddock goes quiet as the second set of drivers begin to leave the garage.

It’s a while before the room is filled with chatter, the whirrs of wheel guns and a series of frantic exclamations with both good and bad news again as the twenty allotted minutes for the second group comes to an end. Janne remains hidden under his damp, sweat-firm hair, his elbows pressed into his sides, when suddenly the air bubble around him is disturbed, and the set of lobby chairs shifts a few centimeters with the brunt of the collapse of another human upon them. The other human’s sigh and, shortly afterwards, dense, heavy breathing, plus the wafting musk of qualifying-session x cologne, indicates they’re sat right beside him and, judging by the scent, male.

The presumed male clicks his tongue in discontent. “Shit sucks, huh,” they mutter, seemingly to himself. A couple of droplets of liquid land on Janne’s hands, presumably sweat ejected from a disappointed head shake. He winces.

“Loser’s bench for you too?” says the voice, and after a second passes where nobody else replies, Janne assumes the question is directed at him. “Uhh,” he stalls, buying himself time to incorporate himself and not seem too rude. “Yeah, P8 for me,” he says, and as he parts the hair away from his eyes, it strikes him. He gasps, not audibly, but to the extent that a small bit of spit shoots into the wrong pipe, and he breaks into a coughing fit. Fuck! Janne thinks to himself, now desperately trying to get a grip of himself. It’s Chars Valkyria! He’s actually fucking hot!

As his coughing fit continues, he glances over to his side to see if he’d yet scared the vlogger-man away. Thus far, after a few sustained rounds of agony, the Twicetagrian remained seated next to him.


Forest Cross Raceway
Vertress, Rainer, Esmerel
October 25th

"Okay, that's the start of the quali run," communicates Edvin.

Terho cracks a single knuckle before gripping the steering wheel before the braking zone into turn one, peeping his onboard screen before lurching onto the left pedal. P9, so far, not great, yet not terrible.

It's four downshifts from eighth gear, his left middle finger hovering over the paddle, for the hairpin at turn one, now banked at the new look Forest Cross Raceway. Halfway through the turn he's back on the power, the sequential turbos spooling further and the aerodynamic bodywork squatting biased towards the rear, before a tap on the brakes gets him into the apex of turn two. He feathers the right pedal again before turn three, the wings relaxing, surgically touching its apex and going full throttle again towards turn five, where he throws the car into the corner before another squirt towards six. Here, the first breather of the lap, sacrificing speed on entry to launch away towards the Pin of Bravery. Around the two hairpins, AGP003 complies, complementing the Abovian's inputs, giving a little more toe in on the inside wheels and softening the rear to transfer the power back on throttle application, its winglets making infinitesimal electrical adjustments to the chippy chirp of its motors.

The V8 pops, then roars, out of turn eight, Terho flooring the throttle before the second late apex and flowing right out of the slight left towards turn nine. Here, he'd love to state that he pauses to think for a moment--there are no moments for thinking on a racetrack--, as he pulls to the right to take the new turn nine flat. The run up to the turn brings with it, initially, a warm pang of fear, but as he hits the apex and follows through it turns into pride, quiet and measured. He'd been told during the track walk earlier in the day that the reprofiled turn nine had been named Talvela, in his honor, and following his horrific season 16 accident; his reaction to the news had been one of shock, almost disbelief, and he still struggled to comprehend how he'd really made it so far so as to have a corner named after him. It was, in fact, an honor reserved for only the most significant actors in motorsport, a place where only legends belonged to have them immortalized, their legacies kept alive for decades once their primes were up. It felt like far too much, in all honesty, but he wasn’t about to suggest the decision was reversed.

He’s also flat through turn ten, his bottom closer to the ground on that one, the winglets working overtime to get AGP003 through the corner on rails, before the tricky braking zone into the Serpent’s Fork. Out of the complex, he rockets through the second tunnel crossing of the track, his machine spitting out sparks of Tungsten, hurtling the car towards turn 16 and braking hard again, pointed towards the outside of the track and, with a delicate balancing act of the throttle and the left pedal, through the new Rebirth chicane.

He’s through the final crossover of the track, the monstrous yet crafted roar of the Tropicorp powerplant reverberating in the chamber and coming through his helmet, and brakes a tad--two downshifts--for the Gigaspoon-replacing esses. Left, right, left, on the power, and another two downshifts with a stiffer tap of the brakes to circumvent the centrifuge and hammer his foot down along the kilometer-and-then-some main straight. Barreling down the circuit, the V8 howls beyond the forest, emitting a booming warning to its rivals; Terho, halfway down the straight, takes a deep breath and exclaims a barely audible “whoof”. He brakes hard as ever into turn 21, AGP003’s brakes screeching in agony, and squirts off towards turns 22 and the entry to the final tunnel of the circuit. Once he’s out, a final heavy braking zone leads into a set of double chicanes before the final run up to the start finish line.

“P1, excellent,” says Edvin, until then having remained silent. Terho chuckles. “Showing the rookies who’s boss, eh?” he comments.

A couple of laps later, Terho’s back in the paddock, as his testing stint comes to an end. He parks AGP003 square on the tarp, undoes his belts, and stands to arch backwards, pulling one hand down with the other by the fingers to stretch out his body. With a spring in his step, he hops out of his seat, cracks his wrists, and heads to meet with Edvin while undoing his helmet. Aada, sitting beside Edvin, takes the Abovian’s balaclava and helmet with her. Terho nods upwards once, looking at Edvin, which is a notice enough to begin the debriefing. Edvin agrees, collects his notebook and clipboard, and signals Terho to follow him towards the back of the garage.

“Right,” the team principal says, setting down his things on a small table and flopping into a lawn chair beside it. “Just a quick recap for now, because we’ve still got the test tomorrow before we can wrap things up.” He looks towards the garage opening for iBen Toralmintii before continuing, answering his own concerns out loud. “I’ll have to talk this over with iBen later.”

“So,” he begins, flicking his clipboard with his fingers, “we’re going to focus on doing longer runs tomorrow, trying to get some more data on the tyres and the engine when it runs for an extended period of time. This track is quite perfect for stress testing. Today’s pace was very much encouraging; nice run out there.”

“Thanks,” replies Terho, almost sheepishly. He smiles to himself, sure that Edvin won’t see him as he looks back down at his notes. The corner name, though such a small detail in the grand scheme of things, really did mean a lot to him.

“Anyway, Xanneria was useful to tweak the rear suspension bits, and Savojarna served to calibrate the aero devices properly,” continues Edvin. “Did you feel the improvement?” Terho nods. “The dynamic brake balance is really great, especially when it works with the aero,” he says. “But does the override still work?”

“Mhm,” hums the team principal. He shuffles through his clipboard for a moment. “I’ve got not much more to say, really,” he concludes, though as he starts gathering his things to meet back with the Vilita and Turori contingent, Terho pulls on the cuff of his shirt. “Wait,” he says, “who’s looking the quickest of the others? Badai Angin?”

Edvin smirks. He puckers his lips, then opens his mouth as he inhales to begin speaking, but stops himself as the first sound sputters from his throat. “You better worry about everyone,” he declares, walking away towards the garage and leaving Terho greatly unsatisfied.

He rolls his eyes, mutters a playful insult under his breath, and begins making his way towards the showers. As he picks up his duffel bag, he pulls up his phone. He types ‘Saunas in Vertress,’ into the browser, taps the first option, and chucks the phone back down into his bag as he takes a deep breath and grins blissfully. I’ve waited so long; just two more days and we’re back in business, he thinks, as the little anxious gremlin which lives nestled snugly between his ribs and his stomach awakes from its slumber.

[Diarcesia]

Praesidium Bank Pre-Season Test of Esmerel
Test Session One

The start of the test was delayed by half an hour due to a thunderstorm which hit large parts of Rainier Province. By the time the cars rolled out, the course had been thoroughly drenched. The drivers took extra care on not getting their cars wrecked.

The rainy conditions affected visibility, but drivers were able to cope. Normally, one might not see a wet race, but in the case of Forest Cross, this is where you'll get one of the best chances of encountering this situation.

The first section of the track allowed for fast speeds, although Sara wasn't able to get to that point. The rain made sure of that.

"It's raining like hell," Sara radioed to her engineer. "Visibility's not where I want them to be. You would want to see these giant puddles!"

"Yeah, I know that," her engineer replied. "But it's a test. Let's see how well the Mark II does here. This is different from artificially creating wet conditions in tracks."

"Yeah, it's a different ballgame", said Sara. "But I think we can do okay. Thanks for the advice."

She took the Mark II through the Serpent's Fork to get a better feel of the course. The Mark II deviated from the racing line after exiting the first few corners. It was then that the rain started again.

"Holy heck, this is bad", Sara said to her engineer in a more serious tone. "Looks like the track didn't want to let us get on a roll."

Meanwhile, her teammate Gregori was doing well, and Sara's engineer was aware of the this. He had a better grasp with the dynamics of a WGPC-spec car in the rain, and with the circuit in particular.

"Seems that the braking of the car is a wee bit off from the simulations if I have to go through consecutive corners," she added.

"Copy that, Sara. We might've set it too sensitively for you. Try stepping on it more lightly."

"Will do."

It helped, though Sara had to enter corners at a lower speed than before. In her first WGPC foray in a wet event, Sara had to make some adjustments in her driving. Compared to her previous drives, this one had extra grip and power provided. Even if she was making headway in getting used to it, this was no complete proficiency.

Like what she found in the test facility, the Mark II was responsive, and Sara let off a quick sigh of a breath. She hadn't been in this much rain for a long time, and yet the speeds involved made sure that virtually no droplets hit her or her helmet. That was impressive.

At their meeting later, Gregori commented on her performance and Sara complimented him on his fastest lap that placed him third.

"I can still get better at this", Sara said. "What are some of your wet driving secrets?"

---

Aldauren,

I've got news for you...

I hope you find some time in your day to read everything I've sent. It's long and it's serious. It concerns the future of our potential race team and maybe the company's motorsports destiny.

Ideally, I wish for your return to Pryfors Bilar. I have a lot of confidence in your ability to run the team.

As you know, I've been working on a few things over the last few months. These include bringing a little more focus to training staff and people who would determine device selection tools. I also spoke with some of the Viska people if we could come to an agreement that what we'll create would become their junior team in the WGP2. If we can't, we can always learn through trial and error.

With that said, I wanted to reach out to you again in the hope that you'd work with us. If you so desire, we can hold a meeting at my house and discuss the particulars.

More information regarding our team preparations are enclosed in the accompanying documents.

Sincerely,
Siv Ingesson
CEO, Pryfors Bilar

---

Get Good? Fans React to Preston Team Reveal

Watch the video here

Much discussion was spread in the wake of Preston Auto Grand Prix Racing's PGP-01 car reveal event. In his presentation, Marty Lewis touted the capabilities of their latest WGPC cars and confidently named their driver Rudy Edwards "the next World Grand Prix champion." This and the accompanying materials sparked debate among fans, journalists, and those who believed Preston's statements were poorly timed.

Some pundits praised Preston for pushing the envelope in competitiveness to the next level and for being unabashed in their innovation.

For some others, it was an unwelcome break from the norm. It felt like another example of how corporations hype up their products only to falter over time.

"It feels provocative, definitely", said Marah Pearce, a journalist who covered the event. "Preston Autos is really proud of achieving a WGPC berth. With the resources they had, they had successfully produced a car that they call the fastest Preston ever. They pulled all the stops to surprise us with something new and exciting."

She also pointed to the advertisement the team published about the PGP-01, imagining it as another car that can be bought from a dealership, containing features like "no AC" and "1000 horsepower". And then it follows up by saying, "[y]ou won't see this one at your local Preston dealer - instead, you'll see it driven by HCS Champion Rudy Edwards and William Archer from Abanhfleft in the toughest racing series in the multiverse - the World Grand Prix Championship."

In another advertisement for Good Motor Oil that features the PGP-01, a less charitable reading of Good's marketing slogan placed at the wing tells drivers left behind to "get good."

"We saw the power of Preston's latest technology in action", Marah added. "Power from the Skychief V6."

---

Diarcesian WGP3 History: Bryansk-Kasztamierzski Circuit Masters GP3

The Preyfan Wall divides the Bryansk-Kasztamierzski Circuit to eastern and western halves. The eastern half has a series of technical corners at regular intervals, each with a different technique to negotiate. While aggression is the name of the game in the West Section, precision is important in the East. Here, one of the more notable WGP3 races involving Aldauren Ginintella and Sara Luna was a close contest. All the cars were jockeying for the lead. After a difficult race, Aldauren was in position to win. But then, so much happened.

Sara Luna, the reigning champion at the time and at P3, forced a three-way battle to the lead on the way to exit the East Section. Instead of playing it safe in the points game for a relatively comfortable 18 points, the P2 racer, ahead of Sara but behind Aldauren, tried to dominate the inside of the corner and force Aldauren on the outside. However, a miscalculation caused both of them to turn too wide, allowing an opening for Sara to exploit and be the one to take the inside. This was a crucial key in winning this event because the Preyfan Wall lay right after this corner, marking the start of West Section. A long straight that follows let Sara's Norris car make use of its acceleration, one of its strengths. This cleared the way for her win in this event.

The race was marred by a crash between Timothy Cipus and Tai Yu, with both drivers falling out of the top 10. This happened a few corners after the pit lane, and both cars had to limp along the entire lap to get to the pit stop. Cipus would find himself in a better position to catch up, but he was too far out of the lead to take any points.

[Twicetagram and JYPe]

Home >> Sports >> Domestic

---

Valkyria mourns the demise of TPRS and Coralline; several drivers confirmed for WGP3
by Shamov Iraknesen

Charyseine Valkyria described the folding of the TPRS and Coralline Racing Team as "sad and disappointing", and said that he "would never forget them for being an integral part of his life".
This comes after news that the TPRS would be replaced by a new WGP3 series. While it has brought much delight to those who wanted a change in management, it also came as a surprise and disappointment to long-time Racing fans.

"It's really disappointing to see such an integral part of our racing culture being replaced by a generic racing series run by a multiversal community. We'll see how the new series goes. I just hope it comes any close to the exciting races we used to have," lamented a fan who doesn't want to be named.

The Racing Department of Twicetagria commented that they had made the change to entice more publicity, as well as make it a more professional sport. They also commented that the cars would be much more closer to WGPC/WGP2 standards.

In other news, Tania Beck has remained with Privinka for a third year running. She is expected to be joined by fellow Privinka graduate Mark Hanivicie. Adelphia has kept Filippo Kurvostov, while they have signed Haran Beckov from their junior team, which is now Gornilev. June Prienkov, the loser of the deal has signed a 2 season deal with newbies Hydra.

Hugo Ivanisic is expected to remain at Tynara for the 4th season running, although he is being pressured by his teammate Mien Kirascu's performances, who will remain at Tynara again this season. Racing Kyna Karerra has signed Janis Rukinhean, and he is supposed to be acoompanied by either Tadin Kekenbov or Urdin Gleastevon.

Gornilev has signed Orea Geukalina and Hugo Crdnieva, with the former being a rookie this season. ECO has kept Tina Yursevic for another season despite her outstanding performance last season, while she will be joined by another rookie in Delin Piqisuvic.

Currently free agent Chiven Iridinia is rumored to join either Hydra or Primo, whereas Cleo Hasbergen, a rookie is set to join Primo. Primo has signed Tuha Nickiva from the Tynara academy.

More news will be coming to you tomorrow, as well as coverage of the tests in Esmerel.

[Sorlovia]

Forest Cross National Raceway
Praesidium Bank Pre-Season Test of Esmerel

A third place finish! That was just the boost Gregori needed to get him out of his slump.

Forest Cross had always been his favourite circuit. Not because it had cross in the name, and he was a devoted Christian, but because it was a race environment that suited him perfectly. He specialized in such environments and had learned how to best take advantage of them. A broad smile had made its home on his face the moment he’d heard that it was to be Forest Cross. The Centrifuge and Blast Zone were two of his most favourite pieces of track in the entire WGPC. That long straight felt like an old familiar friend and the sharpness of the Centrifuge allowed him to put the car to the test.

All those graceful arching corners and straights were the stuff of his dreams. He longed to bring that sort of track to Sorlovia and had approached the organizers of the Sorlovian Gran Prix with the track layout. The Serpent’s Fork and the Abosmax Curve! There were few circuits that were as well suited to him as Forest Cross. In fact, it was the highlight of his season and his appreciation for it was visible on his face and in his demeanour. His first podium finish of the pre-season only furthered his love for the track.

“Now that is what I’m talking about!” Viktor said with a broad grin “A podium finish and only one car behind Terho. If only this had been a race!”

“I’ll admit that I’m looking forward to the first race,” Gregori said with a smile “it’s what I live for! I’m really hoping that Forest Cross will be one of the first tracks. If I could have a dream track it would be Forest Cross! There’s just something about all those corners and that Blast Zone!”

But Gregori wasn’t the type to be complacent. The third place finish had wet his appetite but would not allow himself to grow too comfortable. Experience had taught him that overconfidence spelt the downfall of a racer. You opened yourself up to disappointment and career ending events when you allowed yourself to grow too confident. A wise racer took advantage of every opportunity to learn. A good finish was an opportunity to examine what you had done well. A less than desirable one was a chance to learn what you needed to do better and what had gone wrong. The WGPC required that you always kept on your toes.

Gregori smiled and leaned back in his chair. That third place finish and closeness to Terho had been just the result he needed. His car had handled well but he needed to see if he could replicate it on a different track. No matter how much he would’ve liked it he knew that he wouldn’t get to have all of the races at Forest Cross. It would get boring after a while and the variety of circuits provided exactly what he longed for. The chance to test himself and his car to the limit. The variety was the spice that kept his career interesting and the fact that no two races were the same kept things interesting.

[Nephara]

There were good days. There were bad days.
This, Armbruster reflected as she forced her car through another turn, was a bad day.
The rain didn't help. The rain would be her excuse when all was said and done - hard for anyone, yes, but well... she was a Nephar. Rain wasn't just an inconvenience, it was weird and unnatural, an interloper in the monotonous climate of the Long Marches. Overcast skies. Wind whipping into your eyes. Cool. Dry. Not like this.
She stayed herself, kept making risky passes that kept not coming off, and the growing frustration lead to more and more desperation to make it right, to make one big play to pull her back into what would be the points.
None of them worked. Much like the bad guy in a racing comedy, she would've done a lot better just going normally instead of trying to get fancy.
"You can't-- Kitti. Slow down," her engineer pleaded with her at the seventh consecutive attempt to go in hard to a corner. "Okay? Slowing down means you will go faster. I can promise you that, in this environment."
"I can beat him at--"
"You can't. It's bucketing down, Kitti. Ease up or you'll fall further behind."
"I can do this, damn it!"
She couldn't.

Armbruster stared at her car.
Her car seemed to stare back at her.
ARB 46. Her trigramme. Her ... well, her backup number. Her seat, for sure. And, hey, technically she'd outperformed Sigur, who had flamed out in last. The issue was that, to her own dismay, she found herself to quite like Sigur. She'd even given him an awkward little clap on the back as he'd hopped out of the car towards the end. What more could she do? They'd both been gash.
She asked her liaison to give something to punch. The Savojars were an efficient people; someone had already set up a punching bag in her room by the time she got back to it. The fact that it already had a large kitchen knife stuck in it spoke to the volumes of Armbruster's displeasure at the world and, worse, herself.
So it was just her and the car. This weird, intimate little moment before the engineers went and packed it away.
She knew this sorcerer, back home. Did all the things you'd expect - stank of incense, wore a veil - you know, they were kind of regarded as jokes at times, but the kind who were somehow strangely reassuring to have around, a shield between the day-to-day and the creepings of magic and mysteries from without. Yeah. They never claimed to throw fire or conjure shit. They talked a lot about the 'subtler arts'. Matters of luck, attunement, cards and the future.
So she asked this guy, who went by 'Dragonfly', to get her some talismans that wouldn't interfere with the aerodynamism of a finely-honed pace machine in which an inch out of place could throw the entire thing out of alignment. And he'd given her a look. So she'd asked, "Just give me something really small."
She untwisted the chain of beads from her hands now, where she'd been playing with them, and tied them onto the wheel. She murmured something under her breath. It probably wouldn't help... but it wouldn't hurt, either.

[Hapilopper]

A hotel room not far from the Forest Cross Raceway, Vertress, Esmerel
The night after the first session for the pre-season test in Esmerel
Rudy Edwards sat relaxed in a chair in his hotel room, his feet propped up against an air-conditioning unit. The window was open in his room, as he watched the rain fall around the hotel he and the rest of the Preston Grand Prix team was in. Many of the Preston guys were asleep. Not Rudy, though. A sufferer of insomnia, he would find himself awake at times that most would be out like a light. He would try to perform various tasks to put himself back to bed, but without much success.

Oh well, he thought as he watched the rain fall. At least I can have a couple of cups of the mechanic’s coffee.

Rudy shuddered at the thought. The Preston mechanics, many of whom he had worked with in the Hapilopper Championship Series, made one hell of a strong cup of coffee – the kind of coffee that could strip paint off of buildings. Unfortunately, their coffee more often than not also tasted awful, and sometimes he wondered if they accidentally confused the coffee with a quart of Good Motor Oil sitting around the garage. But at least it would get him awake and ready to haul ass around the race track.

And that was one of the things keeping him up on this evening. Even in spite of the strong performance in Xanneria, he hadn’t matched that pace either in Savojarna or here in Esmerel. In fact, he and teammate William Archer were consistently near the bottom of the time sheets in the three sessions following the Xanneria tests. Rudy, just thinking of running near the back of the field, could envision the team becoming the laughingstock of the Hapiloppian sporting world and of the World Grand Prix Championship. He could envision himself becoming the laughingstock of his racer buddies in Hapilopper, and that was too much for him to bear.

He feared failure. He had watched – with some dread – Drake Stevenson’s awful performances in the previous WGP2 season, and he watched with some wonderment how it seemed Drake had brushed off that failure like it was water under the bridge. Wondering if Drake would answer the phone, Rudy gave him a phone call.

“Stevenson… who is this?” Drake asked.

“Rudy Edwards,” Rudy responded. “Kind of had trouble sleeping and I was wondering if I could ask you a few questions.”

“Heh, sure,” Drake said. “Not sure what this is about, but OK.”

“Well, I’m worried about how we’re gonna do this season, man. We did so well in Xanneria, and then, we didn’t. I’m scared to death our season’s gonna turn out like yours did with Nexus, but at least you seemed like you did well with it.”

“I was going through some problems at the time, Rudy,” Drake said. “I kind of still am, but much less than I did when I was driving for Nexus. I had a lot on my mind, and I tried to put on as brave a face as I could when the cameras were on me. You’ve got the eyes of the multiverse on you, and I don’t want to show off a sign of weakness. I may have looked like I did well with it, but behind the scenes, I was about to crack.”

“What happened?”

“Personal problems. I had a lot of sleepless nights and most of the time, I was just not myself. Problems with a close friend. It wasn’t the car, and I’ll tell anyone that listens. Nexus Racing gave me a great car. It wasn’t any fault of anyone at Nexus Racing – it was all me. I didn’t really care, and I wasn’t really worried about what this was doing for me. Thank God for Team Blue.”

“Do you think we’ll do well?”

“I hope so. You said you were scared to death of how you’re going to do. That sort of fear is good. Use it. I was scared of someone not loving me anymore. You’re scared of poor performance. You’ve got your priorities straight. I hope the rest of the team has their priorities straight. But please, for the love of all that is holy, get some sleep before you have to go back out to the circuit today. Take a cold bath or something, but get some sleep.”

“I’ll try.”

Rudy hung up the phone and went to the bathroom, where he ran a cold bath in an attempt to knock him out. As he relaxed in the tub, he thumbed through his phone, where he saw social media was having a nice laugh at Preston’s expense – specifically for the team’s initial declaration that one of the team’s two drivers would be the next World Grand Prix Champion, and for Good Motor Oil’s provocative “Get Good” slogan plastered on the rear wing of the PGP-01.

“Maybe the team should Get Good themselves,” one person posted on twii.tur.

“Wiseass,” Rudy quietly muttered to himself.

Rudy eventually fell back asleep, but in time for his alarm clock to go off to get ready to head back to the Forest Cross Raceway. He’d need some of those mechanic’s awful-tasting, strong-ass coffee to make it through the day. But having gotten that advice from Drake Stevenson during the night, he felt better about himself and about the team. He needed to use that fear to his benefit as much as he could. Simply put, he needed to be faster, and this is how he would get better.

[Ethane]

Partnership with Tropicorp proves crucial

Fireline Motorsports may have already developed a strong relationship with Tropicorp through the provision of engine and tyres, but that relationship continues to grow in various ways. With the cars almost completely Tropicorp-powered, the team has a chance to really push the field this season. Strength in reliability is a focus of the car but with the all-round ability of the car and suppliers, Fireline could make a strong showing.

That will only be bolstered by their drivers, which with the closing of the signing window fast approaching, have not yet been signed. Yet all hope is not lost for the team. You'd expect them to be at panic stations, but with an incredible depth of drivers still waiting to be signed, and a team willing to get the signings over the line, Fireline will be making two driver signings shortly. Over the past weeks, contractual negotiations have been ongoing between Fireline's leadership and a couple of drivers. The team would have liked to sign many of the remaining drivers, because there are just too many promising candidates left in the field.

However, once again, the relationship Fireline Motorsports have developed with Tropicorp has proven itself crucial, especially following the invitation to the The Cocoabo Exposition & World Grand Prix Trials. There, Cocoabo #23 proved to be the most promising of drivers amongst the field, albeit with the home track advantage. Yet their driving was impressive and dominant. Cocoabo #23 has also offered a full season of costs which will significantly help the team make continuing improvements to the car. Fireline Motorsports, therefore, would like to offer Cocoabo #23 the second driver spot for Fireline Motorsports for WGPC 18, upon confirmation.

But where else to turn for the other driver? There was significant competition, with numerous drivers approaching the team for a spot. And of course, two Ethanian drivers were yet to be signed as well - Ethanian fans at home were expectant that the Ethanian team would sign at least one driver from Ethane - Toggard or Talison. Yet, controversially, they have steered clear of Ethanian drivers, much to the upset of fans at home. Many of the conventional choices have also been avoided. In fact, you'd expect them to have at least gone for a race finisher at the trials.

But no. Instead, despite the retirement, the team went for the racer who recorded the fastest lap - which was surprisingly not Cocoabo #23. Instead, contractual negotiations were intensified with Zastępca Strażnika Adriana Krystal Desiree “Cudowny Manipulacja Światłem” Venus Kowalski Faith Stanisława Engelse I. Cherise Krystyna Zaborowska Sztormowska Pamela Alina Re. T. Lillian following the trials, with their fastest lap promising enough for Fireline to take notice. The driver had been in constant communication with the team, pushing for a space and working proactively on contractual negotiations. Their relationship with Tropicorp also helped. Therefore, Fireline Motorsports would like to offer Adriana Kowalski the first seat for WGPC18.

[Vilita and Turori]

Cocoabo Expo and World Grand Prix Trials, Cocoabo Park Circuit, Cocoabo Forest :: When the checkered flag flew at the end of the 23 lap Sprint Race at the Cocoabo Park Circuit, Cocoabo #23 had outlasted the field to claim victory and presumably with it a drive on the World Grand Prix Circuit. While Gary Cook and the Race Eelandii! VTGP had helped to organize the event they did not have any exclusive negotiating rights with the drivers who were signed up with Fireline Motorsports and the WGPC Motorworks representatives rubbing elbows side by side trying to decide their own driver lineup.

Naturally, however, Cook and Klianiota would have their sights set on the Top driver in the event. In fact, they had time set aside after the race to meet with each of the Top 5 finishers. While the Cocoabo was busy with post-victory photographs with some of the Cocoabo Park attendees, Cook and Klianiota moved on down the list. Sara Luna was just five seconds back and had been one of the fastest drivers all weekend long. She would be a strong signing for Race Eelandii! and the duo looked to understand her intentions. Cook and Klianiota had the impression, however, that Luna had her sights set somewhere else. There were still seats open at MRT and Volkov Racing - both teams using Tropicorp Tyres, and it seemed Luna had offers for both seats. At the time it seemed She was the piece holding all the connections with an upper hand in each of the available drives.

Next in came R.L. Cruisin. The Veteran Vilitan driver who had already agreed to drive for Race Eelandii! VTGP in the Official World Grand Prix pre-season tests. Toralmintii had not yet arrived but had left the decision in the hands of Cook and Klianiota. The trio discussed relief that Cruisin had backed up their decision to put the Veteran in the car for the tests. Cruisin expressed his hesitancy to join up with an organization that could trace its legacy in any way back to the old Vilita & Turori Motorsports team that had folded out from under him when they were a top driver in the WGPC. However, Cruisin also admitted it would be nice to come home to the Vilitan Cove after spending so much of their career on the road.

When it came down to the full season drive, however, Cruisin had two requests - both of them were difficult for the team to accept. First was that Cruisin did not want the full name of the team on any of his press releases. He wanted to drive for Race Eelandii! VTGP not "iBen Toralmintii's Team" or "Vilita & Turori Motorsports". It was a quirky request, Cook was not sure if it mattered in the end they would just have to adjust their press releases. He figured it might be possible. The second request put the team in a bind, however. Cruisin did not want a Cocoabo as a teammate.

To some extent, Cook and Klianiota agreed. The whole point of bringing Cruisin onto the team was to have the veteran Vilitan driver get the most out of the car as they had done for so many seasons, as well as serve as a mentor to the teams development driver. Still, Tropicorp were major supporters of the World Grand Prix circuit and they wanted their Cocoabo on the grid. This request had the potential to screw everything up for Cook & Klianiota.

They shook hands with Cruisin and decided they would let them know a little later on. They spoke with Dom Falepeau who made it clear that their first priority was with MRT. A bit of a sore spot for Klianiota who recalls back when Terho Talvela abandoned Vilita & Turori Motorsports for the Mattijanan outfit after the World Grand Prix's 14th campaign.

The last driver scheduled to come in was Lane Carter from TJUN-ia. Lane had harrowly beaten out Taras Matviyenko and Jasmine Muscadet with a late charge for a Top 5 finish in the sprint. They hadn't been super quick throughout the week but had shown the potential with the way they stayed composed on race day. Ironically, Carter and Matviyenko raced together during the World Grand Prix 2 campaign for UrGa Motorsports which was also both drivers first foray into the Tropicorp Racing Family as UrGa were supplied by Tropicorp Tyres. The interview with Carter started out a bit on a confusing footing with communication struggles as Cook and Klianiota tried asking basic questions to the TJUNian who responded with confusion. By the end of the interview, however, Carter was well spoken, jovial and filled with excitement - a good lasting impression to leave on the two persons who will decide the job fates.

So Cook and Klianiota and a problem. Cocoabo #23 won the race. Cruisin is their veteran choice who wont drive with a Cocoabo teammate. Luna and Falepeau seemed to not be all in on the Race Eelandii! vision. Carter didn't do much to separate themselves from the pack. Why Carter over Matviyenko or the pay driver Jasmine Muscadet who could bring funding to the team and finished just 2.3 seconds behind Carter in the Sprint. Or the suprise pole winner, Daryl Mizushima?

They decided to bring in Toralmintii, who brought in a rep from their supplier, Tropicorp. They laid out all the information they had then waited for a suggestion.

Toralmintii chuckled at Cruisin's demands but then quipped about the fact that Cruisin is one of the only drivers in the history of the World Grand Prix with more experience than Toralmintii themselves. "With experience you get to make quirky demands, I suppose". The Tropicorp rep did not seem concerned however and got right on their communication device. The representative from Fireline then entered the room and the Tropicorp Rep took over.

"Look both teams have two seats and we want them to be filled with Tropicorp drivers. Obviously we want to see a Cocoabo on the grid. If you guys want Cruisin as your vet, we welcome them into the Tropicorp family but then that means Fireline you guys will get Fast Cocoabo. Good? Great. Confirmed. Kowalski was looking very good before the incident on Lap 13 and had a decent run in the World Grand Prix 2. She's a Tropicorp driver and someone should take her"

Cook and Klianiota looked at each other - they had hoped to take someone based on Merit from the Expo Sprint - it would look better. The Fireline rep spoke up. "We'll take her too. She had the fastest lap of the race and has a ton of potential".

"Great" responded the Tropicorp Rep "Alright so what are you Thinking Cook, You've got Lane Carter - we can probably get some funding from the Dart Group in TJUN-ia to sponsor it, they are a proven Tropicorp driver from the World Grand Prix 2 circuit. We want to start on our marketing materials and if Luna and Falepeau can't commit tonight then lets go with Carter. They've at least shown some flashes of talent and it will be on Cruisin to teach them the rest."

Cook and Klianiota agreed. They called back for Lane Carter's reps to offer them the second seat at Race Eelandii VTGP.

[Squidroidia]

When Daryl finally arrived back in Inkopolis, the seats were mostly filled. V&T had just announced that Lane Carter from TJUN-ia would grab the 2nd seat ahead of the polesitter in the sprint race. Controversially Cocoabo #23 did not get that second seat, as Fireline dragged them to their ride along with Valentinian Adriana Kowalski. As such there was practically 2 seats left - Both WGPC Motorworks with Carvenlo-Franklin Racing seats. The seats for the best of the rest. He did not get the Volkov seat as well, that seat going to Sara Luna. He was at an impasse.

On one hand, with the respectable Preston finish and the pole at the Expo, Daryl Mizushima, an underdog kart driver with temper issues, had proved himself as a decent driver in the top series of open wheel racing. On the other hand, that slipup in the dying laps of the sprint race haunted him. If that mistake didn't happen, he would have gotten a seat in the best organization of the series. As the embers died down and the deadline for driver signups ahead of the Turori Grand Prix grew ever closer, Mr. Mizushima realized something - He didn't have a chance at a seat.

At least a good chance. Again, both Motorworks with Carvenlo-Franklin seats were on the cards, but it was a dog eat dog world. There was only 2 seats, but easily a dozen drivers. If he were to even get that seat, that would be the essence of his hero's journey, an underdog who just wanted to prove that he, as well as any driver, can have a chance at the big time. Some said that he wanted to do it for the money, others for the pride and the chance to become the David toppling Goliaths. Some may even say that his pole was enough to earn him a seat. But it wasn't enough to get any one out of the 18 other seats. He just had a chance, a small 1 in 12.5 chance, or roughly 8%, to get the Motorworks seat.

His father, Yusuke, sat with him while the Forest Cross tests were displayed. He gave his son a chance to prove himself. A chance to prove the doubters wrong. And in a way, Daryl did. That's all that he could ever want his son to do after he said he wanted to take on the world and not a bunch of blokes who wreck him out or force him to wreck out every week on a silly go-kart track in the middle of some land barely anyone had heard of. It might as well be Brazilistan. But Daryl seemed disappointed. He did so much to prove himself, but nobody wanted him.

"Son, you still did a great job out there when you could," Yusuke Mizushima said to his son. R.L. Crusin was doing his run in the #51 V&T machine when he said that.

"Yes dad. Thing is... I think I failed. I didn't get a ride, at least not yet, anyway. Sure there was that pole, those runs, all the good times I had, but at the end of the day... I didn't do enough."

"You know Daryl, there isn't such thing as failing. Every opportunity and moment opens up another chapter in your story, whether that is good or bad. You did the best out of anybody I have seen out on the track, and I couldn't be prouder, son."

Daryl began to tear up, and in an instant he hugged his rich father. "I understand now, dad... There is another chance beyond the road I know." Time felt like it was in a standstill, like a driver spun on the track and losing all of the momentum - Just like one driver did on the Pin of Bravery. "Thanks for this opportunity, I felt like it couldn't have been done without you."

"And you know Daryl? There is always the Motorworks seats. Or a WGP2 seat. Or a 3rd tier national series. You can't give up here son! There is always a chance that is there for the taking!" Daryl and Yusuke kept hugging each other before the 2 would let go. Daryl then looked at the Squidroidian helmet right besides him. He represented his country well through this journey. It can't end here. He was 18. He had the money. He had lots more to prove in an open wheel series.

"Let's check the emails again. My future can go from there."

---

OOC note: Thank you to Liventia for giving me this chance to do this WGPC arc with Daryl. I had a lot more fun than I was going to have, especially with the Cocoabo Expo Vilita did. Thanks to everyone who had a driver (Or drivers) from their nation compete against Daryl too - TJUN-ia, the 189, Reçueçn, Kyoki Chudoku, Arunia, Nephara, Hodori, Lisander, Abahnfleft, Diarcesia, Togonistan, Twicetagria, Gregary, Hulkenburg, Vilita, and a bunch more that I can not name. You made this more fun than any right it should be. In case he doesn't get signed, he will still be able to be signed midseason or even go to WGP2 or a national WGPT3 series - If you have a WGPT3 series and are interested in him joining your series, TG me or DM me on Discord (Wot in Tarnation#0058). If he does get signed, I will happily continue this.

Thank you everyone, see you when our paths meet again!

-Squidroidia