WGP2 Season 4 – RP/results thread

[Bollonich]

Parveen still struggling as Alex bags victory
It was the sprint race at the Circuit de la Boisse in Nekoni, Parveen was starting at 23rd position following what had been a number of disastrous performances. She needed something, something good, something to inspire her to do well at the sprint race and the races to come at Liventia. Meanwhile her teammate Alex had picked up a single point at the Nekoni feature and was starting in the 7th position. Alex had already picked up 36 points this season and by far been the most successful racer from EHF. Parveen was yet to earn any points, something which she would want to change. As the sprint race began it was becoming clear that this wouldn’t be merry for Parveen either as she started to fall behind. Her struggles continued as she finished the race a lap down from the leader who to her surprise was her teammate Alex Marquez. She and Alex were both having a tough time recently especially Alex who was the more experienced of the two drivers. This win was a crucial won for Alex as she rose to 13th in the standings with 15 points. For importantly this victory of Alex’s would be something to inspire Parveen, inspire her in doing better. Inspire her to think if Alex can do it why not her. Parveen herself claimed that this shall be an inspiring moment as she said the following words, “Alex’s win was great, she had been training hard and she deserves it. I look unto her and I wish to be like her, I wish to win and she has been guiding me through the initial phases of my career, so I hope I can pull something out of the bag in Liventia.”

[Former Citizens of the Nimbus System]

Nexus Racing HQ, Crossbay Circuit, Nimbus Bay, the Nexus Wardship of Former Citizens of the Nimbus System
25th of May

Gertrude beams.

“Of course!” she exclaims with a laugh, relief and joy painted across her face. “We’d be missing out on a golden opportunity if you weren’t involved. All of us want you to find a place where you’re as happy and competitive as you can be next year – you not getting involved in that would… Well, anyway, that makes me really happy to hear, Janne. Really happy.” She pauses, blinking, before bursting into laughter again. “Ah, this is exciting!”

Her thoughts match her voice; Gertrude’s mind near-bursts with the satisfaction of finding a solution, the anticipation of seeing it enacted…

In that moment, though it will be a while later, reminiscing, when she realises it, she is as thrilled as she ever was by any advancement she made as Nexus Racing’s Head Designer.

“Right, then!” She claps her hands together (again), then gestures for Janne to come around to her side of the desk, pulling her own chair across to make room before clicking through a few windows. “No time like the present – may as well go over some of your options now! So, here are our current thoughts…”

WGP2 Neverend Challenge, Pre-Practice; 11th of June

“New parts, Lucia! A2, airbox servo motors and covers.”

“Bring them to the portal, Rees; let’s get them through.”

Lucia stands in the whirlwind that is Nexus Racing’s main garage, satisfaction bubbling within her as she steps behind the trolley to help push it along. The steady stream of parts from Nexus Racing’s manufactory has been excellent thus far, slowly replacing the less robust elements that had been warring with the ISISU; Felix, as ever, has been good to them (and his reports, as ever, always one or two days ahead of each new schedule he sets to account for his previous improvements). The cars have almost entirely been rebuilt from the ground up, now; Janne’s gains late into the season being what they are, some of it, she firmly believes, can be put down to those improvements.

Oh, have there been improvements.

Nexus Racing wouldn’t let an opportunity like this just go to waste.

And there. She pushes off, delivering a pulse of Imagikinetic force to help the trolley along as she and Rees enter the portal room. “Get those going – we only have limited practice time to test them.”

“Right!”

She nods, turning away to walk back.

“Lucia!”

Victoria rushes up to her. “There you are, been looking all over – got a patch for you, Imagithermal Tyre and Brake Management should be more efficient when it’s cooling -”

“Apply it. Gains now are vital.” Haru hasn’t taken so well to the trade-off of increased performance and reliability for increased weight; he will adjust, she is sure, but anything now to make the car more driveable will be stellar.

A potential flaw in the Driver Academy Series… Drivers’ increased control over upgrades is neither replicable nor desirable in WGP conditions. Acclimatising to the first is problematic.

She nods ever so slightly to herself, then files it away in her mind. Discuss later. Focus.

“Right – thanks!” Barely a moment has passed; Victoria nods in answer, dashing away. Lucia’s expression shifts to something like fulfilment.

For she stands at the heart of the storm that is Nexus Racing’s engineering and design team, in Gertrude’s former place.

And, like it was in her tenure, she weaves it.

Speaking of. “There you are.”

“Everything on the launchpad?” Gertrude bears a confident, focussed, trusting expression, pausing from her prior stride towards the portal and, through it, Liventia.

“Yes,” Lucia replies simply. “I’ll finalise and send the notes for you before you take command for the session.”

“Gotcha. Let’s make sure we give Janne and Haru the best shot we can.” Gertrude nods, then smiles. “Thanks, Lucia. This has been a good one, hasn’t it? We’ve made it a good one.”

Lucia considers for a moment. And then she smiles back.

“Yes. I think so.”

[Liventia]

CUTOFF

for Practice and Qualifying at Gold Park Circuit

[Liventia]

Event 25: Practice

Conditions:      	Dry
Predicted Optimal Time:	00:01:49.346
Session Length:	75 minutes
Nation:         	LEN
Circuit:        	Gold Park Circuit

Drivers have 75 minutes to complete as many laps of the track as they like.

POS # ▍DRIVER                                          	FASTEST LAP	GAP TO LEADER
 1 88 ▍Ted Pressley                                    	00:01:58.663	00:00:00.000
 2 15 ▍Heinz-Otto Junker                               	00:01:58.720	00:00:00.056
 3 17 ▍Janne Laukkanen                                 	00:01:58.765	00:00:00.102
 4 79 ▍Lukas Fichter                                   	00:01:58.849	00:00:00.186
 5 14 ▍Skiia Vialiv                                    	00:01:58.972	00:00:00.309
 6 91 ▍Taras Matviyenko                                	00:01:59.019	00:00:00.356
 7 66 ▍Harry Zoomtwat                                  	00:01:59.090	00:00:00.427
 8  0 ▍Astigar Armendaritze                            	00:01:59.161	00:00:00.497
 9 21 ▍Chiruno Hakusoe                                 	00:01:59.229	00:00:00.566
10 11 ▍Anola Melani                                    	00:01:59.262	00:00:00.599
11 72 ▍Charyseine Valkyria                             	00:01:59.345	00:00:00.682
12 31 ▍Joy Wingelaar                                   	00:01:59.450	00:00:00.786
13  3 ▍Sakiteno Kuyara                                 	00:01:59.474	00:00:00.810
14  9 ▍Batu Tüvshinbayar                               	00:01:59.614	00:00:00.950
15 35 ▍Indra Vartak                                    	00:01:59.629	00:00:00.966
16 37 ▍Laura Haukanna                                  	00:01:59.740	00:00:01.076
17 92 ▍Alex Márquez                                    	00:01:59.789	00:00:01.125
18 13 ▍Pedro Carballal                                 	00:01:59.996	00:00:01.333
19  7 ▍Annelise Devereux                               	00:02:00.057	00:00:01.393
20 87 ▍Jama'obo Pegasii                                	00:02:00.219	00:00:01.556
21 40 ▍Adriana Kowalski Ela Lillian                    	00:02:00.304	00:00:01.640
22 45 ▍Parveen Kulkarni                                	00:02:00.318	00:00:01.654
23 18 ▍Haru Jukkenna                                   	00:02:00.549	00:00:01.885
24 23 ▍Sakinomi Rikikida                               	00:02:00.623	00:00:01.960
25  4 ▍Athan Lille                                     	00:02:01.558	00:00:02.895
26 44 ▍Rod Gozum                                       	00:02:01.959	00:00:03.296
27 41 ▍Edward Rousseau                                 	00:02:03.403	00:00:04.740
28 63 ▍Lianna Rasianoara                               	00:02:03.753	00:00:05.090

Event 25: Qualifying

Conditions:      	Dry
Predicted Optimal Time:	00:01:49.346
Qualifying Type:	One Shot
Nation:         	LEN
Circuit:        	Gold Park Circuit

POS # ▍DRIVER                                          	FASTEST LAP	GAP TO LEADER
 1 31 ▍Joy Wingelaar                                   	00:01:50.473	00:00:00.000
 2 88 ▍Ted Pressley                                    	00:01:50.516	00:00:00.044
 3  9 ▍Batu Tüvshinbayar                               	00:01:50.703	00:00:00.230
 4 15 ▍Heinz-Otto Junker                               	00:01:50.730	00:00:00.257
 5 11 ▍Anola Melani                                    	00:01:50.796	00:00:00.324
 6 17 ▍Janne Laukkanen                                 	00:01:50.810	00:00:00.337
 7 41 ▍Edward Rousseau                                 	00:01:50.847	00:00:00.374
 8 18 ▍Haru Jukkenna                                   	00:01:50.858	00:00:00.385
 9 23 ▍Sakinomi Rikikida                               	00:01:51.004	00:00:00.531
10 14 ▍Skiia Vialiv                                    	00:01:51.029	00:00:00.556
11 35 ▍Indra Vartak                                    	00:01:51.127	00:00:00.655
12 91 ▍Taras Matviyenko                                	00:01:51.225	00:00:00.752
13 37 ▍Laura Haukanna                                  	00:01:51.317	00:00:00.845
14 63 ▍Lianna Rasianoara                               	00:01:51.510	00:00:01.038
15 92 ▍Alex Márquez                                    	00:01:52.059	00:00:01.587
16  7 ▍Annelise Devereux                               	00:01:52.117	00:00:01.644
17 72 ▍Charyseine Valkyria                             	00:01:52.479	00:00:02.006
18 79 ▍Lukas Fichter                                   	00:01:52.485	00:00:02.012
19 44 ▍Rod Gozum                                       	00:01:52.678	00:00:02.206
20  4 ▍Athan Lille                                     	00:01:52.768	00:00:02.296
21 21 ▍Chiruno Hakusoe                                 	00:01:52.868	00:00:02.396
22 66 ▍Harry Zoomtwat                                  	00:01:53.155	00:00:02.683
23 40 ▍Adriana Kowalski Ela Lillian                    	00:01:53.261	00:00:02.788
24  0 ▍Astigar Armendaritze                            	00:01:53.364	00:00:02.892
25 45 ▍Parveen Kulkarni                                	00:01:53.559	00:00:03.086
26 87 ▍Jama'obo Pegasii                                	00:01:53.675	00:00:03.202
27 13 ▍Pedro Carballal                                 	00:01:55.080	00:00:04.608
28  3 ▍Sakiteno Kuyara                                 	00:01:55.588	00:00:05.115

[The Licentian Isles]

Joy had been sitting in her room, considering the weekend ahead, when she’d received the text from Jorn, the team principal. A team dinner, at one of Neverend’s high-end establishments, to bring everyone together before the stressful weekend ahead. As much as she wanted to get her sleep in before practice and qualifying, it would probably do her some good to socialise, at least for a little bit.

She put on a button down shirt and trousers, thinking it would probably be sensible to smarten up a little to fit in with the environment. She couldn’t find a shirt that matched the team colours in her wardrobe, but figured that would probably be alright, all things considered.

It was a fairly calm evening, given the circumstances. Everyone was ready for the weekend to come, with the last races of the season. However, there were plenty of reasons to raise a glass, even if they were all sticking to non-alcoholic beverages for now. It had been a very good season for the team, and there was still a chance that they could take the team championship, along with Heinz still sitting in the lead of the drivers.

Joy found herself seated alongside Kaspar and Oliver Werich, who was Heinz’s race engineer. Both men had played a huge part in the success so far this season: Joy knew that Kaspar had kept her calm in some pretty stressful situations in the car. She knew that she wanted a way to thank them as the season drew to a close.

“Hey guys,” she said, as she began to reach the time that she had told herself she would leave the event to get some shuteye. “I want to get you both some drinks to celebrate all this, no matter what happens this weekend. Kaspar you’ve been a fantastic engineer for me, and Heinz always speaks highly of you Oliver, so I want to show my thanks in at least this way.” She looked towards the pitchers of water in the middle of the table. “I might be saving the alcohol for another day though!” There was a chuckle from the two of them, and some general words of it not being necessary, but Joy insisted: both of them deserved at least that to show her thanks.

As she walked home, she found herself thinking about what was to come. Travelling around the world with TMW felt strangely like home for her. Even with this season drawing to a close, she knew she wanted to be here for some time to come.

---

Qualifying. The last chance this season to climb the grid and put herself in a good place for tomorrow’s feature race.

Practice had felt okay here at Gold Park, and Joy felt the car was definitely better than the P12 she found herself in at the end of the session. Heinz and Ted had placed in the top two, so it was clear that both men wanted to take this season right down to the wire. Joy knew that she had her own part to play in all this, as TMW looked to pass Kaylan in the standings.

It was a one shot style of qualifying once again, which Joy wasn’t hugely comfortable with until she found herself with a late slot to go out. That would be good: the track would have rubbered in, and she would have plenty to go up against.

She was the last driver from the top two teams to go out. It looked like a straight fight for the weekend too: Ted was provisional P1, followed by Heinz and Anola Melani. She knew what she had to do for the team. Even if someone behind followed her with a faster time, she wanted to be ahead of both Kaylans.

She came out of the tunnel at the pit exit with that hope in her mind. It was her best lap on the track yet. She hit the perfect line in the first sector, and knew that she was running well from the delta on her steering wheel. The middle sector was more challenging, but she was still running close to Ted Pressley’s time. The last corner was perfect, and then she hit the loud pedal to reach the line.

“GET IN THERE JOY!” Kaspar was shouting down the radio at her. “That’s provisional pole, you beat Ted! What a lap girl, well done!”

“COME ON! That’s what we needed, thank you team, car was great.”

She knew the work wasn’t done though. After the last few qualifiers, she knew she would be on the front row with the Tumbran. It was definitely good for the team to have her where she was, but she knew she would have to get her elbows out when the race started.

[Tumbra]

The mood in the Kaylan garage was jovial as Ted prepared to go out for his one qualifying lap; the pace was good, Ted had topped the practice timesheets and there was confidence that he would replicate that form going into qualifying. He'd be going out close to last; and as times were set and laptimes fell, Laukkanen took P1; then Melani, by the thinnest of margins, overtook him; Junker, then, went top.

Showtime. It was perhaps fitting, then, that the format that began the season would end it, too. He mused, as the car roared into life, about how far he'd come since the start of the season. How scared he'd been that he wouldn't be able to pack a seat on the grid, how he'd tiptoed around the circuit in Alikki-Corra in the heaviest of rainstorms; how he fell behind Anola at the start of the season. All that, all that had given way since Stelburg; confidence. The second win in Hapilpopper; charging up the grid with Darien in Nykipiflugpuu, winning at Bearden. Fear had been replaced with sheer joy — joy of being able to get into a rhythm, the joy of winning, the joy of finding a family.

The mid-season tumult had affected his form, yet he'd still pulled out a podium in Diarcesia and several points finishes through the second half of the season; all this, while battling his inner self over his relationship with his dad. He never wanted it to end this way, but there was nothing he could have done. For the good of his career, for the sake of his own family, he had to leave.

And it'd worked. So far. With a clear head and light heart, he'd roared back into form. And now he was poised to spring back in the last race of the season. The fire, the belief, the confidence instilled in him from not just him, but everyone around him; he would take those and power his way to victory. And as the timing sectors on each lap shone a vivacious, vibrant purple, he crossed the line 110 seconds later. There was no doubt about it.

He'd slammed it on provisional pole for the first time this season.

The celebrations in the Kaylan garage would be neutered slightly by the Licentian of Joy Wingelaar pulling four hundredths out of her pocket, but they were still jovial nonetheless. His first proper front row start of the season couldn't have come at a better time. All he needed now was to stay out of trouble; make another one of his rocket starts, and he'd be breathing down the neck of Heinz-Otto Junker in the standings. With Anola in P5, this had to be Kaylan's best qualifying result of the season.

Now it was time to convert.

468

[Commonwealth of Baker Park]

There really was no quantifiable explanation for how qualifying had turned out; dead last on the grid, nearly a second and a half from Kulkarni and Pegasii on row 13.

Practice had been promising, as Pedro for once didn't struggle to find grip and Sakite continued to show consistent speed. Maybe the single lap format worked to both drivers' disadvantage; unable to take a couple of flying laps to get a rhythm, and there were only a few corners where the shorter wheelbase wasn't a hinderance, both Scuderia pilots were disgruntled after climbing out their cars.

"Can we make it on one stop if we go with the hard tires from the start then switch over with 11 or 12 laps left?" The pit lane in Neverend was longer than most of the other circuits they'd run, and there were thoughts that the front runners might make just one stop going from soft to hard early.
"How long are they saying the hards can go? Is 30 laps too far if we start with stickers?"

"I think it's going to depend on what the pace at the front is going to be. How are Joy and Anola going to work to help their team leader--keep the field tight, or force a fast pace to use up the tires early."

"Hell, let's go for the longshot and do a 30/13 stretch, it's not going to be a terrible strategy unless there's a safety car early."

[Siovanija and Teusland]

Gold Park Circuit, Neverend, Liventia

Heinz-Otto Junker stood beside his gold and black TMW car on the grid just before the call for the drivers to get in their cars, making small talk with his engineer Oliver Werich.

Werich was careful to keep any additional pressures off his driver today, telling him “Come on mate, just get a strong start and you can take care of the rest. You got this.”

Looking around the grid, Heinz thought to himself that this was, undoubtedly, the perfect way for the season to end. The two TMWs and the two Kaylans, the constructors who had been battling at the top all year, both in the top 5. Joy on pole, Ted P2. Heinz P4, Anola P5. And right behind, breathing down their necks, the other championship challenger, Janne Laukkanen. Whoever got the advantage in this race was sure to have the advantage going into tomorrow’s final sprint race, in points at least, and all of the big contenders being so close together and so high up the grid was everything the media following the WGP2 circus around the world could have hoped for.

Heinz patted Oliver on the back, and got ready, it was just about time to go for the formation lap. As he put his helmet on, he looked behind him. Laukkanen was an incredibly talented driver himself, and with his wins this season had really shown he was one of the best young drivers in the world. Surely, Heinz expected to be seeing a lot more of him in their careers, and he gave a nod of respect to his competitor.

With his helmet on, he prepared to step into the car, but just caught Ted Pressley in the same motion as well. Ted was another of the extremely talented drivers on a stacked grid this year, but he’d risen above many with his skills and was also surely destined for the big show next season.

Heinz had heard rumours around the paddock, too, of the relationship between Ted and his father. He couldn’t help compare it to his own relationship with his father. He knew his dad was back in Stelburg, watching along - and even though he was tough on him, he knew he wouldn’t be here without him. At the same time, he respected Ted and his strength, his ability to stand up and take charge of his own career. Both drivers were determined to make this championship their own. Another nod of respect shared between two drivers who each had the chance to make this day theirs.

And lastly, a glance at his teammate, Joy Wingelaar. She’d had an excellent year herself, capping it off here with a pole in Liventia. She had a chance to go on and take TMW’s first win of the year - and do a huge favour to Heinz if she could keep Ted behind. The two teammates gave each other a thumbs-up, Heinz knowing Joy was incredibly excited about the pole. He was glad she’d been his teammate this season, and was excited for the team to continue in the future, hopefully in WGPC.

In the car, and around for the formation lap. It felt good, normal. It was the biggest race of his career, and he was doing as much as he could to block that out. Focus. Stay on target, do the best you can, don’t worry about how the others around you are doing.

The lights. His heart was pounding, but somehow, when the lights started to turn on, he collected himself. Words from his father in his ear: “Don’t bin it.” He smiled as the lights ticked towards go.

”And here we are for the WGP2 Neverend Challenge Feature Race. The WGP2 Drivers’ Championship could be decided today. It’s lights...and action! And…..”

[Diarcesia]

PB-Viska HQ
Pryfurium, Diarcesia
A few days after the Nekoni sprint race

"Hey, Aldauren. How's it going?" the CEO of Pryfors Bilar casually drops by Aldauren's office during her tour of the place.

"Fine. Just... we were struggling in Nekoni, the pace is absent this late in the season, and we made uncharacteristic errors. Losing contention in both championships may have an impact in the morale."

Siv Ingesson ponders on the team principal's words. "This is a reasonable reaction," she says, "Have you started looking at other drivers? Thought it might interest you?"

"Laura and Indra are perfectly capable dri— one moment: are you getting into something?"

"Nothing official yet, but let's say only the WGPO license remains before we can announce that we will join WGPC."

Aldauren's eyes widen for a split second. "Well, this is good news."

"I can see how continuing our investment in motorsport can help the company, so we are also keeping our involvement in WGP2 as a feeder to WGPC. I just had preliminary talks with Sidus on whether a partnership is possible there."

They hear knocking on the door.

"Who's there?" Aldauren asks, interrupting his and Siv's conversation.

Artur says Laura wants to talk.

"We can continue this later, okay?" Siv tells the elf, who politely nods.

"Come in, Laura," the said elf says.

Laura greets him first. Before taking her leave, Aldauren's boss acknowledges the newcomer.

"Have a seat," Aldauren offers once he and Laura are left in the room. She sits down.

"Aldauren, I want to speak to you about something. I have made a decision about my future and I think now is the perfect time to address it."

Aldauren's curiosity is raised. "What is it?"

"I would like to keep working with you, with the team, I want us to succeed together. There's something about this team that made it feel like home and I want to stay, but I'd still keep my connection to Viska. They will allow this, I know it. After getting to know this team for a whole season, I want to keep that momentum going, to improve together, fight together, and to win together."

He slowly stands up to go to the windowsill and lean on it. He glances over at Laura, who goes quiet.

"I have been very happy with the work we have done so far, and you are a crucial piece behind it. You've become sorts of an icon in Diarcesia after your win in Elbej, and everyone is wondering if you'll follow in the footsteps of my former rival in WGPC. Perhaps, will you succeed where I failed?

You saw Siv earlier. Keep this between the two of us for now, but we talked about how close we are at getting a team spot there.

The question is, if we somehow couldn't enter WGPC 19, are you willing to drive in another WGP2 season?"

If this pans out, he now has one driver in his potential WGPC 19 lineup. Who will be the other? He fancies convincing the aforementioned former rival, Sara, to take the other spot, but for that to happen, they have to create a car that best fits her style. It will not be an easy task. Aldauren is sure other teams will try to sign her to them.

[556 words]

[TJUN-ia]

WGP2 Season 4
Round 10
Gold Park Circuit
Neverend, Liventia

After a season that has seen everything under the sun, Neverend and Liventia itself now hosts its final chapter. One of either Ted Pressley, Heinz-Otto Junker or Janne Laukkanen will walk away from Gold Park as the new WGP2 Champion and the atmosphere was certainly different at the circuit as a result. At least, it was according to Batu Tüvshinbayar at Team Noortekoondis. He wasn't involved in the title fight at all heading into this weekend, but he couldn't care less - he was just happy that, despite the internal drama of his team, he actually managed to make it to the final weekend at all. His journey may have been filled with strife and lots of pain, but now he's just happy as can be and was certainly looking forward to the season finally no matter what happened to him or this team after this weekend.

The title contenders were certainly showing off during free practice here in Neverend, with Pressley taking the session over Junker and Laukkanen, but Lukas Fichter was certainly the best of the rest in 4th. Batu was nearly a 2nd off in 14th, but the pace of his teammate certainly put some hope into his Mongolian heart. One-shot qualifying was its chaotic self once again as Joy Wingelaar took a surprise pole over Pressley and...Batu himself. Junker will join him on row 2, Laukkanen was 6th and Fichter was 2 seconds down in 18th.

To say that lap came from nowhere was an understatement to Batu, who will certainly take some confidence heading into the final 2 races of the season. The aim for the final weekend was very simple: score as many points as possible, for his and Kaidi's sake.

[Togonistan]

Gold Park Circuit
Feature Race

Kaylan had come to Liventia with high hopes. A lot of hype had been surrounding the team ever since Kaylan took lead in the Teams Championship and this weekend was going to be the final push to write their name in history books. For the past week, WGP2 had been the major talking point in all sorts of new sites back in Togonistan and TV viewer numbers had been rising more and more each weekend, ultimately taking over Togonistan Premier League for the first time in history. It suddenly seemed as if motor racing had become the new national sport, which could be witnessed by a large fan army that was filling the spectator area with green Kaylan colours, waving flags with Kaylan logo as well as Togonistani, Tumbran and Chromatik national flags. During qualifying, the fan army had very much made their present be heard by everyone, as they celebrated both Ted as well as Anola's laps in their usual loud manner.

Kaylan had made their way to the pit garages and Xander was standing in the middle, surrounded by his loyal and hardworking team staff. Manu, Ted, Anola, Simon, Vladimir, Rai, Artyom, Haru, Aleki, Fatu... all the core members, with whom he had started this journey in WGP2. The whole team was ready, as Xander started his pre-race speech: ''Alright, listen up! This is it! The final weekend of the season! We have gone a long way since the first pre-season testing in Raichovskiy. We've had a lot of good times, as well as a lot of setbacks. It hasn't been easy, but our determination has always carried us through and brought us to where we are now. This whole season has been a constant process of learning new things all the time, constantly improving ourselves whenever we can. Before we head into these final two races, I want you all to promise me one thing. I want you to promise me that no matter what happens, no matter what result we all go home with, you will be proud of what you achieved. We took the WGP2 by a storm, and we proved everyone that we're a force to be reckoned with! We started this season as outsiders, but we finish it as title contenders!'' Xander's speech got interrupted by an applause and some cheering. He smiled lightly, before continuing.

''Our gap to TMW is 31 points. As witnessed by yesterday's qualifying, they have not given up just yet. They will do all they can to take this title from us. But we'll be ready! Ted, Anola. I want you to drive hard but fair. I know the pressure is through the roof, but remember the core principles that have brought you both to this point. Stay calm, focus, wait for your moment. If there are opportunities for overtaking, go for it. If in doubt, keep lurking behind them and focus on keeping the gap. Simon, Vlad, remember. Constant updates, keep the information flowing in-between drivers and the garage.'' Simon and Vladimir nod as they looked at Xander.

''Look at the tribunes. We've got a very decent fan army behind our back, who have all taken the effort to fly all the way over here to support us in our one final push. So let's give them a show that is worth their money! This is it! Are you people ready!?'' Loud cheering from the team indicated that they indeed were, more ready than ever before. ''Alright, let's do this!''

After these words, everyone moved out to start their preparations for the race. Mechanics made their final touches on the cars, ready to take them to the grid. Ted and Anola took their helmets and head out to the grid as well, for the few interviews to the media before taking their seats in their cars. Simon and Vladimir took their seats, put on the headphones and started setting up communications. Pit crew members set their equipment ready and checked that everything works. Xander and Manu took in their seats and started overseeing the operations. They were ready.

[Trans-Dniesters]

Vasily Semyonovich Gatutin was one of those men who didn’t care too much about how they looked. Sure, he was clean-shaven and he did good grooming. But when it came to his hair, he was more than happy to let it grow out and curl up into tight locks. It made him unique among the team principals at least; well, as unique as one could get without actually being another species from human altogether. He may look unkempt when he was wearing suits, but Vasily Gatutin looked just perfect as a team principal with the “casual” clothes during race weekends.

"Come on then, lad," Vasily told himself as he adjusted the collar of his shirt in front of the mirror. "You can do this. You're just going to walk up to him and ask him about the thing. Nothing more than that." He tugged at his collar one more time, and then he gave himself the seal of approval. Gatutin then went out of his mobile home office to find Yakov Leonidovich Yurievsky waiting for him. "Took you long enough to get moving," Yurievsky said.

"I had to be sure," Gatutin replied. "Until now, there was no evidence that the Scepter ever was a real thing."

"But now you do have the evidence," Yurievsky insisted. "We have the evidence."

"And now we're going to take it back," Gatutin said. "I just hope that this works out."

"It will work out. I myself will guarantee it," Yurievsky said.

"It better," Gatutin muttered as the pair walked over to the office of Marina Vladislavovna Smirnitskaya, UrGa's public relations manager. "Marina? Are you ready?" Gatutin asked as he knocked on the door.

"What's this? Why is she coming with us?" Yurievsky asked. "You didn't tell her about the Scepter, did you?"

"She's public relations," Gatutin explained. "If this thing goes south then we need someone who is knowledgeable about the situation to help explain everything should it come out."

"It's not going to come out," Yurievsky muttered. "Nobody is going to know anything about this."

"I wish I had the same confidence in Zoomtwat as you," Gatutin said as Smirnitskaya left her office. "Oh," she said when she saw Yurievsky. "He's coming with us," Marina muttered.

"Yes," Gatutin nodded. "Like I said before, safety in numbers. Now what do the two of you say that we retrieve the Scepter of Saint Bogdan?"

"Finally," Yurievsky said, rolling his eyes. "I've been waiting for you to say that for months already."

"He's over at his biplane, looking for something," Marina reported. "It might just be the Scepter."

"Then what are we doing here standing around and talking? Let's go get the Scepter!" Yurievsky exclaimed.

(449 words)

[Valentine Z]

Post 27 - Jeśli pierwsza zawiodła, wybierz inną drogę (If at first you don't succeed, try a different route).

Pulling off the 8th finish with 5 points to add onto her score, Adriana celebrated with her team once the Sprint Race in Grand Tour de Nékoni was over, giving many praise to Percy, Jane, and the rest of the Fireline crew for sticking with her through the end. Given the fluid nature of the driver signups, she could have been replaced at any moment by the team due to her performance. Still, they worked together - the team communicating with each other as best as they can, even if Adriana had those moments where she secluded herself from the rest. It is all coming down to this, she thought to herself. The final race of the season, and truth be told, she was somewhat apathetic for it. Not that she was going to try, but at this point, whether or not she won or lose is not exactly going to make a lot of impact. "You know, as long as I stayed at least in the 10th position, I would be fine with that. I know there are potentially 42 points up for grabs, but I am very sure I am not going to be that lucky, if you know I mean. Still, let's not talk about it more before I jinx it," she said briefly to the rest of the Fireline members.

The practice and qualifications was Gold Park Circuit was rather unsurprising. She gripped the steering wheel firmly, checking and making sure that every single one of the tires, every single one of the buttons, and every single one of the car's components, are working to their fullest. She started the engine, and away she go, doing one practice lap around the course to gain some speed before hitting the finish line. She studied the turns to the best of her abilities before going off. Turn 1, not bad, the usual. Brake gently, turn, and go. Turn 2 was subtle, but she was not a stranger to courses with subtle turns that would otherwise disqualify an inattentive driver. Turn 3 was a bit of a tedium, a sharp turn that requires her to break or make it. Turns 4-6, the usual. Turn 7-10, "Wow, that is A LOT of turns in that little area! At the very least, it's not one of those snake-like turns," Adriana exclaimed on the comms. Turn 11, a gentler sharp then. Turns 12-13, not bad. 14, 15, 16 - all good. Turns 17-19, she was a bit too cautious, but nothing she could not handle. She already was familiar with all of in the practice session, which she got 21st for, so it was definitely due to the drivers. She found little to no flaw with her turns, but she was still way too slow for the rest of the competition. Come the end of the qualifications, she looked at the scoreboard, anxious for the right reasons - 23rd for the one-shot qualification.

"Well, the Valentians are not always that good with qualifications, anyway!" she said to herself, trying to cheer herself up. She looked at Jane, Percy, and the rest of the team soulfully after the qualification was over and the car being towed back into the garage. "Here's to wishing that we will be able to do this!" she said to the team again, trying to cheer them up as much as she was trying to cheer herself, "Before we go for the Feature Race tomorrow, and the Sprint Race the next day, I just want to thank you guys so much for all the opportunity and for picking me. I know I have not been that great for the past few races, but nevertheless, I feel that if you guys are coming back again for the next season, this is an experience that I am going to use for the future seasons. Besides, I think I might have to,d you guys before that I am doing a bit of a tuning in my code." The Fireline team members roared into a cheer, supporting both Adriana and Astigar, to whom Adriana did not have the time to talk to much, but nevertheless someone that she valued and happy that Astigar joined the team.

"Good luck, everyone! And thank you for being with us too, Adriana and Astigar," one of the Fireline crew chief would say, followed by the many others that followed the same sentiment. Adriana went back to her lounge, fingers-crossed, charged herself up, and overclocking some of her processes within the safe levels. She needed to bring in everything she got, just not until she was too aggressive nor too careful for her own good.

783 / 1250 words.

(OOC: Good luck, everyone! And thank you for the crazy but wonderful season! ♥)

[Vilita and Turori]

Out Like a Trout

WGP2 Grand Tour de Nékoni - Sprint Race, Circuit de la Boisse, Nekoni :: For just the second time all season, Vilaye EnergySport Grand Prix driver Skiia Vialiv finished inside the points but outside the Top 4. Unfortunately for the rookie driver, her dream of becoming the first Vilitan or Turorian driver to win a World Grand Prix sanctioned drivers championship came to an end as Vialiv needed a podium finish in the Nekoni Sprint in order to remain mathematically in contention for the title. Despite being eliminated from title contention, Vialiv remains solidly within the Top 5 of the Drivers Standings and could secure her place in the Top 5 with a victory in Liventia.

Vialiv's teammate, the veteran journeyman driver Jama'obo Pegasii has yet to fully take advantage of the Vilaye EnergySport Grand Prix Chassis and seems at this moment to be unlikely to extend their streak of consecutive seasons with a World Grand Prix 2 race victory. Pegasii finished the Grand Tour de Nékoni Sprint a lap down in 24th position and well off the pace in the #87 Vilaye Roast / Nykipiflugpuu Tourism and Sporting Board sponsored machine. It would also mark the end of Vilaye EnergySport Grand Prix contending for the Constructors title. Like Vialiv, Vilaye EnergySport currently sit 5th in the overall standings but find themselves in a much tighter battle. The debut team that began the season in Sierra Grand could finish as high as third in the constructors standings if they can manage a strong performance at the Gold Park Circuit or could drop as low as 6th in the final Team Standings.

Just two teams remain in contention for the Constructors title with the favored Kaylan Racing Team taking a 31 point lead into the final race weekend over Siovanija and Teusland based Teusbank TMW Rennsport. The big winner of the season, however, is the Hodori based Deyoze Tire corporation who are assured the Constructors Championship as a supplier and likely to soon couple that with a drivers championship as Heinz-Otto Junker and Ted Pressley - both on Deyoze Tires, enter the finale with a 17 point advantage over Janne Laukkanen who is the only other driver who can mathematically challenge for the Top Spot. Laukkanen, driving for Nexus Racing, will be competing on In Motion Tyres as they have throughout the season.

Despite the Gold Park Circuit's previous use in Hodori's Super Formula Racing Series as well as the World Grand Prix Championship series, it will be the first time that Jama'obo Pegasii has driven the course meaning the Veteran driver will not even have that experience as an advantage as they look to salvage not only their season but their racing career in Liventia. Pegasii, who brought the sponsorship from the Vilisorma Beverage Company to the Sierra Grand based Montagne Grand Prix team, has seen their name and likeness replaced on advertising throughout the season by that of Vialiv. The rookie driver quickly gained popularity within Vilita after her breakthrough performance on the Streets of Alikki-Corra earning pole position and nearly winning her debut event. Throughout the season, Vialiv has outperformed Pegasii and her status as an ever-present user on twii.tur has allowed her to connect directly with the fans in a way that many of the generation that preceded her did not.

With Pegasii having been the highest ranked driver from the third World Grand Prix Championship season who returned for World Grand Prix Championship Season 4, many expected the veteran to challenge for the title and potentially even earn a promotion to the World Grand Prix Championship circuit with uncertainty surrounding the future of R.L. Cruisin and iBen Toralmintii remaining unresolved. Instead, however, Pegasii sits a mediocre 15th in the drivers standings and without a victory in Liventia, is likely looking at a return to Regional Competition in Atlantian Oceania if they hope to continue their racing career beyond the season.

[Aboveland]

"You're next, poika!" yells a muffled Antti from behind his driver room door.

"Coming!"

Having turned to the side, Janne looks back at his mirror and stares at himself. He's already wrapped tightly in his Nexus suit, his helmet and gloves resting peacefully below him on the high table against the wall.

He looks hard at his face, realizing his eyebrows are strained, and that he's been holding a frown for a while. He relaxes his muscles, and watches as his gaze turns serene, and how his cheeks soften up, and how his jaw hangs just low enough for his upper and lower lips to separate in the middle and make a faint, almost imperceptible 'pff' sound.

Sami—who'd promised to be in the garage for race day—had given him his well wishes. Gertrude had all but vowed to channel all the team's energy towards the last open title they still have. Antti had run through the briefing extra carefully, and had gone over the practice data with him and the rest of the team's more apt engineers multiple times to set him up just right for qualifying.

And yet, still his arms begin to go damp where they meet his torso, and still his jaw trembles slightly—not unlike when he's cold—and his breathing, while at the same pace as before, becomes deafeningly loud, each exhale as if mapping his nasal cavity follicle by follicle.

He sighs heavily, the kind of sigh to wash away the dirty nervousness, but like heaving a dry cough it only makes his anxiety worse.

Alright. Enough is enough.

In a singular motion, and in contrast to his meticulously drawn out psychoanalysis, he snatches his helmet and gloves and swoops out towards the door. Like a horse wearing blinders, he’s utterly focused on himself—a rare instance of him shutting the outside world from tormenting his headspace. Balaclava, helmet and gloves come on in a rhythmic dance, and with the final step completed he claps his hands gently together. Thumbs up to Antti at the pitwall, and he leaps into his Chase Cutter through the halo. Soon, he’s off on his last qualifying run of the season—likely his last as a WGP2 driver.

He’s gone out after the Kaylans of Anola and Ted, former title contender and current rival-to-be, respectively, and doesn’t linger on his outlap. His priorities are straight: concentrate on weaving heat into the tyres, on nailing those apexes that gave him just a little trouble during practice, and breathe. The anxious ritual-like pounding of his chest and temples hasn’t subsided since it started—but it’s all energy in the end, nervous energy at that, which he must convert to focus.

Coming out of turn 17, he floors the throttle, and takes extra care to round turn 19 just right to get the best exit for his timed lap. While he barrels down the main straight, he takes an instant to blink and think. Not a better track in the world for a season finale.

Braking hard for turn one, leaping out then into the apex, the car stays planted. Mid-way through, a small correction points him straighter on exit to recover his line on the straight before the kink at turn two. With Imagination in full force, the car glides through the right turn, its cyan luminescence beaming harder on the left side to push the car down.

He stops just as hard for turn three, the harness keeping him secured, and enters the most start-stop section of the lap. It’s here where the Chase Cutter loses to its rivals, its eight wheels grippy yet cumbersome, but just as it had in Diarcesia, despite its extra weight, it flutters like a feather. Turn 11 is deceptively tight, but it comes and goes in a flash, and before turn 12 he opts to lift instead of brake.

He throws the car violently into the apex, the chassis now a flaming deep cyan, as the screech of its rear wheels finding their grip oversteps the whirr of the electric motors. Yet the maneuver is effective; instantly, he’s pointing straight at the apex of turn 13, and he floors the throttle.

The last sector—his favorite—is the most crucial, where the Chase Cutter can really shine. Janne refuses to lift before turn fifteen, and right at its exit he taps the brakes and lunges into the next corner. The car almost becomes unsettled, but he presses on before slowing a tad more for turn seventeen. He’s smooth out towards eighteen, and brakes firmly for the final corner before gunning the throttle again and inching perilously close to the outside wall to maximise the speed on his exit.

As he crosses the line, he remembers to blink. A well of tears covers his corneas, and with a second, harder blink the blurred HUD comes into view.

P5. Right below both TMWs, and both Kaylans, with the rest of the session still to go.

Doable.

As he winds down on his outlap, Antti chimes in to communicate the result. “Chin up, poika,” he suggests. “Less than ideal, but we can work with it.”

“Antti,” Janne pleads, making his way up through turn fourteen. “Save me the negativity, please.” He’s not quite able to lash out, but the n-th time Antti has said his time had been ‘less than ideal’ had been n too many.

“P6 was enough for Terho,” he recalls, sure that his stat is correct, but unsure as to which race in his five-season career it applies. “It ought to be enough for me, too.”

He carries the Chase Cutter into the paddock without a single doubt in his mind.

Suddenly, the pounding in his chest and temples seems to have disappeared.

[Chromatika]

Gold Park Circuit, Liventia
Post-Qualifying

It had been one of the sharpest laps that the two of them had put together. Fifth place was quite good, and with Ted being in second by the smallest of margins - 00:00:00.044 - the two of them actually had a chance to do what they had talked about - drive as a pack.

Of course, nothing worth doing was easy, and with Joy Wingelaar ahead of Ted and Heinz-Otto Junker ahead of her, any and every change in the placings would have far-reaching circumstances. Kaylan needed to maintain the gap to win the Constructor Championship before the Sprint Race (not that she minded the Sprint Race). Individually, Ted needed to do better than Heinz-Otto or Janne Laukkanen, the Abovian that had placed just behind Anola in qualifying. Things were tight, and this Feature Race would decide a lot of what was to occur.

"I have to say, this is one of the more simpler tracks out there," admitted Anola to Vladimir, "Not too many sharp turns, nice straightaways to try to pass the person in front of you, and everything is state-of-the art."

"It is Liventia, after all," answered Vladimir, "They've been doing motorsports for a while. There's a reason why this is the season-ending track - less opportunity for extraneous factors to affect who wins the entire thing other than the drivers themselves."

"Our goal tomorrow is to waylay the three that would stop Kaylan and Ted as much as possible without stepping over any lines," stated Anola with an edge in her voice, "I don't really care how I do personally as long as Ted gets into prime position to win it all and as long as Kaylan accomplishes what we've spent so much of the season trying to ensure."

"You do know that the best way to do that is to approach this like any other race, right?" countered Vladimir, slightly frowning, "To put extra emphasis and change the parameters from what you are used to will only cause confusion and possible distraction that may trip you up. Treat it like any other race, just with the knowledge that you are driving for more than yourself."

Anola thought about that for a second, but then acquiesced the point.

"I suppose you are right as usual. I'm just a little nervous, a bit pent up," she admitted.

"I understand," stated Vladimir, "I think we all are. Xander will get us all ready for it in the morning, and then we're going to go out there and put together a performance that we will be proud of in the future. That is all we can try to do, and all we can do."

Anola looked at him, and then playfully punched him on the shoulder. The ease that she felt around him had been built on countless hours of communication, not only about racing and the work but also about personal lives and things that they enjoyed. She now counted him as one of her closest friends, and hoped that they would be able to work with each other in the future, or at least remain in contact.

"You know, I couldn't have come this far without you," she admitted.

"Nonsense," he replied, "You were always meant to race. It's been my pleasure to help you alongside the beginning of your process. You're young, Anola - your best days are ahead of you. Don't look too far into the future, though..."

"We've got a race to finish, and there is no way that we aren't going to do everything we can to make these last two races some of the best work that we've done this season," he ended.

With a smile, she nodded. They'd write the end of this chapter together.

625 words.

[Former Citizens of the Nimbus System]

Gold Park Circuit, Neverend, Liventia
WGP2 Neverend Challenge, Qualifying; 11th of June

The slight squeal of the tyres is still harsh against the soft whirring of the Chase Cutter’s motors as Janne Laukkanen pulls towards the Nexus Racing pit garage. The platform that the cars normally pit atop is nowhere to be seen for this session; instead, the portion of the engineering team present emerge from the garage, drawing the Ultra High Speed Ground Vehicle 5 away and back into its place of security.

Gertrude watches her screens intently, then speaks into her microphone. “Okay, everyone, good first run! Nicely done – let’s see a repeat for Haru! Virgil, Imagination flow is perfect right now – heating working well!”

Where he would normally be all too keen to, the man doesn’t reply even after a few seconds have passed. The focus required here is simply too great, what with a Drivers’ Championship at stake. Gertrude nods to herself. Just need to keep spirits up… All I can do right now.

She turns her head back, looking at the car behind her being pulled into place; Janne doesn’t seem overly hurried, taking a moment to breath within the confines of his cockpit. She glances over to Antti across from her, whose expression indicates some level of sheepishness; when he catches her eye, however, he recomposes himself, nodding with a calm smile.

Good.

She looks back, watching the cars side by side, even as Haru sets himself up for his run. She can only see the rear tyres but their glow is scintillating from beneath the darkness of the rear bodywork. Yeah, heating’s good. Another thing we have over everyone else…

As she gazes, the brief conversation that she had with Lucia earlier in the day flashes up in Gertrude’s mind. There’s so much like that… So many systems that we have that other teams just don’t… Anyone looking in on the outside would think we should be laps ahead of the rest – sure, we don’t do as much fine-tuning but that’s because we have so much more to manage. Why aren’t we? She frowns. Is there some fundamental flaw that we’re missing – a problem with our philosophy or our design process?

Or… Maybe, are we just bad at this? Something that no organisational shift can fix?

She considers it. As she stares into those tyres, glowing with Imagination’s light, she seriously considers it – that their work at Nexus Racing, once bright with newness in WGPC 15, has not shone more brightly but only faded since. That they have been overtaken, newer rivals blazing forth with new potential that they have not been able to match.

…

No.

No. We’ve done too much for that to be true.

We have Janne Laukkanen, advancing to WGPC now, our hope for the future there. We have Haru Jukkenna, steadily getting to grips with the Chase Cutters, just like Janne did. He will be ready when we need to call on him. That isn’t decline.

We’ve rebuilt our entire car and our entire approach to the seasonal cycle over the past two years, under my leadership, not Timothy’s. We’re seeing the rewards of that now – we’re doing better in this WGP2 season than in any WGP2 season in the past, even WGP2 II… Back then, we were able to claim second in the Constructors’ Championship in the next WGPC season; we’re set up for even better next time. That isn’t decline.

She watches the cars. So much work for such small things, in the grand scope of the two universes of her people.

---

---

And yet, so much, to so many.

Haru’s car bursts into light; tyres screech against the floor of the garage amid the whirr of motors.

Gertrude smiles, hopeful.

[Liventia]

CUTOFF

for the WGP2 Neverend Challenge - Feature Race at Gold Park Circuit

[Liventia]

Event 25: Race

Conditions:      	Dry
Laps:              	41
(Drivers retiring on lap 36 or earlier not classified)	
Nation:         	LEN
Circuit:        	Gold Park Circuit
Event:                	WGP2 Neverend Challenge - Feature Race
Safety Car on Laps:	
Cars on Grid:        	28

POS  # ▍DRV Name                                    Team                                   	Time      	Pts	Fastest Lap	
  1 17 ▍LAU Janne Laukkanen                         Nexus Racing                            	01:23:58.373	25		
  2 14 ▍VIA Skiia Vialiv                            VilayeEnergy Sport Grand Prix           	00:00:23.153	18		
  3 88 ▍PRE Ted Pressley                            Kaylan Racing Team                      	00:00:34.953	14		
  4 15 ▍JUN Heinz-Otto Junker                       Teusbank TMW Rennsport                  	00:00:36.261	11		
  5 37 ▍HAU Laura Haukanna                          Pryfors Bilar-Viska/Air Kalactin        	00:00:41.347	8		
  6 31 ▍WIN Joy Wingelaar                           Teusbank TMW Rennsport                  	00:00:41.522	5		
  7 87 ▍PEG Jama'obo Pegasii                        VilayeEnergy Sport Grand Prix           	00:01:17.532	3		
  8 13 ▍CRB Pedro Carballal                         Scuderia Orange Cow                     	00:01:24.678	1		
  9 21 ▍HKS Chiruno Hakusoe                         VSK-Maarukanna Racing                   	00:01:37.966			
 10  7 ▍DEV Annelise Devereux                       PrismRiver Racing                       	00:02:03.004			
 11 35 ▍VAR Indra Vartak                            Pryfors Bilar-Viska/Air Kalactin        	00:02:04.933			
 12 91 ▍MTV Taras Matviyenko                        Urotovsky-Gatutin                       	Laps Down: 1			
 13 66 ▍ZOO Harry Zoomtwat                          Urotovsky-Gatutin                       	Laps Down: 1			
 14 18 ▍JKN Haru Jukkenna                           Nexus Racing                            	Laps Down: 1			
 15  3 ▍KUY Sakiteno Kuyara                         Scuderia Orange Cow                     	Laps Down: 1			
 16  4 ▍LIL Athan Lille                             Bitten Heroes-MW Racing                 	Laps Down: 1			
 17  9 ▍TUV Batu Tüvshinbayar                       Team Noortekoondis                      	Laps Down: 1			
 18 40 ▍KOW Adriana Kowalski Ela Lillian            Fireline Motorsports                    	Laps Down: 1			
 19 23 ▍RIK Sakinomi Rikikida                       VSK-Maarukanna Racing                   	Laps Down: 1			
 20 92 ▍MAR Alex Márquez                            Erkuns-Hohnschich-Furzeine-Motospiel    	Laps Down: 1			
 21 72 ▍VAL Charyseine Valkyria                     PrismRiver Racing                       	Laps Down: 1			
 22 79 ▍FIC Lukas Fichter                           Team Noortekoondis                      	Laps Down: 2			
 23 44 ▍GOZ Rod Gozum                               Equipo Telebuenas-BA                    	Laps Down: 2			
 24  0 ▍AMD Astigar Armendaritze                    Fireline Motorsports                    	Laps Down: 2			
 25 45 ▍KUL Parveen Kulkarni                        Erkuns-Hohnschich-Furzeine-Motospiel    	Laps Down: 2			
 26 11 ▍MEL Anola Melani                            Kaylan Racing Team                      	Ret. lap 39	 + 1	1:54.819	(classified finish)
 27 63 ▍RAS Lianna Rasianoara                       Bitten Heroes-MW Racing                 	Ret. lap 37 (classified finish)			
DNF 41 ▍ROU Edward Rousseau                         Equipo Telebuenas-BA                    	Ret. lap 31

Drivers' standings

Pos # ▍DRV Name                                     Team [Engine]                                                  Tyres                                   Pts
 1 15 ▍JUN Heinz-Otto Junker                        Teusbank TMW Rennsport [TMW]                                   Deyoze                                  157
 2 17 ▍LAU Janne Laukkanen                          Nexus Racing [Paragon Warp]                                    In Motion                               154
 3 88 ▍PRE Ted Pressley                             Kaylan Racing Team [Kaylan]                                    Deyoze                                  152

 4 14 ▍VIA Skiia Vialiv                             VilayeEnergy Sport Grand Prix [Preston]                        Deyoze                                  110
 5 11 ▍MEL Anola Melani                             Kaylan Racing Team [Kaylan]                                    Deyoze                                  103
 6 37 ▍HAU Laura Haukanna                           Pryfors Bilar-Viska/Air Kalactin [Preston]                     Phoenician                              87
 7 91 ▍MTV Taras Matviyenko                         Urotovsky-Gatutin [Preston]                                    Deyoze                                  75
 8 31 ▍WIN Joy Wingelaar                            Teusbank TMW Rennsport [TMW]                                   Deyoze                                  68
 9 40 ▍KOW Adriana Kowalski Ela Lillian             Fireline Motorsports [Preston]                                 Deyoze                                  64
10 35 ▍VAR Indra Vartak                             Pryfors Bilar-Viska/Air Kalactin [Preston]                     Phoenician                              62
10 66 ▍ZOO Harry Zoomtwat                           Urotovsky-Gatutin [Preston]                                    Deyoze                                  62
12 21 ▍HKS Chiruno Hakusoe                          VSK-Maarukanna Racing [VSK-Rotary]                             Deyoze                                  52
13 92 ▍MAR Alex Márquez                             Erkuns-Hohnschich-Furzeine-Motospiel [Preston]                 Deyoze                                  51
13  7 ▍DEV Annelise Devereux                        PrismRiver Racing [Preston]                                    Deyoze                                  51
13 87 ▍PEG Jama'obo Pegasii                         VilayeEnergy Sport Grand Prix [Preston]                        Deyoze                                  51
16 23 ▍RIK Sakinomi Rikikida                        VSK-Maarukanna Racing [VSK-Rotary]                             Deyoze                                  37
16 18 ▍JKN Haru Jukkenna                            Nexus Racing [Paragon Warp]                                    In Motion                               37
18  4 ▍LIL Athan Lille                              Bitten Heroes-MW Racing [Harlean]                              Stellenbosch                            34
19 44 ▍GOZ Rod Gozum                                Equipo Telebuenas-BA [Badai Angin]                             Deyoze                                  32
19  9 ▍TUV Batu Tüvshinbayar                        Team Noortekoondis [Preston]                                   Deyoze                                  32
19  0 ▍AMD Astigar Armendaritze                     Fireline Motorsports [Preston]                                 Deyoze                                  32
22 79 ▍FIC Lukas Fichter                            Team Noortekoondis [Preston]                                   Deyoze                                  27
23  3 ▍KUY Sakiteno Kuyara                          Scuderia Orange Cow [Preston]                                  Deyoze                                  26
24 41 ▍ROU Edward Rousseau                          Equipo Telebuenas-BA [Badai Angin]                             Deyoze                                  24
24 13 ▍CRB Pedro Carballal                          Scuderia Orange Cow [Preston]                                  Deyoze                                  24
26 72 ▍VAL Charyseine Valkyria                      PrismRiver Racing [Preston]                                    Deyoze                                  15
27 69 ▍YUM Hoshikari Yume                           Erkuns-Hohnschich-Furzeine-Motospiel [Preston]                 Deyoze                                  6
28 63 ▍RAS Lianna Rasianoara                        Bitten Heroes-MW Racing [Harlean]                              Stellenbosch                            0
28 45 ▍KUL Parveen Kulkarni                         Erkuns-Hohnschich-Furzeine-Motospiel [Preston]                 Deyoze                                  0
28 16 ▍SHW Elise Shaw                               Bitten Heroes-MW Racing [Harlean]                              Stellenbosch                            0

Team standings

Pos NAT ▍Team [Engine]                                                  Tyres                                   Pts
  1 TGN ▍Kaylan Racing Team [Kaylan]                                    Deyoze                                  255
  2 STL ▍Teusbank TMW Rennsport [TMW]                                   Deyoze                                  225
  3 NIM ▍Nexus Racing [Paragon Warp]                                    In Motion                               191
  4 V&T ▍VilayeEnergy Sport Grand Prix [Preston]                        Deyoze                                  161
  5 DCS ▍Pryfors Bilar-Viska/Air Kalactin [Preston]                     Phoenician                              149
  6 PDN ▍Urotovsky-Gatutin [Preston]                                    Deyoze                                  137
  7 ETN ▍Fireline Motorsports [Preston]                                 Deyoze                                  96
  8 AUR ▍VSK-Maarukanna Racing [VSK-Rotary]                             Deyoze                                  89
  9 HDR ▍PrismRiver Racing [Preston]                                    Deyoze                                  66
 10 NYK ▍Team Noortekoondis [Preston]                                   Deyoze                                  59
 11 SWR ▍Erkuns-Hohnschich-Furzeine-Motospiel [Preston]                 Deyoze                                  57
 12 FID ▍Equipo Telebuenas-BA [Badai Angin]                             Deyoze                                  56
 13 CBP ▍Scuderia Orange Cow [Preston]                                  Deyoze                                  50
 14 LIS ▍Bitten Heroes-MW Racing [Harlean]                              Stellenbosch                            34

Sprint race starting grid
 1  JKN
 2  ZOO
 3  MTV
 4  VAR
 5  DEV
 6  HKS
 7  CRB
 8  PEG
 9  WIN
10  HAU
11  JUN
12  PRE
13  VIA
14  LAU
15  KUY
16  LIL
17  TUV
18  KOW
19  RIK
20  MAR
21  VAL
22  FIC
23  GOZ
24  AMD
25  KUL
26  MEL
27  RAS
28  ROU

[Tumbra]

It's dark.

That's by design. You closed all the curtains as tightly as possible, turned the air-conditioning to max, and hid under the blanket. All to hide away, to maintain some semblance of stability, to let at least something feel similar in your ever-changing world. How many hotel rooms have you been in this season? Ten? Twelve? You've lost count. Exactly. Less time adjusting to new countries. More time to focus on driving.

No, don't open your eyes. You don't know what time it is, and you don't want to be stuck awake before your alarm goes off. You need all the rest you can get. It's a big day today. You're five points behind Heinz-Otto Junker. Two behind Janne. You're third in the championship, and to win the championship...well. Don't think about that. You need sleep. You. Need. To. Sleep.

...but you're already awake. If you're having this monologue with yourself, you...you're already awake. Or whatever the hell this stream-of-consciousness narrative is supposed to be. It's your thoughts, after all, but you're somehow addressing yourself in the second person. And you, Ted Pressley, don't go back to sleep easily once you're awake. Dare you check the time? It could be three, five or seven. Your alarm's set for seven-thirty. You cannot tell what time it is outside; the only way to find out how is to look at the digits on the alarm clock the hotel so graciously provided. But if you do, there's every chance you won't be able to go back to sleep — and how would that impact your performance? You could get a great start from twelfth on the grid, but a single momentary lapse in concentration could lead to...well...you in the wall. And how would that feel? Nineteen consecutive finishes, and then you end that streak by just binning it during the last, most important race of the season?

Don't think about it.

Oh, but you will. That's all your brain thinks about once it's wired onto something. Like yesterday's race, for example. Your start from second on the grid. Overtaking Wingelaar into turn 3. Then trying so desperately to hold on to that precious lead. Janne Laukkanen.

Janne Laukkanen. The Aboveian. Four wins to his name now, after you somehow managed to make defending against him look like...like, oh, you don't know. It's early. Or late. Your brain can't possibly think of a simile — or was it metaphor? — succinct and witty enough to encapsulate how badly you defended against him in his cyan car yesterday. He just went up the inside, and off he went. And then Vialiv went sauntering by just a few laps later. Powerless to stop them, absolutely powerless. And the other one.

Heinz-Otto Junker. No wins, but somehow he's managed to pull a drive out of his hat every bloody weekend. God knows how many times he's sprayed the champagne without having stepped onto the top step. If only you were as consistent as him, eh?

Whatever. He starts chasing. You two have dueled multiple times over the course of the season; in Hodori, he came out on top. You were determined to right that wrong. And so you did. You drove out of your arse, out of your skin, out of those tires, and you came out on top. Third, and a chance to taste champagne for the fifth time this season.

Well done, you. Your fifteen points secured Kaylan a Constructors' Championship, too. So it's all about you, today. Remember that press conference? When you said you, Janne and him would be up there at the end of the season? Looks like you were right. No, don't think about the permutations, you can barely remember how many points each sprint race position gives. Think too hard, your brain goes into gear, you can't stop it again.

So. Back to the important question. Do you or do you not take a look at the alarm clock? It's simple. All you have to do is throw off the duvet. Well, not throw, it's cold and you might want to go back to sleep. Then tilt your head to the left, open your eyes.

That's all you have to do. Outscore the two of them, somehow. Pray that luck is somehow on your side and that it's late enough that you can get out of bed without feeling like crap for wasting sleep time. Score fifteen, and hope they don't score any. Or whatever. Sleep, racing, sleep, racing.

That's your final choice, then? Brave. Let's have a look, then. Let's see what time it is.

It's...seven-twenty.

Welcome to the most important day of your life so far, Ted.

[782] + 468 = 1250

[Commonwealth of Baker Park]

The strategy ended up working better than anyone could've hoped for, with Pedro coming home 8th after being the last runner to make a pit stop on lap 29; Saki had come in a lap earlier from P11, but came back out right in the middle of Championship battle, which put her a lap down and among a lot of traffic.

The battle for the season title was going to play an important factor in Sakite's race strategy for the Sprint, as she would right behind the three, in the middle of the pack. A repeat of the same race plan didn't look so good for her, but Pedro had wondered if he might get away with it from P7 on the grid.

She, Jordan and Pedro had chipped in to get the race team personnel a little thank you gift, decent cordial glasses with the year and their names applied; everyone was appreciative of the gesture with Mike, Jill, Vic and the rest of the management team impressed by simplicity of the gift and the feeling it conveyed from the trio. Pedro also had taken the initiative to get in touch with CommSport, the broadcast rights holder, to request the full broadcast of all three of Saki's podiums on a DVD, which they were happy to provide.

Sakite had also bought an extra gift for Helena, who'd been so important throughout the season. "I hope I've mentioned how much I've appreciated your friendship, Hella. I don't know how I would've coped without you. You will always be in my heart for being there when I needed you. There's always a place for you at my house if you want to visit."

The two had been a bit emotional when they been packing up Saki's things to ship back to Hodori, and they had another tearful embrace after this conversation.

There was still one more day for the Scuderia in their debut season. They had pulled off a miracle by making on the grid in Vilita, and gained a great deal of respect throughout the paddock.
Midnight on this Cinderella season was coming, but nothing about the team was going to revert back to where they had began.

[Siovanija and Teusland]

Neverend, Liventia

“Heinz, that’s P4, good race. Laukkanen P1, and Pressley obviously right ahead of you. So going into tomorrow it’s a 3 point gap to Janne and 5 points back to Ted. Joy was P6 so some good points for the team, we firmed up P2 in the constructors for the season.”

“Thanks guys, amazing season, I’m happy we’ve been able to secure that P2. Of course it’d be nice to have been one spot higher, but it’s a really amazing result on a very competitive grid. One more left, let’s give our all.”

Stepping out of the car, Heinz watched the podium from afar. Two of his championship rivals up there, each spraying champagne. Each knowing that they would have to give their all for one more day in order for one of the three to take home the championship. It was going to be an all-out fight to the finish line, for sure.

Back at the TMW garage, the team discussed all the possible strategy permutations for the sprint event tomorrow. It was going to be tense right off the start - Heinz and Ted would start beside each other on the same row, with Janne directly behind them. So, getting into turn 1 ahead of them was of the utmost importance. In the sprint race, points were distributed quite evenly among the drivers, but there was no room for error.

The evening was, pretty much, a blur. Heinz couldn’t quite focus on anything, not at dinner with a few of his engineers or alone in his hotel room. He had a good phone call with his dad, who was trying to give him tips for the fierce fight ahead. But Heinz didn’t want to think about the race tomorrow, he tried watching a TV movie, then playing a bit of his Republikaliga Manager save - but he couldn’t focus. He wondered if Ted and Janne were feeling the same.

In the morning, he pulled on his TMW track jacket and headed over to the track, not quite sure what to say to anyone, be it the driver, fans at the gate awaiting autographs from their favourite drivers, or even the TMW team themselves in the garage, who each seemed to have words of wisdom to offer up.

He’d went a long way to trying to make this weekend feel normal, but right now it certainly didn’t. How could anyone of the 3 drivers deal with this pressure and make it through? Because they were competitors, he told himself. Three of the brightest young racing talents in the world. And they did it because it was natural. The pressure, all of it, natural. That’s what he told himself - but he didn’t feel it until he sat in the car.

That was when it all went away, all the noise, the pressure. Bringing the car around on the formation lap, that felt natural. And the race would, too. Gone was the hesitation, the awkwardness. In the car, he could do the thing he did best and not worry about anything else.

By the time the lights came on, Heinz-Otto Junker was ready to go. One more race. One more shot at glory.

[Trans-Dniesters]

"Well, Taras Gavrilovich, here it is," Konstantin Zakharovich Rezansov, UrGa's chief engineer, said to Taras Gavrilovich Matviyenko on the night before the Liventia sprint race. "The final race of your career. How does it feel?"

"Strange, to be honest," Taras admitted. "It feels strange because, for the first time since I started doing this, I now know that I won't be getting back in a race seat next year. There's nothing more waiting for me next year. Nothing except a warm room and a cold bed."

"Oh well," Rezansov shrugged. "It could have been much worse. So, P3 for the sprint race. Do you think you can cap off your career with a third win?"

"I mean, of course I want the win," Taras said. "Who wouldn't? We're in a good place to capitalize on it, like you said. But it wouldn't be the end of the world if I don't win this sprint race. I already have two under my belt. At least at this point, I can say that I'm going out of this sport as a race winner on a truly international level."

"But imagine if you hadn't won the feature races at Hodori and Nekoni," Rezansov pressed. "Would you still want to go for the win?"

"Probably," Taras replied. "Definitely. Maybe even to the point that I will wreck myself chasing after a position. Now that would be an absolute disappointment. Crashing on my very last race in WGP2, and in racing in general. Good thing we don't have to live in that timeline, eh, Konstantin Zakharovich?"

"And how will you go about announcing your retirement?"

"Marina Vladislavovna and I have already arranged this," Taras explained. "No matter where I finish, when I am interviewed I will announce my retirement then. Not before, not after. I will announce my retirement in my post-race interview, and then Marina Vladislavovna will release the statement."

Rezansov nodded his head, and then he held out his hand for Taras. "Good luck out there, Taras Gavrilovich," he said. "May the odds be in your favor."

Taras took Rezansov's hand and shook it firmly. "And may the racing gods smile upon our team tomorrow," he said. He then patted Rezansov's shoulder and made the short walk back to his mobile home. As he walked out of the garage, he noted that his teammate Harry Zoomtwat was nowhere to be seen, along with his Indian manservant. Probably busy sleeping off his latest serving of libations, Taras sneered to himself. What in the world was a libation anyway?

(873 words total - 449 words previous RP = 424 words current RP)

[Diarcesia]

The team enters the final race with a new and experimental setup for its drivers. It is a vastly more advanced concept than Pryfors Bilar put out before, and there are still many unknowns that need to be addressed before it can be considered 'mature' in grand prix racing. Thankfully, the expertise of the Viska engineers and fabricators iron out much of the uncertainties and risks of the new design.

The car is a departure in many ways from their usual modus operandi, but the most important difference is the presence of an active aerodynamic computer. This computer, developed by the Viska developers, is able to extract even more downforce in the car in several different scenarios within the Gold Park Circuit, from the long straights to the sharp corners. Additionally, the effectiveness and flexibility of the wings is demonstraighted during the practice session. The only limiting factor is that PB-Viska's drivers need some adjustments on their driving to capitalize in the car's capabilities. Entering into the race, PB-Viska is confident that the car performs well enough to release its full potential in the view of WGP2 fans.

Post-race, the team has already released a number of videos and images showing how the cars fared, with the most recent ones focused on the active aero system. During practice, the system is tested during the long run-up to the race day, and it is deemed sufficient to include in the qualifying session and race.

"It might be too late to factor in the championship, but I think we have a winner here, in the long run. What we have here is a car that is even quicker, very sleek, and with an engine that complements it. The guys have worked very hard to get it right, and it's working pretty well. It shows great promise to perform strongly in future seasons. We have a long way to go, but we are centimetering closer to championship form," PB-Viska chief engineer Louis Meissner says.

Saturday - WGP2 Neverend Challenge Feature Race

"We've emerged from the first event with zero additional points with renewed resolved. There's a delicate balance between courage and foolhardiness, but we're all learning. It has been an exciting season for the team, and I think we've all found each other's rapport on the way to this point. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you, the staff from Pryfors Bilar, and our partners in Viska. I am very pround of you all!" says Aldauren in the team's all-hands meeting after the race.

---

WGP2: Propel to Excel Interviewer: What is the most unforgettable moment in PB-Viska's run in WGP2?

Aldauren: There's two. One is the barrage of headlines when we entered as PB-Viska. The narrative is being built up that there will be a battle between Viska and VSK. The other, of course, is Laura's home win in Elbej.

Interviewer: What does the future hold for you?

Aldauren: "Team Principal" Aldauren Ginintella is starting to grow in me. The season has a lot of highs and lows for sure. For countless years, I experienced it behind the wheel, taking in the adrenaline rush out on the track. Now that I'm on the other side, it is the same, only in a different perspective.

Interviewer: Elaborate more.

Aldauren: I will stay as the team principal...

Interviewer: In WGPC?

Aldauren: *Laughs* the rumors are still there? We will find out, that's all I can say. *Winks*

[556 + 574 words]

[Togonistan]

Gold Park Circuit
Feature Race

''Gap to Junker behind is 2 seconds. 2 seconds.'' Simon said to Ted over the radio. With 5 laps to go, everyone in Kaylan garage had their eyes nailed to the screens. Everything had gone smooth so far. Pit stops quick and precise, Ted and Anola putting down spectacular drives. All there was left to do was make it to the finish line. However, even that late into the race, nothing was certain yet. They had just witnessed Rasianoara's late retirement, putting an end to any hopes for a points finish for the struggling BH team. Manu took another look at timing tables. Ted was comfortably moving towards podium, while Anola on P5 was closing in on Junker in front. ''2 laps until attacking opportunity for Anola,'' Manu reported.

Xander has a stone-faced look on his face. He sat on his chair, arms crossed, nervously tapping his foot. A message popped up on the TV feed, indicating that Anola had just driven the fastest lap of the race. He watched car number 11 closing up on the TMW in front, going side by side on the long straight... suddenly, sparks were flying from the green Kaylan. The front right tyre on Anola's car had decided to give up and shred into pieces, bits of rubber were flying all over the place. Xander stood up and grabbed his head. Out of all the races so far, they had suffered no retirements at all. Would now, at the worst possible time, it would finally come?

Smoke was seen coming through the brake ducts as Anola pulled over to the side of the road. That was race over for the Chromatik. Yellow flags in sector one, as the rest of the grid passed her. Xander facepalmed at the sight he was seeing. However, now was not the time to mourn. Two more laps to go, they had to make sure Ted makes it to the finish line.

Ted did make it across the finish line. A few moments of silence in the garage as they watched Junker, Haukanna and Wingelaar cross the line as well. Some whispering started amongst the pit crew, who were trying to figure out the points placement behind this result. Eventually, Manu took out the calculator and manually converted the race results into points. Everyone held their breath as they looked at Manu, with a smug smile slowly appearing on the latter's face. ''If my calculations are correct... TMW can't catch us anymore!''

Suddenly, the garage erupted in loudest cheers they had ever produced. Pit crew jumped into a huge pile in the middle of the garage, with other team staff joining them one after another. Simon and Vladimir shared a fistbump, before informing the drivers about the news. Manu put his hands to Xander's shoulder and shook the team principal who was still stuck at his seat. Xander looked at the screen in front of him, through which he witnessed the live TV feed focusing on him. Tears started pouring down his cheeks as he just sat there, unable to do anything. Eventually, he managed to get himself together and stood up, putting his arms wide open as Manu, Rai, Artyom and others rushed to him to hug him. They had done it. They had done the impossible. Kaylan had secured themselves the WGP2 title.