World Grand Prix Championship season 17 [RP Thread]

[Audioslavia]

Week 14: Race

Conditions:      	Dry	
Laps:              	62	
Nation:         	VNG	
Circuit:        	Drosopol Circuit	
Event:	Vannish Grand Prix	
Safety Car Deployed on Laps:	12, 13, 14, 23, 24, 25, 26, 57	
Cars on Grid:	28

Fastest Lap Bonus Point: 42 DIM	99.957

Start          After 15 Laps               After 31 Laps               After 46 Laps			
 1 ▍FRS	 1 ▍TLS +0       	 1 ▍BJA +0       	 1 ▍TAL +0
 2 ▍TRI	 2 ▍NVX +8.196   	 2 ▍TAL +3.715   	 2 ▍TRI +3.921
 3 ▍LAN	 3 ▍BLK +11.461  	 3 ▍FRS +6.015   	 3 ▍TII +13.057
 4 ▍RHJ	 4 ▍SCH +13.834  	 4 ▍TII +6.064   	 4 ▍DGR +36.013
 5 ▍TLS	 5 ▍STE +18.575  	 5 ▍TLS +9.031   	 5 ▍KRU +47.647
 6 ▍TAL	 6 ▍TBS +19.239  	 6 ▍STE +12.925  	 6 ▍FRS +55.832
 7 ▍CAR	 7 ▍BJA +19.312  	 7 ▍KRU +13.507  	 7 ▍STE +58.767
 8 ▍JMD	 8 ▍IBU +19.909  	 8 ▍DGR +21.334  	 8 ▍TLS +65.855
 9 ▍SCH	 9 ▍RHJ +21.34   	 9 ▍TRI +21.996  	 9 ▍SCH +68.538
10 ▍BJA	10 ▍KRU +25.017  	10 ▍RHJ +22.349  	10 ▍BJA +69.831
11 ▍DGR	11 ▍TAL +26.444  	11 ▍TBS +22.856  	11 ▍OKU +74.12
12 ▍TII	12 ▍JCS +26.581  	12 ▍JMD +27.476  	12 ▍JMD +77.707
13 ▍STE	13 ▍TRI +26.698  	13 ▍SCH +31.782  	13 ▍DIM +83.224
14 ▍JCS	14 ▍FRS +27.1    	14 ▍OKU +41.895  	14 ▍NVX +Laps: 1
15 ▍DIM	15 ▍DGR +30.286  	15 ▍LAN +44.157  	15 ▍RHJ +Laps: 1
16 ▍IBU	16 ▍OKU +30.772  	16 ▍DIM +52.265  	16 ▍LAN +Laps: 1
17 ▍CAS	17 ▍DIM +30.89   	17 ▍NVX +54.784  	17 ▍CAR +Laps: 1
18 ▍TBS	18 ▍CAR +32.361  	18 ▍CAR +56.648  	18 ▍GUI +Laps: 1
19 ▍DHL	19 ▍LAN +43.262  	19 ▍GUI +Laps: 1 	19 ▍DHL +Laps: 1
20 ▍OKU	20 ▍JMD +45.05   	20 ▍DHL +Laps: 1 	20 ▍CAS +Laps: 2
21 ▍KRU	21 ▍TII +45.941  	21 ▍CAS +Laps: 1 	21 ▍ORK +Laps: 2
22 ▍KRA	22 ▍DHL +Laps: 1 	22 ▍SZR +Laps: 1 	22 ▍SZR +Laps: 2
23 ▍ORK	23 ▍SZR +Laps: 1 	23 ▍CRU +Laps: 2 	23 ▍CRU +Laps: 2
24 ▍SZR	24 ▍CAS +Laps: 1 	24 ▍ORK +Laps: 2 	
25 ▍BLK	25 ▍GUI +Laps: 1 	                                        	
26 ▍NVX	26 ▍CRU +Laps: 1 	                                        	
27 ▍GUI	27 ▍ORK +Laps: 1 	                                        	
28 ▍CRU

POS DRV Name                     Team	Time	Pts
  1 56 TAL Terho Talvela            ▍TRÆ        	02:06:03.347	25
  2 94 LAN Ryker Lane               ▍Nexus Racing	00:00:19.075	18
  3  1 FRS Jessica Franssen         ▍VMR        	00:00:30.918	14
  4 20 SCH Mick Schramm             ▍Omni        	00:00:34.409	10
  5 14 BJA Sigur Bjarnason          ▍MRT        	00:00:41.392	8
  6 77 TII iBen Toralmintii         ▍TRÆ        	00:00:43.216	6
  7 47 OKU Erica Okumura            ▍Polaris        	00:00:43.550	4
  8  7 TRI Vijay Tripathi           ▍VMR        	00:00:49.363	3
  9 49 TLS Benjamin Talison         ▍Fireline        	00:00:53.338	2
 10 65 DGR Hunter Digri             ▍McPahan        	00:01:44.736	1
 11 42 DIM Alex Dimitrianov         ▍Badai Angin	00:01:55.035	
 12 41 JMD Jean Mercer-Daly         ▍Nexus Racing	Laps Down: 1	
 13 81 STE Drake Stevenson          ▍Eelandii VTGP	Laps Down: 1	
 14 37 RHJ Ryan Harris-Jones        ▍Omni        	Laps Down: 1	
 15 15 NVX Tabita Novax             ▍Camden        	Laps Down: 1	
 16 17 CAR Evdaden Carnétier        ▍Obey        	Laps Down: 1	
 17 29 GUI Esteban Guilhermez       ▍Mirrors        	Laps Down: 1	
 18  3 CAS Darius Castellammare     ▍Camden        	Laps Down: 1	
 19 51 CRU RL Cruisin               ▍Mirrors        	Laps Down: 2	
 20 63 DHL Dalia Dahl               ▍SinVal        	Laps Down: 2	
 21 52 SZR Sayono Souzare           ▍Polaris        	Laps Down: 2	
DNF 64 ORK Carsten O'Rourke         ▍Badai Angin	Ret. lap 56	
DNF 27 KRU Gregori Krupin           ▍MRT        	Ret. lap 54	
DNF 48 TBS Tyra Tabuso              ▍Fireline        	Ret. lap 40	
DNF 23 JCS Jelena Colac-Strek       ▍McPahan        	Ret. lap 23	
DNF 71 IBU Rustom Ibuna             ▍Eelandii VTGP	Ret. lap 22	
DNF 18 BLK Taylor Blake             ▍Obey        	Ret. lap 21	
DNF 22 KRA Jasmin Kranjska          ▍SinVal        	Ret. lap 11

Pos # DRV Name                      Team                     Pts
 1 56 TAL Terho Talvela             TRÆ                      133
 2 42 DIM Alex Dimitrianov          Badai Angin              73
 3  1 FRS Jessica Franssen          VMR                      57
 4 94 LAN Ryker Lane                Nexus Racing             51
 5 14 BJA Sigur Bjarnason           MRT                      49
 6 77 TII iBen Toralmintii          TRÆ                      47
 7 27 KRU Gregori Krupin            MRT                      37
 7  7 TRI Vijay Tripathi            VMR                      37
 9 41 JMD Jean Mercer-Daly          Nexus Racing             33
10 71 IBU Rustom Ibuna              Eelandii VTGP            32
10 22 KRA Jasmin Kranjska           SinVal                   32
12 23 JCS Jelena Colac-Strek        McPahan                  30
13 49 TLS Benjamin Talison          Fireline                 28
14 64 ORK Carsten O'Rourke          Badai Angin              27
15 15 NVX Tabita Novax              Camden                   24
16 65 DGR Hunter Digri              McPahan                  23
17 20 SCH Mick Schramm              Omni                     21
18 48 TBS Tyra Tabuso               Fireline                 20
19 37 RHJ Ryan Harris-Jones         Omni                     19
20 52 SZR Sayono Souzare            Polaris                  17
21 47 OKU Erica Okumura             Polaris                  16
22 51 CRU RL Cruisin                Mirrors                  11
23 33 KRD Jai Kardaeri                                       10
24 17 CAR Evdaden Carnétier         Obey                     1

Pos NAT Team                       Pts
  1 ABL ▍TRÆ                       180
  2 FID ▍Badai Angin               100
  3 VNG ▍VMR                       94
  4 MTJ ▍MRT                       86
  5 NIM ▍Nexus Racing              84
  6 AUD ▍McPahan                   53
  7 ETH ▍Fireline                  48
  8 VLT ▍Eelandii VTGP             42
  9 WET ▍Omni                      40
 10 NEK ▍Polaris                   33
 11 EFL ▍SinVal                    32
 12 LIS ▍Camden                    24
 13 STB ▍Mirrors                   11
 15 ESM ▍Obey                      1

[Hapilopper]

Drosopol Circuit, Drospol, Esportivan Vangaziland
A few minutes after the race

Drake Stevenson sat inside his Eelandii VTGP car, still soaking in the race. There were tears in his eyes. If Aboveland had been frustrating, the Vannish Grand Prix had been even more so. Not because he was nowhere near the front of the field, but rather the opposite. For most of the event, Stevenson ran near the front of the field, moving from his 13th place grid position all the way up to 5th by the quarter point of the race. At the halfway mark, he was 6th, and looked well on his way to getting a handful of points for his new team, thus accomplishing what he had been hired to do – score points and make his team look good.

Three-quarters into the race, Drake was 7th. Those points looked like a sure thing, just so long as he could keep the car on the race track and not get into too much trouble. But then, lap 50 came. Drake had just come out of turn seven and was making his way to turn eight. He could see the car in front of him, and knew that if he could brake that much later than him, he could get the position back. The 300 marker passed, then the 200 marker passed. That car ahead of him hit the brakes. Drake hurled his car out of the way to avoid hitting him. Drake Stevenson was out of control.

Mercifully, he hit nothing. Unfortunately, he ended up in a sand trap. Try as he might, Drake was stuck. Car after car passed. Annoyance became frustration. Frustration became vitriol. Vitriol became white-hot nuclear rage as the remaining points scorers passed by, as well as 11th place. Then the leader, Terho Talvela passed. Not only was Drake stuck, and out of the points, but now he was a lap down. Race strategist Tyler Oakley shouting over the radio didn’t help matters any either.

Eventually, Drake got back going and finished the race where he started, 13th, one lap down. Oakley was deathly quiet over the radio, most likely in pure frustration over what had been a points finish ruined by a moment of juvenile impetuosity. “13th,” Oakley said over the radio. “That’s just great.”

The car had been pushed back into the Eelandii garage, and Drake had not yet climbed from the machine, even ten minutes after the Grand Prix had ended. Mentally, he was trying to get himself around the fact that, yes, he had blown another shot with the Eelandii VTGP team. He was competitive. He had shown that he and the car were both capable of doing something amazing. But he had blown his chance again. He had one more to go, in the Nimbus System, before he would return home to Hapilopper, looking to get his Team Blue ride back. For him, there was one Grand Prix left. One more chance to get something great out of this. He knew he was capable of it. Eelandii knew he was capable of it, so this result was frustrating for everyone.

Oakley walked over to Drake’s car, the driver still seated in his car. He was still annoyed with the lap 50 incident, and rightfully so. He wanted an explanation.

“You want to explain yourself?” Oakley asked. He didn’t need to add anything. Drake knew what he was talking about.

“I thought I could make it,” Drake said sadly. “Evidently not.”

“Yeah, evidently not,” Oakley snapped. “One more chance. One. More. Chance. Jai Kardaeri will be back in this seat and he’ll get the job done.”

“I know,” Drake said, dropping his head.

“You really impressed us in Dritten Asopie, and we want to make this work,” the race-day strategist said. “You need to put up your end of the deal. We’ve given you the best car we can give you. Give us your best, and that means not stuffing it in the sand trap. Now get the hell out of my car, we’ve got to get back to Vilita and Turori.”

Drake smirked, then finally climbed from his brown-and-white machine. For the second straight Grand Prix, Drake would be traveling back with the Eelandii VTGP team as he sought some kind of way, any kind of way, to end up in the points. In all probabilities, it would be the last time Drake traveled with the Eelandii team, as he prepared for his last chance.

The flight back to Vilita and Turori
Halfway into the flight

Most everyone on the flight from Vangaziland to Vilita and Turori were sound asleep. That was a good thing, it was a long flight. Drake, on the other hand, couldn’t fall asleep. There was far too much on his mind for him to pass out. The 13th place in that day’s Vannish Grand Prix had really taken a lot of wind out of his sail, and it worried him deeply. This had been a lifelong dream for him to be a Grand Prix driver, and it was all coming up for naught. The knots in his stomach had twisted themselves about a dozen times over as Drake feared what would happen in a few weeks when the Grand Prix circus made its way to the Nimbus System.

To say he had a lot riding on that race weekend was putting it really nicely. Drake didn’t just have a lot riding on his performance in the Nimbus System, he had everything riding on it. He had his whole career riding on it. He had the reputation of auto racing in Hapilopper riding on it. He had the name of the Preston Automobile Company riding on it. He had his reputation as a brutally quick driver riding on it. This three-race trial had now come down to its final race, and all he had to show for it were about 40 pages of notes on his legal pads, two worn out pens, some sand jokingly left for him by Eelandii mechanics and most importantly, zero points.

Drake thought back to the conversations he had with Gary Cook, Eelandii team principal and Marty Lewis of Preston Autos. In those conversations, it had been pretty much agreed upon that Drake’s goal was to score points. Not race victories, he was a stock car driver racing single-seaters for the first time, so that was a bit out of the question. Points. That’s really all that mattered. Advancing Eelandii VTGP in the Constructor’s Standings. That’s what Drake’s job was to do. Two races of the three were down and so far, Drake had failed that goal.

Absent-mindedly, Drake opened his window on the plane, to see a beautiful sunset about 38,000 feet over wherever the hell they were. He hadn’t really given a lot of thought to the fact that someone sitting right next to him, one of the team mechanics, was sound asleep, and the last thing he really needed was a light shining in his face.

“Oh, for Christ’s sakes, close the goddamned window!” the mechanic drowsily muttered. Drake complied, his lack of situational awareness and common sense having been exposed for the second time that day.

As he shut the window, Drake thought to what he’d be doing after the Nimban Grand Prix if he had failed to score points or do anything noteworthy. He’d be going back to Hapilopper, and the first thing he’d probably do would be to explain to Marty Lewis why in the world the Preston Automobile Company had blown so many millions of dollars in trying to fund this now-futile effort. Maybe he’d have to explain to the Hapiloppian government why this effort they had assisted him with had failed. He’d probably spend a few weeks or months off, exiting the public eye for a bit before coming back wanting to get his old ride with Team Blue back, and it’s more than possible that ride might not even be there for him.

He shuddered at the prospect. A failure meant going back to doing the same thing over and over in the same country, and that, to him, was unacceptable. He had left stock car racing to try to do something different. Now, it appeared, he might not have a choice.

[Former Citizens of the Nimbus System]

Nexus Racing HQ, Crossbay Circuit, Nimbus Bay, the Nexus Wardship of Former Citizens of the Nimbus System
3rd of June

Victoria Light yawns a touch as she strolls back into her team’s room. Ah, damn it – yesterday took far too much energy out of me. Not sure how I’m –

She is immediately glomped.

“Victoria!” Tiffany’s ambushing bull charge almost knocks Victoria over, surging forward to wrap her team leader in an excitable embrace.

Agh! Why does she get to be tall and not me?

“Oh, I’m so pleased for you!” Tiffany giggles, seemingly almost levitating such is the sheer energy on display. She half-hops, half-steps backwards, relinquishing her iron grip to clasp her hands together. “Everything was just so busy after yesterday, I didn’t get a chance to say, but I’m really happy that you and Ryker are romantic now!”

Victoria smiles, a slight blush dusting her cheeks. “Thanks, Tiffany… I’m happy myself.”

At his desk Alex chuckles, eyes not turning from the screen. “Not entirely sure that ‘really happy’ covers it, Tiff. You squealed pretty loudly when you saw that kiss, from what I can remember.”

“Oh… Quiet, you.”

Victoria laughs. “Come on, Alex, give her some slack. I’m sure it was a surprise.”

Alex now does turn away from his monitor – to stare at Victoria blankly. Tiffany, meanwhile, simply takes another backward step, face askance, eyebrows raised and mouth barely holding back her own laughter. “Ah – ah… Victoria… Almost everyone –”

“Okay, okay!” Victoria shakes her head, though her expression remains mirthful and she chuckles nonetheless. “Got it, got it.” She looks up again, joyous determination in her visage as she raises her hand and sweeps it forward in an almost lazy flick. “Shall we get going?”

“Mmm. We’re almost ready to test it properly now, after all.” Alex continues to tap away.

“Awesome.” Victoria falls into her chair, one hand falling to her mouse and the other resting on her own, chorded keyboard. She looks back up at her teammates. “Thanks for covering for me last Wednesday and Thursday, by the way – really nice of you.”

“Don’t worry!” Tiffany beams at her as she takes her own seat. “You deserved it and we took care of things very well here!”

Victoria returns her own appreciative smile; then she looks back at her monitor, running her fingers over the keys, drumming them in regular waves. Okay, been a little bit… Yeah, this is almost done!

Confident smirk returning to her face, she glances at the code’s description again. ‘‘Imagikinetic Downthrust/Impulse Substitution’ – utilises the Imagikinetic convertors to impel the car downwards when not otherwise using full power by angling Imagikinetic thrust downwards as less power is used.’

My word, we’re good.

Vannish Grand Prix
9th of June; Lap 11

“My word, you’re good!”

Ryker near-cackles as Coalescence blazes through Nook Check and switches right to left through the chicane of 18, then shoots away into the circuit’s last sector, its momentum unchecked and clear track before it. The Chase Cutter strikes through each corner as a mountain goat skipping effortlessly around rocks and past narrow ledges. “Martin, remind me to thank Victoria and her team extensively after the race.”

“I will,” his race engineer pronounces, his voice wry in its calmness. “Now, box this lap.”

“Got it; thanks.” Ryker focusses, cutting into the Roundabout before blasting down the start/finish straight – and then slowing to take the pit entrance. This bit… Imagination, but if someone tried to overtake here… He shakes his head as the autopilot takes over – there’ll be time enough after the race to think about that.

Up to the platform the car drives and on go his H-2s, enough to last him until about a quarter of the way to the end on a braking-oriented track like this. The stop runs with mechanical precision, whirring machinery discarding his old ultrasofts in favour of the new compound, and he is sent on his way.

Then Martin speaks up, tone uncharacteristically urgent. “Ryker, Kranjska has crashed at Turn 21. I suspect that – yes, the stewards are bringing out the safety car.”

Oh no, no, no no no! “How many others have pitted so far?”

“Jean, Toralmintii and Carnétier; the last will be just ahead of you as you re-join the circuit.”

“Okay…” Okay. Just got to keep going, keep pushing. Nothing any of us could do. “Thank you, Martin,” Ryker finishes, Coalescence switching through the kinks back out to the circuit. The sight of cars ahead of him crawling along is painful, certainly, but the thought makes that pain bearable.

Lap 44

Imagination’s fury shines as Ryker touches left, then swings right again. Schramm is certainly no easy target, the Omni Racing driver doing all that he can to cover the Nimban’s rapid onslaught, but the UHSGV-3’s power is overwhelming, Coalescence diving to the outside and dancing away into Turn 8. Ryker breathes, nodding to himself, then presses on. He glances at his HUD. P9, back in the points. Okay – tyres still working… He considers, feeling for the grip of the car as he goes. Won’t last much longer, though. “Martin?”

“Don’t worry, Ryker, final stop this lap.”

The racer grins. “Got it; thanks.” He checks the rear view. Schramm’s not an issue any longer. Into the pits.

A few dozen seconds later, he has fresh rubber – the S-1s, tyres capable of taking a beating but still mightily grippy. In short, ideal for racing.

Ryker thinks and feels.

Lap 45

Ryker emerges from the pit lane alongside Carnétier. His tyres are cold but fresh; braving the outside of Turn 2, he catapults Coalescence into 3 at terrific speed, pulling in front just before 4b’s switchback.

Lap 47

Harris-Jones’ Omni car is stricken, some sort of mechanical problem compromising his entire race and sending him plummeting down the order. The move is a simple case of outpowering him away from Nook Check.

Lap 48

Novax’s Camden is remarkably balanced, and she a good driver – but an inexperienced one. She does not see Turn 12 as a major overtaking opportunity. Ryker does and, as she pulls to the outside after the corner, Coalescence blazes through on the right.

Lap 51

Dimitrianov is a driver that Ryker has duelled with before and one with a preference towards caution. It is this that Ryker uses against him, pressuring him into more and more defensive lines through 15, 16, 17, before finally lining himself up and bolting away from 18a and b with immensely superior traction. By Turn 20, he’s ahead.

Lap 54

Digri’s second pit stop has come late and, like Ryker a few laps before, his tyres are cold. Unlike Ryker a few laps before, he’s behind Jean Mercer-Daly, about to make his own. A quick transfer of Imaginational power from one to the other at the apex of Turn 8 gets the move done.

Okumura is barely up the road from Digri and, never an easy customer, Ryker mounts his assault down the long, long pit straight, the Imagination bound in Coalescence a juggernaut against the comparatively underpowered SFeG. He’s ahead by Lap 53; after last year at his home Grand Prix, Ryker can’t help but feel a respectful satisfaction at that.

Lap 56

Coming upon Schramm and Bjarnason’s battle, the former on far older tyres but still holding strong against MRT’s recent hope, Ryker waits for an inevitable opportunity. It arrives when Schramm, doing all he can to hold off the Savojar, runs wide into Turn 7; he gets his car turned in quickly enough to halt his challenger, attempting a pass on the outside and nearly forced off as a result, but not Coalescence, diving through and onto the straight beyond in a storm of light.

And then the safety car comes out. O’Rourke retires at the apex of Raptor’s Beak, frightening the stewards enough to halt the racing – but the marshals work swiftly enough that, in a highly unorthodox move, it stays out for a single lap.

It bunches up the field just enough.

Lap 58

Down the main straight they go. Stevenson and Talison’s starts are poor and Ryker springs leftwards, Coalescence a rush of carbon and metal ambushing the Fireline and VTGP cars. Tripathi, meanwhile, is rapidly being swamped; facing some sort of mechanical issue, he is passed first by his own teammate, then Toralmintii, then the Nimban.

Ryker nods, taking the turn into 1 with swiftness and agility. He glances ahead at Terho’s rapidly-disappearing TRÆ. Unlikely, by this point… he admits to himself. He grips the wheel. Still, no point in not trying. Besides, he grins to himself, centring his gaze more immediately ahead of him, there’s more ground to make up in the here and now.

Focussed on the void blue car ahead of him, Ryker throws Coalescence forward, channelling his furious, beautiful, ecstatic determination into every motion – through the complex of 2, 3 and 4, the first two almost chicane-like before dancing through the following turn and the kink beyond. All the while the two close – and Ryker forms a plan. Even as he accelerates up to the fifth corner, he swings out wide – and stays there, turning late into the corner even as he almost brushes the back wheel of the AGP with Coalescence’s front right fairing, maximising his drive as far as he possibly can. Impelling them forward away from the hairpin, Ryker closes much more rapidly now; it isn’t enough by Turn 6 but Ryker swings in, taking the apex late again even as Toralmintii covers the inside – which doesn’t stop him as he glides up around the outside, the two wheel to wheel into Turn 7, Coalescence lighting the AGP blazing blue as Ryker holds on through the turn, onto the back straight and away!

Ryker laughs in joy. Well, that’s me back where I started! Wonderful!

Then he looks to the back of the second-place car.

The World Champion on her home circuit, hmm?

Let’s see how I measure up!

Post-Race

In the end, it’s fairly simple. Jessica Franssen has been in the WGPC for a while, so there’s more than enough data for the LPS to analyse. When the image projected onto his visor shows her about to go left at the end of the main straight, Ryker goes around the outside on the right.

It is, therefore, a tired but thoroughly fulfilled Ryker Lane who steps into the podium lobby, laughing as he greets a certain Abovian with a pat on the back that quickly becomes an embrace. “Nicely done out there, Terho! Few more laps and I’d have been fighting you but… Ah, well.”

[Lisander]

We leave Vangaziland with no points, but with our spirits unbroken. Growing is a constant challenge, and we keep learning. We fought hard, with everything we had, but unfortunateli we couldn't yet take the best of this engine. Well, since these are our first engines ever, there's room to trial and error. We keep working in developing the car, in partnership with the expertise of Falcanian Aerocruise and KB Motorworks.

The performance is very steady, and in the last four races there is still room for improvement. We will continue to work and give our best, to better serve our fans, always looking for the future. We are negotiating a possible extension of our license for another season, and also for WGP2 that will soon be starting.

Our engineers continue working on two fronts and doing their best to bring Lisander's motorsport ever closer to the top.

---

Lisander Autosports Board
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Welcome JulianoLemos2! Your last login was 12062019 2308h. There is 1 new topic.

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I'm not into the big fish decisions. I am just a pilot with at least another year of contract with Bitten Heroes, and I do not think @JulianoLemos2, as my employer, will bother this message, after all he never stopped us from expressing our opinions.

Is not Camden ashamed of such a poor performance? Do they think we're a bunch of idiots? They deliver the team to a completely unprepared guy like James Camden-Mott, and just let it roll. There was no technology exchange with Bitten Heroes, with the KB group, not even with LAB. They thought that a lot of money would be enough, but they sinned for lack of interest. They set up a car with a clearly weak engine, and at no time did they try to bring in new things. Why the hell did not the Camden engineers use the thermokinetic panels that Bitten Heroes has been developing to try to rival Nexus Racing's powerful "Imagination"?

Now that the championship is over, Camden comes up with this talk of getting better for next season, and they keep doing their best. It's monotonic speech. It looks like a robot talking:

"Today was not what we wanted, but we kept working on our car to get Lisander to the top."

If I had a baby, I could put my baby to bed with that nonsense.

An unbridled pride and closed doors to the rest of the nation. Who drove the car during the season? Castellammare and Novax. And just. There were no other tests, nor the promised ones. Everyone saw Meline Agrakian's expression of discontent in the Grandeville paddocks. She was raised as the first driver all the time, and in the end was relegated to the GT. I know she's going to say it was her choice, after all she's being paid for it.

This half-hearted thought of everyone must end. Dunneot was going the same way, but @FrancoD is smart and took the reins of the situation recently, before it went bad.

I tested the termokinetic panels on the WGP2 car last season. And they work very well, I felt a clear improvement in the distribution of energy by the car. We need to develop more of these cutting-edge technologies if we are to stop being the nation that only talks and plans without showing any results. How long have we not heard the Widows' Lament at the top of the podium?

It's a shame for me that I'm just an Academy driver. It seems that my willpower here in Hodori is greater than that of many old monkeys in Lisander, right next to the cars that should be improving.

Thanks for the space and good morning everyone.

---

AthanLille, 140619 1723h from his/her mephone 7 TELE+R INT, under the IP 184.226.10.208 (Yakumicha, Hodori)

You, FrancoD, MissHolstein, LourdinaWestgrens and 2 other people liked this.

Wise words, Lille. One should always search for evolution
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My Boyfriend is a man of vision.
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[Former Citizens of the Nimbus System]

The Nexus Wardship of Former Citizens of the Nimbus System bids you welcome to the WGPC 17
Nimban Grand Prix
!



Track Information

Circuit Name: Crossbay Circuit
Location: Nimbus Bay, Nexus Wardship of Former Citizens of the Nimbus System
Lap Record: 1:26.018 (Ryker Lane, Nexus Racing UHSGV-1)
Lap Length (km): 4.83
Qualifying Type: Two-Tiered

Currently the only track on the WGPC calendar with a section that runs above a large body of water, Crossbay Circuit continues the long and proud Nimban tradition of race circuits built in areas of astounding natural beauty by running across, through and below the stark dolomite rock cliffs of Nimbus Bay. It combines sections from three famous courses of the Nimban origin universe, Vertigo Loop Racetrack, Keelhaul Canyon Raceway and Dragonmaw Chasm Raceway, and combines them with often fearsome elevation changes to form a track that demands both driver ability and daring to perform well.

A Lap of Crossbay Circuit

A lap of the track begins in Sector 1 with a short run down the end of the start/finish straight to Turn 1, a long and smooth left-hander that is deceptively tight in the middle of the turn, as well as descending by a few metres over its course. From Turn 1 a tiny straight leads into the gentle Turn 2 before the car enters the first of the two tunnels on the course. Cars then descend rapidly into an underground stadium section that most analysts agree is the circuit’s most difficult, featuring the relatively mild Turn 3 and the hairpin of Turn 4 which, like Turn 1, tightens towards the middle; neither of these and particularly Turn 4, would be nearly as significant of a challenge as they are, however, if they did not each feature drops of several metres. The track then passes under itself before shooting down and out of the cliffs into the water-crossing Sector 2.

Immediately drivers are forced to deal with the esses of Turns 5, 6 and 7. While 5 does demand something of a decrease in speed, the latter two can be taken with surprising pace, in part the result of the increase in grip caused by the track levelling out; the measure of a good driver here will be how much momentum they can retain into the following straight. This straight leads up to the nudge that is Turn 8 and the sweeping, ever so slightly banked Turn 9, after which the chicane of Turns 10 and 11 provides another momentum-holding test into Turn 12, which technically begins immediately after Turn 11 and gradually tightens up to the beginning of the third sector, all the while presenting drivers with the track’s first rise.

Sector 3 is by far the fastest of the sectors. Drivers dart into the cliff tunnel after 12 to face a long, climbing straight broken only by Turn 13, a left-hander that may as well not exist for all of the change in speed that it necessitates but does create an obstruction to the driver’s vision. This drastically increases the difficulty of Turn 14, a slightly tighter but still fast right-hand turn immediately after the tunnel exit; not only does the flattening of the circuit after the tunnel mean that it is taken near-blind but it also substantially reduces a car’s grip immediately before and Turn 15, the sector’s slowest corner and where that grip is most needed. Overtaking through this section, though attractive due to the heavy braking zone, thus takes substantial daring and skill. From there a short run and the chicane of 16 and 17 bring drivers back to the far end of the start/finish straight and, through that, the finish line.

Safety

There are obvious safety-related challenges involved in high-speed racing above water. The organisers of the Nimban Grand Prix fully appreciate this and have taken steps to ensure that Crossbay Circuit is a paragonal track for motorsport safety, featuring:

• Traditional belt-and-tyre barriers;
• Imagikinetic force field technology to prevent cars or car parts from leaving the bounds of the racing environment;
• Imagikinetic recovery of crashed cars and car parts within Sector 2.

Environment

Motor racing typically has a significant environmental impact; all efforts have been made to minimise that impact at Crossbay.

• Significant care was taken before construction to relocate vulnerable wildlife away from the circuit to other areas around the cliffs of Nimbus Bay;
• Roman-style concrete, used in part for its reduced carbon footprint, has been employed throughout the construction of the circuit and its facilities;
• Harmful pollutants and greenhouse gasses created over the course of racing remain sealed within the confines of the Imagikinetic safety force field, whereupon they are scrubbed from the air by industrial-scale machinery housed underneath the track.

The Nimban Grand Prix - A Survival Guide

‘Need-to-Knows’

Language: Universal (English) (Higher [glyphic, formal] and Common [Latin, informal] Scripts)
Currency: Universal Standard Coinage (USC) (commonly referred to as ‘coins’) - 1 USC worth approximately $1.8 NSD
Climate: Temperate Maritime
Time Zone: -10 AMT (Arcadian Mean Time)

Warning

Please refrain from taking items into the country where doing so is illegal. This particularly applies to drugs, such as alcohol and tobacco, and firearms. Such items will be seized upon entry and may be either destroyed or confiscated for collection upon your departure.

Getting to Crossbay Circuit

By Air:
Most attendees of the Nimban Grand Prix will arrive by air at First City Airport in the First City. From there, take the inbound Airport Terralev Line to Tower Station, then transfer to the outbound Seaport Terralev Line. Be sure to board a service that specifically lists Crossbay Circuit as the penultimate stop. Alternatively, if you wish to land at Second City Airport, take the inbound Airport Terralev Line to Harmony Station, then take the Ultrarail to Tower Station in the First City, a journey which will take no more than half an hour, before taking the outbound Seaport Terralev Line in the same manner. If you require help, staff in white and blue uniforms will be on hand; information can also be found in both the Higher and Common Scripts and in a variety of other languages on boards around all Nimban Rail facilities.

By Sea:
A few attendees of the Nimban Grand Prix may arrive by sea at Nimbus Bay Seaport. From there, take the inbound Seaport Terralev Line directly to Crossbay Circuit. Be sure to board a service that specifically lists Crossbay Circuit as the second stop. If you require help, staff in white and blue uniforms will be on hand; information can also be found in both the Higher and Common Scripts and in a variety of other languages on boards around all Nimban Rail facilities.

Accommodation

In Situ:
Accommodation at Crossbay Circuit will be available in the Hospitality Village attached to the main race facility. Staying here is recommended for those who only wish to attend the Nimban Grand Prix and related events around Crossbay Circuit during their stay.

First City:
A huge variety of accommodation is available in the First City, from lodgings in the hospitality sector, including state-run NimbInn hotels offering three-star lodging at market price, to individual room-sharing. Staying here is recommended for those who wish to combine their attendance of the Nimban Grand Prix with more general sightseeing in the First City, featuring such attractions as the famous New Nexus Tower, home of the Nimban legislature and executive alongside the world’s only Imagination Nexus.

Events

Drivers’ Parade: Thursday, 12:30 p.m. (22:30 AMT)
Practice Start: Friday, 9:00 a.m. (19:00 AMT)
Qualifying Start: Saturday, 10:00 a.m. (20:00 AMT)
Race Start: Sunday, 10:00 a.m. (20:00 AMT)

Concert:
A concert will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Friday in the Hospitality Village, including a performance of the Nimban national anthem ‘Together Unto Possibility’ by the Nimban Symphony Orchestra and a collaborative reinterpretation of classic Fleetwood Mac song and unofficial World Grand Prix theme ‘The Chain’ by metal band Cruxguard and the Avant Community Chorus.

Lectures:
A series of lectures from guest speakers will be held in the Lecture Hall within the Hospitality Village during the race weekend.

• Friday, 13:00 p.m. – Gertrude Thompson, Head Designer for Nexus Racing – ‘Resilience in Innovation – Defining Nexus Racing’
• Friday, 16:00 p.m. – Tana Shakespeare – ‘A WGPC Superfan’s Eye View’
• Saturday, 13:30 p.m. – Enynny Paldyr, Biographer – ‘Lindo McPahan: Living Dangerously’
• Sunday, 13:30 p.m. – Rachael Malcolm, Doctor of War Studies at the University of the First City – ‘Motorsport and the Military: Three Case Studies Examined’

[Vilita and Turori]

Tropicorp set sail with Talvela Victory in Drosopol

Vannish Grand Prix, Drosopol Circuit, Drosopol, Vangaziland :: Heading into Round 9 of the 17th World Grand Prix Championship Season in Vangaziland, Tropicorp Racing Supply held approximately a one-race advantage over Solymok in the WGPC Supplier Performance Standings, who themselves held a one-race advantage over Petrovi Tyres who had been bolstered by the addition of Vannish Motors Racing to their dossier. With limited events left on the schedule Petrovi, Solymok and the rest of the field would have to begin chipping away at the leaders quickly if they were going to make a race of it before the seasons end. Petrovi in particular were favored to make up more ground in the standings as the circuit moved to the Drosopol Circuit where Vannish Motors were the home team.

Instead, however, the end result was exactly the opposite. It would be a third victory on the season for the Abovian driver Terho Talvela who extended his lead in the Drivers Standings with the result. Worse more, Solymok Tyres best performing driver was 9th place driver Benjamin Talison of Fireline. It marked the second time in 3 race weekend that a Tropicorp Racing Supply driver had claimed 25 points for their supplier by winning the race while Solymok did not place any drivers in the top 8. As a result, the Supplier Performance Standings went from a competitive battle between two of the sports top suppliers to a potential run-away as Tropicorp Racing Aelund had gained a net of forty-two points over second placed Solymok in the previous three World Grand Prix rounds.

WGPC17 Supplier Performance Standings
After 9 of 13 Events
[1] - 163 :: Tropicorp Racing Supply
[2] - 106 :: Solymok
[3] - 91 :: Petrovi
[4] - 78 :: Brutus Tyres
[5] - 72 :: Pire Eleven
[6] - 33 :: Cypress
[7] - 32 :: Grafonil
[8] - 24 :: Stellenbosch

While things at the top of the Table had begun to stretch out there was a battle brewing for second place in the Supplier Performance Standings as Petrovi gained solid ground on second place Solymok by virtue of home-crowd favorite Jessica Franssens podium finish at the Vannish Grand Prix. The gap between second and third had closed to 15 points after a solid run of form for Petrovi that was kick started with Vannish Motors Racing's switch from Pire Eleven to Petrovi mid-way through the season. Since that point, Petrovi have earned points in the Suppliers Performance Standings in each and every race since the Vangaziland based team switched to the Esportivan supplier. It has also been a marked downward trend in performance for Pire Eleven who were now left with just one team on the grid, the Audioslavia based Works team McPahan who have earned just 11 points for their supplier since the departure of Vannish Motors Racing compared with the 61 points earned over the seasons first five events.

Pire Eleven's dip in form has also coincided with a boost in performance for Nexus Racing and their collaborative effort between Brutus Tyres and inMotion having claimed top spot at the Lintulahti Circuit in Aboveland through Ryker Lane's long awaited first Grand Prix victory then seeing the podium reversed through as it was the Abovian Talvela beating Lane to the stripe in Vangaziland. The back-to-back top 2 finishes for Nexus Racing had more than doubled the total point haul on the season for the Brutus Tyres entities and saw the Esmerelian supplier leapfrog out of a grouping at the bottom of the standings into the competitive range and now overtaking the free-falling Pire Eleven to move into fourth place in the standings. Now, with the circuit headed to the Crossbay Circuit deep in the heart of Nexus Racing territory, Brutus Tyres could see a massive turn around in fortune with one more strong podium performance potentially seeing them challenge at the top of the supplier performance standings heading into the final three races of the season in the Atlantian Oceania swing.

[Nekoni]

Drosopol Raceway, Vangaziland
Sunday 9, June
12:30

"Gentlemen and women, do we know what one of these is?" Alexandra Mayari slammed a long, heavy wrench on the table, its heavy thud shocking the people in the pit garage to her attention. "This, friends, is a torque wrench. It's a heavy thing, 1 meter 15 long, a good six kilogrammes in weight. I trust we are all familiar with its indended use, but there's more than one way to swing a cat with these sort of things. Look." She pointed to the thin end, in front of the bemused crowd of people. "This end is a nice thing one for the handle. The other side is a lovely thick bit of steel. Although it's not its intended purpose, it would make for an amazing club, would it not?" The crowd of pit engineers suddenly thought that they went left instead of right out of their rooms this morning and ended up in a 'special' nightclub in East Germany.

"I guess, what I'm trying to say is this: any one of you talks about what happened on TV with me and Eri last week is going to find out first-hand how good its use as a club will be, and I promise you that I will aim for the most sensitive regions first. Now that's out of the way", which she added in a much less threatening tone, "we have bigger matters to deal with."

Everyone at Polaris agreed that the season wasn't the grand sophomore one they were hoping for, with the team languishing in eleventh place, and the drivers struggling to break the top twenty. Yesterday's performance hadn't been better either: Okumura in twentieth. Souzare even worse. However, this circuit was a forgiving one for overtaking, it seemed. Additionally, knowing Okumura's propensity for decent results on raceday after seeming blowing it on qualifying, she knew exactly what she needed to do off the line to get a good start. One of the team's other good traits this season was their reliability, too. Despite coming a cropper off of a few walls this season, every race that a Polaris driver started this year, they were able to bring the car home - typically, in the case of Souzare, a few minutes after everybody else, but a finish is still a finish.

After Mayari gave a good, long briefing, deliberately to make people realise that although, yes, she DID threaten to hit her staff with a large, weighted object, the staff also have a job to do, Erica and Sayono donned helmets and drove out of the garage for the last time this weekend.

---

The first ten laps felt strong. Erica's strategy in a race like this is simple: don't push your luck too early. The time between the front runners was, expectedly, near insurmountable, even at this very early stage, but it was fruitless trying to chase them with this much traffic in the way. Over the first five laps, she picked off two at the line, and settled into a surprisingly close-knit battle in the midfield, with a good five or six jostling for position in the early stages. Erica knew that she didn't need to fight them. 'You can win for now,' she thought, as Dahlia Dahl passed her on the home straight of lap eight. 'I will catch you when you're tired out.'

Lap eleven. The radio blares up. "It's your lucky day, hun." Kransjka was out, and it must have been bad enough for the safety car to be called out. "All the guys in front of you just wasted their tires on a one-second advantage. Take them when you can." As the slow procession of vehicles passed the start/finish line for the second, then third time, Erica started to wonder if things were serious. "Do you know if Kransjka is fine, mate?", she asked through the pit radio. "No clue, Eri. I guess if she isn't we'll go round later, with some flowers or something. Focus on keeping your hide safe when the safety car goes away, it's gonna be this lap."

As expected, on lap fifteen, the safety car drove back into the pit, allowing Okumura to execute the next phase of the plan, and it worked to a T. She rode aggressively round the middle third of the circuit, taking Carnétier's Obey by the side as she masterfully outbraked him at turn eight. Slicing the next left-right combination turn straight down the middle, she full-throttle blitzed it around to the tight turn fifteen. With the back of Dimitrianov in her sights as she got to the last turn, she realised one thing: for the first time in quite a while, she was having FUN.

The poor results had been a thorn in her side for the longest while. At first, she was able to dismiss them with a curt 'we'll do better next time'. However, she didn't realise that there was only a few times she could get away with that attitude, and realising that with four races to go was far too late to do so. Although her job prospects were hardly at risk, and she was adept at bringing the car home, that steady decline of results, that dreary performance at Nekoni again (this time without even scoring points), that TV interview last week, it was becoming a chore. A humiliating chore. Not now, though. Not now she was at her basics: a track, a car, and a field of worn-out drivers to tear through.

---

Ten laps later, the exact same thing happened again. Another safety car, this time out for even longer. Five laps of slow procession. The audience were certainly getting their money's worth of race time today. This time, both Rustom Ibuna and Jelena Colac-Strek had bit the dust relatively close to each other. Erica repeated her concerns of their safety to Alexandra, and she replied that it looked bad. Hopefully, it wasn't as nasty an experience for them as it looked through the camera. However, she also had some good news.

"Eri, check the cars ahead. Who are you seeing there?"
"Tripathi, Talison...where are they right now?"
"Tenth," Alex replied as Eri's eyes widened a little. "So far, you're playing a blinder. Keep this up, and we'll be in the points."
"Whilst you're there, Al...thank you. Thank you for sticking up for me." Alex didn't expect something personal to come up through the pit radio, and normally she'd chastise her for it. However, the traffic wasn't going to go fast any time soon.
"Not a problem, Erica. I have to look after my team." Alex's voice sounded much warmer than it usually was on the radio. "We're Polaris. We are family here." Erica smiled. For now, it seemed that her rough patch was over.
"Ooh, safety's coming in. Do what you do best, Eri. Try not to think about the billion people who just heard this conversation on TV, and go for it."
"I will, boss. And hello, viewers at home."

The race to the mid-point was just as fruitful as the first. A good three laps of Erica, cool and calculated as ever, threading turns up like they were needles, overtaking the rival cars when she could. It wasn't as dominant as the original run, with Erica not stopping for new tires in both safety car deployments, she was racing on older tires, but the stop-start nature of the race so far meant that she could last for much longer without pitting, especially when she decided to not get caught up in battles that she knew she mightn't win. Nontheless, the tires can't hold out forever, and eventually Erica had to bite the bullet and pit in on lap thirty, watching at front a defensive battle for 6th place between Krupin and the surprisingly competitive Stevenson.

Although she left the pit in fourteenth, Alex had to congratulate her performance so far through the radio, and rightly so. In half the race, she had pushed from 20th to eighth. Twelve overtakes, in not even half a race, was absolutely commendable, even if she benefited from a couple of safety cars. The plan was to get the places back through the same method as before, through measured calm, then striking when she knew she could take the position. "It's a long one today, easily gonna beat two hours," Alex told her as the car left the pit. "I'm gambling on everyone taking a second pitstop today, so look after these tires. I don't want you coming in until the race is over."

---

Ten laps remain. Okumura is in eleventh. It seemed that the gamble didn't pay off, as the field hadn't thinned nearly as much as the team had wanted to. It looked like one-stop was the way to go for everyone today, and it may have cruelly cost Okumura a chance at points. "Keep pushing! You only need one guy to cede and you're in the top 10, mate!" Talison was close, a good four seconds ahead. Catching him without the tyre wear advantage would be difficult, but possible. After two laps of chasing him down, she got the call.

"Buy a lottery ticket tonight, you bloody lucky thing! Seriously, Krupin is out! You're P10 right now!" Erica, with her helmet covering what was now a very wide smile, focused her sights on Talison down the main straight. The gap was two seconds now. 'You're mine, mate.' Her eyes narrowed with determination, Erica darted the purple streak of Polaris down the hill after him, studyingly intently where he turned, what his weaknesses were, which corners that she could take better, and through this, was able to shave fraction by fraction off the defecit. Over the next few minutes, the Fireline's outline changed from a speck, to a blur, to a clearly defined image. Ninth place was about to be hers...

"Good Lord, it's another safety car!" Alex called through the radio, breaking her concentration. "O'Rourke's parked it. You'll have to continue your chase in a bit." After an initial outburst of "Damn it!" at her failure to take the Fireline, as the pace slowed for a third time, she saw out in front of her the bigger picture. There was no longer a single car to chase, but a block of four. Talison. Tripathi. Toralmintii. Bjarnasson. As she gauged distances, she realised the prospects just as Alex told her through the radio: "You play these five laps smart, Eri, and you're looking at fifth place. Don't rush it, mind. I want the car home, and taking one point is much better than none."

The safety car rolled into the pits for the final time, to the sound of Alex yelling one last quick encouragement. "Punch it!"

Erica slammed her foot to the floor, all of her goosebumps flairing at once. The field had been all brought together for the safety car, and the final five laps would require her to chase down around 6 seconds for the fifth place. Erica left turn seven of lap 58 directly behind Talison, and the chase resumed. 'I told you you'd be mine.' She ran to the right of him, hitting speeds in the 130s, just edging in front of him as she went, then braked as late as she dared. One sweep to the left, and Talison, for the first time this race, was in her rear view mirror. Erica allowed herself a quick congratulatory shout of "Got you!", and then focused on the next target. Vijay Tripathi. Two seconds ahead. Five minutes to go.

Almost like a magnet, her Polaris stuck behind his car, catching his slipstream as they darted like cat and mouse through the tight and twisty opening sector. The hairs on both her neck and Alex's in the paddock stood on end as she battled him. Vijay fought defensively to protect his seventh place, his control of the VMR keeping her just at arm's reach showing exactly why VMR were consistently a team to be feared in the WGPC. Erica could not give up here, though. She would need to be clever. Turn fifteen.

Turn 15 was a slow left, just after a fast sequence of right-handers, which made it a potential overtaking spot, but nowhere near as well utilised as the much more contrasting opportunities of 1, 8 and 21. Erica believed that pushing an attack here would confuse Vijay, who may have thought that she was saving the attack for the final corner. They darted through the quick mini-chicane of 14, before Erica rolled the dice. She hugged the inside of the bend as hard as she could, and attempted to intimidate Vijay by out-braking. Her foot on the accelerator, she initiated the attack, her heart skipping a beat, not knowing if she was going to pull it off or slam into the back of him.

Vijay locked up. He skidded hard to the outside of the turn, pulling left on the wheel hard to keep the car in control, as Erica rode the turn out, exasperatedly laughing in relief as she stole his position. Alex responded in shock. "Holy crap, girl! Next time warn me before you do that, yeah? You're going to give me a heart attack." She wasn't angry, of course. Risks are what makes a WGPC driver a winner.

The final lap beckoned, with the 77 of Toralmintii just in front. Catching Bjarnasson would be a tall order now, especially after the defensive battle she'd just fought. She once again slotted behind iBen, once again in the slot behind the TRAE at the fast middle sector. "I'm not doing that move again," she called out to Alex. "iBen's too experienced to fall for that." She took the turn 15 as promised. The plan was simple. Turn 21. The last turn of the race. Whoever does it best takes the position.

They both tore up the road to the final left-hand 180, Erica on the inside. She finally managed to squeak just ahead at the turn entry, and attempted to cut the apex of the turn. However, she didn't see iBen coming from the outside. He had out-manoeuvred her, and she needed to drop her speed to avoid crashing into him and evoking the ire of the stewards. Of all places to crash, she REALLY didn't want a last turn disaster. She had to cede the position to iBen, but it was hardly disheartening. As Vijay began to exit the final turn, long in the distance, Erica crossed the line. Seventh place. What a drive.

---

Erica, immediately upon parking the car in parc fermé, took off her helmet, her balaclava and ran to Alex in the paddock box. She grabbed Alex and hugged her hard, still jittering from the energy of the race. "I am back." Alex, a bit stunned at the response, eventually warmed to her, smiled, and embraced her as well. "Welcome home, mate. Stunning drive."

As the team packed their things and headed for the Nimbus System for the next race, Erica Okumura had a much more springier step than previous weeks. Although on paper, her seventh place was hardly noteworthy, finishing nearly a minute behind the leader, to her, that didn't matter. She had on the day pulled a point-scoring drive out of nowhere, overtaken 13 other guys as she did so, and, more importantly, found her confidence, and her love of the sport again. The last few weeks were naught but a distant memory, and although it would be madness to consider her a championship prospect at all with only three races to go, she could go to the Nimbus System, the place that her as an unknown won at all those months ago, and show everyone that once again, the Erica Okumura that fans loved and drivers feared is back.

[Aboveland]

Vangaziland had always been an intimidating place for Terho, and the race weekend at Drosopol hadn't failed to produce the same effect on him as it had previously. Few things had the potential to fluster Terho, and far fewer were as persistent as the Vangazi onslaught of the WGPC. Whereas Terho looked on at Nexus Racing and the Nimbans with admiration, he cowered at the threat of the Vangazis. After all, Jessica Franssen had been the most dominant driver in her short WGPC14 stint since she joined the championship as a rookie, and she'd managed, with her team's full backing, to win a championship with nearly all the odds in her favor. There was something about Vangaziland as a whole that immediately made him noticeably more alert than anywhere else.

It may have had some correlation with Terho's only previous experience racing in the Esportivan nation. For all the years the country had been around, the only previous race ever held there had been on the notoriously tricky North Emeros street circuit. With TRAE's AGP 001 hopelessly unfit for the twisty track, along with Terho's own excessive weariness for the narrow racetrack's ominous walls and tremendously deceptive gradients, he only managed a measly ninth place in an entirely drenched race marked by an unusually high retirement rate. With the final stretch of the season looming on the horizon, every single one of the final races of the season would prove to be crucial, and Vangaziland seemed, at least to Terho, the tallest hurdle he'd have to clear.

Thankfully, it was quite the opposite.

Drosopol Circuit, Vangaziland
Sunday

By the time Terho reaches his grid spot, his tyres have cooled down again, but he's far too focused on his driving to care. The track at Drosopol was quite tricky, far more than it really seemed to be. It was very start-stop, much to Terho's chagrin, littered with a few too many chicanes and multiple apex turns to ever really get a flow going. The complex between turns eight and fourteen was quite enjoyable, and so was the very slight, fast chicane of turn nineteen, but the opening sequence of sharp chicanes at the very beginning, and general lack of quick, sweeping turns, made the circuit a dash more technical than it really seemed to be at first sight. Luckily though, as had been the case throughout the season, Unnamed, and her synergy with Terho, had the power and agility to support the pair through the circuit, helping the Abovian to a comfortable--"doable", in Edvin's words--sixth place in qualifying.

"Good luck," Edvin says, in lieu of his usual 'comms check' message. "You've been having some good starts lately, try keeping up that streak."

"Copy," replies Terho, previously calm, now slightly unsettled as the pressure of keeping up his good start streak returns.

Edvin bites his lip, noticing the tension he’s created, and adds: “remember, you’re on mediums. Try to stretch them as long as possible and pit for another set at the end.”
He receives a green ‘OK’.

The countdown starts almost immediately.

Before he knows it, all five lights have gone out, and Terho’s fingers linger for an instant.

Shit.


Desperately, he drops the clutch; Unnamed doesn't take to rough treatment kindly, lurching forward with a mighty jolt as the engine links with the transmission to propel itself forwards. As the drivers make their way down to turn one, Terho can see Benjamin Tailson speeding away before him, having had a spectacular start; behind, luckily, it seems the drivers were just as sluggish as he had been, with the exception of the rapidly approaching Mich Schramm. Terho, seeing him approach the first corner from the outside, throws Unnamed out to defend his position, but the Omni Racing driver is no dimwit: he dives aggressively down the inside, taking full advantage of his red and yellow machine's downforce, braking only before the corner's second apex to pull away safely for turn two. Terho, flustered, loses more time between turns two and six, as the overtake catches him off guard and forces him to clean up his driving. In the process, he's too cautious, and emerges into the circuit's first straight down in tenth.

Into turn eight he's followed by the extremely skilled SIgur Bjarnason. The Savojar, though he tries peeking his nose up both of Terho's sides, fails to gather enough momentum to overtake on the straight (Terho, aided by Unnamed's active aerodynamics, receives enough extra speed resulting from the reduced drag to pull away just enough), but brakes marginally later than the Abovian into the hairpin. Terho, predicting the move, keeps to the outside but slows down enough for the switchback to propel himself past the Savojar with spectacular speed, cleanly overtaking the MRT past its left side. Through the remaining turns of the circuit, Terho fends off Bjarnason's charge, just barely holding his position after the first lap. Just four laps later, however, Terho brakes too late into turn eight, locking up and opening the door for Bjarnason, who'd been holding up his pace to keep with the AGP.

Lap 23

Terho lies eleventh, within striking distance of Kruipin in the VMR ahead, but under increasing pressure from Colac-Strek and Tripathi behind, a situation he’s maintained for the past seven laps. The three chasing drivers cross the start finish line three wide, but it's Terho who's got the advantage of the inside line into turn one. He brakes earlier, to prioritize the corner's exit; his front right tyre locks ever so slightly, leading him on towards Colac-Strek in the middle, but when he releases the pedal the tyres spin again, dig into the tarmac, and grapple Unnamed around the bend. He sticks to the outside for turn two, hamfisting the car into the corner and thrashing it back towards the middle for turn three. His driving is chaotic, spontaneous, creative, but just predictable enough to keep his rivals away from his sidepods. And to every input he makes, Unnamed responds instantly, as seamlessly as if it was an extension of his body.
He makes it to turn seven having built a half second gap to his rivals behind, now caught up in a two-way battle between each other; ahead, Kruipin has maintained his pace, keeping a second in his favor with respect to Terho; a gap not quite small enough to pounce.

After turn eleven, Unnamed shrieks through the whistles of its turbos and squats low to the ground, as it had done so twenty-two laps before, and rockets out of the corner. Terho, his breathing still, his eyes wide open, red, bloodshot, throws the car into the succeeding four turns, which he’d begun to take flat; he’s been too aggressive defending his position in the previous laps, and even his medium tyres, notoriously quick and durable, have begun to overheat. Unnamed’s winglets flex harder, lower, and more aggressively away from the corner, but their impact is not enough. The rear begins to slide as the screech from the tyres runs through the wishbones, across the floor and up Terho’s spine, jolting his arms into action to correct the spin before it gets worse. The time loss, while minimal, allows Colac-Strek and Tripathi some handicap to reach him again; luckily,, by an act of divine intervention, his steering wheel flashes a harsh yellow.

‘SC’ reads the display. Terho sighs in relief, and pulls towards the outside line almost immediately to cool his tyres down.

“Ibuna out,” reports Edvin, who repeats the message. “It’ll be a long one,” he adds, not very emotively, but withholding a few extra words. Terho, never oblivious to his friend’s mannerisms, squeezes them out.

“It’s a perfect moment to cool your tyres, keep them on for longer,” he finally blurts. Terho thanks Captain Obvious in jest. Edvin groans.

For a vast majority of the grid, the safety car becomes a perfect pit window. The period is lifted on lap 26, and by then, Terho has outlasted the rest of the grid to slot in fifth behind Jessica Franssen and his teammate. As soon as the green flag waves across the track, the twin AGP 002 attacks the homegrown VMR machine into turn one, and before long the fierce battle ahead clears the way for a slick overtake by the Abovian.

Edvin, usually quiet during races, contains his excitement enough to whisper, almost mumble, a “get in there” to Terho. The Abovian, somewhat self-confident, replies with an assuring “I know.” By lap thirty one, he’s in second place; his Tropicorp rubber has just about enough life in it to cling on to the pace of the car ahead. Terho abandons any attempts at attacking the Savojar, instead following the green machine around the corners of Drosopol. Terho, once an MRT driver himself, looks on in awe. For every technologically gifted car in the WGPC there’s another one which perfects the age old formula, and the MRT is certainly it.

The mediums hold on for a few more laps, but Terho only pits once Bjarnason takes the initiative himself. His hopes that the cars behind would follow suit are fulfilled by many, except for his teammate and some runners further back. The pit stop is crucial and the pit crew is phenomenal, and in a moment Unnamed wears a fresh set of mediums to utterly destroy on the racetrack.

Once Terho gains the lead, with the remaining no-stop cars in front going into the pits, the race becomes a fairly straightforward dance of tyre preservation. The excellent Tropicorp tyres, the nature of Unnamed itself, and Terho’s own (recent) newfound passion for tyre saving mean that, for a while, Terho relaxes. Almost entranced, he guides Unnamed around the circuit with ease, clean, methodical and reserved. As he’d done in the races he’d won in the season, he begins the final stretch towards the finish line.

Lap 42

Until now, Terho’s race has been business as usual. The mediums are working splendidly, Tripathi and iBen behind are well embroiled in their own races, and Unnamed complies with every single command. At this stage, Terho has settled well into his rhythm, and his moves, as well as Unnamed’s are natural and innate.

Brake, left, hold it, power, to the left again, brake, hard right, power, feather, hard left; through the first turns. Every braking, every slam of the throttle, every lurch towards the apex and follow through out to the next is perfectly timed, met with a squat, a screech, a flex of the winglets or a pivot of the rear tyres. Terho, Unnamed and Drosopol have become one.

After turn eight, power, slight right, hard left, brake, power, hard right again, sweeping, hold it, hold it, hold it…

Without warning, as it had so many laps prior, the rear begins to step out. Through Terho’s mirrors, the culprit becomes immediately apparent, and his heart sinks. Braking for turn fourteen, the car pulls left, and Terho misses the apex.

Unnamed’s left side winglets flap erratically and asymmetrically with their opposing counterparts.

Edvin, back in the pits, clutches his chin. Aada, next to him, clenches her teeth.

“The winglets have shit themselves,” Terho says bluntly through the radio, exiting turn 18 as he battles with the steering to keep Unnamed pointing forwards. Its engine growls like a feral cat resisting an attack. “I need this fixed, Edvin.”
The Abovian shoots a glare at Aada, who shrugs, yet quickly scurries away to seek a fix as the glare intensifies.

“Keep calm, Terho,” Edvin replies, tense. “Aada is on it.”

“Make it quick.”

As the race carries on, the problem worsens. No longer is the issue reserved to one side of the car. Now, the winglets raise and retract independently from anything Terho does, and in most cases, doing the opposite of what they’re supposed to. In the chaos, Terho locks up twice, loses the rear a handful more times, and nibbles the grass and kerbs on the exit of turn 18 far too much to keep calm. Behind him, the gap to Tripathi slowly fades.

Lap 47

Terho’s visor has fogged up from the heat in his helmet, the sweat dripping down his forehead onto his cheeks. Unnamed’s winglets now stand idly away from the bodywork, their erratic movements coming to a climax on the previous lap, when an unexpected flex made the car swerve violently on the pit straight. Now, they’re rigid, creating extra drag but less downforce, and letting Tripathi inch ever closer.

Terho tries desperately to keep Tripathi at bay, but the reduced downforce makes Unnamed a dog of a machine.

The radio crackles on halfway through the lap, as the pursuing VMR closes in within two seconds of the lead after the complex between turns 11 and 14.

“Terho,” Edvin says, tentatively leaning his voice into the message. “We can reset the system now, though it might take a couple laps to fully activate again and we run the risk of frying the circuit.” He pauses, cuts the radio transmission, sighs heavily, and concludes with a quiet ‘your call’.

The VMR’s front wing grows in size in Terho’s mirrors past the turn 19 chicane.

“Do it,” Terho pants, furious.

With a push of a button from the paddock, the winglets begin to flex again, almost instantly, as Terho rounds the final corner into the pit straight. Unnamed’s engine responds without hesitation, its tyres clawing at the tarmac and launching forwards, but the winglets upset the balance of the machine. Down the straight, Terho swerves involuntarily from left to right, the unpredictability of his movements the only thing keeping Tripathi behind.

Before the first braking, the winglets have calmed down, and Terho, believing them to be back in working order, brakes late enough to trust the car to squat along.

He goes long, deep into the corner, and Tripathi makes a move.

The VMR appears as quickly as it goes down his inside, rocketing out to turn two. Terho blurts out a string of expletives.

“Save the tyres,” Edvin says, growing increasingly concerned. Terho presses the OK button.

His nerves through the roof, Terho guides Unnamed safely through turns two through four. His gap ahead to Tripathi is maintained at merely half a second, but as the two launch away to turn five, the resetting winglets flex slowly downwards. Suddenly, Unnamed receives a surge of speed, the winglets shielded from the incoming air, and the reduced drag slingshots Terho forwards. A dive into turn six is far too risky, so he swerves towards the left of the VMR into turn seven to dive through its apex. He brakes late, the car now barely assisting his move, but it’s not enough. An evasive maneuver from the Sherpan keeps him in the lead, the pair emerging from a thick plume of smoke from Terho’s front tyres.

Edvin groans, away from his microphone, but refuses to keep his mouth shut. “Watch it,” he orders sternly.

“Shut up,” he replies.

The winglets have now retracted once more as Unnamed chases the VMR down to turn eight, and the extra boost keeps the homegrown car within reach. This time, Terho saves his dive for later. Into the braking for the hairpin, through the corner, and out towards turn nine and beyond, the winglets begin to comply with Terho’s inputs. The reset has worked, and though it’s set to its most basic mode, it’s paying off. A tiny giggle musters in Terho’s stomach, escaping through his almost bleeding lips.

The pair escape from turn 18b with exceptional speed, Tripathi’s flawless drive earning him spectacular traction down the straight. Terho, still within striking distance, shoves Unnamed into the VMR’s slipstream, the usually independent machine now resigning itself into submission. He grips the steering wheel hard, his hands aching from the pressure, and commits to his move.

As expected, Tripathi brakes slightly earlier than Terho would have into the turn 19 chicane. The Abovian, narrowly missing his rival, swerves to the inside line of the corner, braking late and entering the left hand turn side by side. For a moment, the rational half of Terho’s brain sends out an urgent alarm of imminent danger, but he suppresses the chemical discharge immediately. Without backing off, he throws the car into the corner, his foot oscillating on the throttle to keep the winglets deployed. Unnamed rides the inside kerb and circumvents the turn as if glued to the ground, and quickly shifts its weight to its opposite side for the second part of the turn. Terho, tensing every muscle in his body, holds the car to the right, squeezing Tripathi out of his inside line and shooting past towards turn 20. The lead is his once more, but he only breathes after the final corner. When Tripathi falls back, Terho relinquishes his right to blink, albeit only after a radio message reminding him to do so.

Post-race

As Terho crosses the finish line, his and his team’s characteristic whoops and chants take a few moments to arise. He and Edvin, before exchanging any words, sigh heavily into their radios erupting into sloppy, hoarse chortles afterwards.

“Stellar job, Terho, good God above!” Edvin finally shrieks. “Third win of the season, tenth career win! You’re an aboslute madman, my friend.”

Terho, relieved, replies with thanks, many thanks, for him and the team. Secretly, after shutting off his radio, he thanks Unnamed itself for holding up in the closing laps of the race. “Good boy,” he whispers, rubbing the inside of the monocoque with his left hand.

For the second time in three races, Terho leaps out of his car the victor, Unnamed sitting quietly flanked by the space gray of Ryker’s Chase Cutter and Jessica Franssen’s purple VMR. Before diving into the crowd that stands before him, overflowing with elation, he turns to look at the top three finishers’ cars. ‘The last three WGPC champions, huh?’ he thinks to himself, smirking shyly. ‘What a level,’ he giggles.

Having shunned his rivals before diving into the upheld hands of the TRÆ crew–the Abovians and the Vilitans alike helping him surf around the crowd–he congratulates them both in the cooldown room. In fact, he’s the one to approach Franssen with a friendly congratulations and a sincere shoulder pat for her home podium; and yet, it’s Ryker who takes the initiative to congratulate him this time around. His hug is tired, weary but strong, his pats reassuring. Terho smiles as he hears his friendly rival’s words.

“Thank you, Ryker,” he replies sincerely, tapping his shoulders. “I’m sure we’ve got more than a couple of battles left between us,” he adds with a wink.

On the podium, Terho looks down at the crowd below the balcony as the Vilita and Turorian anthem sounds loud across the track at Drosopol, honoring the one side of the TRÆ team, before the Abovian flag waves high along with its own anthem. It’s then that the magnitude of his win really sets in.

Ten times, ten times! he thinks, buzzing with emotion. He looks to his sides, seeing Ryker and Jess patiently listening to the chords of his national song. For the first time in as long ago as he can remember, a few tears of joy swell up in the corners of his eyes, and he jolts with the rush of laughter that overcomes him in his joy. As soon as the champagne is given the green light, he pops the cork and sprays the wine all around him, cocking his head back and raising the bottle above his head to sip every last drop of the elixir. The foamy liquid runs into his race suit, drenching him from the inside out. His confidence rockets, his anticipation soars, and his determination becomes rock solid. At this rate, he can almost taste his world champion title.

But for now, he decides keeps himself grounded; all he tastes is the sweet tang of his tenth win.

[WGPC]

CUTOFF

for the Practice and Qualifying at Crossbay Circuit

[WGPC]

Week 15: Practice

Conditions:      	Dry
Lap Record:      	00:01:26.018
Session Length:	75 minutes
Nation:         	NIM
Circuit:        	Crossbay Circuit

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

POS #   DRIVER                              FASTEST LAP     GAP TO LEADER		
 1 94 ▍Ryker Lane                       	00:01:30.332	00:00:00.000
 2 71 ▍Rustom Ibuna                     	00:01:30.352	00:00:00.021
 3 42 ▍Alex Dimitrianov                 	00:01:30.388	00:00:00.056
 4 27 ▍Gregori Krupin                   	00:01:30.519	00:00:00.187
 5 23 ▍Jelena Colac-Strek               	00:01:30.532	00:00:00.201
 6 22 ▍Jasmin Kranjska                  	00:01:30.564	00:00:00.232
 7 41 ▍Jean Mercer-Daly                 	00:01:30.591	00:00:00.259
 8  7 ▍Vijay Tripathi                   	00:01:30.798	00:00:00.466
 9 17 ▍Evdaden Carnétier                	00:01:30.874	00:00:00.543
10 20 ▍Mick Schramm                     	00:01:30.879	00:00:00.547
11 77 ▍iBen Toralmintii                 	00:01:30.894	00:00:00.563
12  3 ▍Darius Castellammare             	00:01:31.097	00:00:00.765
13 81 ▍Drake Stevenson                  	00:01:31.164	00:00:00.832
14 51 ▍RL Cruisin                       	00:01:31.275	00:00:00.943
15 18 ▍Taylor Blake                     	00:01:31.399	00:00:01.068
16 56 ▍Terho Talvela                    	00:01:31.446	00:00:01.114
17 49 ▍Benjamin Talison                 	00:01:31.500	00:00:01.168
18 14 ▍Sigur Bjarnason                  	00:01:31.972	00:00:01.640
19 63 ▍Dalia Dahl                       	00:01:32.141	00:00:01.809
20 15 ▍Tabita Novax                     	00:01:32.407	00:00:02.075
21 52 ▍Sayono Souzare                   	00:01:32.484	00:00:02.153
22 64 ▍Carsten O'Rourke                 	00:01:32.827	00:00:02.495
23 29 ▍Esteban Guilhermez               	00:01:33.279	00:00:02.947
24 47 ▍Erica Okumura                    	00:01:33.545	00:00:03.213
25  1 ▍Jessica Franssen                 	00:01:33.678	00:00:03.346
26 65 ▍Hunter Digri                     	00:01:33.789	00:00:03.457
27 48 ▍Tyra Tabuso                      	00:01:36.210	00:00:05.878
28 37 ▍Ryan Harris-Jones                	00:01:36.244	00:00:05.912

Week 15: Qualifying

Conditions:      	Dry
Lap Record:      	00:01:26.018
Qualifying Type:	Elimination
Nation:         	NIM
Circuit:        	Crossbay Circuit

POS #   DRIVER                                  FASTEST Q1     GAP TO LEADER    FASTEST Q2     GAP TO LEADER    FASTEST Q3     GAP TO LEADER    FASTEST Q4     GAP TO LEADER								
 1 20 ▍Mick Schramm                     	00:01:28.665	00:00:00.058	00:01:28.259	00:00:00.508	00:01:26.911	FASTEST : Q3	00:01:26.091	FASTEST : Q4
 2 71 ▍Rustom Ibuna                     	00:01:28.633	00:00:00.026	00:01:27.905	00:00:00.153	00:01:27.713	00:00:00.803	00:01:26.095	00:00:00.004
 3 22 ▍Jasmin Kranjska                  	00:01:28.648	00:00:00.041	00:01:28.287	00:00:00.536	00:01:26.968	00:00:00.058	00:01:26.358	00:00:00.267
 4 51 ▍RL Cruisin                       	00:01:28.800	00:00:00.193	00:01:28.452	00:00:00.700	00:01:27.026	00:00:00.115	00:01:26.539	00:00:00.449
 5 56 ▍Terho Talvela                    	00:01:28.630	00:00:00.023	00:01:28.680	00:00:00.929	00:01:27.053	00:00:00.142	00:01:26.646	00:00:00.555
 6 77 ▍iBen Toralmintii                 	00:01:28.608	00:00:00.001	00:01:27.802	00:00:00.051	00:01:27.157	00:00:00.247	00:01:26.718	00:00:00.628
 7 15 ▍Tabita Novax                     	00:01:28.607	FASTEST : Q1	00:01:28.752	00:00:01.001	00:01:27.559	00:00:00.648	00:01:29.897	00:00:03.806
 8 14 ▍Sigur Bjarnason                  	00:01:28.658	00:00:00.051	00:01:27.751	FASTEST : Q2	00:01:27.048	00:00:00.137	00:01:32.177	00:00:06.086
 9  3 ▍Darius Castellammare             	00:01:28.644	00:00:00.037	00:01:28.437	00:00:00.685	00:01:26.924	00:00:00.013	00:01:32.235	00:00:06.144
10 64 ▍Carsten O'Rourke                 	00:01:28.640	00:00:00.033	00:01:27.765	00:00:00.014	00:01:26.922	00:00:00.012	00:01:32.398	00:00:06.307
11  7 ▍Vijay Tripathi                   	00:01:28.628	00:00:00.021	00:01:28.453	00:00:00.702	00:01:27.872	00:00:00.962		
12 52 ▍Sayono Souzare                   	00:01:28.710	00:00:00.103	00:01:27.856	00:00:00.105	00:01:28.900	00:00:01.990		
13  1 ▍Jessica Franssen                 	00:01:28.737	00:00:00.130	00:01:28.286	00:00:00.534	00:01:29.944	00:00:03.033		
14 47 ▍Erica Okumura                    	00:01:28.616	00:00:00.009	00:01:28.823	00:00:01.072	00:01:29.969	00:00:03.059		
15 18 ▍Taylor Blake                     	00:01:28.722	00:00:00.115	00:01:27.767	00:00:00.015	00:01:30.405	00:00:03.494		
16 49 ▍Benjamin Talison                 	00:01:28.721	00:00:00.114	00:01:28.868	00:00:01.116				
17 29 ▍Esteban Guilhermez               	00:01:28.778	00:00:00.171	00:01:28.924	00:00:01.173				
18 94 ▍Ryker Lane                       	00:01:28.670	00:00:00.063	00:01:30.074	00:00:02.322				
19 41 ▍Jean Mercer-Daly                 	00:01:28.651	00:00:00.044	00:01:31.211	00:00:03.460				
20 63 ▍Dalia Dahl                       	00:01:28.635	00:00:00.028	00:01:31.761	00:00:04.010				
21 42 ▍Alex Dimitrianov                 	00:01:28.808	00:00:00.201						
22 17 ▍Evdaden Carnétier                	00:01:28.982	00:00:00.375						
23 23 ▍Jelena Colac-Strek               	00:01:28.993	00:00:00.386						
24 81 ▍Drake Stevenson                  	00:01:28.997	00:00:00.390						
25 27 ▍Gregori Krupin                   	00:01:29.336	00:00:00.729						
26 48 ▍Tyra Tabuso                      	00:01:29.376	00:00:00.769						
27 65 ▍Hunter Digri                     	00:01:30.194	00:00:01.587						
28 37 ▍Ryan Harris-Jones                	00:01:30.196	00:00:01.589

[Hapilopper]

The Eelandii VTGP center, near the paddock, Crossbay Circuit
A couple of hours after qualifying

Since emerging from his car after being eliminated in the first qualifying session, Drake Stevenson had been wondering if there was anything he could have done differently. He would be starting a somewhat pathetic 24th on the grid for the Nimban Grand Prix, which would be a long way for him to go if he wanted to do anything noteworthy in what was looking more and more like his final Grand Prix, at least as far as this season was concerned.

If anything, though, Drake had been a victim of a ridiculously close field of cars during the first qualifying session. He had qualified 24th fastest, but less than four tenths of a second slower than the fastest qualifier in that session, Tabita Novax. A few weeks before, that gap would have put Drake 9th on the grid for the Vannish Grand Prix. Today, however, he was near the back of the field and wondering what kind of divine intervention he would need to achieve his goal of scoring some points for Eelandii VTGP. Drake wasn’t a religious man by any stretch of the imagination, similar to most Hapiloppians, but he said a quiet prayer to whatever deity existed in the world.

Tyler Oakley sat down across from him with a bag of chips and a soft drink. He had seen the times as well, and contrary to what Drake expected, he actually wasn’t that mad at his driver. Another two tenths of a second and he would have made the second qualifying session, and with the track speeding up as the qualifying session moved along, Drake could have moved his way up the grid with relative ease. With a little better luck, he could have been up there with teammate Rustom Ibuna, who found himself on the front row for the Nimban Grand Prix.

“You’ll be 24th on the grid,” Oakley said grimly. “I don’t know how else to put that. I wish I could soften that blow by saying that you were real close in Q1, but… shit, man. 24th.”

Oakley was actually just as downcast as his driver was. Over the course of the last four weeks since the fiasco in Aboveland, Drake had practically moved to Vilita and Turori to become closer to the Eelandii team. He had spent 12-hour days, and oftentimes longer, in the shop, familiarizing himself with his equipment, learning what he could, and doing whatever odd job needed to be done in order to help the team out. If he didn’t score a point this weekend, the whole experiment would have been a failure, and Jai Kardaeri would be back in the seat for the Vilitan Grand Prix, while Drake would return to Hapilopper, trying to explain to anyone and everyone why he couldn’t get the job done.

“If you don’t score this weekend, what will you do?” Tyler asked. “Will you be back?”

“I don’t know, to be flat and honest with you,” Drake said sadly. “In fact, I kind of doubt it. There are plenty of other drivers in Hapilopper that have the skill and ability that I do, but don’t really have the attention that I gained in the Challenge Cup.”

“Why’s that?”

“Politics,” Drake responded. “Back in 1997, the Hapilopper Championship Series, which is our open-wheel series, had a real political chasm split it in half. There had been a coup at the top, a few track promoters, including the promoter of the HC 500, our nation’s biggest race, didn’t like it, and they split. Soon, the HC 500 was being run with second-rate drivers, the HCS was without its biggest race, and all it did was piss off the fans and drive them away.”

“So how does the Challenge Cup figure into that? Is that why you ran stock cars instead?” Tyler asked.

“Yeah,” Drake said sadly. “The money, sponsors and attention just weren’t in open-wheel racing anymore. About 15 years ago, I was a go-kart driver, and I had won a bunch of races and championships. I wanted to race open-wheel cars. I wanted to win the HC 500. That had been the goal of my life since I was five years old and the race was on at my grandma’s house.”

Drake then looked down as he contemplated his past, and how his career had been impacted by that political powerplay over 20 years before.

“I called up a few Championship teams and asked if I could even as much as test one of their cars,” Drake said. “I even showed up at one test uninvited. They told me I had to have about ten million dollars if I wanted a race seat, and half a million if I even wanted to test. My father sold homes for a living. My mother was a high school teacher. We didn’t have that kind of money.”

“So you went stock car racing,” Tyler said.

“My father sold a home to a guy named Mike Wilkes,” Drake said. “Mike had owned a dirt super late model in Hapilopper City, and my dad suggested to Wilkes that he give me a chance in his car. I went to one of the half-mile tracks in the area, qualified fastest, won my heat race, and then won the feature. I enjoyed the hell out of it. Dirt was really racing in its purest form, and I was pretty good at it. I could have stayed a dirt racer forever.”

“Why didn’t you?”

Drake then stared up at the ceiling, then to his surroundings. It was obvious this had been a painful subject, and bringing it up was not necessarily something he wanted to do.

“Mike died in an automobile accident right after I won the national dirt championship in 2007,” Drake said. “It was like, two days after the big race in Surrey. We had won the $100,000 championship, and we had planned on bigger and better things the next year. Then they found his car wrapped around a tree on the freeway south of Hapilopper City. His wife shut the team down and I was out of a job. A few weeks later, I was walking around the track I lived near and I heard some cars running around, so I walked in to check it out. Turns out it was Team Blue.”

“You walked in on a test?” Tyler asked, interested in hearing this story. “How did that turn out?”

“Well, Chet Byrd wanted to throw me out,” Drake said. “He was Team Blue’s top driver, and he still drives for them, as a matter of fact. Turns out a few guys on the crew had heard of me from what I had done on the dirt circuit, so they let me drive their car to see how I’d do, and turns out, I went about as quick as Chet did. They offered me a contract right there on the spot. If I had tried to go to the Championship Series, I would have had to pay millions. Team Blue was offering me millions. They had the full factory support of Preston Autos.”

“So, an open wheel driver in Hapilopper, do you think they’d do well or better than you?”

“No question. The thing is, nobody pays attention. Except for the HC 500, nobody really cares about the open-wheel cars in Hapilopper anymore,” Drake said. “There’s probably five or six drivers in the Championship Series that could really impress, but nobody really knows about them because nobody pays attention to their series. Everyone pays attention to HASCAR.”

Drake looked around again, as his thoughts had started to touch a nerve.

“I’ll be back in HASCAR next season if I don’t do well here,” Drake said. “I have to run well this weekend. The fact I’m 24th on the grid honestly scares me. I don’t want to be running stock cars my whole life. Maybe I’ll just quit and try to get my teaching certificate and teach in high school like my mom, or maybe I’ll learn to sell homes like my dad. They’re pretty successful at what they do.”

“You can do it,” Tyler said. “You pretty much came in here with no open-wheel experience and ran pretty well. See if you can get another shot. Maybe not this year, but certainly next year. I know I’ve enjoyed working with you these last several weeks.”

“Maybe I could,” Drake responded. “I really don’t know.”

[Lisander]

WGPC | WGP2 | NSSCRA | WGP3 ALPHA LEAGUE | OPEN GP NATIONAL SERIES | LISANDER GT | MOTORCYCLE RACING | LEGAL STREET RACING | + RACING | GIRLS | CONTACT US

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The best of the meepers
The surprisingly good result of Camden after the heavy criticism in the week made a buzz in Social Media

There's a lot going on motorsport this weekend. The NSSCRA is about to begin, while the Open Series and Imperan Superbike have their debut date finally announced.

But the most talked about subject of the week was undoubtedly the words that the Camden WGPC team received from Athan Lille in the private section of the Lisander Autosports Board website. The text, which was published here in TURBO, with the permission of Athan Lille himself, had repercussions in the press. And not just in the press. The social media was on fire during the week.

In partnership with TV5 Sports, an exclusive pay TV channel for all WGPO events in Lisander, we selected the best meep (the most used social network in Lisander) posts marked with Hashtag #NimbusGPonTV5, during the transmission of Qualifiers, this morning.

@evankeynes on meep:
Do they removed the branches stuck in the wheels of Camden vehicles? It's probably a little bit too late. But let's be positive.
June 17 09:31

We know it wasn't exactly a bunch of tree branches.

@Ingeborge on meep:
So seems like the little maniacs in Camden decided to hear some advice. We have Castellammare and Novax going to Q4.
June 17 09:43

Little maniacs. I'm not sure if this user was offending or praising the pegasi.

@j1mb0_tr4in2 on meep:
Carolina Lasseps look so tired. We know why. She has to carry this bunch of scrubs on her delicate back.
June 17 09:04

Carolina Lasseps is being seen as a saviour for this team.

@baconzita on meep:
Sorry, Athena Haines. #Castellasseps is my new OTP. Look at them in the paddock. She orders and he obeys. "Yes, my queen"
June 17 09:24

Okay, maybe not that much, baconzita. Lisander new law on polyamory relationships is yet in the test stage. Let's keep everyone in their proper relationships.

@kappaman2227 on meep:
Tabita Novax made the best time of Q1. In a Camden cockpit. No, I'm not drunk.
June 17 09:19

Neither we, and we saw it too!

@brunoarias on meep:
I don't know what they made, but this car is working.
June 17 09:28

If you ever know, don't forget to tell us!

@miabolconte on meep:
Carolina Lasseps is a great woman. An inspiration to all the women pursuing a career in motorsports. As always, drive like a girl.

June 17 09:56

Mia Bolconte is a famous feminist activist from Lisander. She's also showing support to women in motorsport.

@spaceman04 on meep:
Camden should be proud. They finally have a car ready to go for some action. Took an entire season, indeed, but they have.

June 17 10:04

Not an entire season, Spaceman. We still have three races.

It is worth noting Darius's quiet work, which was 0.037 behind the fastest time in Q1, and then was 0.013 behind the fastest time in Q3. However, Lisander's driver returned to Q4 for just one lap. We do not know if for some mechanical problem or if the intention was to avoid greater wear in the car, which still has problems. Here in TURBO, we believe in the second option, since the result of Novax is also a few seconds behind Pole Position, Mick Schramm.

---

More from TURBO

The Pegasus in the room: Athan Lille drops a bomb in the LAB internet forums. We got the full message!
GOSSIP: The Lille Manifesto also confirmed his engagement with young promise of Dunneot, Mor Holstein.
Lisander Superstock cancelled by lack of interested. Imperan Superbike League pushes back debut.
NSSCRA is about to start. Give a look at Dunneot GT Racing Team.

---

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[Aboveland]

Iskajärvi International Airport, Aboveland
29th of May

Terho jumps back slightly, suddenly frightened by Victoria's appearance. She looks on confused, maybe feeling a pang of guilt, but Terho's only been startled. Edvin, however, quickly salvages the situation. "Of course not!" he exclaims excitedly. "What a welcome surprise!" His greeting is interrupted by Terho's growing laugh, which he tries to contain before chipping in. "Ah, yes," he begins, holding a hand to his pounding chest amid sporadic gasps for air. "Ah, sorry, I wasn't expecting that! But it's totally fine, even better!"

He's swiftly interrupted by a new incoming wave of travellers, this one unfortunately on the grumpier side, so after the first shove aside he receives he motions the Nimban party away from the chaotic terminal towards the exit, helping out, along with Edvin, with the group's luggage. As the five of them walk away towards the parking lot, Terho hits Edvin with an excited glance, away from the NImban's view, as the pair lead them out a few meters ahead. Edvin smiles back, curling his lips inward and raising his eyebrows.

This'll be fun! Terho thinks, turning his head forwards again. As they step out into the raging morning sun, which hangs in the sky well past its 6AM solar noon, he stops, pivots on his feet, outstretches his arms and welcomes the trio to Aboveland like a showman, fully self-aware of his ridiculousness. Jean smirks softly, hardly amused but very polite; Ryker smiles a little harder, and Victoria does the same, only shielding herself from the harsh sunlight.

---

A café, Iskajärvi, Aboveland
29th of May

Fuck's sake! Always running late! he thinks to himself, pedalling harder over the smooth, damp asphalt, the occasional pebble ricocheting away from his tyres' tread and knocking against his pale blue, well worn jeans. Their boot-cut ends flap in the wind (slightly above his ankles), similarly to his oversized orange shirt, overrun with lint balls. And I should have brought my sweatshirt, damn it, he continues, mercilessly bashing himself.

For the last corner before the coffee shop's road, he tucks himself out of the bike lane through a narrow gap in the treacherously large separators between it and the open road, which is strangely empty for a tuesday afternoon. Like a WSBK rider he leans out to his right and sharply back to his left, skipping over the few irregularities in the road; his rear wheel skips a little higher than his front, so he instinctively taps the brakes with his left hand; his front wheel locks, and the bike spins around, mostly perpendicular to the ground. The landing is rough, awkward, and painful, at first as the seat digs into his leg, and next as his opposite one scrapes against the pavement knee-first. Luckily, he's quick to keep his hands away from the rapidly approaching road, but he knocks his right elbow and shoulder on the kerb, his lower extremities intertwining with the frame of his bike, ending up a sad, stupid, mangled mess of flesh and aluminum strewn on the floor.

He cries sharply, angrily, in pain, and cocks his head back to recapitulate. Only a couple and an old lady look his way, but they're too far away to come running to help, seeing as he's still alive.

He moves his right hand up to rub his head, thankful he, in absence of a helmet, was lucky enough not to crack his skull against the sidewalk, but the pain in his shoulder intensifies. Flexing his arm back and forth also sends off an excruciating pang of pain in his elbow. He groans, quietly this time, and leans back on his opposite elbow before climbing out of his bike and sitting down on the curb.

Janne Laukkanen, a collosal idiot, he mutters to himself.

He tries to get up, put his bike in order, and walk his way over to the coffee shop, but the pain in his knee is still too strong, and he looks like a ragged imbecile anyway. His beloved oversized t-shirt is black with the grime from the road, with a few dashes of blood decorating the lower portion of it where it meets his waist. His jeans, which by now needed a change anyway, but were still mega cute, are torn at the knees, both knees, with the gape on the right side extending upwards and backwards to expose a thin part of his leg up to his boxers, his skin mostly scraped and sprouting shy droplets of blood. Another groan of disappointment. I'm gonna have to buy this outfit again. Damn it. As he takes a quick look at his shoes, a simple, used looking pair of sneakers, he's at least relieved to see them just as they'd been moments earlier.

After a few minutes of contemplation and rubbing on his injuries, he manages to limp up and right his bike. He makes his way up to the edge of the coffee shop, with difficulty, and spots the party of five in one of the lakeside sofa booths. They're in my spot, Janne thinks, and turns his pissed off frown into a gentle smile. Quickly though, his rush of excitement wears away. He'll be better off joining the group tomorrow going to Lintulahti, and he'll get to meet Victoria and Jean looking like a half decent human, at least.

Content with his conclusion, he turns around and walks half a block back to sit on one of the public benches on the sidewalk. With his left hand--he keeps his right arm close to his body, and as still as possible--he slips out his phone from his pocket and calls the only person he knows will cheer him up for sure (and who will likely suggest some form of medical checkup later on).

Anders' voice through the earpiece is immediately comforting, and the warm feeling of the bruises and cuts all over his body turn into a gushy, cozy glee. A few minutes later, he parks his car on the sidewalk, prepped for loading his bike, turns on the hazard lights, and runs over to the bench. His soothing voice makes Janne smile instantly.

What a guy, he thinks to himself, very to himself, looking up at his lover as he speaks quickly and with concern over his injuries.

[Sorlovia]

Once again things weren’t going his way. It seemed that both the Driver Championship and any hope at taking out the WGPC17 Championship were well out of his reach. One first place finish just wasn’t enough to make up his losses in the standings enough to put him back in contention for those always elusive dreams. To say that he wasn’t frustrated would have been a lie. He was without a single inch of doubt very deeply frustrated. No matter how hard he trained he just couldn’t break out of his bad streak nor could he avert his increasing slide down the standings. Race after race brought him only a continuous string of disappointments and blows to his confidence as a racer.

“I just don’t get it,” he said softly to himself “I don’t know what I’m doing wrong.”

He was still keeping to his rigorous training regime. He was still spending long hours in the race shed pouring over the practice and race analysis readouts. He hadn’t shirked off for even a moment but it seemed like none of it was paying off. Perhaps he ought to give up on any hope for a Championship result in any of the standings. The dream of being a WGPC Champion continued to elude him despite how much practice he put in, how well he raced on raceday and how much skill he drove with. That lofty dream hung in front him like a carrot on a stick. That carrot was both a hope-filled aspiration in its possibility and a torment in its elusiveness.

In an uncharacteristic decision Gregori had bought a large bottle of high quality bourbon and retired to his hotel room. He’d already drunk down to just above the label with a careful mix of cola helping to avoid alcohol poisoning. Maybe he just needed to let off some steam. Drinking and venting could be healing after all. Viktor had arrived just as he’d started drinking and had immediately refused to let him drink alone. The young Sorlovian family knew that depression and suicide ran deep in both sides of Gregori’s family. His uncle had committed suicide after the failure of his business, his cousin had shot himself following a bad relationship breakup, his maternal aunt had drowned herself. He’d never shown any signs of it but Viktor knew to keep an eye on it. If Gregori was going to drink then he wouldn’t do it alone.

“This is just a bad streak Gregori,” Viktor said softly “every driver has them and it really is okay to be frustrated. It’s also okay to let off steam and get that frustration out.”

“But it’s not okay to have a breakdown,” Gregori replied “I should be stronger than that, After all I’m a WGPC racer. I knew that there’d be stress and bad streaks.”

“This isn’t a breakdown Gregori. This is just you getting all that frustration out. It’s healthy and it in no way means you’re weak. I guarantee you that Terho does something similar at times. Jess, Sigur, Hunter. Everyone.”

“Maybe you’re right.”

“I am right. No one should keep stress and frustration bottled up inside them. It just turns to bile and ends up making you sick. You need to vent but you need to do it privately. The last thing we need at this point is the media catching you having a breakdown in public. Consider this self-healing.”

“Thanks Viktor,” Gregori replied with a smile “you always know what to say.”
“Of course I do. It’s a gift. But I didn’t come here to watch you hog the good stuff! Share it brother!”

Some might have thought that because Gregori was a devoted Christian he must also be a staunch non-drinker. He wasn’t a heavy drinker, apart from this uncharacteristic misstep; he was far from a teetotaller. Gregori didn’t hide the fact that he enjoyed a casual beer or even a the occasional glass of bourbon. There was nothing wrong with that. Being a Christian didn’t necessarily have to mean an unflinching avoidance of alcohol in its entirety. He liked to think that God didn’t have a problem with him having a casual drink to socialize or unwind.

“Hey Gregori,” Viktor continued through a belch “you remember that guy at high school? I just can’t remember his name but he used to walk around in that leather jacket acting all tough. Like he was a big shot or something?”

“Boris Kletska,” Gregori replied with a chuckle “yeah I remember him. That guy used to piss me off to no end! Strutting around school winking at all the girls like he was a movie star.”

“That’s the one. Well I heard that he signed up in the army and got shipped off overseas to some hot and humid backwater. I wonder if he’s still wearing that damn jacket.”

Try as he might Gregori was unable to hold back the laugh. It burst out from within him growing into a deep belly laugh of the kind he hadn’t done in quite some time. Their choice of conversation might not be very Christian or entirely appropriate but it was helping him to unwind.

[Vilita and Turori]

Ibuna Fast at Crossbay as Rookie Struggles to Keep Up

Nimban Grand Prix, Crossbay Circuit, Nimbus System :: It was another tough race coming out of Vangaziland for iBen Toralmintii's Race Eelandii! Vilita and Turori World Grand Prix Motorworks team as promising runs by both of the Eelandii VTGP drivers were ultimately short-lived ans the Eelandii, Turori based outfit came away with zero points once again.

While both of Eelandii VTGP's drivers started the race outside the top 10, it took just over 10 circuits around the Drosopol Circuit for them both to be showing on the board and in the points. While some of it may have been due to pit strategy, with the Eelandii VTGP team opting to start the race on the harder compound tire to make a deep run into the event, there were still a number of overtakes on track for both drivers that put them into position.

The first to fall by the wayside was the Filindostan driver Rustom Ibuna. After a strong start to the season, Ibuna's struggles continued as the #71 machine limped away after contact with Taylor Blake and Jelena Colac-Strek. After arriving in the pit the team had no recourse other than to spin the car around and back it into the paddock with Ibuna's day done. The team then shifted all their focus on the rookie driver Drake Stevenson in the #81 who was running in the points as high as the fifth position and looking to finally claim Eelandii VTGP's first points of the second half of the World Grand Prix Season... if they could just hold on to the car.

Unfortunately, the rookie driver was unable to do that and mistakes down the stretch saw the Hapilopper driver wheel the #81 home in 13th place a lap down and out of the points.

Looking to make the most of what could be Stevenson's last event behind the wheel of the #81, Eelandii VTGP team principle Gary Cook arranged for the logo of Preston Autos, a Hapilopper based company and sponsor of Drake Stevenson, to adorn the #81 car at the Nimban Grand Prix. The deal was part monetary and part strategic as Cook was hoping to show Stevenson that despite his inability to score points in his first two events, his country was still proud of him and still willing to support him on his journey to becoming a World Grand Prix driver. With Preston Autos support, Cook hoped that Stevenson could put the disappointment of throwing away a Top 10 finish behind him and focus intently on their driving duties at the Crossbay Circuit.

Unfortunately, something still seemed to be holding Stevenson back. While Eelandii VTGP's #1 driver Rustom Ibuna was near the top of the board in every session, including second place in the Friday Practice session and an outside-pole qualifying position, Stevenson simply was not keeping pace. The #81 was nearly a second off the fast time in Practice and while they picked up the pace for qualifying they were still nearly half a second behind their teammate Ibuna which was a difference of 22 places on the grid after Ibuna qualified in 2nd place and Stevenson would roll off the line in 24th with just four drivers behind them when the lights go out.

Even the two Mirrors Racing drivers had outperformed Stevenson with Vilita's R.L. Cruisin still looking to make their mark on a thoroughly disappointing season on an under performing team, posting the fourth fastest time in qualifying to out-pace the two Tropicorp Racing Aelund drivers Terho Talvela and IBen Toralmintii.

There will be plenty of story lines to follow at the Crossbay Circuit with the two Nexus Racing drivers mired back in 18th and 19th on the grid and almost certain to make a march through the field while current Championship leader Terho Talvela is well positioned to put the championship out of reach heading into the Atlantian Oceania Swing with only lower-ranked drivers ahead of him in the starting lineup.

[Mattijana]

Crossbay Circuit, Nimbus Bay

The Crossbay Circuit had long been one of Johan Struna's favourites from across the multiverse. It was situated around some stunning scenery down on the coast, like a scene from the mountains of the Mattijanan ZentraleAlpe had been transported down to some sea and mixed together with it. The track wasn't just there however, it seemed to blend in perfectly with the landscape, like it had always been there. The two tunnels and causeway were certainly a quirky novelty, but they made for challenging features for drivers and a real spectacle for fans. The noise as the cars gunned it between the walls was pretty special as well.

The circuit seemed to flow as well. There were a lot of long, medium-fast corners that meant a driver could find their groove and pace, but still some good overtaking opportunities into turns 1 and 15. It was a very well balanced track with a bit in it for the straight-line cars and something for the technical outfits as well. It kept everyone interested.

The attention to detail in terms of the environmental impact of the circuit was something that impressed the Mattijanan contingent at MRT. A track like this had the potential to cause an unnecessary impact on local ecosystems and the Nimbans had done a great job to mitigate that. The near-science-fiction technology in the wardship wasn't having a massive impact on the racing, but it certainly gave the Nimbans the edge with their environmental technology.


Sigur Bjarnason had certainly made the most of the track. The Savojar had set the fastest time in Q2 and despite a few minor mistakes in Q3, had still put himself in a good position to earn solid points on raceday. He was certainly the form man at the moment after an iffy start to the season. The joy of MRT's seasons seemed to be that when one of their drivers wasn't in good nick, the other one could pick up the mantle. Krupin had done that at the start of the season and now it was Sigur's turn.
Unfortunately, if MRT were to still make an attempt at catching TRAE for the constructor's championship, they needed both drivers to start firing now. Gregori had had a decent few laps in practice, but failed to convert it into a good qualifying showing and would now have a lot of work to do on Sunday if he was to earn any points. It was one of those quirks of the Mattijana Racing Team that was simultaneously satisfying and frustrating.

Of the three remaining races, the final two should suit them. The Highpoint Raceway in Falcania, despite being another fairly controversial addition to the calendar, was one that favoured the MRT's technical appraoch and the now-traditional season-ender in Audioslavia was another. They could still pick up some points there. The other race was in Vilita, which Johan had visited enough times to know it was the MRT's worst nightmare.

There were still opportunities to make a solid success of the season, but things would have to fit together sooner rather than later.

---

Over in the SinVal garage, Jasmin Kranjska was weighing up her season.

She'd had some good results along the way, scoring all 32 of her team's points in a car that was frankly a bit of a dog. The fact she had outperformed Dahlia Dahl, someone who had gone well in the WGP2, was a great sign for her, but she had certainly wanted to be more competitive than she had been this season. Another non-finish in the last race had made for a somewhat patchy season.

She had another good opportunity here though. A surprisingly decent qualifying lap had put her up in third on the grid for the Nimban Grand Prix and in with a shout of another podium, but it would be a pretty tough ask.

The two drivers ahead of her, Mick Schramm and Rustom Ibuna, weren't quite as much of a threat. Two out of the three behind her were. Terho Talvela and iBen Toralmintii in the two TRAEs looked in really good touch and would certainly threaten her.

She didn't want to look ahead to next season with 4 races of the season still to go, but it was slipping into the back of her mind. She wanted a top car with which to really show off her skills, whether or not that was an MRT. She'd hopefully be able to make contact with a few of those top teams over the winter and get herself a more conventional top 10 drive next year.

To do that though, she would have to produce some good performances in these final few races though, and she had a great chance to do that tomorrow.

[Filindostan]

---

NATIONAL | BUSINESS | PROVINCIAL | INTERNATIONAL | SPORTS | ENTERTAINMENT | SPORTS PORTAL

---

MOTORSPORTS: WGPC 17
Badai Angin lineup for next season set?

NIMBUS BAY - As Filindo driver Rustom Ibuna clocked the second fastest time of the fourth and last session of qualifying for the Nimban Grand Prix, rumors are circulating around the Badai Angin factory in Yogyakulta that the current Eelandii VTGP driver will be signing for the team led by his father next season, partnering Mattijanan driver Alex Dimitrianov for a run at the Driver' and Constructors' championship.

It has been no secret in recent weeks that the management at Badai Angin is trying to sign Dimitrianov, who surpassed everyone's expectations by winning the Liventian Grand Prix and currently place second in the drivers standings, for another season. In his fifth season at the WGPC paddock, he has shown improvement and pace to take the fight to current championship leader, Terho Talvela. However, with the Abovian a whopping 60 points ahead of the second placed Mattijanan, the odds are in favor of the TRAE driver winning his second WGPC drivers' championship. He has dug a huge hole again between himself and the championship leader by finding himself eliminated from Q1 and placing 21st on the grid.

His teammate Carsten O'Rourke, who has been rumored to be displaced at the end of the season by Ibuna, will start in the top 10 and will hope to salvage some points for the Filindo outfit, who are in danger of losing second in the constructors' championship with fellow Esportivan constructors VMR and MRT, and the home team Nexus Racing slowly creeping in.

Ibuna, who posted the second fastest time in the practice session, almost missed out of Q4, just less than a tenth ahead of VMR's Vijay Tripathi, before setting a lap time just four thousandths slower than West-East Timorian Mick Schramm, who is on a resurgence after a very poor season.

As always, FSNA Berita Filindo will bring you the latest news from the Crossbay Circuit and the WGPC at your fingertips.

Written by FSNA Staff.

[WGPC]

CUTOFF

for the Nimban Grand Prix at Crossbay Circuit

[WGPC]

Week 15: Race

Conditions:      	Cloudy	
Laps:              	63	
Nation:         	NIM	
Circuit:        	Crossbay Circuit	
Event:	Nimban Grand Prix	
Safety Car Deployed on Laps:		
Cars on Grid:	28

Fastest Lap Bonus Point: 56 TAL	90.775

Start          After 15 Laps               After 31 Laps               After 47 Laps			
 1 ▍SCH	 1 ▍TII +0       	 1 ▍TII +0       	 1 ▍TII +0
 2 ▍IBU	 2 ▍IBU +18.464  	 2 ▍TRI +29.407  	 2 ▍TAL +48.463
 3 ▍KRA	 3 ▍ORK +20.299  	 3 ▍ORK +30.509  	 3 ▍JMD +51.152
 4 ▍CRU	 4 ▍SCH +24.845  	 4 ▍JCS +37.944  	 4 ▍NVX +58.196
 5 ▍TAL	 5 ▍TAL +27.182  	 5 ▍TAL +40.035  	 5 ▍LAN +64.224
 6 ▍TII	 6 ▍KRU +28.455  	 6 ▍IBU +41.514  	 6 ▍ORK +84.386
 7 ▍NVX	 7 ▍JMD +33.04   	 7 ▍JMD +50.14   	 7 ▍TRI +84.478
 8 ▍BJA	 8 ▍TRI +34.077  	 8 ▍NVX +51.531  	 8 ▍IBU +Laps: 1
 9 ▍CAS	 9 ▍JCS +34.264  	 9 ▍OKU +54.314  	 9 ▍CRU +Laps: 1
10 ▍ORK	10 ▍OKU +35.538  	10 ▍CRU +68.383  	10 ▍DIM +Laps: 1
11 ▍TRI	11 ▍BJA +36.894  	11 ▍LAN +74.602  	11 ▍JCS +Laps: 1
12 ▍SZR	12 ▍FRS +41.471  	12 ▍CAS +78.515  	12 ▍CAS +Laps: 1
13 ▍FRS	13 ▍NVX +43.066  	13 ▍DIM +79.436  	13 ▍RHJ +Laps: 1
14 ▍OKU	14 ▍DIM +46.215  	14 ▍CAR +81.827  	14 ▍OKU +Laps: 1
15 ▍BLK	15 ▍CRU +49.721  	15 ▍KRU +83.477  	15 ▍DGR +Laps: 1
16 ▍TLS	16 ▍GUI +58.702  	16 ▍RHJ +84.549  	16 ▍BLK +Laps: 1
17 ▍GUI	17 ▍RHJ +61.41   	17 ▍DGR +Laps: 1 	17 ▍CAR +Laps: 1
18 ▍LAN	18 ▍DGR +70.551  	18 ▍BJA +Laps: 1 	18 ▍STE +Laps: 1
19 ▍JMD	19 ▍DHL +71.346  	19 ▍GUI +Laps: 1 	19 ▍GUI +Laps: 1
20 ▍DHL	20 ▍SZR +71.82   	20 ▍SZR +Laps: 1 	20 ▍SZR +Laps: 1
21 ▍DIM	21 ▍CAS +72.069  	21 ▍STE +Laps: 1 	21 ▍BJA +Laps: 1
22 ▍CAR	22 ▍CAR +81.204  	22 ▍BLK +Laps: 1 	22 ▍KRA +Laps: 2
23 ▍JCS	23 ▍KRA +82.539  	23 ▍KRA +Laps: 1 	23 ▍KRU +Laps: 2
24 ▍STE	24 ▍LAN +82.856  	24 ▍TLS +Laps: 1 	24 ▍TLS +Laps: 2
25 ▍KRU	25 ▍STE +Laps: 1 	25 ▍TBS +Laps: 1 	25 ▍TBS +Laps: 2
26 ▍TBS	26 ▍BLK +Laps: 1 	                                        	
27 ▍DGR	27 ▍TBS +Laps: 1 	                                        	
28 ▍RHJ	28 ▍TLS +Laps: 1

POS DRV Name                     Team	Time	Pts
  1 77 TII iBen Toralmintii         ▍TRÆ        	01:41:45.109	25
  2 56 TAL Terho Talvela            ▍TRÆ        	00:00:46.510	18
  3 41 JMD Jean Mercer-Daly         ▍Nexus Racing      00:01:12.651    14
  4  7 TRI Vijay Tripathi           ▍VMR        	00:01:18.737	10
  5 71 IBU Rustom Ibuna             ▍Eelandii VTGP     Laps Down: 1	 8
  6 94 LAN Ryker Lane               ▍Nexus Racing      Laps Down: 1	 6
  7 42 DIM Alex Dimitrianov         ▍Badai Angin       Laps Down: 1	 4
  8 15 NVX Tabita Novax             ▍Camden        	Laps Down: 1	 3
  9 51 CRU RL Cruisin               ▍Mirrors        	Laps Down: 1	 2
 10  3 CAS Darius Castellammare     ▍Camden        	Laps Down: 1  	 1
 11 37 RHJ Ryan Harris-Jones        ▍Omni        	Laps Down: 1	
 12 23 JCS Jelena Colac-Strek       ▍McPahan        	Laps Down: 1	
 13 47 OKU Erica Okumura            ▍Polaris        	Laps Down: 1	
 14 52 SZR Sayono Souzare           ▍Polaris        	Laps Down: 1	
 15 64 ORK Carsten O'Rourke         ▍Badai Angin       Laps Down: 1	
 16 65 DGR Hunter Digri             ▍McPahan        	Laps Down: 1	
 17 22 KRA Jasmin Kranjska          ▍SinVal        	Laps Down: 2	
 18 18 BLK Taylor Blake             ▍Obey        	Laps Down: 2	
 19 14 BJA Sigur Bjarnason          ▍MRT        	Laps Down: 2	
 20 17 CAR Evdaden Carnétier        ▍Obey        	Laps Down: 2	
 21 27 KRU Gregori Krupin           ▍MRT        	Laps Down: 2	
 22 49 TLS Benjamin Talison         ▍Fireline        	Laps Down: 2	
DNF 63 DHL Dalia Dahl               ▍SinVal        	Ret. lap 30	
DNF 81 STE Drake Stevenson          ▍Eelandii VTGP     Ret. lap 50	
DNF 29 GUI Esteban Guilhermez       ▍Mirrors        	Ret. lap 60	
DNF  1 FRS Jessica Franssen         ▍VMR        	Ret. lap 22	
DNF 20 SCH Mick Schramm             ▍Omni        	Ret. lap 19	
DNF 48 TBS Tyra Tabuso              ▍Fireline        	Ret. lap 50

Pos # DRV Name                      Team                     Pts
 1 56 TAL Terho Talvela             TRÆ                      152
 2 42 DIM Alex Dimitrianov          Badai Angin              77
 3 77 TII iBen Toralmintii          TRÆ                      72
 4  1 FRS Jessica Franssen          VMR                      57
 4 94 LAN Ryker Lane                Nexus Racing             57
 6 14 BJA Sigur Bjarnason           MRT                      49
 7  7 TRI Vijay Tripathi            VMR                      47
 7 41 JMD Jean Mercer-Daly          Nexus Racing             47
 9 71 IBU Rustom Ibuna              Eelandii VTGP            40
10 27 KRU Gregori Krupin            MRT                      37
11 22 KRA Jasmin Kranjska           SinVal                   32
12 23 JCS Jelena Colac-Strek        McPahan                  30
13 49 TLS Benjamin Talison          Fireline                 28
14 64 ORK Carsten O'Rourke          Badai Angin              27
14 15 NVX Tabita Novax              Camden                   27
16 65 DGR Hunter Digri              McPahan                  23
17 20 SCH Mick Schramm              Omni                     21
18 48 TBS Tyra Tabuso               Fireline                 20
19 37 RHJ Ryan Harris-Jones         Omni                     19
20 52 SZR Sayono Souzare            Polaris                  17
21 47 OKU Erica Okumura             Polaris                  16
22 51 CRU RL Cruisin                Mirrors                  13
23 33 KRD Jai Kardaeri                                       10
24  3 CAS Darius Castellammare      Camden                   1
24 17 CAR Evdaden Carnétier         Obey                     1

Pos NAT Team                       Pts
  1 ABL ▍TRÆ                       224
  2 VNG ▍VMR                       104
  3 NIM ▍Nexus Racing              104
  4 FID ▍Badai Angin               104
  5 MTJ ▍MRT                       86
  6 AUD ▍McPahan                   53
  7 VLT ▍Eelandii VTGP             50
  8 ETH ▍Fireline                  48
  9 WET ▍Omni                      40
 10 NEK ▍Polaris                   33
 11 EFL ▍SinVal                    32
 12 LIS ▍Camden                    28
 13 STB ▍Mirrors                   13
 14 ESM ▍Obey                      1

[Hapilopper]

First City Airport, First City, Nimbus System
An hour and a half after leaving the circuit

Drake Stevenson sat at a terminal, his head in his hands, wondering where it went wrong. His three races with Eelandii VTGP had come to an end, and he had literally nothing to show for it, only mistakes, poor finishes, and on this day, a wrecked race car. Three races before, his hopes were high, as were the hopes of his sponsors and the people of the Dominion of Hapilopper. This was, after all, their top driver, the best-known driver in the nation, and surely he’d come back with at least a few points! Maybe even something more, and who knows what that could lead to!

It was easy to forget, however, that Drake was a stock car driver walking into the top level of open-wheel single seater racing. Drake had dreamt of open-wheel glory as a child, but political wrangling, combined with his inability to secure the proper funds, sent his career on a different spiral. Were it not for the political struggles that had split Hapiloppian open-wheel racing apart over 20 years before, we might be having a different conversation. But Drake, along with a number of other drivers, went stock car racing once the national open wheel category split in two and repulsed most of its fanbase, its sponsors and its exposure.

Still, even with this lack of experience, the last three races had been massively frustrating, and the biggest disappointment of his career. The race in Aboveland had been a fiasco, but that could have been avoided. Rather than going to Eelandii to familiarize himself further with the equipment and the team prior to the Grand Prix, Drake stayed in Hapilopper and whooped it up with his friends, celebrating the fact that yes, he would be competing in the World Grand Prix Championship. With that, he missed out on a valuable education about what he could have expected.

With that lesson learned, Drake rented a room at a hotel not far from the Eelandii shop after the Abovian Grand Prix and spent pretty much all of his waking hours at the team shop, making up for lost time. He was going to make this work, no matter what it took. He took to learning everything he could, from what button to press at the right time, to the right way to turn into the corner, to what not to do on pit road, even how to “jiggle the handle” to get a drink from the vending machine in the shop.

It appeared all that work had paid off. Drake ran near the front of the field for most of the race in Vangaziland. Everything looked like it would turn out right. Then came the three-quarter mark in the race, and in a moment of impetuosity, he thought he could gain some time by braking just a little bit later. He couldn’t. He was off the track, and again out of the points.

Drake Stevenson's WGPC XVII results

Aboveland: Started 16th, Finished 17th
Highest position: 15th

Vangaziland: Started 13th, Finished 13th
Highest position: 5th

Nimbus System: Started 24th, Retired Lap 50
Highest position: 18th

All that weighed on him as he prepared for the Nimban Grand Prix. He had done his trackwalk, sure, and he had taken his 20 or 30 pages of notes, yes, but he seemed a little bit more nervous than usual. Typically, Drake Stevenson had been known for being a tiny bit nervy as race time approached. But this was on a whole different scale. Drake had felt the pressure, for sure. There was so much riding on this race, and he was actually rather afraid to see what would happen had he failed. He was scared to death what would happen had he not ended the race with at least one point.

Those nerves seemed to impact his racing. He was never in contention at any point during the race, and not only was he not in contention, he had been lapped very early in the going, even while his teammate, Rustom Ibuna, was holding down the 2nd spot. He had psyched himself out, and his worst nightmares were coming true. Only once did he even crack the top 20, and that was just before his 50th lap, when, out of some desire to gain something, anything, he went into the 15th corner too hard and hit the curb exiting the corner at the wrong angle. He spun and was on a direct route for the wall on the other side of the track.

The impact was sickening, the car was done for the day, but Drake was just fine. He got out and made his way to the Eelandii pit, where a number of crew members were looking at him, but not saying a word. Drake grabbed a piece of paper and a pen, and wrote a note to Gary Cook, Eelandii team principal.

The note pretty much was a mea culpa letter, as Drake apologized for having done absolutely nothing with this golden opportunity he had been given. Drake acknowledged that Eelandii had pretty much given him the best car he had ever driven, and he probably hadn’t been ready yet to drive a car of this level. After writing the letter, he walked over to Cook, handed him the note and said “I’m sorry.”

All of those thoughts weighed heavily on Drake Stevenson as he waited for Hapilopper Airlines Flight 276 to board. The flight would take him back home, back to Hapilopper City, a place he hadn’t seen in weeks. He would return home and spend a few weeks away from the public light, and away from the racetrack. This had been the biggest disappointment of his career, and possibly of his life, and he just wasn’t ready yet to face the scrutiny that would come from his fellow racing drivers. He had blown it. He had blown it for himself, he had blown it for his sponsors, and he had blown it for all of Hapilopper. He just needed some time to process that information.

Drake Stevenson’s apartment, Hapilopper City
Five days later

Several days had passed since Drake Stevenson had returned to Hapilopper. He had returned only a handful of phone calls, and made just one social media post, asking for people to please respect his wishes to just have some time to himself. The fact was, he hadn’t yet fully digested the failure he had experienced. But he was getting there. It took an unhealthy amount of Lopper Draught, some fried chicken and some old professional wrestling to do it, but he was getting there, slowly but surely.

In fact, this day was the first in several that he hadn’t considered retiring from racing entirely. In previous days, he had made a phone call to his mother, still an English teacher at Stafford Road High School in Hapilopper City, and asked what he needed to do to become a teacher.

“Well, Drake, you never went to college, for one thing,” his mother said. “You spent whatever college money you had on your racing career. You’d need to go to college for four, maybe six years and then apply for your teaching certificate. You can’t just apply for one and hope you get it.”

Drake had considered applying at Hapilopper City University, and had still given it some serious thought. On this day, he was looking at what it would take to get into the school. Maybe his aptitude test scores still held some weight, even 12 years after graduating from high school. That information, however, was less than clear. He had just picked up the phone to call HCU’s admissions department when he saw that a call was waiting for him. The caller ID read “Marty Lewis, Preston Autos.”

I hope he comes back, but he's taking this really badly.
He had some real high expectations for himself and
he's really upset about how it went.

-Marty Lewis in an interview with
the Hapilopper Television Network,
two days after the Nimban Grand Prix

“Yo,” Drake said.

“Haven’t heard from you in a few days, you OK?” Marty asked.

“Yeah, just trying to figure out my future,” Drake said. “I’ve been trying to figure out if I want to race anymore.”

“Well… do you?”

Drake thought about that question for a very long time. He had just come off the biggest disappointment of his career, and yet the sun came up the next day. He was still around, and he actually had shown something good for himself, particularly in Vangaziland where he spent most of the race in a points-scoring position. Considering he had virtually no experience in open-wheel single seaters, he didn’t do that bad.

“Tell me, Drake,” Marty asked again, almost to see if Drake had heard him. “Do you want to race again? You know, there are some WGPC2 teams that would love to have you. You could get the experience you needed, and you could come back next year ready to win races.”

Drake broke down.

“Yes,” he barely said, his voice trembling with emotion. “I do want to run again.”

It might have been the most important call Drake had fielded since starting his racing career years ago. His name had been tarnished by three bad finishes in the World Grand Prix Championship, but hell, he could just as easily regain that reputation with a great season coming up. Marty had spoken almost as if he had heard of some openings, but Drake had no way of knowing that. For all he knew, Marty could have been bullshitting him just to get him going again. But it was what Drake needed. He was down. His time in the top tier of the World Grand Prix Championship had ended for the time being.

But he was not out, and he was not done. The name "Drake Stevenson" would be heard from again, and in a positive light this time.

[Lisander]

Event: Nimban Grand Prix (Week 15)
Date: Sunday, June 16
Location: Crossbay Circuit, Nimbus Bay, Nexus Wardship of Former Citizens of the Nimbus System
Layout: 4.83-kilometer, 17-turn track
Weather: Cloudy
Race Winner: iBen Toralmintii (TRÆ)
Team Result:
Tabita Novax – Started 7th, Finished 8th (Running, completed 63/63 laps)
Darius Castellammare – Started 9th, Finished 10th (Running, completed 63/63 laps)

A very nice weeekend in Crossbay Circuit! Tabita Novax and Darius Castellammare delivered their first double-points result of the season with their finishes of eighth and tenth respectively. Under the command of Mrs. Carolina Lasseps, Camden is clearly recovering. The championship isn't over yet, and we keep dreaming with best positions. If the results keep coming, we may even be able to reach the middle of the table.

Making a safe race, our drivers were able to fight back their spots, proving our pit strategies are working nicely. Both of them ended in one position behind the start, but even the comparison with the other cars may be a way to learn and improve. We keep bringing data of these races to prepare the car for the next one, the Vilitan Mountain Challenge. Between the mountains and the sea, like the good old days, we'll have another opportunity to climb to the top!

[Aboveland]

Crossbay Circuit
Saturday

Unnamed dances freely over the outside kerb between turns 16 and 17, diving cleanly past the apex of the final corner and beginning her dash towards turn one, each of her turbos whistling determinedly, her V8 heart thundering across the bay.

"Make it count," sounds through her radio, from the pit wall to the drivers' seat. "Final lap." In the driver's seat, Terho twirls his fingers as he grips the steering wheel even harder.

Terho swerves outwards before turn one, keeping close to the outside of the corner and then progressively closing in on the kerbs on the inside, slingshotting away to turn two. Unnamed's winglets keep her planted almost like a slot car, her ambitious moves always firm and assuredly concrete. For the turn before the entrance to the tunnel, he keeps tight to the inside line, his right side tyres just grazing the candy-cane, the left side ones skimming the inside wall of the tunnel, before ducking and lunging into turn three. A dab of the throttle, a spin of the wheels, and a quick, resounding bellow fill the tunnel with the dash towards turn four, the throttle wide open away from the underground section.

His screen flashes purple. Fastest sector 1.

He takes another massive braking into turn five, leaning on her front tyres, weaving almost straight past turn six to ease and then rocket away from seven. Turn eight is flat, with a dash of bravery; Unnamed shimmies to a stop for turn nine, braking while turning, her winglets pressing her down against the tarmac, and she maintains a constant speed through the corner. Another bout of twisty esses, this time starting slow and opening up marvelously before turn twelve, her rear tyres skipping over the kerbs and just caught in their excessive euphoria by the increasing downforce her run-up to the hairpin generates.

Purple again. Fastest sector two.

Safely through turn twelve, another war cry of colossal proportions sees her submerge herself back into the void, inside the cliffs lining the bay, flat again through thirteen, stopping a bit for fourteen, and easy through fifteen. One final quick sprint towards sixteen, where she lunges forwards; Terho brakes hard, perhaps a little late, and locks up the front wheels. He goes long, touching the kerbs on the outside of the corner, and weaves his way back into line for turn seventeen to exit sloppily out onto the start-finish straight. He groans.

Crossbay, a circuit as apt for Unnamed as enjoyable as it is for Terho, who whoops through his sigh of relaxation as he stops the clock.

"Agh," he mumbles into the radio. "Botched the final corner."

"P5, P5," replies Edvin. Not bad, not terrible, but you're five tenths down."

Terho moans again.

"Quit bitching," Edvin interjects. "You did excellently anyway, and the track is somehow getting slower. Relax, you'll be fine-"

"I know, I've won from worse places," he interrupts. "Fair enough."

Content, he speeds away on his inlap, inadvertently leaving the radio on, filling the paddock with the tranquil stir of Unnamed's V8. The fastest lap would have to wait for Sunday.

Nimbus Bay, Nexus Wardship of Former Citizens of the Nimbus System
Sunday

Unnamed rolls to a stop on the fifth grid spot, her front tyres not quite kissing the white bracket. Before signing off, Edvin delivers a quick message of encouragement. The general gist: keep it civil, keep it calm, but keep it quick.

As he waits for the five red lights to come on and evaporate, he takes in his surroundings. To his left, a fraction behind him, Unnamed's sister car, iBen at its wheel. His helmet, much like his car's paintwork, glows dully under the overcast sky. The navy blue, gold streaked machines form a barrier between the quickest of the frontrunners, led by the Omni of Mick Schramm, and the rest of the grid, with Novax' black and purple Camden machine waiting steadily behind him. The glowing at the front of the starting pack is reserved for the most earthy cars of the series, with the properly glowing homegrown machines of Jean Mercer-Daly and Ryker a good way behind.

He taps his steering wheel idly, first without a clear rhythm, then timing his taps to the beat of The Chain. In the distance, a few clumps and tufts of vegetation sway in the breeze, with the occasional gust throwing them off guard. For a moment, one in a long, long time, Terho thinks. The breeze lacing its way around Unnamed's curves forms a muted backdrop for his thoughts. He rushes through the year in a second, collecting snippets of his season along the way, and organizing them before his intelligible eyes to take a look at the wider picture. Nearly there, he whispers to himself, grinning with melancholy.

The first pair of lights comes on, and each subsequent pair pushes his thoughts further off to the background. With no time to summarize, he blinks hard and rubs the inside of Unnamed's monocoque, patting it rapidly as the final pair of red beacons lights up.

Let's go, he mutters, his eyes locked on the lights, as the bulbs fade to black and his head is thrust backwards with immense force.

Post race

"Spectacular, a one-two!" cries Edvin through his radio, his euphoric tone, as he's heard, thankfully, so many times before, supported by the rampant celebrations inside the TRÆ paddock. Terho's smile beams through his visor, but he's at a loss for words. Through stammers he begins to spout, but keeps quiet instead, thanking the team vehemently for their hard work. Finding out whether or not Alex finished low enough to crown him champion is for another moment.

As he stands on the podium for the third time in as many races, his hands behind his back, he looks up at the sky and lets the gentle sea breeze flutter his firm, sweaty hair. He closes his eyes, pressing them shut a few times, to squeeze out a few tears, smiling again as he chuckles and belly-laughs silently. It's the second straight weekend that the Abovian anthem fills the grandstands of a foreign land, this time commemorating the team and preceding the Turorian anthem for iBen. When it begins, Terho turns his head and looks up at his mentor, his near-idol, with immense reverence. The season was not over yet, and his championship hadn't quite been sealed at Crossbay, but so long as Alex Dimitiranov fails to win any of the remaining races he'll be crowned WGPC champion for the second time, together with his half of his own team celebrating its second glory.

The champagne war erupts in a glorious shower, with nobody spared from the non-alcoholic jets of wine. iBen and Terho take turns dousing each other, with the latter making sure to keep Jean, his old nemesis turned friend, as damp as them. Terho, through his red, stinging eyes, looks up at iBen, as if asking him to allow him onto the podium to celebrate TRÆ's second one-two; the Turorian, arms outstretched, invites both his fellow podium sitters up onto the top step.

Terho and Jean each jab an arm up at the sky in celebration, with iBen vigorously pumping his fist at the spectators below. The crowd erupts into an unintelligible mess of chants and victory calls.

Terho, licking his lips and laughing harder than before, cries a few more tears.

[Hodori Motorsports]

Arada HQ
Dashoze, Hodori

Entering the main lobby, Sayono was greeted by the new museum display: front and center were the machines she had won the GT1 and Formula Touring driver’s championships before the WGPC properly kicked off. After taking a moment to reminisce about what felt like distant memories, Sayono made her way to the plastic turnstiles separating the lobby from the elevators.

---

Another call to Arada HQ, another drawn out conference meeting. This one was concerned about the driver lineups in the upcoming domestic GT and open-wheel seasons. The higher-ups had decided that the GT championship pair would continue unchanged, with only the new-specification car the difference. The Formula Touring lineup would see Sayono as the lead driver and carrying the number 1 in the main factory team, with either Johanson or Okumura shortlisted for the number 2 machine. Reitoude and Nadakei Sport AYDP would continue with their single-car operations, with AYDP retaining Kaseo after her thoroughly humbling Formula Touring debut and Reitoude still searching for a driver.

The second part of the conference covered Object V2. Slated to enter production in the latter half of the upcoming domestic season, ‘V2’ is to be the successor to the K15 T2 mid-engined sports car and would presumably compete in the domestic GT championship once the requisite number of production units began delivery. Returning to the lobby and making her way to the exit, Sayono reviewed the informational pamphlet as she walked.

‘V2’ currently only existed as a pair of developmental units, but once it went into production it would be available with two engine options: a 3.4-litre normally-aspirated V8 or a 4.8-litre NA V10, both with electrically-driven front wheels in addition to a WGPC-style ERS unit attached to the engine. Production volume for the V8 version was slated to be over 500 global units, with less than 250 V10 models to be built. 50 V10s were domestic market units, with the remainder built for worldwide sale. At this stage, details such as the various trim levels beyond engine option didn’t exist.

Leaving the comfort of the air-conditioned HQ building, Sayono let out a sigh as she folded the pamphlet and tucked it into her purse. She would have very much liked to drive a few laps in the upcoming season’s cars, but that session would be in a few weeks, in the short window between the Grands Prix at Highpoint, Falcania and Crossport, Audioslavia.

[Vilita and Turori]

Vilitan Mountain Challenge Course :: Grand Prix Event History

The Vilitan Grand Prix had been a consistent fixture on the World Grand Prix Championship schedule between World Grand Prix Championship 11 and World Grand Prix Championship 15 before entering into an alternating schema with the Grand Prix of Turori in nearby Eelandii. With the Vilitan Mountain Challenge Course having been new to many of the worlds top drivers when introduced during the World Grand Prix Championship's 11th season, the local-based Vilita & Turori Motorsports team dominated the race weekend for the first ever Vilitan Grand Prix. For World Grand Prix Championship Season 16 it was announced that the Vilitan Grand Prix had been relegated to a mid-season test event at the Vilitan Mountain Challenge Course while the Grand Prix of Turori at the Eelandii Grand Prix Course took center stage.

Vilitan Grand Prix Winners

Race Winners:
11: Stang Crax (1:31:08.955) - Vilita & Turori Motorsports
R.L. Cruisin, Marc Rangneri

12: Enaut Londoso (1:31:24.212) - Yogutz Lantzia
Vitaliy Aaltonen, R.L. Cruisin

13: Alex Dimitrianov (1:30:13.672) - SinoMotors
Matt Hingis, Crimson LaRoja

14: Will Madison (1:30:46.197) - Fornax
Terho Talvela, Igne Spupuo

15: Jean Mercer-Daly (1:31:26.188) - Red Lion Racing
Ryker Lane, Marria Cattaneo

Pole Winners:

11: Stang Crax (1:25.440) - Vilita & Turori Motorsports

12: Vitaliy Aaltonen (1:25.696) - Obeveklig-Farautoo

13: Lovisa Landenberg (1:25.869) - HonsoNyroto

14: Terho Talvela (1:25.600) - Vilita & Turori Motorsports

15: Terho Talvela (1:25.660) - MRT

Just once in its history has the Vilitan Grand Prix has been won by the home-town team, Vilita & Turori Motorsports. However, neither has the race winner or pole winner ever been either of Vilitan or Turorian Nationality. The inaugural Vilitan Grand Prix was a 1-2 finish for Vilita & Turori Motorsports with Falcanian driver and eventual World Drivers champion Stang Crax taking the checkered flag ahead of Vilitan teammate R.L. Cruisin.

Cruisin would once again finish on the Podium for the second Vilitan Grand Prix as Yogutz Lantzia - who had been on the podium during Season 11 with driver Marc Rangneri - took home the checkers with driver Enaut Londoso. When Vilita & Turori Motorsports returned to action during Season 14, they were once again on pole through Aboveland's Terho Talvela - also the eventual World Drivers Champion - but Talvela was beat to the finish line by Fornax driver Will Madison.

No driver has won an event at the Vilitan Mountain Challenge Course two times and Vilita's own R.L. Cruisin is the only driver to have two podium finishes at the track. Abovian driver Terho Talvela has been the closest to breaking Stang Crax's track record having won the pole position in each of the last two seasons and while there will be no pole qualifying session this season due to the event's mid-season test status, Talvela will be looking to set Fast Time and perhaps even take a run at Stang Crax's all time track record lap after beginning to gain momentum heading into the test in the quasi-home team Tropicorp Racing Aelund entry.

After a difficult campaign thus far during the 17th World Grand Prix Championship season, R.L. Cruisin will look to become the first driver to win both the Vilitan Grand Prix and the Grand Prix of Turori being the de-facto reigning champion of this slot in the World Grand Prix Schedule having pulled off the victory in Eelandii one season ago.

---

Vilitan Grand Prix 2 Challenge Winners

Race Winners:

1: Jenna Vanderson (1:08:44.404) - Vannish Motors Racing
Shinno Soukuba, Cesaro Whittaker

Pole Winners:

1: Cocoabo #23 (1:35.105) - Tropicorp Engineering

---

Vilitan Mountain Challenge Course :: Information

Track Location: Rockii Coast, Vilita, Atlantian Oceania
Lap Record: 1:25.440 (Stang Crax, WGPC 11)
Track Lap Length: 5.05km
Precipitation Chance: 14%

Fan Access:

Despite being a mid-season test event, the Vilitan Mountain Challenge Course will be fully staffed with the exception of the Turn 5/6 and Turn 11 Grandstands and associated service centers which will be closed to the public. The majority of amenities will be available and the traveling merchandise haulers for the WGPC circuit will be on hand. Fans will be able to get a discounted weekend pass for entry and there will be no assigned seating for the weekend events. Children 12 and under are free with accompanying adult. All fans wishing to enter the Paddock Area will have to purchase a Paddock Pass for an additional fee.

Where to Eat:

Inside of the pit area in the center of the track you will find the central eatery with all the local cuisine, as well as some brought to you by the other competing nations as well. Everything from meats to the meat free, things that fly, things that moo and things that swim. There are rumors that there will even be a 'bug eatery' and a "We'll fry It". The "We'll Fry It" is likely to command huge lines as they have been banned for quite some time in Vilita. However, organizers did not want foreign travelers to suffer just because of the healthier eating habits of those in the Tropics, so "We'll Fry It" has been granted a license to serve on premises for the race weekend. The business model is supreme as they don't supply any of the food with the price of the meal. The guest brings.... whatever they want... and "We'll Fry It" fries it for them. They will likely have a cooler filled with various meats and candies that can be purchased and fried for an additional fee, but "We'll Fry It" will fry anything under 2 square feet in size for just 7 tures.

Outside of the paddock area, the hidden gem of the course is the famed Poultry Shack in Turn 13. The Poultry Shack is an absolutely exquisite source to quench that meaty craving and they will dish it any way you can handle it. You can walk away with a leg in your hand or even a cup of soup. Fans sometimes don't like to make the walk all the way to the Shack however, in addition to the food, the view is incredible looking out over the Vilitan cliffs over the Water. Visibility at turn 13 and the shack is thought to be amongst the most impressive in the entire Island.

Where to get Free Stuff or Prizes:

You likely won't have to walk more than a few hundred yards without being coerced into taking a free sample of various products on display such as the local-based Vilaye Energy Drink - personal sponsor of Vilitan driver R.L. Cruisin. The key will be to find the locations where they are handing out sealed portions opposed to the open-top samples that you'll need to drink on the spot. Check the boot area around Turn 7 for the best Vilaye booths where they will not only be giving out full beverages but they will have other prizes you can win and games for the children. A Second Vilaye Booth by the start/finish line will not be as large and will only be handing out samples in open cups. Look for giveaways and handouts from other event and team sponsors throughout the Fan section of the paddock and grandstand areas.

The most exciting display however is the recurring Tiones Lumber display outside Turn 1. Tiones Lumber holds mini-lumberjack competitions for the fans each season and you can line up to compete in many famed wood-based competitions such as the 40-foot speed climb, Long rolling, the Standing Block Chop and there will even be a team relay. The best times each day win prizes from Tiones Lumber. First prize winners will be excluded from winning on subsequent days but alternate prize winners can compete for the big prize the following day. Fans who beat the all time-records could find themselves winning free Paddock Passes or other great prizes from Tiones Lumber.

Tropicorp Racing Supply will also be on hand with a 'Pit Stop Challenge" display at the end of the pit lane where fans will be able to test their ability to change a WGPC tyre or act as the fuel person so long as they first sign a release form indemnifying Tropicorp and the Vilitan Mountain Challenge Course of any injury that may occur as they attempt to set the fast times to qualify for a daily prize drawing from Tropicorp.

Where to access the drivers:

Drivers are readily accessible to those with a Paddock Pass. However, in the Paddock the drivers are working so fans are asked to to approach the drivers. Instead, let the drivers approach you. There will also be designated driver interaction zones for fans with scheduled driver appearances posted throughout the weekend. Vilitan driver R.L. Cruisin will be at the Turn 7 Vilaye Energy Drink display at various times throughout the weekend. Tropicorp Racing Aelund test driver Juracai Klianiota will be at the Poultry Shack on Saturday before the cars go out on the track.

---

:: Tiones Lumber Lumberjack Challenge ::

The Tiones Lumber corporation has a long history of aligning itself with sporting events in Vilita & Turori, from being the long time shirt sponsors of the Vilitan Stellar Division's Yeaddin Owls AFC, to their sponsorships in motorsports, the name "Tiones" is always on the forefront. Competitors and fans alike reap the benefits of Tiones Lumber involvement in sporting events with their finances sometimes allowing a team to compete or an event to proceed and their famous Lumberjack Competition displays always a hit with the fans.

The largest Tiones Lumberjack Challenge to date has taken place at the Vilitan Mountain Challenge Course in Rockii Coast, Vilita ahead of the Vilitan Grand Prix race during WGPC 14. However, with the Grand Prix of Turori taking the place of the Vilitan Grand Prix for the 16th World Grand Prix championships season, Tiones Lumber has an even bigger event planned. Instead of just having one or two concurrent 'zones' that fans can test their lumberjack mettle in, there will be five distinct zones where fans will be able to participate in various activities. There will be four 'competitive' zones where participants will be timed and scored for their execution - whether they are truly competitive or not - with each days top times earning a prize and the best scores of the race weekend crowned champions. The fifth zone will be deemed a 'family zone' with events and challenges more suited for children to participate in.

The Five zones will be as follows:

COMPETITIVE ZONES ::
Note, All competitive events will explicitly require a waiver and release of all liability against Tiones Lumber signed by the participant

Zone 1: Chopping & Cutting

There will be 3 distinct events available in Zone 1, the Standing Chop, the Firewood Split and the Saw-Through Cut.

Standing Chop: Tool: Standard Axe :: In the Standing Chop Challenge, competitors can be scored in two different categories: Time and Number of Chops. A single 12 inch diameter log will be stood vertically and the competitor will be tasked with chopping through until the log is severed. Competitive times are expected to be under 20 seconds.All contestants are required to wear chain mail protection from the waste down to protect against injury from errant chops.

Firewood Split: Tool: Standard Axe :: Like the Standing Chop, there are two separate criteria used to grade the Firewood Split. Contestants will have 45 seconds to split. as many firewood segments as they can. The first 10 segments will be pre-staged and the contestant will be timed in completion of the first 10 successful splits. Should they have time remaining on the clock after the 10th split they will be tasked with resetting and further chopping segments until time runs out. Winners will be declared both on speed and number of splits made. All contestants are required to wear chain mail protection from the waste down to protect against injury from errant chops.

Saw-Through Cut: Tool: One-man Bucking Saw :: Contestants will saw through an elevated, horizontal log with a 20 inch diameter using a one-man bucking saw. Competitive times are expected to be below 15 seconds.

Zone 2: Climbing

The Climbing zone will see three identical Climbing Challenge stations to allow multiple contestants to attempt the event at the same time.

The event consists of a 20 meter tall vertical log which the contestant must after starting from a position with both feet on the ground, climb and bypass the 18 meter mark. Contestants will have spurred climbers on their feet and steel-cored climbing ropes. Several safety precautions are taken in the event. A support pole next to the designated climbing log will support a belay rope system managed by event staff. Time will stop once the contestant reaches the 18 meter mark on the vertical log and the contestant will not be timed on the way back from the top of the climbing log to return to the ground. Competitive times are expected to be below 13 seconds.

Zone 3: Log Rolling

A new addition, the Log Rolling competition will take place in water. Multiple floating logs will stretch from one end of the log pool to the other with a dry dock on either side. Contestants will be timed on crossing the pool twice - or from the starting dock to the opposite dock, then back to the starting dock. If the competitor falls into the water they are permitted one attempt to re-mount the log and continue their run. If the contestant should fall a second time their run will be ended and they will be given credit for the number of total logs they have traversed.

Zone 4: Team Events

Team Saw-Through Cut: Tool: Two-man Bucking Saw :: Contestants will saw through an elevated, horizontal log with a 20 inch diameter using a two-man bucking saw. Competitive times are expected to be below 7 seconds.

Team Log Rolling: Multiple floating logs will stretch from one end of the log pool to the other with a dry dock on either side. Contestants will be timed on crossing the pool twice. Two team members will start on opposite sides of the pool and will have to traverse from their starting dock to the opposite dock and back resulting in two 'passes' where teammates will have to bypass each other on the same log. Contestants must bypass each other on the logs and can not use the docks or the water to complete a bypass. If the competitor falls into the water they are permitted one attempt to re-mount the log and continue their run. If a team suffers a total of three combined falls their run will be ended and they will be given credit for the number of total logs the least advanced competitior has traversed. Time will be stopped once the second of the two team competitors has returned to their starting dock.

NON-COMPETITIVE ZONES ::

Zone 5: Family Zone

The non-competitive family zone will feature learning zones where Firewood Splitting techniques will be taught; three single-log rolling pools including one with a picture zone where the log can be locked into place for an individual or family to pose for photos, two 7 meter climbing logs, a firewood stacking challenge area and a special tree planting zone that teaches youngsters and parents alike the value of Tiones Lumber's Renewable Lumber Operations.

Tiones Lumber is also inviting all WGPC drivers to try their hand at the various Lumberjack events in a special reserved time slot after the Friday Practice session.

[Former Citizens of the Nimbus System]

Hospitality Village, Crossbay Circuit, Nimbus Bay, the Nexus Wardship of Former Citizens of the Nimbus System
13th of June

The harmonious voices of the Avant Community Chorus charge the air across Crossbay Circuit’s Hospitality Village’s main plaza, a presence around the pounding of Cruxguard’s drums and the thrum and twang of their guitars. The crowd watches through it all, a great wave of sound and joy, and with them watches the Nimban Minister for Governance, the head of the Nexus Wardship, Jade Birch.

She does so with a smile. Good to see… Well, after the whole Maelstrom around Imagination use, people are still here for the racing and everything around it. Still collaborating. Still thriving.

Jade glances across to her fellow Minister. Jacob Gibbons seems animated, leaning over to say something to Timothy Guard, who nods in answer; Gertrude Thompson sidles up beside them, folding her arms with a grin on her face. The head of the Nimban state nods in contentment. Well, they created something strong enough to weather it, I suppose. Between Crossbay, Nexus Racing and the WGPi…

Her own smile deepens. Be proud of yourself, Jake – all of you. You’ve made something great here.

Crossbay Circuit, Nimbus Bay, the Nexus Wardship of Former Citizens of the Nimbus System
15th of June; Qualifying 2

“Not a foot wrong yet, Ryker. Keep it coming.”

“Got it, Martin!”

At its home of Crossbay Circuit, the Nexus Racing ‘Chase Cutter’ Ultra High Speed Ground Vehicle 3, known to Ryker Lane and, by this point, all as Coalescence, is in its element. Impelled by the propulsive force of Imagination and driven by the combined direct efforts of dozens on dozens and the indirect work of millions, its acceleration and speed are unrivalled on the WGPC grid; it outpowers all down the straights and its unique dynamic Imagikinetic power maintains that power through the sweeping corners of 1 and 2. More recently its cornering, too, is agile and swift beyond anything even Gertrude Thompson dreamed of in WGPC 15, blazing down and darting into and through the tight underground stadium of 3 and 4 to the rapturous cheers of the home crowd, the squeal of tyres under braking and the soft whirr and woosh of acceleration bouncing around the chamber hardly drowning them out.

Ryker Lane draws it all together into will, calm, focus as he shoots down into the second sector – not pushing the car too hard, working instead to cure his current set of S2 tyres for tomorrow’s race. This track is burned into his mind, he’s trained on it for so long, and he’ll surely be one of the fastest now. Being the fastest? He needs to conserve his conscious mind for that later.


That is the one thing about these Elimination qualifying types – awesome spectacle but they are pretty gruelling.

He grins. All part of the challenge, after all! Let’s keep on answering it!

Through 5, 6, 7 he goes, each apex a flash of colour as Coalescence shoots left, a touch right, left again, the car hugging the track, forging forward down the short straight, waves clashing against rock below him. Ryker lets the car drift outwards, then swings back in again to Turn 8, just touching at the track’s edge before sweeping into Turn 9, Imagination shining across the Chase Cutter as it holds it forward, right and down through the great bend. Away, into 10, deftly through, round 11 now – pace hastened by hour upon hour of practice, each motion rendered near-effortlessly flawless!

And then Ryker takes his new, narrower line up into 12 – and, in the instant that the barriers and the track’s upward slant give way to grant him vision, there’s something there. That instant has his instinct switch on and his awareness struggle to keep up; not even registering that the object is, in fact, somebody’s car – let alone whose – Ryker slams the steering wheel right immediately before he realises just what he’s doing.

By that point, of course, he’s almost in the other wall.

Eyes widening, he pulls the car back leftwards. The Chase Cutter skitters across the outside barrier, Imagination searing the air – an improvement over slamming into it, certainly, but still a costly one. Gritting his teeth, breath suddenly short, Ryker holds his course, dynamic Imagikinesis dragging the car back towards the line. “Martin!” he cries.

“Go, Ryker. Focus.” His race engineer’s voice is the light in the Maelstrom, a beacon of calm and resilience; Ryker aligns with it instantly and instinctively, feeling the car finally pull out of its slide, straightening the wheel, applying the accelerator, taking hold of the Coalescence once more. With it he pushes, desperately clawing back anything he can from the drive that he lost, the two powering up into the second tunnel and the final sector. The speed is there, reduced but undeniably there as they take the thirteenth turn; it builds into Turn 14, his Chase Cutter powering back to the right and over the crest, splitting the air before it. Turn 15; a hard brake, back leftwards, a storm of energy surging back to the main straight – darting through 16, 17, all the power of Imagination coming together in one, final, desperate burst!

“That’ll be enough for eighteenth, Ryker.” Martin’s voice carries a hint of measured pride. “Well done – that could easily have been significantly worse.”

“Thanks, Martin,” Ryker answers. He closes his eyes, nodding to himself. Just got to fight back up the field tomorrow. He smiles. Well, this is probably the best place for me to do it. Can’t practice on track, so a run or two in the simulator this afternoon.

Ryker breathes. ‘Focus’ indeed. Just gotta keep going.