World Grand Prix Championship season 17 [RP Thread]

[Aboveland]

This time around, everything feels a little bit different. The whirring gears of the wheel guns and endless squeaky shuffle of feet still resonate through the paddock; coffee couriers mix with press and mysteriously concerned individuals wearing button-up shirts and lanyards who nobody really knows in the backrooms behind the garages; every element which constitutes the feverish element of a WGPC weekend still exists, yet as if it were hiding behind a curtain.

Terho’s stride, too, is different, his footsteps more planted, more secure, less jittery and erratic; his eyes, once constantly strained and scrunched up at the T of his eyebrows, now rest composedly near the top of his cheekbones. He speaks quietly, patiently, taking in more information than he spouts, feeding off the similarly tuned energy around him to further fuel his perpetual cycle of tranquility.

Much like him, the rest of TRAE has relaxed and released the crippling tension which populated the shoulders of every single member of the staff. It’s an understandable phenomenon, given the historic conclusion to the title race taking place two races from the end of the season, a feat which has sent a refreshing floodwave of pride and accomplishment across the team, yet it’s a situation completely alien to the team, let alone the WGPC as a whole.

Despite the conclusion of the race for first prize in both championships, the battle for second, however less prestigious it might seem, was still a hotly contested position, with Nexus Racing notably channeling the last of their strength devoted to the current season to that goal. Thanks to them, and to their scrambling rivals, the WGPC could hold on a little while longer before the end of the season.

For Terho, the significance of his second title hadn’t really dawned on him until the start of practice in Falcania. Entering the TRAE garage was a shock, not only because of the contrast to the atmosphere elsewhere around the paddock, but because of the overall mood burbling around the team. What had once begun as a struggling, divided outfit had--not at all suddenly, but drastically--become a closely-knit tale of two cultures coalescing to reach uncharted heights; coalescence had certainly become one of Terho’s favorite words in the transcourse of the season, and he was now able to really see the finished product from afar.

He’d never really thought it possible for him to win a second world title after his dramatic WGPC15 failure and his lackluster mid-WGPC16 campaign resulting in him missing out on the championship fight as the season came to an end. As kind-hearted as he likes to consider himself, he’s reluctant to recognize his intense competitiveness, one that no doubt, despite its potential for setting off a precarious bout of self-immolation, had contributed to his success. From this had stemmed his far-away pipe-dream of topping the statistics sheets and cementing his legacy; his struggle to match Matthew Portland’s two titles was the final, and largest, hurdle he had to clear. Even then, after clearing it by miles, it took the greater part of a week to finally get to grips with what he--and TRAE, and his WGPC14 winning team--had accomplished.

In spite of his premature success, his hunger for victory remains, now more as a lingering, indulgent afterthought, ready to bring to the foreground to pounce on to net at least one final victory before the end of the season.

As he climbs into Unnamed for Saturday qualifying and fires up her V8 soul, he inadvertently knicks a sticker on the inside of the monocoque with his gloved hand, which falls face down onto his thigh. He taps it, sticking it onto his index finger, and looks at its glistening design as he turns it around. A pair of reflective golden laurel branches encircle a hastily scribbled permanent marker-ed “2”. Terho gleams behind his visor, looking around the garage for a cheekily smiling mechanic to whom attribute the easter egg. He doesn’t catch a glimpse of anyone obviously waiting to be discovered, but slaps the sticker back onto the inside of the car and accelerates out of the garage. My work here isn’t quite done yet, he thinks to himself, giddily.

[WGPC]

CUTOFF

for the The Grand Prix of the Free Kingdom at Highpoint Raceway

[WGPC]

Week 17: Race

Conditions:      	Dry	
Laps:              	68	
Nation:         	FLC	
Circuit:        	Highpoint Raceway	
Event:	The Grand Prix of the Free Kingdom	
Safety Car Deployed on Laps:		
Cars on Grid:	28

Fastest Lap Bonus Point: 52 SZR	89.240

Start          After 17 Laps               After 34 Laps               After 51 Laps			
 1 ▍IBU	 1 ▍LAN +0       	 1 ▍CAR +0       	 1 ▍TAL +0
 2 ▍JCS	 2 ▍TAL +15.865  	 2 ▍TAL +1.695   	 2 ▍TII +12.769
 3 ▍CAR	 3 ▍TII +21.943  	 3 ▍LAN +7.177   	 3 ▍CAS +68.736
 4 ▍CAS	 4 ▍BJA +24.611  	 4 ▍TII +22.641  	 4 ▍DIM +76.178
 5 ▍BJA	 5 ▍FRS +27.197  	 5 ▍TRI +34.379  	 5 ▍CAR +78.447
 6 ▍TAL	 6 ▍TRI +27.85   	 6 ▍KRU +44.895  	 6 ▍LAN +78.777
 7 ▍TRI	 7 ▍CAR +28.118  	 7 ▍IBU +45.137  	 7 ▍KRU +Laps: 1
 8 ▍TLS	 8 ▍KRU +33.659  	 8 ▍BJA +46.664  	 8 ▍TRI +Laps: 1
 9 ▍LAN	 9 ▍CAS +40.437  	 9 ▍CAS +55.533  	 9 ▍CRU +Laps: 1
10 ▍KRU	10 ▍RHJ +42.249  	10 ▍DIM +63.248  	10 ▍IBU +Laps: 1
11 ▍FRS	11 ▍ORK +46.318  	11 ▍ORK +76.87   	11 ▍TBS +Laps: 1
12 ▍KRA	12 ▍IBU +48.994  	12 ▍KRA +78.475  	12 ▍KRA +Laps: 1
13 ▍DGR	13 ▍JCS +49.185  	13 ▍DHL +80.239  	13 ▍ORK +Laps: 1
14 ▍GUI	14 ▍DHL +54.4    	14 ▍CRU +80.359  	14 ▍KRD +Laps: 1
15 ▍CRU	15 ▍TBS +57.541  	15 ▍TLS +81.56   	15 ▍TLS +Laps: 1
16 ▍ORK	16 ▍KRA +57.841  	16 ▍TBS +Laps: 1 	16 ▍FRS +Laps: 1
17 ▍TII	17 ▍DIM +59.1    	17 ▍KRD +Laps: 1 	17 ▍BJA +Laps: 1
18 ▍TBS	18 ▍TLS +59.592  	18 ▍RHJ +Laps: 1 	18 ▍OKU +Laps: 1
19 ▍SZR	19 ▍SZR +69.635  	19 ▍FRS +Laps: 1 	19 ▍SCH +Laps: 2
20 ▍KRD	20 ▍CRU +76.412  	20 ▍JCS +Laps: 1 	20 ▍RHJ +Laps: 2
21 ▍DHL	21 ▍KRD +84.66   	21 ▍OKU +Laps: 1 	21 ▍SZR +Laps: 2
22 ▍BLK	22 ▍SCH +Laps: 1 	22 ▍JMD +Laps: 1 	22 ▍GUI +Laps: 2
23 ▍DIM	23 ▍GUI +Laps: 1 	23 ▍SCH +Laps: 1 	23 ▍JCS +Laps: 2
24 ▍RHJ	24 ▍OKU +Laps: 1 	24 ▍SZR +Laps: 1 	24 ▍JMD +Laps: 2
25 ▍SCH	25 ▍JMD +Laps: 1 	25 ▍GUI +Laps: 1 	
26 ▍OKU	                                        	                                        	
27 ▍JMD	                                        	                                        	
28 ▍NVX

POS DRV Name                     Team	Time	Pts
  1 77 TII iBen Toralmintii         ▍TRÆ        	01:48:32.016	25
  2  3 CAS Darius Castellammare     ▍Camden        	00:00:48.205	18
  3 94 LAN Ryker Lane               ▍Nexus Racing        00:00:51.450	14
  4 27 KRU Gregori Krupin           ▍MRT        	00:00:52.816	10
  5 42 DIM Alex Dimitrianov         ▍Badai Angin        00:01:06.966	8
  6  7 TRI Vijay Tripathi           ▍VMR        	00:01:16.067	6
  7 71 IBU Rustom Ibuna             ▍Eelandii VTGP        00:01:37.269	4
  8 17 CAR Evdaden Carnétier        ▍Obey        	Laps Down: 1	3
  9 48 TBS Tyra Tabuso              ▍Fireline        	Laps Down: 1	2
 10 51 CRU RL Cruisin               ▍Mirrors        	Laps Down: 1	1
 11  1 FRS Jessica Franssen         ▍VMR        	Laps Down: 1	
 12 14 BJA Sigur Bjarnason          ▍MRT        	Laps Down: 1	
 13 64 ORK Carsten O'Rourke         ▍Badai Angin        Laps Down: 1	
 14 37 RHJ Ryan Harris-Jones        ▍Omni        	Laps Down: 1	
 15 22 KRA Jasmin Kranjska          ▍SinVal        	Laps Down: 1	
 16 33 KRD Jai Kardaeri             ▍Eelandii VTGP        Laps Down: 1	
 17 49 TLS Benjamin Talison         ▍Fireline        	Laps Down: 1	
 18 20 SCH Mick Schramm             ▍Omni        	Laps Down: 2	
 19 41 JMD Jean Mercer-Daly         ▍Nexus Racing        Laps Down: 2	
 20 47 OKU Erica Okumura            ▍Polaris        	Laps Down: 2	
 21 52 SZR Sayono Souzare           ▍Polaris        	Laps Down: 2	
 22 23 JCS Jelena Colac-Strek       ▍McPahan        	Laps Down: 2	
DNF 63 DHL Dalia Dahl               ▍SinVal        	Ret. lap 37	
DNF 29 GUI Esteban Guilhermez       ▍Mirrors        	Ret. lap 56	
DNF 65 DGR Hunter Digri             ▍McPahan        	Ret. lap 1	
DNF 15 NVX Tabita Novax             ▍Camden        	Ret. lap 1	
DNF 18 BLK Taylor Blake             ▍Obey        	Ret. lap 6	
DNF 56 TAL Terho Talvela            ▍TRÆ        	Ret. lap 52

Pos # DRV Name                      Team                     Pts
 1 56 TAL Terho Talvela             TRÆ                      152
 2 77 TII iBen Toralmintii          TRÆ                      122
 3 42 DIM Alex Dimitrianov          Badai Angin              85
 4 94 LAN Ryker Lane                Nexus Racing             79
 5 41 JMD Jean Mercer-Daly          Nexus Racing             66
 6  1 FRS Jessica Franssen          VMR                      57
 7  7 TRI Vijay Tripathi            VMR                      53
 8 14 BJA Sigur Bjarnason           MRT                      49
 9 27 KRU Gregori Krupin            MRT                      47
10 71 IBU Rustom Ibuna              Eelandii VTGP            46
11 22 KRA Jasmin Kranjska           SinVal                   35
12 49 TLS Benjamin Talison          Fireline                 34
13 23 JCS Jelena Colac-Strek        McPahan                  30
14 64 ORK Carsten O'Rourke          Badai Angin              27
14 15 NVX Tabita Novax              Camden                   27
16 51 CRU RL Cruisin                Mirrors                  24
17 65 DGR Hunter Digri              McPahan                  23
18 48 TBS Tyra Tabuso               Fireline                 22
19 20 SCH Mick Schramm              Omni                     21
20 37 RHJ Ryan Harris-Jones         Omni                     19
20 52 SZR Sayono Souzare            Polaris                  19
20  3 CAS Darius Castellammare      Camden                   19
23 47 OKU Erica Okumura             Polaris                  16
24 81 STE Drake Stevenson                                    14
25 33 KRD Jai Kardaeri              Eelandii VTGP            10
26 17 CAR Evdaden Carnétier         Obey                     4
26 63 DHL Dalia Dahl                SinVal                   4
28 18 BLK Taylor Blake              Obey                     0

Pos NAT Team                       Pts
  1 ABL ▍TRÆ                       274
  2 NIM ▍Nexus Racing              145
  3 FID ▍Badai Angin               112
  4 VNG ▍VMR                       110
  5 MTJ ▍MRT                       96
  6 VLT ▍Eelandii VTGP             70
  7 ETH ▍Fireline                  56
  8 AUD ▍McPahan                   53
  9 LIS ▍Camden                    46
 10 WET ▍Omni                      40
 11 EFL ▍SinVal                    39
 12 NEK ▍Polaris                   35
 13 STB ▍Mirrors                   24
 15 ESM ▍Obey                      4

[Lisander]

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

---

Time for Financial Maths
Camden is not coming back for WGPC 18. Let's count the money they already earned and the money they still can earn

874,000 dollars. 46 points, multiplied by ten thousand Lisanderian Lys per point, multiplied by the current value of the Lys in Universal Standard Dollars. This is the amount of money Camden Autosports Division will receive from the government (via Lisander Autosports Board) if they finish the season with the same number of points they finished the Free Kingdom Grand Prix. Darius Castellammare was the only responsible to increase this amount this time since the return to home hasn't been that good for Tabita Novax.

Castellammare, a thirty-year-old rookie, is the figurehead of Camden Autosports since Tiago Camden-Mott was removed from the position of team principal. Luckily, Carolina Lasseps, chief of the technology sector, took the reins of the team and started to implement all the new "small ideas" she had, at least to prevent an embarrassment even bigger, and is acting under the guidance of the LAB. Under the terms of their contract, Camden Automobile still has time and opportunity to develop their engines with the Bitten Heroes Academy team in the WGP2. Valuable input coming from Formula Hodori drivers Lourdina Westgrens and Athan Lille should be useful to the Pegasus engines. And we could even see Darius Castellammare back in the track for the second tier of racing.

Or so we thought. During the official interview with the three drivers on the podium, when asked about the future of the team, Darius Castellammare spoke, and interestingly, he spoke a lot. More than he'd spoken in the entire season, maybe:

"We will not be back for next year. Camden's efforts will move to other sectors of motorsports. This was not the international experience we had hoped for. We've had some run-ins in management, but we've been able to finish the season better than Bitten Heroes last year, which was our expectation. Lemos and Westgrens had their demons to exorcise, even had that bizarre event with the prince ... I greatly admire the patience and effort of Lemos that is making Bitten Heroes reborn from the ashes. I'm doing the same with the Superbikes in Lisander. Those 18 points will be converted into good money to go on with the DC3 Road Racing team, which is my focus for the next season. Unless Lemos wants to count on me for another year at WGPC. He's going to have to get me out of Camden then."

What will happen to the team booty is now the easiest question to answer. Camden will continue to use its truck and paddock structure in the new direction it provides for its motorsport division. Unlikely to be layoffs among employees. From Mrs Team Principal to the cleaning and maintenance team, everyone stays. The remaining question is: Cars and parts that have not been used yet have no destination. The only exception is the used tYres, which are returned to Stellenbosch for analysis in each round. The fate of all this amount of metals, plastics and carbon fibre is uncertain. Camden will surrender to the consumerist Juliano Lemos and his partners, who buy all the WGPC-spec cars they can to resell to the rich people interested in participating in the Open GP National Series; or the Falcanian Investors who sponsored Tabita Novax's entry into the world motorsport main category will buy everything and use to keep the Free Kingdom on track? Based on the price of the Bitten Heroes For the four cars, with all parts included, I believe they will earn a little more than the prize money, something like 900,000 to 1,000,000 USD.

We will only have confirmation of this in a few weeks, when the WGPC is finished. Still room for the Camden to make some more money.

---

More from TURBO

Dunneot goes back and will no longer pay the fine of termination to join WGP2, Camden will have engines in WGP2
Secret font informs: Meline Agrakian is searching for Hodoran visa
The possible drivers for Bitten Heroes Academy
Mor Holstein: People who accepted me in NSSCRA are mad. I don't care, I'm mad too.

---

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[Sorlovia]

There was only one more race to go. It seemed like WGPC17 had only just started the other day and now it was very nearly over. Gregori couldn’t help but feel like the seasons flashed by in the blink of an eye. One moment you were lined up in the pack for the first race of the season and the next you were in line for the final one. But that was of course far from the truth. An official WGPC season took place over a number of months divided into practices, qualifying and racedays. In reality, the season was a long and drawn out process that demanded a racer’s full commitment and focus. It was simply a case of being so focused that you didn’t pay much attention to the passage of time.

A WGPC season was a constantly changed high-paced environment of races, training sessions, test runs and high stress. It was easy to become so focused on qualifying results and race results that you lost track of the passage of time. After all, the season demanded every scrap of your attention and all of your energy. By the end of it many racers were left exhausted. It wasn’t uncommon for a racer to take a lengthy vacation to unwind after a WGPC season. However, some racers remained focused on racing. Gregori was one of those kinds of racers. He was already pondering whether he would try for WGP2 and considering teams for WGPC18. After all racing was his career and his most passionate interest. Racing was in his blood. He’d keep on racing until he wasn’t able to anymore.

Highpoint Raceway had been an enjoyable and challenging track. His tenth place finish in qualifying had translated into a fourth place finish on raceday He’d come in first at the practice session to then take out tenth place in qualifying and fourth place on raceday. One upwards spike followed by what was undoubtedly a downwards spike reversed by another upwards spike. He’d promised himself that he would go easier on his car and not let his natural competitiveness cloud his decisions. It would seem that this decision had paid off. He wouldn’t take out the WGPC17 Championships or the Driver Championships but at least he would benefit from many valuable learning opportunities and the enjoyment of racing. He’d started the season in second place for the Driver Championships only to fall back to ninth in the standings. But that didn’t discourage him. He was still earning his stripes as a racer and earning experience. Perhaps it just wasn’t his season to take out either Championship. But his time would come.

“One more race,” he said softly to Elena “it seems like the season only just started. But I’m going to make this last race a good one.”

“You still have the 2019 Sorlovian Gran Prix,” she replied with a soft smile “and the 2019 Kamensk Gran Prix as well. Don’t worry Gregori. There were be plenty of races yet. The international season might be drawing to a close but there’s still the domestic one back home.”

“I’ll take a break after WGPC17 for a while. We need to plan our wedding and I need to have some quality time with you. I can’t wait to marry you Elena Popov.”

Gregori was a romantic. He made no attempt to hide that fact. His habitual charisma was matched by a warm romantic side that had long made him irresistible to women. He was an old generation sort of man who believed that a man had to respect, cherish and most of all love the woman in his life. He might be a millennial but he wasn’t influenced by the misogynistic and womanizing attitudes common in many young men his age. His father Nikolai, a hardworking man of high morals, had made a deliberate point of teaching him to respect women. When he was growing up his father had punished him if he caught him disrespecting or abusing women. Once when a young Gregori had got angry at a female classmate his father had bent him over his knee and whipped him with his belt.

You must learn Gregori. A real man does not ever raise his fist against a woman. He does not ever speak angrily or abusively to her. No, my son, a real man must always treat a woman with respect and love. It is our duty as men to protect, cherish and support the women in our lives. You must not be like those drunks and go-for-nothing men who hit or verbally abuse their women.

He’d never hit a woman. But in his youth, in a fit of teenage hormonal temper, he’d spoken angrily to a female friend. He still remembered the look of disappointment on the faces of his mother and father. That look had been worse that any strapping or physical punishment. He loved his parents and it had hurt him to see them so bitterly disappointed in him. In that moment he’d sworn that he would always respect and seek to honour women. Some might call it soppy or old fashioned but that was the proper way of doing things.

Nikolai Krupin wasn’t an abusive or mean man. Nor was he a bad father. He was a man of principles and strong beliefs. He loved his son dearly and had told him so a great many times. But he had wanted to shape a young Gregori into a good and respectable man. He was a strict disciplinarian but he also had a gentle and loving side. When a young Gregori did well he praised and encouraged him. When he acted improperly or did wrong he reprimanded him and corrected his actions. It had been his duty as a father. That practice hadn’t stopped when Gregori had become a man. He continued to guide him and reprimand him when he did wrong. That practice wouldn’t even end when Gregori became a father. Gregori’s elderly grandfather continued to reprimand his son when he needed it and Gregori knew that his father would do the same. But Pyotr did not interfere with how Nikolai had raised him and Nikolai would not interfere with how Gregori raised his future son. The men of the Krupin family always had a healthy respect and love for each other. The younger men respected and loved their fathers and their fathers loved and respected them in turn.

[Former Citizens of the Nimbus System]

The Grand Prix of the Free Kingdom
30th of June; Post-Race

Well, old friend, I’m back. Hope you didn’t miss me too much – it’s been a little while, after all.

Ryker chuckles, nodding in acknowledgement to the third spot on the podium as he steps back up onto it. He shakes his head, wry smile on his face.

Then he takes a deep breath of the thin mountain air. Despite the circuit’s tarnished reputation, as he looks across Highpoint Raceway, he can’t help but feel thoroughly absorbed – the pristine, rocky beauty of the mountains around him surrounding a track of a great many merits.

By all standard metrics? Shouldn’t have done well here, he thinks. No true long high-speed corners, predominantly short straights, plenty of tight, sharp sections… And here I am. He grins, recalling his fight with the Dimitrianov towards the end of the race – short and oh so sugary sweet, launching past him in a blaze of light into Turn 6 before the Mattijanan seemed to even comprehend that he was there, such were the age of his opponent’s tires. I had fun here, Ryker realises.

Then he grimaces, recalling the other major reason that he’s up here. You had to… Oh, Terho. Pangs of sympathy roil in his stomach. I never congratulated you on your Championship last week, did I? I should… He considers, then nods to himself. I should probably do nothing right away. It’d seem like I’m mocking him. He turns his face upwards. You’d want to finish things off with a win, or at least a podium, wouldn’t you? Audioslavia next – and last. We’ve had our trials there. You’ve got as good a chance as any of us – more than, with that car of yours. He glances at the victor, Toralmintii himself. Everything’s just come together. Coalescence, hmm?

He nods to himself, content. And I’ll fight you all the way and beyond. He looks towards the gathered crowds, particularly to the section swathed in sky blue. My team does rather specialise in coalescence, after all. So do I. And to one person in particular: flaxen hair cascading down her upper back, wearing a beaming smile and cheering as loudly as any of them. My job to do that, after all.

Ryker grins. His gaze turns for a moment to the teal and maroon car parked up down the pit lane. For now? Third. I have momentum. Dimitrianov, I’m coming for you.

He shakes a hand and, with the other, receives a trophy. He holds it aloft, pride and forgefire shining in his eyes.

As for next season?

Anything’s possible.

I’ll do everything to make it reality.

Nexus Racing HQ, Crossbay Circuit, Nimbus Bay, the Nexus Wardship of Former Citizens of the Nimbus System
4th of June

Victoria walks into the nexus.

The pristine whites of the room clash against the many colours of workbenches, marker pen on boards, shelving and tools, and against the silver of the cars before her, the shadows cast among their inner workings belying the light waiting to be unleashed upon them. Throughout are people: some rush from place to place, carrying and tugging, some talking on a spectrum from soft to animated, some pausing to let their minds flow and spin.

It all works.

Darting through the gaps in the whirling design and engineering team, she hears a slight crash. Victoria turns; a collection of boxed spanners on the floor and Virgil sprawled out behind them, Shana offering a hand up. Without a moment’s thought, she reaches down to take the box up herself, holding a moment, passing them back to the now upright Virgil. They exchange nods, grateful smile on the face of one, reassuring, confident one worn by the other.

Victoria goes on.

Gertrude stands near the workshop’s centre, in the thick of things, her eyes and mind omniscient, her thought and analysis comprehensive, her decisions and delegations decisive and assured. She places her fist on her chest and her other hand on Lucia’s shoulder, channelling utter confidence in her words towards her deputy – who stands up just a little straighter, answering with a nod as she strides away.

Victoria fills the void. “Everything’s sound, Gertrude. Tiffany, Alex and I’ve finished looking over the code. We’re as sure as we can be that there won’t be any glitches at Audioslavia.”

Gertrude flashes a grin. “Brilliant – I’ll take your word, as the expert.”

“No, we didn’t see anything totally incompatible with the new chassis either.”

Nexus Racing’s Head Designer adopts an expression of shock, hand going to her brow. “I said nothing of that, Victoria Light!”

“You were thinking it.” The barest hint of a smile pulls at the corner of her lips.

Gertrude lets out a bark of laughter. “Ah, go on with you; you’re too good at this. Superb work, all of you.” She glances leftwards, towards Xander and the trolley that he’s hauling towards the portal room. “Got to check on this now. You three get some rest before tomorrow!” she calls as she walks away.

“Will do!” Victoria laughs, taking a moment to pull out her phone and tap out a message saying as such to her teammates. Good work, you two.

Good work, us.

She sighs, turning to make the walk to the other side of the room. As she moves off, though, she spots Jean talking with Benedi, her opening up some sort of panel on his arm. Victoria bites at her lip, unease welling up within her.

That unease is all – and in that revelation she almost starts. And I didn’t even have qualms working on it at the start of the season, I just threw myself into the practicalities, she realises, frowning incredulously. How…

“…even if this isn’t perfect, it worked out. So please, don’t feel guilty, Victoria. I wouldn’t want that more than anything you’ve just said.”

“You’ve made mistakes, I get that, but that doesn’t stop you from not making them in the future. Jean’s doing well and still with us, the proposal’s been implemented… You’re back to square one. You can achieve tons from that, I know you can.”

Warmth floods her; it tugs at her chest. She opens her mouth, then closes it again.

Harmony and strength from it. All mine to use, now.

Victoria Light clenches her fists, closing her eyes and smiling.

“With them,” she whispers, “I can go forward.”

And she does.

[Aboveland]

The Grand Prix of the Free Kingdom
Race

Terho is quick at the start in a welcome change from his marked season-long trend, swerving around the lethargic Colac-Strek lunging into turn one to just squeeze past Bjarnason's MRT and push him off to the right to keep him behind come the straight. The Savojar, behind but in his slipstream, tries ducking behind him on the run-up to turn two through the undulations in the track, but Unnamed's throaty engine allows Terho to pull away just enough. As he brakes hard and locks up for the second corner, he nudges Unnamed through the apex past Carentier, remarkably in the top ten in his Obey, and pulls through turns three and four to keep him at bay. Another right angle turn at five, and Unnamed squats on demand to kick away at the asphalt and chase after Ibuna. The endlessly quick, unfortunately luckless Eelandii driver, a second ahead of Terho, gains better traction out of turn six by virtue of enjoying the clean air all to himself, and by the end of lap one, he's pulled away enough to have Terho dig his fingers into the alcantara around his steering wheel. Edvin, up to this point quiet, utters soft, reserved words of encouragement. Terho shuts off the radio for the next two laps.

As usual, Ibuna's taste of glory is all too short, and by lap 10 he's fallen far back in the order and left the lead to Terho, who monitors closely the presence of his teammate in his wing mirrors. He manages a good flow around the circuit, braving its over-abundance of right-angle turns to meld with Unnamed for the first time in a while. However, in his crusade to keep his mentor behind, a blitzing Ryker Lane rockets past the duo in the span of a single lap, and the Nimban inherits the lead. Despite his falling back, the electrical gremlins which had plagued his previous weekend seemed all but gone; reduced to nothing short of an afterthought in the span of a week. He'd heard the team had been hard at work repairing the chassis in time for Falcania; whether he's still driving Unnamed or if the team has retrofitted a spare chassis is not his prime concern. He glances occasionally at the sides of the tub to check for any scuff marks he could devise from his car the previous race, though he's got little time to really scrutinize the car.

Terho rests assured his fuel will last to the near-end of the race, as the strategists had devised prior, so once Ryker gets past him he begins his cat-and-mouse chase against the Nimban. Edvin, who closely monitors the sector times of each drivers, with the help of the strategists, gives Terho the greenlight to begin his attack on the Nimban once his sector times begin to drop relative his own, and in the span of seven laps he's closed the gap to within striking distance. Even better, thanks to his blistering pace, he's edged iBen away from his slipstream and relegated him to a lonelier second than before.

Throughout the race, Terho finds himself embroiled in tooth-and-nail battles: first with Ryker, for the lead, a mutli-lap battle in which he ultimately comes out victorious by virtue of Ryker's misfortune, then perhaps more surprisingly with Evdaden Carentier, the sole points scorer for Obey, who by some act of divine intervention finds enough pace in his Obey to make it to the top. Unfortunately, Carentier is forced to stop for tyres and fuel shortly after clenching the lead, leaving Terho to stroll back to the front almost as quickly as he'd been removed from it.



It's lap 51. Terho, having led for most of the race, edges out his teammate by a narrowing 12 second gap. He'd originally been skeptical of the Falcanian track, and oftentimes critical of its abundant 90 degree turns, but so far into the race he's all but fused with the circuit. He finds himself perfectly at ease: the car working as good as ever, his nerves cool and reserved, his focus rock-hard, and worthy of a champion. His lead, however, perfect as it may seem, has been a product of his own hustle, and at the late stages of the race Unnamed is already begging for mercy. Her tyres are worn, to the point their tread has begun to tear, and her fuel tank is nearly empty. The situation had surely been accounted for, and Terho's own push had still fallen short of the team's wear and fuel burn expectations, but a pitstop like iBen's one many laps prior was long overdue.

As he exits the roundabout, chasing the fastest lap, Edvin chips in on the radio.

"Box now, box now," he barks.

Terho pulls into the pitlane, knocks Unnamed into her pit-limiter mode, and strolls down the road until he reaches TRÆ's pitbox.

The work of the crew is mesmerizing, and with the re-fuelling rules introduced for WGPC17 the extra few seconds they take lets Terho ease the tension in his wrists and crack them around very quickly. In an instant, the pit crew has swapped all four tyres; only the fuel hose, which still hangs from above the rear of the car, remains.

The green light above the pit box comes on suddenly, a bit earlier than Terho expects it to; he ponders the anomaly for a moment, but his instincts take over, and doesn't hesitate to accelerate away from the paddock. As his wheels screech, he rockets away from the pit box, but before he even reaches the pitlane he feels a mighty jolt lift the car up into the air. A runny, clear liquid crashes on top of him, seeping in through his visor and filling the cockpit. The hairs on the back of his neck prickle up instantly, the warm kick of alert adrenaline drilling his insides; an instant later, he's engulfed in flames, and after another, as he scrambles away from his burning machine, his view is obscured by a thick plume of white powder. He throws himself to the ground, flailing his arms in desperation, unsure whether the heat he feels is from his fight-or-flight mechanism or a real, visceral danger of being burned alive. He lays on the ground, his back against the tarmac, but wastes no time in pulling away his soaking helmet and balaclava from his face, before ripping apart his gloves and chucking them aside. The cloudy whiteness of his surroundings still hasn't cleared by the time two men, dressed in a fiery orange, smother him in a reflective blanket of some sort. A few moments later, the cloud dissipates, and in the silence formed in the void of his feral mind the sound of the engines still reverberates across the racetrack, against the thunderous pulse drumming at his temples and his heavy, hoarse breathing.

The Grand Prix of the Free Kingdom
Post-race

Terho, freshly showered and snug in his various layers of clothing, sits sipping a coffee at the back of the garage. The liquid sloshes up to his nose as he brings it up to his cracked lips. Unnamed, idle, lays before him, obscured from his sight as a contingent of mechanics huddle then dissipate from around her, covering her in a tarp similar to the one he'd been given earlier to hide her from the public eye. Under the dark reign of the tarp, he can spot a few sooty areas on and around the engine cover and rear wing. He puts his head back down and dunks his face into his cup, exhaling to bring up some vapor.

He hears footsteps approach him from the front of the garage, but he only raises his eyes to meet their feet once they begin to utter words.

"How are you feeling?" they ask poltiely, though with a rasp which makes it unrecognizable. The shoes look familiar, however.

"Fine," he replies, splashing some coffee into his eyes, forcing him to rely solely on his brief memory of said shoes to deduce who's speaking to him.

The chair next to him creaks, a hand falls on his shoulder, and the words begin again. The voice is clearer now, and telltale enough.

As if his voice hadn’t given him away, Edvin swipes at Terho’s coffee cup and sets it aside and away from the driver. Terho, his frail fingers twitching in the absence of his life elixir, glares at him.

“You’re too jittery still, no coffee for you,” he says like a parent. “You sound like my parents,” Terho replies like a teenager. Unlike previous moments, however, Terho’s serious facade crumbles, and he laughs nervously. Edvin smiles.

“The team says the car’s okay, mostly,” he says. “We’ll have to swap the wing again, and the engine cover, and maybe the exhaust, but the fire was all on the surface.”

Terho nods.

“The paramedics checked you out, right? No injuries?”

He coughs, then nods again, then coughs harder. Edvin’s eyes fall, concerned. Terho’s expression remains unchanged.

Tentatively, Edvin moves in to side-hug Terho, squeezing his shoulders from the side. “I’m glad you're fine,” he mutters, making him smile softly, yet remain tight-lipped. Edvin looks at him with tender compassion, curling his lips inward to form a sort of ‘oh well’ smile, trying very hard to not let his own team principal persona fall apart. For Terho, though, he realizes it’s worth abandoning, if only momentarily.

The two sit still for a minute, Terho staring blankly at the rear of Unnamed, his elbows digging into the top of his knees, Edvin contemplating his friend’s cold, soulless gaze. Seeing as he likely won’t add much to the conversation, he rubs him on the back and pats his clothes neatly down before walking away to meet the team again.

As Edvin strolls away, reestablishing his leader-like posture, Terho raises his head for the first time, and grins thankfully at him. The ricocheting Tasmanian devil of anxiety inside him suddenly buzzes to a halt, his comforting, reassuring self steadily regaining control of his emotions. His body might still be lagging behind, but his head already moves to focus on the next weekend, the final race at Audioslavia.

His goal, still solidly, to outrace iBen one final time, and even perhaps to finally win at Crossport.

[WGPC]

CUTOFF

for the Practice and Qualifying at Crossport International Raceway

[WGPC]

Week 18: Practice

Conditions:      	Dry
Lap Record:      	00:01:31.800
Session Length:	75 minutes
Nation:         	AUD
Circuit:        	Crossport International Raceway

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

POS #   DRIVER                              FASTEST LAP     GAP TO LEADER		
 1 23 ▍Jelena Colac-Strek               	00:01:36.556	00:00:00.000
 2 20 ▍Mick Schramm                     	00:01:36.568	00:00:00.012
 3 77 ▍iBen Toralmintii                 	00:01:36.579	00:00:00.024
 4 94 ▍Ryker Lane                       	00:01:36.637	00:00:00.082
 5 56 ▍Terho Talvela                    	00:01:36.703	00:00:00.147
 6 51 ▍RL Cruisin                       	00:01:36.754	00:00:00.198
 7 64 ▍Carsten O'Rourke                 	00:01:36.761	00:00:00.205
 8 17 ▍Evdaden Carnétier                	00:01:36.789	00:00:00.233
 9 49 ▍Benjamin Talison                 	00:01:37.019	00:00:00.463
10 41 ▍Jean Mercer-Daly                 	00:01:37.035	00:00:00.479
11 42 ▍Alex Dimitrianov                 	00:01:37.035	00:00:00.479
12 15 ▍Tabita Novax                     	00:01:37.310	00:00:00.755
13 27 ▍Gregori Krupin                   	00:01:37.610	00:00:01.054
14 52 ▍Sayono Souzare                   	00:01:37.639	00:00:01.084
15 48 ▍Tyra Tabuso                      	00:01:37.791	00:00:01.235
16  7 ▍Vijay Tripathi                   	00:01:37.870	00:00:01.315
17  1 ▍Jessica Franssen                 	00:01:38.165	00:00:01.609
18  3 ▍Darius Castellammare             	00:01:38.495	00:00:01.939
19 29 ▍Esteban Guilhermez               	00:01:38.692	00:00:02.136
20 18 ▍Taylor Blake                     	00:01:38.846	00:00:02.290
21 47 ▍Erica Okumura                    	00:01:39.161	00:00:02.605
22 37 ▍Ryan Harris-Jones                	00:01:39.309	00:00:02.754
23 71 ▍Rustom Ibuna                     	00:01:39.412	00:00:02.856
24 33 ▍Jai Kardaeri                     	00:01:39.538	00:00:02.983
25 65 ▍Hunter Digri                     	00:01:39.620	00:00:03.064
26 22 ▍Jasmin Kranjska                  	00:01:39.827	00:00:03.271
27 14 ▍Sigur Bjarnason                  	00:01:39.900	00:00:03.344
28 63 ▍Dalia Dahl                       	00:01:43.389	00:00:06.833

Week 18: Qualifying

Conditions:      	Dry
Lap Record:      	00:01:31.800
Qualifying Type:	Traditional
Nation:         	AUD
Circuit:        	Crossport International Raceway

POS #   DRIVER                              FASTEST LAP     GAP TO LEADER		
 1  1 ▍Jessica Franssen                 	00:01:31.821	00:00:00.000
 2  7 ▍Vijay Tripathi                   	00:01:31.825	00:00:00.003
 3 77 ▍iBen Toralmintii                 	00:01:31.828	00:00:00.007
 4 64 ▍Carsten O'Rourke                 	00:01:31.880	00:00:00.058
 5 23 ▍Jelena Colac-Strek               	00:01:31.885	00:00:00.064
 6 41 ▍Jean Mercer-Daly                 	00:01:31.891	00:00:00.069
 7 94 ▍Ryker Lane                       	00:01:31.973	00:00:00.151
 8 48 ▍Tyra Tabuso                      	00:01:32.082	00:00:00.260
 9 63 ▍Dalia Dahl                       	00:01:32.225	00:00:00.404
10 65 ▍Hunter Digri                     	00:01:32.272	00:00:00.450
11  3 ▍Darius Castellammare             	00:01:32.529	00:00:00.707
12 56 ▍Terho Talvela                    	00:01:32.590	00:00:00.769
13 42 ▍Alex Dimitrianov                 	00:01:32.629	00:00:00.807
14 29 ▍Esteban Guilhermez               	00:01:32.887	00:00:01.065
15 20 ▍Mick Schramm                     	00:01:32.922	00:00:01.101
16 37 ▍Ryan Harris-Jones                	00:01:33.230	00:00:01.408
17 51 ▍RL Cruisin                       	00:01:33.243	00:00:01.422
18 33 ▍Jai Kardaeri                     	00:01:33.440	00:00:01.619
19 27 ▍Gregori Krupin                   	00:01:33.992	00:00:02.171
20 14 ▍Sigur Bjarnason                  	00:01:34.148	00:00:02.326
21 22 ▍Jasmin Kranjska                  	00:01:34.162	00:00:02.340
22 71 ▍Rustom Ibuna                     	00:01:34.468	00:00:02.646
23 18 ▍Taylor Blake                     	00:01:35.661	00:00:03.840
24 52 ▍Sayono Souzare                   	00:01:35.961	00:00:04.139
25 47 ▍Erica Okumura                    	00:01:36.223	00:00:04.402
26 17 ▍Evdaden Carnétier                	00:01:36.325	00:00:04.503
27 15 ▍Tabita Novax                     	00:01:36.334	00:00:04.513
28 49 ▍Benjamin Talison                 	00:01:37.004	00:00:05.182

[Lisander]

"Turn of the century. This is where I should focus on. I'll be on the better side of the track for the start, so there's the right place. When I reach the end of the long straight, I must be in a position to overtake Dahlia Dahl from the outside and focus on the others in front of me. There's also Terho Talvela by my side. I'll need to pay attention to his start too." Darius was playing with a rubber ball. Throwing it to the floor and catching it as it bounced.

"Soft tyres then." Carolina Lasseps nodded.

"Yeah. Also I'd like to have the older nose, the one I used in the first weeks. With the thinner wing."

"Can you deal with the loss of stability?"

"I will have to. Now everything is over, there's the time to take some risks. Colac-Strek is two cars above me, while Digri is tenth. If we want to at least overtake McPahan in the Constructors' championship, I need to make some good overtakes. Also, I'm heavily rooting for Nexus Racing. I can not believe those spacecraft can't get past Jelena."

"Don't forget Talvela. His TRÆ is very unlikely to keep behind us."

"And that's why I want the faster nose." The ball hit Darius's hand and took an uncertain course, tapping the glass top of a coffee table and rolling toward the door until it was stopped by the feet of a familiar figure.

"Mrs. Lasseps, I was told that you would be here, but I did not imagine it would be a strategy meeting."

Juliano Lemos picked up the ball on the floor and handed it to Darius.

"You're never a bother. By the way, nice shirt. Are black and yellow the new Bitten Heroes colours?"

"Yeah. Let's just say Remington's Pharmaceutical lawyers have been looking for me in the past few weeks, because of that Formula Hodori livery. Luckily, they still had some respect for me and we settled this without fines." Lemos said, in a funny tone.

"Huh. At least. Should I leave now? Are you about to have a meeting?" Darius stood up and was about to leave."

"You can stay, Darius. I already know you're not interested in WGP2, and WGPC 18 it's still a little too early for us to talk, but you're very important too. I came to talk about the engines. As you planned, Mrs. Lasseps, Dunneot decided not to sign, to avoid the termination fee they would have to pay. I think they haven't finished the engine in able time."

"That's obvious. We could have invested the fine money entirely in the chassis. Unfortunately, by the end of the season, Augustus is closing X-PRO, so these 'alternatives' will end." Carolina Lasseps made quotation marks with her fingers. "So... what Lanza said about the WGP2 race in Lisander?"

"They had to pay some money to Vetica, to finish the contract. Lantis will finally take control of the media, so we'll have a new event. Kasandora Basses will replace Lisander East for next season. I've been thinking. We can present Bitten Heroes Academy new cars there. I'll contact the Communal Chamber and try a weekend."

"You're completely mad if you think Basses will be available in the summer. The beach is full of people."

"And my cars are not ready in Brax." - Lemos sounded like he was annoyed. In the end, X-PRO, part of Camden Group, was responsible for building most of the parts in the expected KS-03. Bitten Heroes structure wasn't yet ready to build certain parts.

"Of course not, we're still in Audioslavia. When we return there, we'll get the final details. The shark fin is working perfectly, thanks to my team. I fitted that angle, and we'll be able to get some more HP. Now back to the Audioslavian GP. Are you here only for beg me for parts or you're planning to scout some drivers?"

"Oh no, never again. Bitten Heroes won't sign foreigners. Not on my watch."

[Vilita and Turori]

TRAE Celebrate as Toralmintii Eyes Wins Streak

#77 iBen Toralmintii does Donuts on the front straight after winning the Grand Prix of Falcania

Grand Prix of Falcania, Highpoint Raceway, Falcania :: It was a third consecutive victory for Tropicorp Racing Aelunds iBen Toralmintii at the Highpoint Raceway in Falcania and although all of the Championship battles have long since been decided, the Turorian driver was still having a blast enjoying the victory as they stayed on the track to do burnouts after the race before turning the car down the pit lane to take their position on the podium alongside the surprise runner up Darius Castellammare of Camden and the more-expected third place finisher Ryker Lane of Nexus Racing.

For Toralmintii, a lifetime of fighting to earn their place in racing's upper echelon seemed to have finally paid off as the Turorian who spent the majority of their career driving for Works teams had finally found their form and seemed an unstoppable force on the World Grand Prix Circuit. While there would be no drivers championship for Toralmintii this season, the strong finish to the season will almost certainly invite questions as to whether the Veteran driver may return for one more season and a crack at an individual championship. Toralmintii will enter the season finale in Crossport 30 points behind teammate Terho Talvela in the drivers standings with just 26 points available on race day. So while Toralmintii can not catch the Abovian, a clean sweep of the race day proceedings could see Toralmintii close to just four points behind Talvela which would be the narrowest margin of victory since Alexandra Mayari, Asao Nadaeki and Alexander Lund were all separate by just four points during the World Grand Prix's thirteenth championship season.

Toralmintii will have another more impressive record in their sights however as they look to set the all time mark for most consecutive Grand Prix victories in a single season which they are currently tied with Nexus Racing's Jean-Mercer Daly who accomplished the same run of form that Toralmintii is currently on to close out the 15th World Grand Prix Championship Season.

Regardless of the result in Audioslavia, Toralmintii's season will be considered both wildly successful and unanticipated. The Turorian veteran had retired at the close of the 15th World Grand Prix Championship season after seeing Vilita and Turori Motorsports shutter its doors due to sponsorship loss after the departure of World Grand Prix Champion driver Terho Talvela. Toralmintii picked up the pieces to drive what seemed to be one last season for a Works team before hanging up the helmet. In their spare time, the Turorian still had the knack to drive, making cameo appearance on the NSSCRA Stock Car circuit. Then, with a new team and struggling rookie driver in Juracai Klianiota, iBen's former teammate Terho Talvela came calling and asked if Toralmintii would drive for Tropicorp Racing Aelund in the World Grand Prix Championship's 16th season finale at Crossport Raceway in Audioslavia. Toralmintii agreed and finished in the points despite having not competed all season. It is believed that it was all the taste the veteran needed to be convinced to return for the World Grand Prix Championships 17th season.

With Toralmintii now on top of the racing world, the difference in fortunes between Toralmintii and their Vilitan counterpart R.L. Cruisin could not be understated. During the off-season between World Grand Prix Championship season 16 and 17, Toralmintii was supposed to be lying on a blanket in Cednia Beach preparing for retirement while Cruisin was set for a championship run with the pre-season favorite Mirrors Racing team out of Starblaydia. But the Mirrors team missed the mark and now the World Grand Prix Championships iron-man driver Cruisin is at risk of failing to win a single race all season long in what could spell the end of a long disappointing career for the Vilitan driver who had a reputation of achieving flashes of success in woefully under-performing race cars. Having raced for six different teams in the previous six World Grand Prix seasons, Cruisin has already lost the title of best World Grand Prix driver from Vilita and Turori to Toralmintii who has now surpassed Cruisin's all-time record of four Grand Prix victories and now is at risk of losing their seat in the World Grand Prix Championship, looking to put together one more surprising run at the podium in Audioslavia to give big teams like MRT and Nexus Racing something to think about when choosing their driver lineup for the 18th World Grand Prix Championship season. If not, then the World Grand Prix Championships longest running active driver on the grid could be starting their final Grand Prix on Sunday.

WGPC17 Supplier Performance Standings
After 12 of 13 Events
[1] - 239 :: Tropicorp Racing Supply
[2] - 129 :: Brutus Tyres
[3] - 124 :: Solymok
[4] - 111 :: Petrovi
[5] - 72 :: Pire Eleven
[6] - 45 :: Stellenbosch
[7] - 36 :: Grafonil
[8] - 35 :: Cypress

WGPC17 Supplier Performance Trophy :: While Tropicorp Racing Supply had already secured the top spot in the World Grand Prix Championship 17 Supplier Performance Standings, there was still plenty to fight for as the battle for second place was separated by just 1 point while a very tight battle to avoid last place was also heating up.

After a slow start to the season where they were sitting at the bottom half of the Supplier Performance standings, Brutus InMotion made their move and climbed up to second in the standings with one event to go leapfrogging Solymok Tyres and taking a five point advantage with them into the season finale. If any Brutus Tyres driver can finish ahead of any Badai Angin or Fireline driver in Audioslavia, they will all but secure the second spot in the standings. Petrovi still have an outside shot but will have to win the Grand Prix and hope no Brutus or Solymok drivers finish in the Top 5 in order to have a chance at the runner up spot.

As for the bottom of the table there was a massive shakeup coming out of Falcania as Darius Castellammare stunned the field with a runner-up finish in Highpoint and with it jumped Stellenbosch off the bottom of the table and into 6th with a 10-point advantage over Cypress who now sit at the bottom of the pack one point behind Grafonil who are well positioned to narrowly avoid the inconvenient honor of being the seasons worst supplier.

---

[Aboveland]

Audioslavian Grand Prix
Sunday

Edvin stands rigidly, composed, the fingers which grasp his clipboard curling slowly over the wooden back. He sniffs, pushes his glasses up well onto his nose, and puts on a smile. He clears his throat in an attempt to bring the attention of the murmuring crowd in front of him towards the front of the garage, where he stands on a used tyre, but he’s too quiet. Terho, near the front of the crowd, next to iBen and Aada, who’s the last person in the row, is one of the first to notice him standing and desperately attempting to start some sort of speech; he chuckles and nudges iBen, who stands next to the mostly homogenous Vilita and Turorian half of the crowd, to bring his attention to the front as well. Together, they manage to hush the team enough for Edvin to trickle his speech into action.

“Hello team,” he begins, rather awkwardly, but with an irresistibly genuine fullness in his voice, which surprises even himself. He clears his throat louder before continuing, and stretches his arms out as he goes on. “We’ve made it to Audioslavia as champions.”

The crowd nods in approval.

“I wanted to take this brief moment”--he’s interrupted by an ‘ow’ and a clang of a wrench striking flesh and cement in some other garage box--”to thank you all before the final time we all converge this season to put on our show.”

He pauses, but his voice and his posture are now firm, commanding, and worthy of a leader. “TRÆ has always been an ambitious project, and for me to be speaking here to you, two years after the initial draft”--he pauses, and rubs his eyes-- “after the dream that was Project AGP; for me to be speaking to the team which took all the glory in never before seen fashion, was something I could never have even dreamt of.”

As he looks around at the crowd, panning the faces with his head, his arm outstretched just enough to keep himself comfortable and avoid looking like a dictator, a diminutive lump surges in his throat. With enough willpower, he manages to keep it confined below the waterline.

“We have managed something absolutely incredible, something we might never see again, but something I’ll die trying to repeat, and for that I thank you all from the absolute bottom of my heart,” he gestures, patting his chest. In his pauses, the crowd is dead silent, and in his mental euphoria he believes that the jarring, interjecting noises from the rest of the garages has ceased too.

“We not only trampled over every stone in our path, we cleared the way to make for a near flawless performance from start to finish. Through unity, through manpower, through sheer strength, nerve, blood, sweat and tears, we have emerged as champions.” Edvin glances over at Terho, who he sees mouths ‘Coalescence’ at him with a smile which almost hides his eyes behind his cheeks.

Edvin lowers his hands and straightens himself up before the final few words of his quasi-monologue, inadvertently getting himself excited and clapping halfway through his sign-off. “There’s not a doubt in my mind that I stand before the greatest group of people the WGPC has ever seen. Let’s put on the race of our lives today.”

The murmurs begin to escalate once more a few moments after Edvin stops; though his conclusion is rather abrupt, it’s enough to move a visible minority of team members to a round of applause; soon enough, the whole team claps, not exactly erupting into a bout of raucous praise, but as if each member of the contingent were celebrating his peer. The cheer grows stronger and more vibrant, respectfully continuing in a reserved manner, but with escalating vehemence. Inside Terho, the overwhelmingly zealous tickle of race day returns one final time.

[Former Citizens of the Nimbus System]

Audioslavian Grand Prix
7th of July; Pre-Race

Timothy Guard, Project Manager for Nexus Racing, strides down the corridor towards the garage. He closes his eyes, face calm and peaceful, as he casts his mind over the themes for his speech for the final time. It feels over the ideas’ contours, their flow, each peak and trough of emotion constructed beforehand. In this moment, his battleplan is set, a fight to inspire and instruct that he must and will win, for that battle is prelude to a greater war, the race to come. Every member of the team must be ready for it.

That race will end a season, one of rejuvenation. As Guard enters the centre of Nexus Racing’s activities for the race to come, passing by all who are gathered there, he sees confidence, even joviality, in their stances and motions, in their words to one another – from boisterous to soft but always sure – on their faces and in their eyes, shining with inner strength.

And he smiles.

To that now-familiar workbench – cleared of objects long beforehand without any notice given – he walks, planting one foot upon its top and pushing away to stand visible to all of the team that he has guided for these five and a half years. As the applause and the whooping cheers gather, he looks across it: a gathering of talent and ideas that now flow amongst one another, ever-changing and constantly improving. Together, they are unstoppable.

Timothy Guard closes his eyes once more. Barely perceptibly, he nods to himself.

Oh, they’ll be more than fine.

He raises an arm for silence; it spreads, excitement replaced with anticipation. To this, he speaks, and he does so with pride.

“At the start of this season, I spoke to you of resilience. We had plunged into the dark vortex and emerged again, not unchanged but certainly unbroken in determination. I asked you to turn that determination to hope, to use that determination to pursue opportunity, to forge with that determination new success.”

“You answered the call.” Guard laughs. “You all more than answered the call! We’re best of the rest in the Constructors’ Championship; Jean, you’ve taken podium upon podium; Ryker, you won a race!” The scattered applause at that turns into laughter and cheering; the Nimban driver himself grins widely, miming a punch of the air and a shout of triumph in only half-mock celebration. “You’ve done everything I asked for and for that I thank you a hundred thousand times over!”

“This has been another’s moment, that is clear, but the world has nonetheless seen our blaze reborn, has seen it expel our shadows.” And what had been modest now suddenly rises to gloriousness and exhortation. “Build it! Bring more firewood, throw it on the fire, raise it to a conflagration!” Awe and delight make themselves known across his face. “That is the task for the next season, the one after that and all of those beyond, and it is one that I know that you can perform better than any other team on this grid,” and he raises his fist, “for our strength gives us dynamism and dynamism is our strength!”

“Forge forward, Nexus Racing! That is what I ask of you now: forge forward and never stop! Go together unto possibility, for in that will you find victory!”

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

Ryker Lane stands.

Finally, he brings the pole down; it halts from its path, around and about him, to stand entirely within his vision: snapped to verticality, it vibrates a touch, a shuddering thrum bouncing around the cave’s walls. Ryker steps forward, grasping it with his hands. Closing his eyes, he places its end on the floor with a soft clack.

He opens them again and, looking up, before him there is a banner. It’s the simplest and most complex of them all, depicting a singular figure, the same man across dozens of different photos in different times different places. In each of them stands Ryker Lane, for each shows a podium that he has earned in karting, Cityprix and now the World Grand Prix Championships – a distilled fragment of his success. In some, he raises his head to the sky; in others, he waves to the crowd; in yet more, he contemplates, joy and peace coursing through his veins in equal and complementary measure, but in each he is in triumph.

Not complete, obviously, he considers. Plenty of moments off track that were just as much a part of it. Still, Ryker thinks to himself, letting his staff fall into one hand and placing his other at his hip, it’s pretty good. “Going to have to add some more at the bottom for next year,” he chuckles.

“And you deserve all of them.” Victoria’s steps tap against the cavern floor; when Ryker turns his head, she’s smiling.

He puts his hand to his chin, one corner of his lips curling upwards. “‘desert’ as an idea isn’t really… It’s not really relevant, is it?” He shrugs. “Everyone’s trying hard to win races and score points; they all deserve them, it’s just that we’re doing it better than a lot of other people.”

Victoria doesn’t change her motion or expression; instead, she simply moves to stand alongside him and leans up to press a kiss to his lips. “Came to wish you luck.”

Ryker answers with a smile of his own. “And I’m grateful; thank you.” He looks into her eyes for a moment, then looks to the tunnel entrance and motions with his head towards it – and then there is a flutter behind them both. From the nook in the cave’s wall, two birds flash away. One is slightly discoloured, its feathers a touch downy, its flight a little erratic, but it nonetheless flies true. It shoots through the light-casting holes in the sea wall and is gone.

The two look to one another, then back.

Victoria is the first to return her vision to her partner, as he stares in wonder. She smirks, then gives him a light punch in the arm. “Go get ‘em, champ.”

Ryker stares for a second more. Then he looks her in the eye once more, confidence, hope, joy and energy mingling in his eyes. He puts a clenched fist to his chest. “Of course.”

Out they go.

Starting Grid

Ryker settles his hands on the wheel. He scans the cars before him, tactics already in his mind for overtakes around this course where he had his greatest success, cutting through the field from sixteenth on the grid to third on the podium and first in the Drivers’ Championship. Now, the energy that fuelled him then is re-ignited – only this time, there is no chaos, no pain, no bitter regret driving it, only harmony, strength and hope, keeping it ready for use. It flickers through him.

“Martin, put me through to Jean?”

“Done, Ryker.”

“Thanks.” There is a pause, than a ‘beep’ of confirmation. “Ready for ICAST tactics whenever you are – just give the word. Let’s show these guys what we can do together.”

Ryker watches the lights, readying himself for when they go out and the Chase Cutter around him launches away. His fingers drum in a wave over the steering wheel. And he smiles.

In a moment, there will be Coalescence, as there always has been. And he will grasp it, hold it tight, and bring it to completion, as is his burden and joy.

Nothing can stop us now.

The lights go out.

And, as there ever will be, there is a surge.

[WGPC]

CUTOFF

for the The Hygolje Audioslavian Grand Prix at Crossport International Raceway

[WGPC]

Week 18: Race

Conditions:      	Dry	
Laps:              	56	
Nation:         	AUD	
Circuit:        	Crossport International Raceway	
Event:	The Hygolje Audioslavian Grand Prix	
Safety Car Deployed on Laps:	31, 32, 33, 34	
Cars on Grid:	28

Fastest Lap Bonus Point: 7 TRI	96.391

Start          After 14 Laps               After 28 Laps               After 42 Laps			
 1 ▍FRS	 1 ▍ORK +0       	 1 ▍KRU +0       	 1 ▍KRU +0
 2 ▍TRI	 2 ▍TII +14.475  	 2 ▍DIM +16.116  	 2 ▍LAN +0.79
 3 ▍TII	 3 ▍CRU +23.841  	 3 ▍CRU +22.309  	 3 ▍TII +12.468
 4 ▍ORK	 4 ▍DIM +26.863  	 4 ▍TII +23.792  	 4 ▍DIM +14.394
 5 ▍JCS	 5 ▍TAL +32.974  	 5 ▍FRS +25.09   	 5 ▍CAS +16.765
 6 ▍JMD	 6 ▍TBS +33.906  	 6 ▍ORK +28.114  	 6 ▍TAL +21.145
 7 ▍LAN	 7 ▍DGR +38.432  	 7 ▍TAL +31.247  	 7 ▍ORK +23.157
 8 ▍TBS	 8 ▍KRU +47.132  	 8 ▍LAN +32.355  	 8 ▍DGR +23.184
 9 ▍DHL	 9 ▍JCS +48.005  	 9 ▍CAS +45.119  	 9 ▍TLS +26.22
10 ▍DGR	10 ▍DHL +52.472  	10 ▍BLK +49.472  	10 ▍TRI +29.817
11 ▍CAS	11 ▍BLK +67.66   	11 ▍DGR +52.723  	11 ▍FRS +30.251
12 ▍TAL	12 ▍FRS +70.75   	12 ▍TLS +55.324  	12 ▍DHL +35.56
13 ▍DIM	13 ▍LAN +76.99   	13 ▍DHL +55.683  	13 ▍CRU +46.532
14 ▍GUI	14 ▍TRI +78.997  	14 ▍JCS +58.076  	14 ▍CAR +48.08
15 ▍SCH	15 ▍JMD +80.174  	15 ▍BJA +60.343  	15 ▍JMD +48.18
16 ▍RHJ	16 ▍KRD +82.099  	16 ▍TRI +63.355  	16 ▍RHJ +49.245
17 ▍CRU	17 ▍TLS +84.043  	17 ▍RHJ +68.757  	17 ▍IBU +50.77
18 ▍KRD	18 ▍RHJ +Laps: 1 	18 ▍KRD +70.172  	18 ▍KRA +50.868
19 ▍KRU	19 ▍BJA +Laps: 1 	19 ▍KRA +83.473  	19 ▍KRD +53.936
20 ▍BJA	20 ▍CAS +Laps: 1 	20 ▍JMD +Laps: 1 	20 ▍BLK +55.462
21 ▍KRA	21 ▍OKU +Laps: 1 	21 ▍SCH +Laps: 1 	21 ▍BJA +55.965
22 ▍IBU	22 ▍GUI +Laps: 1 	22 ▍IBU +Laps: 1 	22 ▍SCH +74.495
23 ▍BLK	23 ▍CAR +Laps: 1 	23 ▍NVX +Laps: 1 	23 ▍NVX +Laps: 1
24 ▍SZR	24 ▍SCH +Laps: 1 	24 ▍GUI +Laps: 1 	24 ▍GUI +Laps: 1
25 ▍OKU	25 ▍NVX +Laps: 1 	25 ▍CAR +Laps: 1 	25 ▍OKU +Laps: 1
26 ▍CAR	26 ▍IBU +Laps: 1 	26 ▍OKU +Laps: 1 	
27 ▍NVX	27 ▍KRA +Laps: 1 	                                        	
28 ▍TLS	28 ▍SZR +Laps: 1

POS DRV Name                     Team	Time	Pts
  1 77 TII iBen Toralmintii         ▍TRÆ        	01:44:13.594	25
  2 27 KRU Gregori Krupin           ▍MRT        	00:00:14.564	18
  3 65 DGR Hunter Digri             ▍McPahan        	00:00:24.702	14
  4 42 DIM Alex Dimitrianov         ▍Badai Angin       00:00:32.418	10
  5 94 LAN Ryker Lane               ▍Nexus Racing      00:00:45.636	8
  6 17 CAR Evdaden Carnétier        ▍Obey        	00:00:56.471	6
  7 71 IBU Rustom Ibuna             ▍Eelandii VTGP     00:00:57.092	4
  8 63 DHL Dalia Dahl               ▍SinVal        	00:00:59.817	3
  9 49 TLS Benjamin Talison         ▍Fireline        	00:01:09.540	2
 10 22 KRA Jasmin Kranjska          ▍SinVal        	00:01:10.452	1
 11  3 CAS Darius Castellammare     ▍Camden            00:01:15.099	
 12 56 TAL Terho Talvela            ▍TRÆ        	00:01:19.282	
 13  1 FRS Jessica Franssen         ▍VMR        	00:01:19.294	
 14  7 TRI Vijay Tripathi           ▍VMR        	00:01:22.179	
 15 64 ORK Carsten O'Rourke         ▍Badai Angin       00:01:28.749	
 16 41 JMD Jean Mercer-Daly         ▍Nexus Racing      00:01:30.530	
 17 14 BJA Sigur Bjarnason          ▍MRT        	00:01:33.885	
 18 37 RHJ Ryan Harris-Jones        ▍Omni              00:01:34.285	
 19 18 BLK Taylor Blake             ▍Obey        	00:01:37.466	
 20 51 CRU RL Cruisin               ▍Mirrors           00:01:43.960	
 21 33 KRD Jai Kardaeri             ▍Eelandii VTGP     00:01:50.522	
 22 15 NVX Tabita Novax             ▍Camden        	Laps Down: 1	
 23 20 SCH Mick Schramm             ▍Omni        	Laps Down: 1	
 24 29 GUI Esteban Guilhermez       ▍Mirrors        	Laps Down: 1	
 25 47 OKU Erica Okumura            ▍Polaris        	Laps Down: 1	
DNF 23 JCS Jelena Colac-Strek       ▍McPahan        	Ret. lap 30	
DNF 52 SZR Sayono Souzare           ▍Polaris        	Ret. lap 17	
DNF 48 TBS Tyra Tabuso              ▍Fireline        	Ret. lap 23

Pos # DRV Name                      Team                     Pts
 1 56 TAL Terho Talvela             TRÆ                      152    WGPC17 World Drivers' Champion
 2 77 TII iBen Toralmintii          TRÆ                      147
 3 42 DIM Alex Dimitrianov          Badai Angin              95
 4 94 LAN Ryker Lane                Nexus Racing             87
 5 41 JMD Jean Mercer-Daly          Nexus Racing             66
 6 27 KRU Gregori Krupin            MRT                      65
 7  1 FRS Jessica Franssen          VMR                      57
 8  7 TRI Vijay Tripathi            VMR                      54
 9 71 IBU Rustom Ibuna              Eelandii VTGP            50
10 14 BJA Sigur Bjarnason           MRT                      49
11 65 DGR Hunter Digri              McPahan                  37
12 22 KRA Jasmin Kranjska           SinVal                   36    [ahead of Talison on countback]
12 49 TLS Benjamin Talison          Fireline                 36
14 23 JCS Jelena Colac-Strek        McPahan                  30
15 64 ORK Carsten O'Rourke          Badai Angin              27    [ahead of Novax on countback]
15 15 NVX Tabita Novax              Camden                   27
17 51 CRU RL Cruisin                Mirrors                  24
18 48 TBS Tyra Tabuso               Fireline                 22
19 20 SCH Mick Schramm              Omni                     21
20  3 CAS Darius Castellammare      Camden                   19    [ahead of Harris-Jones on countback]
20 37 RHJ Ryan Harris-Jones         Omni                     19    [ahead of Souzare on countback]
20 52 SZR Sayono Souzare            Polaris                  19
23 47 OKU Erica Okumura             Polaris                  16
24 81 STE Drake Stevenson                                    14
25 33 KRD Jai Kardaeri              Eelandii VTGP            10    [ahead of Carnétier on countback]
25 17 CAR Evdaden Carnétier         Obey                     10
27 63 DHL Dalia Dahl                SinVal                   7
28 18 BLK Taylor Blake              Obey                     0

Pos NAT Team                       Pts
  1 ABL ▍TRÆ                       299    WGPC17 World Constructors' Champion
  2 NIM ▍Nexus Racing              153
  3 FID ▍Badai Angin               122
  4 MTJ ▍MRT                       114
  5 VNG ▍VMR                       111
  6 VLT ▍Eelandii VTGP             74
  7 AUD ▍McPahan                   67
  8 ETH ▍Fireline                  58
  9 LIS ▍Camden                    46
 10 EFL ▍SinVal                    43
 11 WET ▍Omni                      40
 12 NEK ▍Polaris                   35
 13 STB ▍Mirrors                   24
 14 ESM ▍Obey                      10

[Sorlovia]

Crossport International Raceway
Three hours after the race

So it was that the Audioslavian Gran Prix marked the end of WGPC17. The well-known and respected Crossport International Raceway had been the setting for the final race of the season. Coming in at a hard won second place was a satisfying way to end what had been a deeply enjoying and challenging season. A first place finish in the final race would have been even more satisfying but at the very last moment iBen Toralmintii had used the tiniest gap to sneak past him stealing that coveted first place finish from out of his grasp. Rather than being bitter about it Gregori had praised iBen and smiled at his skill. Pulling off that highly risky manoeuvre had been no small feat.

The truth was that Gregori had been in first place for the entire second half of the race. But it hadn’t been an easy feat to maintain that first position. Ryker Lane and Alex Dimitrianov had both proved to be an extremely enjoyable challenge in that high paced final half. In the first half of that final half Alex had been right on his tail probing his moves in an effort at getting past him forcing him to exert additional skill to combat his attempts. The fellow Slav had repeatedly hounded him making his life hard but he’d immensely enjoyed the challenge. It forced him to remain focused and meant that he had to use every ounce of driving skill he had. He’d taken great pleasure in repeatedly cutting him off and had used the experience as a valuable learning experience.

Then in the last half of the final half Ryker Lane had been an unflinching opponent close on his tail. He’d pressured and pushed him more severely than most of his experiences in other races. Hunter hadn’t given up a single inch of track and had been right behind him the entire final half of that final half. A constant challenge and probing rival who would’ve taken any opportunity to streak by him. It would’ve no doubt made for highly entertaining watching. But in the end an impressive feat of skill had seen iBen sneak by them all to steal that first place spot. He’d deftly moved around each of their cars to cross the line ahead of them.

“Well done Toralmintii,” Gregori said softly to himself “you drove like a champ and deserve that first place finish.”

Gregori leaned back in his office chair and took a long swig from his coffee mug. He still found it hard to believe that WGPC17 was over. It had been such a fast paced and high stress season. It still felt as if the season had only just started but now the cars were all returning to their race garages for the last time and the racers were planning their post season celebrations. Gregori hoped to that Sigur would be free for a drink. He’d gotten to know his teammate over the course of the season and felt a slight sadness at having to end their season together. A racer tended to build a friendship with their teammate during the course of a WGPC season and ending that connection at the end always had a note of sadness to it. But he had no doubt that he would see Sigur again. He was an incredibly skilled racer who’d served as both a worthy challenger and a fine teammate.

To: Sigur Bjarnason
From: Gregori Krupin
Subject: End of Season

Hi Sigur,

I just wanted to thank you for a thoroughly enjoyable and challenging season. It was a real honour to race with you and I'll admit that you gave me a very good run for my money several times there. You are a racer of truly impressive skill and I look forward to racing with and against you in the future.

It has been a pleasure getting to know you over the course of the season. If you're not busy later, you will no doubt have post season plans of your own, would you like to have a drink to unwind and debrief after WGPC17?

Kind regards,
Gregori Krupin

Gregori sent the email and leaned forward to entwine his fingers on the desk in front of him. It would take him awhile to come down from the race high let alone to adjust to the absence of the high stress of the World Gran Prix Championships. It took every racer time to fully unwind and adjust to no longer being in that environment. You spent many long months in the race industry, an environment filled with high stress levels and high pressure, and when it came to an end you found yourself having to adjust to the normalcy of life again. It was in a similar vein to a surgeon having to destress after a high profile surgery or famous singer having to unwind after a massive concert.

[Lisander]

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

---

Place your bets
Who will be the drivers of the Bitten Heroes Academy team at WGP2 Season 3?


Lisander's paddocks are all full of "dizzy" people. Artur Norton, 70's and 80's racing icon, TNM Motorsports Team Principal, mentor of Marc Wiel in his driver time, said once:

"To be a race driver in Lisander, you have to have at least two of these three mental traits: Impulsive, daring, mad."

The man who is about to choose the drivers for next season, Juliano Lemos, is impulsive and mad. Notice that he faced a diagnosis of depression to get back to running. Lourdina Westgrens is daring and mad. She faced her father's arrest and even public humiliation herself. But she's still living in Hodori, and in her first season in Formula Hodori, she helped Bitten Heroes Academy reach the fourth place in the standings, and with more regularity than his teammate Athan Lille. Lille itself is impulsive and daring. He spent two overnights to win a race, just to win a bet to get the phone number of his current girlfriend, then "mysterious admirer", Mor Holstein. And the people's mental traits are related. Miss Holstein herself has the same features as her boyfriend. A small girl (152cm), between the single-seaters and the Stock Car, preferred the NSSCRA, because there's a place of "big" cars.

But all of these have guaranteed seat in the current season. The question is who will occupy the cockpit of the long-awaited KS-03. The "lost generation" of 25- and 30-year-olds, who ended up attracting no interest from the teams in the three WGPC seasons, looks eager to try a place at the second international level because it could be their last chance. Drivers like Bastian Alcaraz (who received the license in Season 15, but lost the vacancy for Mick Schramm), Theodore Viana, Leon Dallara, Anders Martel, Meliné Agrakian, Elbridge twins, all of them seem serious candidates for the seats. But will they be able to cope with ever-younger competitors?

In pursuit of them, comes the "bright new generation," which has already stole of these older ones in WGP3. The little princess Pia Montez, bringing the money from one of the largest construction companies in the country. The hard-working Anneliese Devereux and Milla Vendrell, the brilliant but impulsive Shizuko Mikado, and Ludwika Wiel herself, daughter of F3 Multi-Champion Marc Wiel and Juliano Lemos' fiancée. They are the first generation of women raised on the track, since karting. Motorsports not only ceased to be a thing for men only, but it is a sport where the number of drivers is practically the same. It's an age of equity on the racetracks, where they compete fearlessly with male promises like Afonso Lanza, Andrea Lanza's nephew, Júlio Saari and the world's humbler rich man, Kevin Venn. We can not forget talented drivers but with little money, like Cássio Lima and Pedro Theiss, that would be solid additions to the Academy.

However, the route is difficult and the spots are only two for the eighteen drivers mentioned and the more interested. Not to mention if there is not a new Alyn Terfel bringing a lot of money. Secret but reliable sources say that at least one, maybe two small Imperan League countries would be interested in buying a seat, no matter the price.

I did not want to be in the shoes of Juliano Lemos at the time of the decision.

---

More from TURBO

Dunneot goes back and will no longer pay the fine of termination to join WGP2, Camden will have engines in WGP2
Secret font informs: Meline Agrakian is searching for Hodoran visa
The end of Camden single-seater dream
Mor Holstein: People who accepted me in NSSCRA are mad. I don't care, I'm mad too.

---

2019, All rights reserved. Turbo Magazine is a Website from Turbo Sports and Automobiles, LLC. For commercial contact, send a mail to turbomagazine[at]tsa-commerce.ls.

[Esmerel]

OOC: It might not be the highest quality of post ever, but there are a few things that need a bit of tidying up before the long break until next season. That season, I hope, will be the big one. See you all around. -Esmerel


--THE LAPIZ POINT POST--
Your government-maintained classic-style source of news since 1985
Today's Date: 10/07/2019

MOTORSPORTS - WGPC
Seventeen Seasons of Speed: What's Next?
by Judy Trunor

In recent news, the seventeenth season of the prestigious WGPC has come and gone. The ABL-V&T partnership, as with season 14, again proved too strong to beat, securing a 1-2 in the Drivers' Standings before the season even ended along with an easy Constructors' title (nearly double that of second-placed Nexus Racing) and second driver iBen Toralmintii tying home hero Mercer-Daly's three race win streak set at the end of season 15. We did it first. Just remember that.

World Grand Prix Championships, Season 17- Final Standings
after 13 of 13 events

Drivers' Standings
1. Terho Talvela (ABL) - #56 TRAE - 152pts
2. iBen Toralmintii (TUR) - #77 TRAE - 147pts
3. Alex Dimitrianov (MTJ) - #42 Badai Angin - 95pts
4. Ryker Lane (NIM) - #94 Nexus - 87pts
5. Jean Mercer-Daly (ESM) - #41 Nexus - 66pts
See more...

Constructors' Standings
1. Tropicorp Racing Aelund (ABL/V&T) - 299pts
2. Nexus Racing (NIM) - 153pts
3. Badai Angin Tim Motorsport (FID) - 122pts
4. Mattijana Racing Team (MTJ) - 114pts
5. Vannish Motors Racing (VNG) - 111pts
See more...

Turning our attention to our home representatives, it was, all things considered, a great season for Jean Mercer-Daly in the #41. While his form faltered in the last few races, and no race wins were recorded, the season that had been his injury recovery season did offer him three podium finishes, 66 points and a fifth place in the standings (along with second in the constructors') all without a single race retirement. A few fans and pundits have taken to calling him Mister Consistent, though we'll wait and see if that consistency can continue next season. Mercer-Daly is hoping so, at least.

"All in all it was a pretty good season, considering [the recovery]," he said in an interview after the Grand Prix of Audioslavia. "No wins is a disappointment, but I was never out of the fight. Next season's going to be big. I'd say it's time for a real push at the championship."

Records are inconclusive, but a push at the championship is likely for Mercer-Daly: Nexus' runner-up finish in the Constructors' Standings this year either ties or exceeds their best Constructors' finish. Along with fielding the bleeding edge of technology, a former Drivers' Verse Champion, and the most dedicated staff known in the motorsport world, recent rumors suggest Esmerelian entities are anticipating a partnership for the next season and beyond. We'll keep you updated on that.

Whoever these entities may be, though, it's not likely to be the disgraced Brutus-Obey team. Having scored only ten points out of the 338 available, and all with one driver, it was a wake-up call for the team to either get serious or go home. Now, after recent announcements, it seems they'll be going home.

"The move up to the top level was seen by many as premature, and we paid the price for it," said the team principal yesterday. "Our open-wheel program has been substandard since the beginning, we realized after the season ended. Effective immediately we will be ceasing operations and pulling resources back to focus on our traditional venues such as street GT and rallying. We wish the best for all who were involved in the project."

With the withdrawal and failure of Obey Sport, it will call into question their reputation in the country. Whoever will attempt to be the Esmerelian team on the WGPC grid in the future (if at all) will have small shoes to fill, but a bigger expectation to live up to. I say if at all, as no single entity has publicly stated their intent to compete in the upcoming WGP2 season. The Collegiate team has been stuck in hiatus in the Nimban i-League, and most other teams don't have the budget or resources to participate at the higher levels.

Interest in the upcoming second running of the WGP3 Atlantic Division, however, has not decreased, with a revamped set of ideas likely to take effect, as well as two remaining team slots open to foreign entries. Officials are beginning their outreach programs in attempts to attract wider audiences and bring forward more talent.

That's what we've got for today. Check back later for the latest news on the WGPC and more. For those who need their motorsport fix, go and watch NSSCRA. We've got a team and all, and it's doing pretty good.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rochester, Concord, Esmerel
Wednesday, July 10, 2019, 16:00 (UTC-4)

Jean walked through his front door. He had come here many times over the season, but this- it was the one where he'd come in and stay for months.

The season he had expected to have didn't happen. But he had a good season. Considering his near death experience, therapy, recovery, and the side story with his brother, it was more than most could do.

Speaking of which... could it hurt to speak with him? Not really.

But it would pull Jean into something different indeed.

Hey. Evyn?

---
what is it
---

I dunno. But we're bros, and I figured I'd check in.

---
so you're trying to care or something
---

I guess. But also to say something. You're good. Better than I thought.

---
what it it really
---

Well frankly I need to sate a hunger for motorsport. You got anything?

---
oh so you want to lose again? hell yeah come and race with me
---

Wait, so just like that? Rematches?

---
rematches for days. i'll totally go easy on you. disabled after all.
---
bro?
---
u there or not
---
hello?
---

sounds fun let's go

---
here's where the fun begins
---

Oh, and don't you worry. I'll be back. You'd better be waiting.
message not sent!

Jean would be back indeed. But what was wrong with a bit of a side job?

He didn't see anything.

THE END (for now)

[Former Citizens of the Nimbus System]

Audioslavian Grand Prix
7th of July; Chequered Flag

Imagination’s cerulean glow runs across Coalescence, not as bright compared to a few moments before but shining nonetheless – still drawn together, still manifested in all its brilliance. Within, Ryker Lane relaxes.

“Well driven, Ryker – excellent work on those tyres at the end. Thank you,” Martin intones, his quiet smile evident in his speech. “That is easily enough to secure our place in the Constructors’ Championship.”

Ryker laughs. “Pity I wasn’t able to keep Dimitrianov behind me… Wouldn’t have got me to third but it’d be nice. Symbolic victory, you know? Still, fourth is hardly bad.” He pats his car’s steering wheel. Coalescence indeed. Did a good job this season.

He smirks. Good setup for the next, too.

For now, though… Ryker glances to one side of his HUD, flicking through with one of the less well-used parts of his control scheme to run through the cars’ finishes. He purses his lips. You know, I still haven’t congratulated him. He smiles and nods. “Okay if I hang back for a moment, Martin?”

“Do you have something planned?”

“Mmm… More like ‘thought of on the spur of the moment’. You know how I am with planning.”

The warmth in Martin’s tone grows. “Well, your instinct is to be trusted; go on, Ryker.”

Ryker beams. “Thanks, Martin; see you back in the garage.” Checking his rear view, the Nimban racer pulls to the side of the track. For a moment, the energy of Imagination lies dormant.

Carnétier, Ibuna, Talison… Ah, here we go.

Reigniting Coalescence, Ryker pulls back onto the track; positioning himself to the left of his target’s car, he turns in ever so slightly, forcing the sleek blue and orange car away from the track and into the runoff beside Hold.

He grins. Then, deactivating the stability-enhancing CS-TCCS, he floors the accelerator and tugs his steering wheel to the right. Coalescence bursts into radiance, tyres squealing, issuing plumes of smoke into the blazing air. Ryker laughs then, turning his wheel leftwards now, dynamic and static Imagikinetic convertors drawing the Chase Cutter into an orbit around the other car.

Once, twice, three times round he goes before he pulls to a stop alongside the AGP. Ryker Lane smiles; then he focusses. Above the opposite car, the air is agitated – and suddenly there is a nimbus of pinpricks of Imaginational light, blue fireflies circling about it in a steady dance. Ryker focusses; the pinpricks draw together into spiralling lines, swirling around, towards, into car and driver, uniting.

Releasing his focus, taking a breath, Ryker smiles once more. He raises a hand to his head in salute.

Nice job, Terho Talvela, TRÆ. You were all the best of us this year.

Next year…

Well, we’ll see. But we’ll be there, with everything we are.

Post-Race

“Second.” Timothy Guard leans back in his chair. He nods to himself. “Good.”

“More than that!” Gertrude grins at him. “Every team on the grid now, we’ve beaten. Sure, TRÆ got the jump on us but a lot of their pace has to have come from targetting development for the refuelling regulations.” She folds her arms. “They won’t have that advantage next time. In a development war, on even terms? We’ll win.”

“Mmm. How is the chassis?”

Gertrude smirks. “Still working on it – the models are still saying it’s a bit of a beast to drive. Just need to polish it up a bit, make sure the brakes are good enough and check that In Motion are on board…” She winces. “Pity that Brutus aren’t staying with us – could’ve used their money and facilities.” Gertrude looks up again, eyes afire and surety writ on her face. “Still, with the amount of mechanical grip we’re predicting…” She folds her arms. “Yeah. It’s coming along.”

She looks up. “Karl and Auburn are getting on well?”

Guard nods again. “Team Blue have been receptive to our advances as yet… We hope to have a contract ready for the very beginning of the pre-season.”

“Awesome.” Gertrude smiles. “We all just do our thing and support each other… We’ll be more than fine.”

Timothy smiles. “Mmm.”

Yes, you will.

[La Montevideo]

!NEW FREE AGENT!

NAME: Tévez Las Basá
NATION: La Montevideo
CAR NUMBER: 27
SECONDARY CAR NUMBER: 72
NATION TRIGRAM: LMO
NAME TRIGRAM: BAS

ABILITY:
Reliability (MAX 5):4
Aggression (MAX 5):4
Technique (MAX 5):4

EXPERIENCE: None (WGPC), Inagural Champion (TAC)

Write something about your driver: Young, Fast & La Montevideo's TerreAiresCar (Or TAC For Short) Inagural Champion, Tévez Las Basá Should Be A Exciting Prospect.
If Tévez Lands A Ride At A Team, He'd Be The 1st Montevideoan To Compete Internationaly.