WGP2 Season III [Roleplay Thread]

by **Former Citizens of the Nimbus System** » Mon Feb 03, 2020 3:45 pm

The third season of the WGP2 is complete; thank you, one and all, for participating! If you’d like to get involved in future WGPO events or learn more about them, feel free to head over to the WGPO thread. We’d love to have you! Alternatively, feel free to browse the thread; its stories are still well worth reading.

Welcome to the third season of the WGP2! Not sure what that is and/or haven’t submitted your profiles yet? Head over to the submission and information thread to find out and get involved!

The WGP2 III is currently in

The Submission Phase
The Pre-Season Phase
The Regular Season

The WGP2 III is underway! That said, seats may still open up should somebody become inactive; if you’re interested in signing a driver, keep an eye on this thread.

This period will last for the couple of weeks before the racing gets underway; every team will be looking for drivers and tyre suppliers and every driver and tyre supplier will be looking for teams! If you’re roleplaying a driver, maybe you’d prefer to tell the world that you’re interested in a team via some rumour-mongering in your local newspapers. If you’re roleplaying a team, perhaps you’d like to set up an interview with a few drivers. Maybe your driver or organisation has a big social media presence or can’t keep out of the news for all the wrong reasons! A popular tactic in recent years has been for teams to hold an open-invitation trial for a number of drivers to test their racecar around a local circuit, with the best driver/drivers being chosen for the team, so look out for those as well. There is no ‘right’ way to do it, and the only ‘wrong’ way to do it would be to attempt to confirm your driver is racing with a team before any real negotiations, OoC, IC or otherwise, have taken place.

You may also wish to consider the massive difference in pay between an experienced driver with a good reputation and a newcomer. In real motorsport, the best drivers are paid handsomely to drive while the newcomers often have to pay a team in order to secure a drive - though the sums are likely to be less in the WGP2 than those of the WGPC. Does your driver need to secure sponsorship in order to pay his way into a deal? Or are they one of those rare up and coming stars, upon whose raw talent alone a team can rely to get results and draw sponsors’ attention?

When you wish to confirm that a driver has joined or a tyre supplier is supplying a team, or formally offer a spot in or supply contract for your team to a driver or tyre supplier, do so in bold, like this or this or this or simply like this.

If you’d like to get a better feel for how the process works, why not have a look at either of the previous WGP2 threads? You can find them here and here. If you’re looking for other WGP2 III-related information, meanwhile, you’ll probably find what you’re looking for in the submission and information thread. Alternatively, head over to the WGPO thread, where there are plenty of knowledgeable, helpful people who can answer your questions!

If you’d like a better understanding of how a WGP2 season works, why not take a look at either of the previous WGP2 threads? You can find them here and here. If you’re looking for other WGP2 III-related information, meanwhile, you’ll probably find what you’re looking for in the submission and information thread. Alternatively, head over to the WGPO thread, where there are plenty of knowledgeable, helpful people who can answer your questions!

Date(s)		Event					NAT	Circuit				A	T	Qualifying
16/2		Pre-Season Test				WIL	Diamond Bay Circuit		4.70	5.30	  
21/2 - 23/2	air.NK WGP2 Race of Nekoni		NEK	Circuit Arnaud			7.50	2.50	One-Shot
28/2 - 1/3	WGP2 Ras Kabishawan Puroll		FID	San Marco Street Circuit	2.70	7.30	Traditional
6/3 - 8/3	WGP2 Race of the Hills			AUR	Akresna Circuit			3.00	7.00	Traditional
13/3 - 15/3	The Esmerelian Challenger's Prize	ESM	Raleigh Hill Circuit		5.50	4.50	Traditional
20/3 - 22/3	Cocoabo Preservation Grand Prix		V&T	Cocoabo Park Circuit		4.00	6.00	Two-Tier
29/3		Mid-Season Test				ABL	Fjellutfordring			6.70	3.30	[colour=#000000]1/4	Special Cup WGP2 Race	SPC	Rainbow Road	2.00	8.00	If you've found this, well done!  Feel free to telegram Nimbus to say so but please don't spoil the surprise for anyone else![/colour]
3/4 - 5/4	The Hapilopper International Trophy	HAP	Surrey International Raceway	6.50	3.50	Traditional
10/4 - 12/4	Pryfurium Circuit Masters GP Two	DCS	Pryfors Bilar Raceway		7.70	2.30	Two-Tier
17/4 - 19/4	Grand Prix d'Île Saint-Joseph		ISJ	Circuit d'Arès			3.80	6.20	Traditional
24/4 - 26/4	Grand Prix of Westmeadow Tavern		EFL	Tavernia Parkway Circuit	3.00	7.00	One-Shot
1/5 - 3/5	Nimban Deuxième Prix			NIM	Crossbay Circuit		6.30	3.70	Elimination

▌Example (NAT) REL / ACC / TUR
REL / TRA (NAT) [Tyre Supplier]

# [Driver] (NAT) REL / AGG / TEQ
# [Driver] (NAT) REL / AGG / TEQ

▌Adelphia-VMR (STW) 4.00 / 4.50 / 3.50
-0.80 / 0.80 (DCS) Phoenician Tires

50 Sara Luna (DCS) 3.90 / 3.10 / 5.00
69 Carmichael Fire (STW) 4.00 / 4.00 / 4.00

▌Badai Angin-IGR (FID) 3.20 / 4.70 / 4.10
1.00 / -1.00 (GGY) Solymok

19 Dom Falepeau (TGN) 5.00 / 4.00 / 3.00
44 Rod Gozum (FID) 3.90 / 4.30 / 3.80

▌Bitten Heroes Academy (LIS) 4.00 / 4.30 / 3.70
-1.00 / 1.00 (LIS) Stellenbosch

7 Lourdina Westgrens (LIS) 3.00 / 4.80 / 4.20
8 William Archer (AFT) 3.75 / 5.00 / 3.25

▌Kaylan Racing Team (TGN) 2.00 / 5.00 / 5.00
1.00 / -1.00 (GGY) Solymok

18 Isaia Fanene (TGN) 4.00 / 4.00 / 4.00
72 Barnabas Mate (GGY) 4.90 / 5.00 / 2.10

▌Nexus Racing (NIM) 4.00 / 5.00 / 3.00
-1.00 / 1.00 (NIM) In Motion

17 Janne Laukkanen (ABL) 2.80 / 4.50 / 4.70
81 Drake Stevenson (HAP) 5.00 / 2.00 / 5.00

▌Polestar Racing (NEK) 4.00 / 4.00 / 4.00
-0.10 / 0.10 (NEK) Cypress G2

49 Mika Neretti (NEK) 4.50 / 3.00 / 4.50
73 Lorcan Greanaya-Matthewson (EFL) 5.00 / 5.00 / 5.00

▌Schkeska-VSK Viska Racing (AUR) 5.00 / 2.50 / 4.50
-1.00 / 1.00 (NIM) In Motion

3 Olivia Stone (NIM) 2.00 / 5.00 / 5.00
85 Baxen Aurora (NIM) 3.00 / 4.50 / 4.50

▌SinVal Racing (EFL) 5.00 / 4.00 / 3.00
0.00 / 0.00 (V&T) Tropicorp

33 Laurencia Lynds (EFL) 4.00 / 4.00 / 4.00
97 Edward Baker (TKI) 3.50 / 3.50 / 5.00

▌SVJ Racing (SVJ) 3.00 / 4.00 / 5.00
1.00 / -1.00 (GGY) Solymok

75 Roman Arjenko (SVJ) 3.00 / 5.00 / 4.00
77 Abdoulaye Goita (RCN) 2.00 / 5.00 / 5.00

▌UrGa Motorsports Division (PDN) 5.00 / 2.75 / 4.25
0.00 / 0.00 (V&T) Tropicorp

11 Lane Carter (TJN) 5.00 / 2.00 / 5.00
21 Taras Matviyenko (PDN) 5.00 / 2.50 / 4.50

▌US Navy (USN) 2.00 / 5.00 / 5.00
0.00 / 0.00 (V&T) Tropicorp

37 Jama'obo Pegasii (V&T) 3.00 / 5.00 / 4.00
76 Adriana Kowalski (VEZ) 4.50 / 2.50 / 5.00

▌VTM Tropicorp Engineering (V&T) 3.00 / 4.00 / 5.00
0.00 / 0.00 (V&T) Tropicorp

23 Cocoabo #23 (V&T) 2.50 / 4.50 / 5.00
40 Jolyn Caulfield (VEZ) 5.00 / 3.00 / 4.00

▌Nykipiflugpuun Noortekoondis (NYK) 4.50 / 2.50 / 5.00 (Reserve)
-.-- / -.-- (NAT) [Tyre Supplier]

# [Driver] (NAT) -.-- / -.-- / -.--
# [Driver] (NAT) -.-- / -.-- / -.--

#	DRV	Name				NAT	R	A	T	Team
3	STO	Olivia Stone			NIM	2.00	5.00	5.00
7	WES	Lourdina Westgrens		LIS	3.00	4.80	4.20
8	ARC	William Archer			AFT	3.75	5.00	3.25
11	CRT	Lane Carter			TJN	5.00	2.00	5.00
16	VGD	Dominik Vestergaard		MTJ	3.00	5.00	4.00
17	LAU	Janne Laukkanen			ABL	2.80	4.50	4.70
18	FAN	Isaia Fanene			TGN	4.00	4.00	4.00
19	FAL	Dom Falepeau			TGN	5.00	4.00	3.00
21	MTV	Taras Matviyenko		PDN	5.00	2.50	4.50
23	C23	Cocoabo #23			V&T	2.50	4.50	5.00
33	LYN	Laurencia Lynds			EFL	4.00	4.00	4.00
37	PEG	Jama'obo Pegasii		V&T	3.00	5.00	4.00
38	KAU	Miko Kaukanna			AUR	5.00	3.00	4.00
40	JHC	Jolyn Caulfield			VEZ	5.00	3.00	4.00
44	GOZ	Rod Gozum			FID	3.90	4.30	3.80
49	NER	Mika Neretti			NEK	4.50	3.00	4.50
50	LNA	Sara Luna			DCS	3.90	3.10	5.00
69	FIR	Carmichael Fire			STW	4.00	4.00	4.00
72	MAT	Barnabas Mate			GGY	4.90	5.00	2.10
73	LGM	Lorcan Greanaya-Matthewson	EFL	5.00	2.00	5.00
75	ARJ	Roman Arjenko			SVJ	3.00	5.00	4.00
76	AKS	Adriana Kowalski		VEZ	4.50	2.50	5.00
77	GTA	Abdoulaye Goita			RCN	2.00	5.00	5.00
81	STE	Drake Stevenson			HAP	5.00	2.00	5.00
85	AUR	Baxen Aurora			NIM	3.00	4.50	4.50
97	BAK	Edward Baker			TKI	3.50	3.50	5.00

no. - using second choice number

The following are the three tyres commissioned for the WGP2 III season. A supply deal for any of these tyres is freely available to any team at no cost.

Should a team wish to use any other tyres, they will have to arrange a supply deal with the tyre supplier.

Supplier		NAT	R	T
Tropicorp		V&T	0.00	0.00
Stellenbosch		LIS	-1.00	1.00
Solymok			GGY	1.00	-1.00
Cypress G2		NEK	-0.10	0.10
Highland Tire		SHW	0.50	-0.50
In Motion		NIM	-1.00	1.00
Phoenician Tires	DCS	-0.80	0.80

by **Nekoni** » Mon Feb 03, 2020 4:50 pm

Eagles Sports Bar, Varea
3 February, 22:50

The Eagles bar was one of the more quieter bars in the capital city of Nekoni. Despite its glaring neon in the windows, the inside of the establishment was lowly lit, smoky and quiet, save for the occasional tink of pool cue against ball or dart against board. It was Mika Neretti's favourite spot in the city. Although the city technically had a smoking ban indoors, the place was insular enough that everyone kinda knew each other, and didn't particularly care whether or not someone sparked up in there. Besides, the ban was in place for over twelve years now, and the bartender still left the ashtrays out on the tables.

At the bar, it was Mika's turn to grab the drinks in for her and the boyfriend. Neither of them were working tomorrow, and the bar closed late, so it felt like the right thing to do. As the barhop filled the two glasses with another pint of golden lager, she heard her boyfriend curse loudly from the table. Concerned, she paid up quickly, then hurried over, taking care not to spill a drop.

"What's gone on, love?" Her partner looked up from his smartphone.
"Shit, the teams are in for WGP2," Rémy responded. "Polestar ain't in there." Mika took a precautionary gulp of her drink, angrily.
"They told me that I had a spot in their team! What the hell!?"

Rémy tilted the screen of the phone towards her, so she could read the news article. Sure enough, Polestar, the Nekoni-based team, was listed, but with a big bold read headline. 'RESERVE TEAM - Currently insufficient licensing and team structure'.

"We've got one of the biggest goddamn racing pedigrees in the world, and we can't even get a team together!? Why?" Rémy scrolled down. "The problem isn't the team. It's the talent. There's too many teams in the contest, and not enough people to go around. Polestar must have been late getting their paperwork together." Mika let out a solitary 'hmm' in agreement. Polaris, the team owners, had been fairly late in the day when they bought out the struggling Taiga-240 team from the national series. Many in the industry had wondered if they'd made it impossible for them to have a chance of being ready in time. The public still remembered how fractious the team was at the start of its creation in the WGPC, with the firebrand original team principal lashing out at his drivers, and then the next year attempting to straight-up murder them.

Rémy was a little more calm about the situation. Of course, it wasn't his job up in the air. "It ain't curtains yet, though, love," he reassured between sips of his beer. "There's nothing stopping them from getting their team together before the season begins. Even if they miss the first test session. And...you don't have to join the local team if it all goes to pot. You're gonna be jetting around the world anyway." Mika took a long sigh, then drank again.

"I'd rather sit out a year, to be honest. I didn't get into this job to rep a country that isn't my own."
"I know that you've had a bit to drink, you don't usually go all patriot when you're sober."
Mika laughed. "Whatever, hippie."

by **Vilita and Turori** » Mon Feb 03, 2020 5:05 pm

Tropicorp Racing Supply offers Top WGP2 Tyre Compound

Tropicorp Racing Supply, Tropicoast, Tropicorp :: Tropicorp Racing Supply have announced they will be a preferred supplier for 3rd World Grand Prix Two season in addition to Stellenbosch and Solymok. While other Tyre Suppliers will be permitted during the season, None will have the advantage of having worked directly with series organizers to prepare for the varied courses on the schedule ahead of time.

WGPC17 Supplier Performance Standings
FINAL

[1] - 264 :: Tropicorp Racing Supply
[2] - 137 :: Brutus Tyres
[3] - 134 :: Solymok
[4] - 130 :: Petrovi
[5] - 86 :: Pire Eleven
[6] - 45 :: Stellenbosch
[7] - 39 :: Grafonil
[8] - 35 :: Cypress

While Stellenbosch and Solymok both have significant racing pedigree in prior Grand Prix racing seasons, no Tyre Supplier can currently claim to be on par with Tropicorp if recent results are any indication. In the most recently completed 17th World Grand Prix Championship, the Tropicorp-backed TRAE team handily won the constructors championship scoring nearly double the total points of their nearest opponent, Nexus Racing. In the Supplier Performance Standings which considered only the highest finishing drive on each Tyre Compound, Tropicorp Racing Supply backed drivers were similarly dominant with the Sifaka Tyre accounting for 264 points ahead of the 137 earned by second-best performer Brutus-InMotion. Solymok Tyres, one of the other official Tyre Partners for the World Grand Prix 2 Championship, was a respectable 3rd in the standings just 3 points behind Brutus Tyres while Stellenbosch had a season marred by inconsistent performances and placed 6th out of the 8 different Tyre Suppliers on the grid

Tropicorp Racing Supply became the official Tyre Supplier for Tropicorp Racing Aelund midway through the World Grand Prix's 16th season after the team struggled to find its form on its debut. When the Calanian Rubber was introduced, however, the teams fortunes improved and interest in the Tropicorp Sifaka tyres increased with many orders for sample and small quantity levels of product over the off season. Tropicorp engineers have developed a durable distance variant, a short run soft and fast variant as well as an intermediate and "Storm" variant. The 'Storm' variant is a new derivative of the Tropicorp Racing Supply Tyre line and may represent a crossover into the personnel transport market through the "Storm" branding which replaces the Sifaka wordmark on the wet tyres only.

The Tropicorp Racing Supply welcomes commitments to its branded Tyres from interested teams competing on the WGP2 circuit. Teams wishing to align with Tropicorp, the most successful and well-balanced Tyre Supplier on the market, may do so simply by expressing their desire in bold form. Early commits will receive priority testing data from the Tropicorp Engineering shop as well as shipments of pre-production compound tyres for use in testing sessions. Teams who commit to Tropicorp Racing Supply prior to the first official WGP2 Pre-Season test will also receive tyres for the session at the Diamond Bay Circuit free of charge. Teams who have not yet committed to Tropicorp Racing Supply will still be able to purchase Tropicorp Sifaka tyres at the track for their evaluation during the test. Teams may commit to Tropicorp Racing Supply any time up until the completion of the Diamond Bay Test event. Following the completion of pre-season testing the Tropicorp Team will be focusing on preparing for their committed teams and requests to be aligned with Tropicorp to become the full season supplier of Tyres or other racing components should be submitted for final negotiation.

:: Tropicorp Racing Supply

Tropicorp is a quasi-governmental corporation created to conduct Research, Development and Production activities primarily on behalf of the Tropics of Vilita. One of the byproducts of Tropicorps development in a remote location on the Calanian mainland has been the removal of native and wild tree species to make way for development space. Tropicorp engineers discovered a dense grove of Calanian rubber trees.

Tropicorp Engineering developed the special Calanian rubber to create high performance racing tyres for testing purposes. After the tests proved successful, It wasn't long before the tooling was done and Racing Tyres were popping out on an hourly basis from the workshop and Tropicorp Racing Supply was born. Everything on Tropicorp Racing Supply's standard product line from Crew Uniforms to Composite-Material suspension parts will be on offer. - even the potential for advanced product opportunities through Tropicorp Engineering to include Chassis and Hybrid Power systems.

While Tropicorp Racing Supply have made a name through their high performance tyres which have earned championships in the NSSCRA, World Grand Prix Championships and Formula Hodori, they also supply parts for every component of a racing vehicle in addition to pit crew, engineering and data analytics solutions for racing teams.

by **Somehow Related to Rarity** » Tue Feb 04, 2020 5:16 am

Carmichael Fire

The sound of birds chirping woke me up. Today marked my last day in Ponyville, before I went back to Canterlot. Iwas supposed to sign for another season with Canterlot Racing Team, but my parents asked me to try out WGP2, the second tier for single-seater racing in this multiverse.
Anyways, today I woke up early, so Ponyville is quite tranquil. That's one thing I love about being here. Night time equals peace hours and you won't wake up to the morning traffic outside.
I decide to go on a little walk before coming back for breakfast. The smell of the fresh air hits me as I step into the beauty of the medieval-like village. You can see Canterlot from here, because of the distance. You can also see the Sweet Apple Acres, where hospitality is provided during the Ponyville Grand Prix. The location of Ponyville is so perfect you can't complain about anything.
I continue on my walk. The sun is unnaturally rising, and you can see the first signs of life in this town. Later it'll be full of ponies, pegasi, hippogriffs, you name it.
I come back to find the mailmare leaving my house.
'Hi,' I told her. 'Your name is Derpy, am I right?' The pegasus replied with a nod, before leaving. I was wondering how the frick she could fly with her eyes CROSSED. Most importantly, she didn't look like the normal mailsman I usually saw. Today's mailsman had brighter fur, and it looked like she dyed her mane all rainbow. But I shook off the thought and opened my mail. There were two letters. One of them came from my parents.
They said that Adelphia-VMR had sent me a letter, but they sent it to Canterlot instead, so I had to leave ASAP. Crap. My 'holiday' was cut short. I read the other letter, which looked more like a note than a letter. It just said: 'Meet at train station today'. The letter was suspicious, and it somehow came to MY address. Nevertheless I threw it in the trash.

I arrived at the train station to see 6 mares whispering between themselves and looking at me as if they knew me, which of course was a lie. Other than them, the station was deserted. Was I seriously the only person who booked the train today.
Not much later, the train arrived, and i hopped onto it, as well as the 6 mares. As I took my seat, I realised that they were seating one seat behind me. They didn't look like the type to kidnap but they seemed like typical fanfillies who had SOMEHOW found out I was riding the train today. The more carefully I looked, I realised one of them was my mailsmare. Was she the person who sent me the note?
I studied the rest of them. That was when I realised they were the so-called 'Mane 6'. Why were they on the train to Canterlot though?
I closely studied each and everyone of them. They LOOKED innocent, but you can't judge a book by its colours.
The rainbow-maned one looked disgruntled for some reason. If I'm not wrong she was Rainbow Dash, the pony who did a sonic rainboom and won the Young Fliers Competition. I moved over to another pegasus with yellow fur and a pink mane. When I looked at her, I suddenly had a feeling that I knew her. That feeling turned to realisation, before turning into awkwardness. She clearly wasn't comfortable being in the same cabin as me. Why, you would ask?
I was one of her bullies.

by **Togonistan** » Tue Feb 04, 2020 11:42 am

Élégamment Headquarters
Junterapten, Britonisea

The taxi was already waiting in front of the majestic building as Dom Falepeau stepped out of Élégamment headquarters. He opened the car's door and slid himself to the back seat. ''To the airport,'' Dom said to the driver and took another look at the pack of small pocket calendars he was given as a novelty gift from the company:

Élégamment was a high street retail store specialising in fashion clothing and furniture. The Britonish company was a big cat in the international market, making millions of revenue each year and spent a lot on marketing to further promote their brand. Falepeau had spent a few days in Britonisea to meet up the company's big heads and participate in a photo shoot as a model to promote their new line of men's clothing. In addition, he had signed a sponsorship deal with them, which he believed would help him big time in his WGP2 endeavours. Dom knew the start of the new season was closing in, and his intentions were to continue in the series. At first, the Togoni had hoped he could keep ties with the MRT for another season, however they had decided to not field their satellite team for this season. Therefore, he had to look at other directions. His ties with home-based Kaylan team had long gone and even if they would've been interested in him, moving back to Kaylan would've been a step backwards in his career. Dom had to start fresh in a new team, and he believed Élégamment's backing would help him find a decent seat.

Hwoarang Racing Circuit
Hwoarang, Togonistan

Kaylan Racing Team was running a tyre evaluation test. Two Kaylan T-160's were cruising around the track, with their green and orange coloured liveries shining in the sunlight. One of the cars was driven by Isaia Fanene, the upcoming driver of the team for their WGP2 season. The other was controlled by Miles Tulau, a development driver in Kaylan's youth development programme, who was currently competing at WGP3 level. The team had given the youngster an opportunity to test their WGP2 machinery and gain some much-needed experience.

Team Chief Tanielu Felafa and Lead Mechanic Jared Toelau were inspecting their driving from the pit garage, while a group of engineers were keeping track on various data.''Stint three completed, return to the garage!'' Toelau said on the radio.

''What are the results?'' Felafa asked as the cars turned in.

''Still working on the data but from what we've gathered, Solymok tyres seem to be the ones leading the tests in all 3 conditions. Consistent performance, compared to the other two.''

''What were the other two we tested again?''

''Stellenbosch and Tropicorp. It is difficult to make any definite conclusions from these tests, of course. Anything can change in a racing situation.''

''Well, tell Lena to get in contact with these Solymok people, find out what their conditions are for providing tyres to us for the season... oh, and also, tell her to get that paperwork settled for Fanene, please.''

''I'll talk to her as soon as we get packed together here and go back to the HQ.''

Kaylan Racing Team signs Isaia Fanene as their #1 driver for the season
Kaylan Racing Team opts for Solymok to be their tyre supplier for the season

by **Recuecn** » Tue Feb 04, 2020 2:03 pm

“I’m going to start looking for a drive again,” he said. “I think I can get a spot for WGP2.”

That had been months ago, during the Vilitan grand prix. Yet ever since his fruitless search for a WGPC drive, Abdoulaye Goita had made zero progress. He lived with his dad, although now he’d at least gotten a part-time job. The only thing keeping him from feeling that he was entirely wasting away his time was getting back into karting.

Abdoulaye had karted lots growing up, but he’d always been aiming for the WGPC. When he was finally close enough to pursue that last year, he’d had to leave. His karting friends had celebrated with a sendoff, assuming that they’d next see him on TV. He’d clearly been a notch above them all at karting, so they’d had high expectations. When he’d returned without getting a ride, no one said anything, but there was an unspoken understanding that returning at all was a pretty big disappointment.

Karting wasn’t even really the best training to become a WGP pilot. Driving karts was unlike racing cars; braking and turning and lots of the other conditions were vastly different. But at least it kept him in the spirit of things and gave him something to do while he waited.

Waiting was the most frustrating thing. He’d been too late for the WGPC and now he was too soon for WGP2. Since the latter required that all drivers start the season as free agents, he couldn’t start looking for a spot or training with an actual team. Instead, he had to wait until the official “WGP2 pre-season,” when the competing constructors would be announced.

The day of the announcement, Abdoulaye took the afternoon off and headed down to the track. He didn’t take a kart out with his buddies, but just chilled in the garage, checking his phone every few seconds. One of the track employees--Abdoulaye knew them all--asked him if he wanted to come into the lounge to watch the announcement on TV. Of course.

The first team announced was Adelphia-VMR. As the segment continued, the other karters filed in, their race over, and joined to watch. It wasn’t a particularly interesting broadcast--it boiled down to a list of names--but knowing that one of the people in the room hoped to drive for one of those names made it engaging.

The broadcast ended with Polestar Racing, who, it was announced, might still participate, but were still looking for talent. Someone slapped Abdoulaye’s shoulder.

“If they still need drivers, you’re bound to get a spot!”

“I’m not sure it works that way,” Abdoulaye mumbled.

Some of the team names he recognized. Nexus Racing, obviously, and VTM Tropicorp Engineering was there too. Their team principal was Gary Cook, the one who’d offered him that WGPC test drive he’d flubbed. That’s one team I know won’t sign me, thought Abdoulaye. But there were some surprises, too; Nykipiflugpuun Noortekoondis was surely some kind of typo--maybe someone had fallen asleep on a keyboard somewhere? And did that say US Navy? That didn’t sound right either, but Abdoulaye wouldn’t question it. He didn’t have the liberty of questioning anything. It was time to get out there and get himself a car.

by **Lisander** » Tue Feb 04, 2020 5:49 pm

Welcome to Bitten Heroes Academy Hub!

Previous Seasons of Lisanderian Teams in WGPO: Bitten Heroes WGPC 15 (4th, 138pts) | Team Ignis WGP2 1 (9th, 61pts) | Bitten Heroes WGPC 16 (13th, 12pts)| Superia Juniors WGP2 2 (3th, 130pts) | Camden WGPC 17 (9th, 46pts)

The Team

Bitten Heroes Academy is the Lisanderian this WGP2 Season. The team is based on Brax, Lisander. Juliano Lemos, three-time WGPC driver, is the owner of the team, while Andrea Lanza, former WGPC Chief Engineer, two times Lisander GT Champion, is the Team Principal. They'll have the lisanderian youngster Lourdina Westgrens as the first driver , while the second one is yet to be decided. The team is supported by Camden Motors, the biggest automotive company in the nation, co-creators of the new car, and also by Stellenbosch, WGPC-approved tyre manufacturers. Minor sponsors include Sabine Valerian investment fund Megara and Lantis Media Company.

The Car

The KS-03, built in partnership between LAB, Camden and KB Motorworks, comes with a heavy updated bodywork when compared to the previous LAB-certified WGP2 drives, Ignis Racing KS-01 and Superia Juniors KS-02. The previous EBGP (Electric Boost Generator Polycrystalline) technology by KB motorsports saw an update, and now the polycrystalline mail that replaces the panels is set over the entire painting. The rear wing (DRS-prepared) is lower than the previous WGP2 car, and works together with a lighter shark fin, that now includes a new air vent inside its structure, planned to cool the EBGP sensors in the mail. The previous bargeboard was dismantled in two pieces to reduce the weight. Camden reworked the 3.6 engine after WGP2.2 to deal with the intake of extra power and woked with KB to evolve the suspension, now without opening a hole in the body parts to add the handlers. The "horns", as the carbon insets were called, were deemed useless and removed, since the sensors who capture heat from the sun and/or from the car itself and turn it into an undisclosed amount of electric extra power, to be used together with DRS wing, are now all around the bodywork. Bitten Heroes Academy finally agreed to add security halo for the WGP2. Last but not least, Bitten Heroes Academy keeps working closely with Stellenbosch Tyres since last WGP2 season. Provided with WGP2.2 and WGPC 17 tyre data, the company developed a new compound for slicks and wets, aiming the highest level of the traction, to take the Lisanderian and all other interested teams to their best.
Specs
Chassis: KS-03
Engine: 3600cc V8 manufactured by Camden, 577 hp at 8500 rpm
Gearbox: 6-speed paddle shift
Bodywork: Carbon bodyshell with strengthened safety structure and polycrystalline thermic sensible panels.
Weight: 587 Kg (dry weight)
Tyres: Stellenbosch Superia HS2

Driver One — Lourdina Westgrens #2

BIO:
Even if she isn't that old, she's already been through hell. Many young people would have given up their careers if they had gone through what she went through. Lourdina Westgrens, however, doesn't give much importance to her past, which isn't quite the easiest one. A veteran of only 20 years, she arrived in WGP2 season 1 at the age of 17. And soon she was at WGPC, but not at her best. She was a grid-filler driving a car much above her skills and was indirectly linked to a government corruption scandal that splashed on the team. After a sabbatical season to take care of his mental health and to recover from the early stages of mental burnout, Westgrens was introduced as the first driver of the new Bitten Heroes Academy and went to Formula Hodori, where she had part of the responsibility for taking the team to fourth place in the overall standings.

Despite the irregular results, for the last three seasons participated, Lourdina has been showing continuous evolution. Under the care of Juliano Lemos and Lisander Autosports Board, the aggressive girl has become a much more balanced driver, and now she ruins fewer cars (after all she doesn't have her father to pay for them anymore). Now back in WGP2, Lourdina Westgrens returns with the entire Bitten Heroes Academy structure working on her behalf. She is testing the KS-03 from the early stages and is already fully used to the thermal panel energy recovery system, having achieved near-perfect response time for power boost activation.

Experience:

Formula Hodori s174: Heroes Academy; 15th, 21 points
WGPC season 16: Bitten Heroes Lantis®; 24th, 8 points
WGP2 season 1: Ignis Racing; 11th, 51points.

Driver Two — TBA [TBA] #0

TBA

Results

Driver/Round NEK FID AUR ESM V&T HAP DCS ISJ EFL NIM
#7 WES - - - - - - - - - -
#0 TBA - - - - - - - - - -

Posts Index

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by **Aboveland** » Tue Feb 04, 2020 10:41 pm

Timantirkas, Nykipiflugpuu
January 3rd, 2020

Something rattles against the windowpane. Metallic clunking, rhythmic yet irregular. The more spaced out each clunk gets, the louder the next crash; in the background, constant, fierce and hallowing, the whoosh of the Arctic winds winding past the crimson wood trim outside the large cottage, which at times catches on the flashing or the gutters lining the exterior of the house and whistles, as if denying its brutal nature. The vivid action of the deep Arctic winter is draped in darkness, a few months before the sun finally inches out of the horizon for the greater part of the year. The glow of the midday twilight is hidden behind the haze of the blizzard.

Through the snow piled up on the wooden frame of the slanted third floor roof window, a hand clutching a cellphone is visible, the cuff of a British Racing Green sweater tucked up to the hand’s thumb. At one moment, the hand hesitantly pulls away from the head it’s placing the phone on, dangles next to the user’s face, and disappears. Little tuffets of fluffy, freshly fallen snowflakes collapse from the roof of the cottage, and the front door creaks open at the behest of the cell phone user, now unseen.

“Yeah, okay,” says the sweater clad man now pacing in the living room, not at her. He’s back to his phone, furiously waving his free hand at Klara in a downward motion. “We can- we may do that, yes. Uhm… y-yes. Morten Kristiansen. Morten. Yeah. Okay. Thank you. Bye.” He hangs up, stares at his phone’s screen for a moment, and glances over at Klara, who’s setting her many scarves and coats down on the kitchen table. She faces him, eyes wide, and points at him inquisitively with her chin.

“We’re supposed to travel to Lintulahti by Monday,” he says, “if the weather permits it.” He inhales heavily before continuing, looking out at the blizzard through a small, snowless gap in the window behind the living room couch. “I’m guessing flights won’t be leaving Timantirkas until Tuesday at the earliest though, but it gives us some time to…”

“Start?” says Klara, dryly.

Morten licks his lips, opens his mouth, and lets a wimpy stammer die before his teeth. “Yes. “ A pause and an equally frigid stare before he adds: “Pekkanen picks the drivers, we do the rest.”

Nimbus Bay, the Nexus Wardship of Former Citizens of the Nimbus System
February 1st, 2020

“Still there, Janne?”

He mumbles for a moment before snapping back into reality, his latte sloshing in its cup as he awakes from his standing sleep. Gertrude has got him up unusually early, and no amount of futuristic techy bedding would have been enough to guarantee a sound night’s sleep, what with the idiopathic, gut-wrenching anxiety he had had the previous night.

“Yes, yes, sorry,” he replies, wincing into a smile, the fingers on the hand he holds behind his back twitching. His vision clouds for a moment, likely by mucus, but he dares not rub his eyes in front of his boss after nearly falling asleep.

“Come.”

He follows Gertrude and her excited stride through a wide corridor, its walls lined in incandescent cobalt blue accents of some ethereal material, before it narrows, darkens, and turns to the right. Two rather rudimentary doors--for Nimban standards--stand guard before him.

Gertrude turns to face him, an eager smirk creeping onto her face. “Ready?”

He nods, having cleared the mucus from his eyes in secret, and forcing a shudder to subdue the crippling cold sweat he feels stick to his shirt.

The doors swing open in tandem, portentously, revealing a steel-satin tarp which shimmers under a single grayish overhead floodlight. As the doors near their stops, the cloth pulls back swiftly, yet respecting the ceremonious reverence of the reveal. The room is absolutely silent, the only sound the faint brush of the steel threads of the cloth collapsing upon themselves, exposing UHSGV-4 in all of its gunboat-grey glory.

Janne gasps with his mouth closed, his shock profound enough to pause the jittering in his stomach, to freeze the sweat dripping down his arms, and to make his chest feel as if he were plummeting down an elevator shaft. As his heart reaches rock bottom it feels as if it rebounds, an overwhelming rush of euphoria suckerpunching his lost, solemn gaze into a menacing, excitable facade of awe. Gertrude, now to his right, nods happily.

by **Somehow Related to Rarity** » Wed Feb 05, 2020 2:26 am

Adelphia-VMR
Around the time Carmi got his letter

Winter Breeze, the team principal, was at the café with the technical director Fortuitous.
'So we sent Mr Fire the letter, right?' Winter asked. Fortuitous nodded.
'So that's one problem solved. Mr Fire will most likely join us as a first driver, unless he decides to join another team, which is unlikely.'
'Yes. I heard rumours that Mr Fire is interested in Adelphia. Our partnership with VMR helped because we are now a confirmed team. The problem here is we need a second driver. We have a reasonable range of drivers, but some of them may not suit our car. Isaia Fanene of Togonistan looks to be the best driver for the job, but Kaylan Racing Team got him first. Also Bitten Heroes Academy got Lourdina Westgrens, so she's unavailable too.' Fortuitous added.
'Hmm...' Winter added, 'Rod Gozum of Filindostan seems like a viable choice. Maybe we should contact him. Though he has a contract with Badai Angin.' Winter looked through the list.
'William Archer of Abanhfleft looks like a good choice too. But he'll probably sign with UrGa. Shiet.' There was silence for a while before Fortuitous said, 'Maybe we should hold a trial run for interested people. The people who we mentioned should be invited. We'll do the trial run on a first come first serve basis.' Winter nodded in approval.

A while later, once all the details of the trial run were confirmed, :

To: All participating WGP2 Season III[ drivers
From: Adelphia-VMR Racing

Adelphia-VMR WGP2 Test
Adelphia-VMR will be hosting a WGP2 trial on 15 February 2020. Those who are interested to be our 2nd driver can participate.
The trial run will be held at Fillydelphia Race!Net, Fillydelphia. Accommodation will be provided.
The trial run will take place in two stages. The first one will be a practice round. You can acclimatise with the track. Drivers will be limited to 5 laps. Then, we will have a break. Drivers can choose to go around the circuit with their personal cars. They can also choose to talk with the staff. After that will be the second stage. Drivers will go out together to do 10 timed laps. After that, the driver will be either selected later that day or the next morning.
The main factors that will decide your place is lap time, driver attitude and acclimatisation with the car.
Drivers who are interested may e-mail either me(adelphia.racing@equestmail.com) or Fortuitous(fortuitous.adelphia@equestmail.com).
There are a maximum of 8 vacancies, with 2 of them reserved for the following drivers:
William Archer(AFT)
Rod Gozum(FID)

Spots Available:
1. Sara Luna
2. ~~Abdoulaye Goita~~ Signed with Kaylan Racing
3. William Archer
4. ~~Rod Gozum~~
5. Edward Baker
6. Lane Carter
7.
8.

Cheers,
Winter Breeze
Team Principal of Adelohia-VMR

OOC: Those who are interested can either telegram me or post here.

by **Auruna** » Wed Feb 05, 2020 6:37 am

Viska Racing HQ, Livonsk, Auruna
January 28, 2020

In a cold and snowy January day, Viska Racing team manager, Jöna Ekeränna said to the engineers.
"Is the car ready? I hope it is. This is our chance to prove that we can race in the world stage. Don't mess it up."

As the engineers and designers worked tirelessly for months making sure the new car is ready in time for the pre-season testing. Jöna has other things to work on. While at his office, after looking at the driver list for the season, he asks himself. "Should we wait for a driver to come to us for a drive this season?" As he packs up, someone in his office answers. "I think we should wait for now. Oh and sorry for not knocking."

"Who the---"

"Don't worry, it's just me, Artur Iljakov."

As Artur sits down, Jöna asks. "Why are you here? I thought you are driving for another team."
Artur responds. "I decided to stay as an adviser, I think I'll do well in this job and as you know, I'm a former driver just like you."
"Ah, alright then. You're going to help us out in this WGP2 season. All of the drivers there are good and you need to help us pick two."
After a brief moment of silence, Artur responds with a name of a familiar driver. "Well then, what about Miko?"
"Miko..? You mean Kaukanna?"
"Yes."
"He's on the list, I might consider him. But not now, his decision first."
"Alright then."

Viska Racing Plans

After Viska Racing completed its first car for the upcoming WGP2 season. They have chosen two tire suppliers to choose from, Tropicorp and In Motion. There will be announcements from Viska in a few days about which supplier will be fitted on their cars.

With two vacant driver seats, Viska has yet to announce which driver will be driving for the team.

Having no plans on acquiring sponsorships for now, Viska is currently focusing on the tire supplier and drivers.

Aluinta-Hertava Circuit, Hertava, Auruna
February 3, 2020

After a local event at his hometown, Miko is just hanging around the paddock and on his phone while the circuit is still open.
"Huh, it's starting soon. I better get ready. I can't wait to race....but for which team."
The though is still in his head while walking back home. And upon arrival, he hurriedly grabs his laptop and checks his emails and...

...nothing.

"Well then, this is expected. Being one of the new ones in the series."
While waiting for hours to receive even one email, he decides to read about some of the teams.
"Oh wow, these are interesting. Damn... I can't decide for now."

by **TJUN-ia** » Wed Feb 05, 2020 11:28 am

The Lost Anchor Bar, Portside, JagBase TJUN-ia
February 4th, 2020

"So how was the Free Republics, Jest?"

It was the first reunion of the Carter Family since the fall of Galar and Lane Carter wanted to see how his bothers Prince and Jester was doing. Jester had recently come back from World Bowl XXXVIII, playing at DE for the Jaguars in their debut tournament.

"It wasn't exactly a champion time, but two wins from five isn't bad for your first. Isn't it?"

"I mean, I guess so." replied Prince. He was the first to be integrated into their new nation's sports sector, as a substitute striker during the Cup of Harmony. He was the only one to have played for their former homeland. "You went absolutely nuts during the TCNE game!"

"Oh yes! It was such an unbelievable play, I nearly kissed the guy next to me on live TV!" Rounds of laughter followed. "How about you, Lane? Any luck?"

Lane was pondering how to respond. He only applied a few days ago to the WGPO to get a licence to drive WGP2-grade cars. He was accepted just in time for pre-season, but now he didn't know where to go, where to start.

"I've just got to find my feet..." he said eventually.

"Don't worry, Gearhead!" Jester replied, using the nickname Lane hated to his core "Surely opportunities will come at some point. Everything will be fine."

Lane hoped that would be true....hoped to hell and high water. Surly someone in WGP2 would give him a chance to prove himself...

by **Former Citizens of the Nimbus System** » Wed Feb 05, 2020 8:08 pm

Nexus Racing HQ, Crossbay Circuit, Nimbus Bay, the Nexus Wardship of Former Citizens of the Nimbus System
8th of July

The lights flare on again. Glare expands to fill the space, bouncing from a polished white floor to a sparkling ceiling. In strides a small group as a spearhead, variously clad but all wearing at least one piece of sky blue. Their leader, a woman of middling height with fire in her eyes, takes a breath and surveys the scene.

“Okay,” says Gertrude Thompson, turning back to her siblings-in-arms. “Two teams. Xander, Lucia, I want you finetuning the power output for the twin motors for back and front; feed the information to Tiffany. Vance, Benedi, let’s get the new chassis components in here and update the aerodynamic models. I appreciate you so much for letting the others have this time off – let’s get the ball rolling as fast as we can for when they get back.”

She grins, a honed, savage thing. “TRÆ won’t know what hit ‘em. Let’s go!”

9th of September

“We’ll have to raise the wheel arches a touch.” Vance smiles softly, clasping his hands before raising one to point to the projected image, the conference room’s scanner effortlessly following his finger and displaying a dot alongside the diagram. “To avoid rubbing on the inside edge. Beyond that, I think it’s possible.”

“Great!” Celia Speck beams, her joy infectious even from the First City. “Oh, I’m really excited about this – we all are. We’d never have been able to try this with Brutus; I’m so glad you’re on board!”

“Hey, we trust you.” Gertrude smirks back, folding her arms. “Keep us in the loop with specifications and have the tyres for WGP2; we’ll make them good on the car.”

Celia nods decisively. “Then we’ll continue! You haven’t failed us; In Motion won’t fail you!”

24th of October

“Anything back from her?”

“Yes, though the news has been poor.” Karl Rain, barely perceptibly, leans back in his chair. “She is apparently insistent on joining the same outfit as Baxen Aurora – who she seems to exclusively communicate through. Should we by some circumstance lose Laukkanen as well, they will likely be a formidable option. Currently, however, I believe that this remains firmly in the realms of speculation.”

“Less likely now, certainly.” Timothy Guard considers. “Well, it can be our backup backup plan, then… I do hope that Janne stays, at the least, though.” He turns his gaze across the table. “How are negotiations proceeding with Team Blue, Auburn?”

“Well. It seems we are purely on the defensive, regardless of the delay between seasons – there is little more ground to gain.” She twirls her stylus between her fingers. “I’m managing them in the interim, holding to our standard WGP2 development offer. So long as I can do that, we should have a lineup.”

“A good thing we have you with us, then!” Timothy grins. “Then that’s how we’ll proceed.”

2nd of December

Ryker Lane blinks as the hand is lifted from his eyes. He blinks, adjusting to the light – and then does not, staring at the argent vision before him.

He blinks again. Shakes his head. Pinches his cheek.

Nothing changes.

“Well?” Victoria turns her head sideways, all innocence. “D’you like it?”

“You…” Ryker bursts out in laughter that is quickly reciprocated, wrapping her up in a tight hug and pressing a kiss to her forehead. “Hahaha! You mad geniuses! I do indeed!”

Crossbay Circuit, Nimbus Bay, the Nexus Wardship of Former Citizens of the Nimbus System
14th of January

There is not so much a woosh as a rip in the air as Ryker and the UHSGV-3.5 blaze past.

“Well?” Gertrude raises an eyebrow at Timothy.

“You have done so, yes,” he answers, grinning. “Drivers would be lining up to try it were our seats not full – of that I have no doubt.”

Strongheart Martial Arts Centre, University of the Second City, the Second City, the Nexus Wardship of Former Citizens of the Nimbus System

Crack.

“Touch low there, Liv.”

Olivia Stone’s face tightens in furious focus, swinging her padded quarterstaff up and away from her opponent’s guard. He smirks. Trying to unsettle me, aren’t you? Are your mental powers slipping, Baxen? You can’t just wait for an opening forever.

Breathing in. Breathing out. Sometimes you have to make one!

A flurry, a cyclone, jabbing left – blocked but stumbling – circling right – barely dodged – sweep the legs. He falls.

And laughs. “Imagination, Olivia.” Baxen Aurora shakes his head, accepting her hand up even as he wipes the sweat from his brow with the other.

“You’re fighting like I don’t know you.” She grins, energy running in her veins. “Not just going to let you hold back until I slip up.”

“Oh, indeed, ‘Master of Offence’.” He picks up the crash mat, then glances back, studying her. “Twenty rounds and you still haven’t broken a sweat.”

“Still better than weight training, though!” she calls after him. More involved, anyway – mental and physical training in one. ‘Efficient’, he’d say.

Olivia leans back, looking up at the skylights of the room – clouded over but bright nonetheless. For a moment, she basks in it, letting the dying feeling of relentlessness wash over her – not nearly so strong as when she drives, not nearly so strong as when New Nexus Tower came into sight on the final run of the WGPi…

She releases it, turning once more to action.

She catches Baxen standing at the changing room entrance, tapping away at his phone. “Anything new?”

“Nothing thus far… Just sending off the last one now. Viska and SinVal as our default choices, SVJ on the off-chance we can throw Arjenko out.” He snaps the cover shut. “Let’s wait and see what they have to say.”

“Mhm. And remember, both of us or neither of us.” Olivia raps at his shoulder. “None of your tricks, okay? This is our chance. Don’t go throwing yourself on an altar for me.”

“Noted. For the fourteenth time.”

by **Hapilopper** » Wed Feb 05, 2020 8:54 pm

Andrew’s Pub, Hapilopper City
Some time before the pre-season test in Willitya
Andrew’s Pub, located near the Team Blue shop in Hapilopper City, was always a hotbed for racing drivers and teams to meet, finalize deals and make announcements. Their owner, Andrew McPherson, had been a race car driver himself, and always let drivers make public announcements if needed. On this evening, Drake Stevenson, wearing a colorful leather jacket that looked like it had come from 1993 or so, along with a grey shirt of some sort, was sitting at the bar drinking a beer.

Pretty soon, Doug Goodman with the Hapilopper Television Network and a camera crew came into the bar. They had heard that Drake was finally ready to announce the team he would likely be driving for in the next WGP2 season. A few hours later, the announcement, which appeared on the HTN Nightly News, looked strange. It certainly didn’t resemble recent announcements of major sports stars announcing where they would be going.

It looked like two old friends talking at an old-school pub, the kind of pub with wood paneling, pictures and posters from events from years and decades gone past, and some great beers. Doug sat next to Drake as the two enjoyed a drink.

“Doug, I’m so glad you came over to ask me what I was doing for next season,” Drake said in the announcement as he looked into the camera. “You know, I’ve been saying for quite some time that I’ve had a deal in place with a team for the upcoming WGP2 season, and Doug, that deal is with Nexus Racing.”

“Nexus Racing?” Doug asked. “Interesting choice.”

“Yeah, it is,” Drake explained. “I’ve been speaking with the Nexus people for the last few weeks, and they’re doing pretty something pretty interesting with something called ‘Imagination’ in recent years and they’ve got a pretty cool car for the upcoming season.”

“Tell me about the car,” Doug asked.

“Eh, I can’t do that right now,” Drake explained. “You’ll have to stay tuned. I’ve seen pictures of the car and I’m looking forward to driving it. But y’all are going to have to wait for its public debut.”

The unnamed WGP2 team that Drake would be driving for had been the best-kept secret in racing. His own immediate family – his parents and his brother Ernie – had no clue that Drake was likely going to drive for Nexus Racing. His roommates, NSSCRA driver Chris Holmes and his girlfriend, soccer player Claire Randall, didn’t even know. A day or two later, Drake informed the two that he was likely going to move to the Nimbus System to be closer to the Nexus Racing team.

“Does this mean we’re living here alone?” Chris asked.

Drake gave Chris and Claire a strange look.

“Yeah,” Drake explained. “Just don’t do anything stupid while I’m in the Nimbus System. The lease is still in my name and the landlord will call me if you do anything stupid. Holmes, that means you.”

“Well, how do you know that the landlord would even know?” Chris asked.

“Because the last time we had a party in this apartment and you thought it a great idea to throw that M-80 down my toilet, I got a call the next morning from the landlord saying I had destroyed the building’s plumbing system,” Drake explained. “What idiot decided it was a good idea to give YOU fireworks?”

“Chet,” Chris responded, a massive smile coming over his face.

“Of course,” Drake said, rolling his eyes. “Just don’t do anything stupid. I don’t want to have to come back from the Nimbus System to kick your ass.”

“Sure thing, Stevenson,” Chris replied, chuckling. “And, uh, Drake?”

“Yeah?”

Chris picked up two unused legal pads sitting on the coffee table, along with an unopened pack of ten ball-point pens.

“You almost forgot these,” Chris said. “You’ll need them.”

Drake smiled as he took the pads and pens. The two drivers embraced, and Drake was on his way to the airport. The long, hard road to become a world driver’s champion had started again. It would take a trip through WGP2, but Drake felt he could do it.

by **Auruna** » Thu Feb 06, 2020 7:29 am

Viska Kalnatranne Test Track, Livonsk, Auruna
February 5, 2020

At the snow-covered test track, the sound of a high-revving V8 is heard even at a distance.

"The car is ready." Jöna said, as he is observing from the garage.

After a few laps around the test track, the car pulls in to the garage to end testing. The engineers and mechanics will be working to get the car in shape for the upcoming pre-season testing.

Jöna asks the engineers as they are packing up. "Have you chosen which tires will be fitted onto the car?"

"Yep, we went with In Motion for this season." Artur answers, while on his laptop. "Their tires suited our car and usual strats. I hope everything will go well with them."

Jöna is now relieved, he only needs to work on getting two drivers. "I still have some work to do. You can go home now." He says as he walks out of the garage.

Viska Racing HQ

All alone at his office, Jöna couldn't decide on which driver he will go for. "Damn this is difficult. There are a lot of options and they are all good. I need to decide before pre-season testing."

He continues to browse the driver list.

"I think I know what to do." As he glances at the driver list, sending emails offering seats to Olivia Stone, Adriana Kowalski, and Baxen Aurora.

Jöna looks out of the window of his office, with the view of a snowy landscape. "I hope I made the right choice. The market is too competitive."

"I think as a backup. Miko will have a seat if he doesn't have a team yet and if I don't get a response. I will be waiting. For now."

by **Trans-Dniesters** » Thu Feb 06, 2020 7:33 am

"Ah, Taras Gavrilovich, good to see you again," Vasily Semyonovich Gatutin, team principal of the UrGa Motorsports Division, said as he welcomed Taras Gavrilovich Matviyenko into his office.

"Thank you very much, Mr. Gatutin," Taras said as they shook hands and he sat down in front of Vasily.

"Please, Taras, how many times have I told you, you can call me Vasily Semyonovich."

"Oh, of course, sir," Taras nodded. "But, seeing as our teams is now under new rules, I thought that it may be better if I... addressed you more formally. I don't want to slip up," he trailed off.

"Ah, yes. The new rules. You've heard about them, huh?" UrGa had registered for the latest season of WGP2 with the intention of keeping their drivers from the CGPRA last season, but part of the WGP2 regulations had stipulated that all drivers registering for the season had to start off as free agents, meaning that for the moment, UrGa effectively had no drivers in WGP2.

"Yes, sir," Taras nodded. "So, I guess this is it. The end. The final chapter. The last dance."

"Look, Taras, I understand if you don't think that the situation is fair, but these are the rules," Vasily said. "And why would we join any competition if we're not going to stick by the rules anyway?'

"No, no, I know, I get it," Taras nodded solemnly. "Have you talked to William about this?" William Archer was Taras's teammate in CGPRA last season as well as UrGa's intended number two driver before they found out about the rules about drivers.

"Yes, William and I already talked about it," Vasily nodded. "He understands how things stand. He even said that he'd love the opportunity to prove himself one on one against the other prospective drivers."

"Well, that's good for him," Taras mused. "William's a great kid. Bright mind. I think he really could do things in a better car. He deserves to be in one. Hey, someone has to say it." UrGa used to be one of the title challengers in CGPRA but in recent years their development had fallen off, resulting in them becoming part of the grid's backmarkers last season.

"How about you, Taras?" Vasily asked. "I know that you've been with UrGa for your whole career and almost your whole life too. Your father worked here as well, da? But on the other hand, this does sound like a very good moment in your life to, you know, expand your horizons. See the greater multiverse and not just stick around Myrilsk. There's a bigger world out there, Taras. Have some fun. It can't all be just work, work, work."

"Oh, well, you know what they say about old dogs and new tricks," Taras shrugged. "Besides, who would want to have me as their driver? I don't overtake. I can't overtake. Not after what happened in Nubalochi."

"Oh, don't sell yourself short like that, Taras," Vasily prodded. "You're a very reliable driver. There's never been an instance of anything on your car failing because of your driving. You've never been in a crash, at least not one of your own making. And you're quite good at the technical circuits."

"I don't know, sir," Taras muttered. "And what happens if there is no team out there willing to take a chance on me?"

"We'll cross that bridge when we get there," Vasily waved away. "I'm sure you'll get yourself a seat in a team sooner or later. But should the unthinkable happen, and you don't have a seat come the end of preseason, then maybe we can ask the WGP2 for special permission to bring you back in, even if just for the one season."

The frown on Taras's face remained there, yet he nodded anyway. "I understand, sir," he said. He then stood up and extended his left hand. "It's been a pleasure driving for UrGa, sir, and for you," he said.

"The pleasure is ours," Vasily replied as they shook hands. Taras left Vasily's office, and the team principal of UrGa Motorsports Division leaned back and sighed. That could have gone better, but it could have also gone worse.

Vasily's telephone rang, and he picked it up. It was one of the Motorsports Division's legal advisors. "Sir, I've just come across something," the advisor said. "There's actually nothing in the WGP2 rules that state that we are restricted from keeping our drivers when entering. We can keep at least one of our drivers for this season."

"What!?" Vasily shouted. He immediately put down his phone and called out, "Taras!" But when he went out of his office, the former UrGa number one driver was nowhere to be seen.

by **Togonistan** » Thu Feb 06, 2020 12:21 pm

Kaylan Racing Team livery reveal
Tushlark, Togonistan

The team had scheduled a public livery reveal for Thursday afternoon, accompanied with a car presentation and a press conference as a follow-up, with Team Chief Tanielu Felafa, Lead Designer Lisa Tauati, Team Scout Niko Ausage and Isaia Fanene. As the spectators had gathered in the lobby, the curtain was raised and the vehicle was displayed to the public:

Car Specifications:

Chassis: KM T-160
Engine: KM Kaieke-2 V10 (620 HP @ 8750 rpm)
Gearbox: 6-speed
Acceleration: 0 - 100 km/h, 2.90 sec
Weight: 750 kg

Following the presentation, it was time for news reporters to shoot questions at the team's representatives.

''Have the preparations for the upcoming season gone smoothly? What have been the biggest obstacles the team has had to face so far?''

''Developing the car, running tests, all the usual pre-season things really. So far, everything has gone smoothly, can't really say we've had any large setbacks so far.''

''Last season the team became famous for constant reliability issues with your brakes. Have you done anything to overcome these problems this year?''

''Well, we have made significant upgrades on multiple departments for this year's car, including brakes of course. The threat of unreliability is always high in the motorsports, but yes, we have taken steps to lower the chances of any issues happening.''

''Isaia, What are your feelings now that you know you're going to spend another season with the team in WGP2 and what do you expect from this season?''

''Uhm... I feel great, yeah. I have had a lot of time behind the wheel with the car already during testing, it feels great, fast, handles well. If everything keeps on going great, we probably have a chance for some decent results, um... yeah.''

''I believe a lot of people have this question right now, who is going to be the team's second driver this season, alongside Fanene?''

''There are a lot of great potential drivers in the pool this season and we have a few possible candidates in our radar, but that is all we are willing to say about it for now.''

''Can you possibly give us any insight about Dom Falepeau? According to latest rumours, our fellow countryman is in talks with SVJ Racing for a seat this season. What are your thoughts on the matter?''

''A driver with his calibre... sure, I believe he's in talks with some teams and is probably going to get a seat somewhere. Not sure why you're asking me though, I have no idea about Falepeau's intentions.''

Later that day, Niko Ausage sent out a private test invitation to Abdoulaye Goita, Lane Carter, Edward Baker and Miko Kaukanna
((recipients can agree or disagree via TG or RP post))

by **Diarcesia** » Thu Feb 06, 2020 9:12 pm

"Wasn't that interesting? He didn't mention the fact that he was planning to study horticulture in college. Even if he did, it wouldn't be until after graduation."

Sara and her boyfriend Tom were settling into their seats beside each other. A laptop is in front of them. Tom seemed to open some intricate spreadsheet that contains values like track length, lap times and various difficulty scores. It reminded Sara of some of the work that Tom did as a living. Whether it was about programming or number-crunching, Tom was known for being authoritative.

"Babe, prepare to be amazed." The programmer's words caused Sara's heart to beat faster in anticipation. She once asked him in passing if he can come up with something that will decide which WGP2 team she will apply for.

"This is going to be a good night for some fashion. I'll have to send mails or call to several people."

At 37 years old, Sara's motivation to race hasn't dwindled. She has been in all kinds of them: sprint, circuit, drag, and even some stints in drifting. She hadn't become famous though: she's content to move from place to place, applying for racing gigs. Not much fame, but the money is stable. The most prized possession she won in those races was a PB Crux she earned as a grand prize. She loved using it during road trips.

Now, she can't help but think if that will change, as she took the next step to try her luck in the WGP2.

"I will be busy all day tomorrow", Sara added. Based on what Tom's spreadsheet showed, she would draft introductory letters and place calls to contacts from her top three team choices, (1) Nexus Racing, (2) SinVal Racing, and (3) Adelphia-VMR.

To: adelphia.racing@equestmail.com
From: Sara Luna <sara.luna@pilarmanesi.dc>
Subject: Re - Adelphia-VMR WGP2 Test

Greetings,

As a WGP2 free agent driver, I've had my eye on starting a partnership with one of the teams in this season. I received your invitation for a trial run at Fillydelphia, and I'm willing to join it and run both stages of them.

Thank you,
Sara

by **Auruna** » Fri Feb 07, 2020 8:30 am

Livonsk Circuit Cafe, Livonsk, Auruna
6:42 AM

The Livonsk Circuit Cafe, the usual hangout of drivers, teams, and anyone related to motorsports as it is built next to the famous circuit. Miko is up early and at the cafe, still thinking about which team will he end up in.

Miko sighs. "...It's going to be a busy weekend. Schedule's packed but I think I'll be alright."

A familiar person walks up to him. "Hey Miko, how are you?"

"I'm alright." Miko responds followed by a brief pause. "Wait... how did you know that I'm here?"

"You're a driver, right? So this is an obvious place by now."

"Damn Artur, you're mysterious sometimes." Miko says after a sip of coffee.

Artur now sits down. "Alright now, I am here to help you. I heard that one team invited you for a private test session."

"Wait what?! Are you serious here?" As Miko filled with visible excitement.

Artur calmly responds. "Yes. I'm serious."

The young Aurun tries to calm down, as this is his chance to get a seat.

"The team in question is Kaylan, looking for a second driver. Now, do you accept their invita-"

Miko cuts him off. "Yes! I accept the invitation. I want to know when and where." Still filled with sheer excitement.

"Alright then, calm down mate. And since you're busy, I'll handle the emails for now. Just check later for the details."

by **TJUN-ia** » Fri Feb 07, 2020 2:31 pm

February 7th, 2020

Finally, something came for Lane. An unexpected e-mail from Togonistan's Kaylan Racing Team. An opportunity to privately test their car with 3 others.

So of course, he wrote back. He was itching to get into some new machinery. After all, everyone has to start somewhere.

"ONWARDS TO TOGONISTAN!" he shouted in his small room. Onwards, indeed...

by **Recuecn** » Sat Feb 08, 2020 9:54 am

As much as Abdoulaye had been itching for the WGP2 season and agonizing over each passing day, he’d been dreading it as well. It wasn’t the racing he feared, although that certainly had its own challenges. That was stressful, but he’d been preparing his whole life. What he didn’t feel prepared for was this negotiation period. He’d woken up twice in a cold sweat after having a nightmare that he’d received an email from the WGPO: Dear Mr. Goita, we regret to inform you that although you applied to drive in the upcoming WGP2 season, because you don’t have a contract, we are unable to allow you to participate... Afterwards, Abdoulaye was embarrassed he’d had such a stupid dream at all. “That won’t happen,” he told himself. “This won’t be like before.” But he continued to feel more and more nervous as deadlines approached.

Watching news releases enumerating other drivers who’d already signed contracts didn’t make him feel better. He knew he should feel excited, but rather, it gave him a sense of being outpaced and stressed him out. Kaylan Racing signed Isaia Fanene. Lourdina Westgrens stuck with her academy. The one that really got Abdoulaye, though, was Stevenson announcing he’d had a deal with Nexus for a while now.

Abdoulaye grimaced. He and Stevenson didn’t have the same background: Drake had had an entire career as a successful HASCAR driver while Abdoulaye was a young, no-name immigrant kid with only karting experience. Yet coming into the WGP they’d been on almost equal footing--both of them rookies offered a single test drive late in the season. Sure, Drake had already had a sponsor of his own, but it was his performance at the test drive that had catapulted him to success. Drake had won a racing seat, and then a podium, and then a contract. Goita, drive bungled, had been allowed to keep his driving gloves. The bridge had been burnt and so had his apparent route to the WGP.

So Abdoulaye was thrilled, after such a painful wait and such low expectations, to see an invitation to an open test drive for Adelphia-VMR, and to receive a personal invitation to a test drive for Kaylan Racing team. He couldn’t afford to turn down either; of course he’d attend both test drives. But he couldn’t put all his eggs in one basket. He drew up a list of teams he liked where he thought he still might be able to get a drive, and started sending applications to the teams at the top of the list. The first two were Nykipiflugpuun Noortekoondis and SVJ Racing. He sent them both a letter inquiring after an open seat. Now all Abdoulaye could do was wait for their response.

by **Vilita and Turori** » Sat Feb 08, 2020 7:12 pm

WGP2 Pick 'em - Fantasy Sports Competition

Vilita & Turori Racer is preparing for the kick off of the third WGP2 Championship Season with the return of its WGP2 Pick 'em Competition.

Fans looking to participate in VTRacer's WGP2 Pick 'em Competition will have to finalize their team selections prior midnight the day before the season opening air.NK WGP2 Race of Nekoni.

Each Pick 'em Team will consist of 4 drivers; 1 from Tier One, 1 from Tier Two and 2 from Tier Three. Entries will earn points based on the performance of their team during the event. Throughout the season a user can make changes to their team at a cost of 1 championship point per transaction.

At the half-way point of the season, VT Racer will re-seed drivers in Tiers One, Two and Three based on their performance in the first half of the season in addition to adding any drivers who join mid-campaign. If an entry includes a Tier Three driver during the first half of the season who is promoted to a higher tier at the mid-season assessment, that driver will continue to count as Tier Three driver for that entry unless they are dropped from the team and subsequently re-added at a later date.

Any entrant who is within mathematical reach of first place at the final race of the season will receive a free ticket to the Nimban Deuxieme Prix to join the VTRacer Team, but would be required to pay their own expenses and travel arrangements.

Tier 1 Drivers - Choose One

Dominik Vestergaard

Cocoabo #23

Jama'obo Pegasii

Drake Stevenson

Janne Laukkanen

Lourdina Westgrens
-

Tier 2 Drivers - Choose One

Dom Falepeau

Olivia Stone

Baxen Aurora

Edward Baker

Abdoulaye Goita

Roman Arjenko
-

Tier 3 Drivers - Choose Two

William Archer
Lane Carter
Isaia Fanene
Taras Matviyenko
Miko Kaukanna
Jolyn Caulfield
Rod Gozum
Mika Neretti
Sara Luna
Carmichael Fire
Barnabas Mate
Adriana Kowalski

by **USS Monitor** » Sat Feb 08, 2020 9:09 pm

The landing craft bounced wildly on the rutted road. Mark Sunstrom clenched his teeth and gripped the steering wheel tightly in white-knuckled hands, hanging on for dear life as he tried to regain control of the craft. No use. Sunstrom let out a startled yelp as it bounced off the side of the road. Rivets and splinters flew every which way as the landing craft rolled into a nearby ditch. The boiler hissed and a cloud of steam rose from the wreckage as the rest of the Monitor's crew ran over to see if Sunstrom was hurt. He was badly rattled and he had a few bumps and bruises, but it was nothing that would leave him crippled. "That thing is impossible to steer!" he exclaimed breathlessly.

While Sunstrom was catching his breath the other engineers looked over the wreck and talked among themselves:

"This is completely ruined! It will take a lot of work to repair it."

"The Atlantean algae is giving us plenty of power, but we have to find a way to improve the steering."

"Maybe if we made it lower to the ground it wouldn't roll over as easily?"

"The wheels need more cushioning to ride smoothly. I say we write to Tropicorp and order some of their Calanian rubber tires."

"Yes, I've heard they are of excellent quality."

Some of the Monitor's officers were standing around nearby and they overheard the engineers talking. "You might have more luck testing it with an experienced driver," Lt. Greene said.

The engineers seemed confused. "But we've never built anything like this before. How could we find an experienced driver when the vehicle is the first of its kind?"

"Don't you remember the countries we visited when we played in that international baseball tournament?" Greene said. "In those countries, there must be men who have years of experience driving horseless carriages."

"Of course! Why didn't I think of that!"

While the men of Monitor's crew helped to clean up the wreck, the conversation continued. John Ericsson was optimistic about what the landing craft would be capable of once they rebuilt it and put the new tires on. He wanted to compete in WGP2 to show it off when it was done. He argued that it would make it easier to recruit experienced foreign drivers if there was some racing glory in it for them. Some of the others questioned how realistic it was for them to compete in WGP2 with a steam-powered vehicle, but they agreed to give it a chance because of Ericsson's reputation.

Alban Stimers wrote out the order for the tires (which he is going to send to Tropicorp via street mail), Ericsson wrote to the Department of the Navy arrange for their place in WGP2, and an officer drafted an advertisement to be run in the newspapers:

DRIVERS WANTED

Seeking experienced drivers of horseless carriages to test new vehicles for US Navy. Food, lodging, and stipend provided.

Successful drivers will have the opportunity to represent the US Navy in WGP2.

by **Filindostan** » Sun Feb 09, 2020 12:48 am

Ibuna-Gambal Racing Headquarters
Yogyakulta, Filindostan

It was a frantic day at the office for Bryant Gambal. With Rudolf Ibuna overseeing the development of the Badai Angin-owned WGPC team, it was him who was handed over the reins for the operations of the main team, which was made into a junior team of sorts after allowing Badai Angin to purchase 55 percent of the team. They moved the base near Badai Angin's factory base at Yogyakulta. They also signed the recent WGP3 Filindostan champion in Rod Gozum, to supposedly pair with another signee, Barnabas Mate for their WGP2 challenge.

However, they received a letter from the organizers that will most likely to prohibit the partnership from happening, as both drivers are signed to Badai Angin's driver academy, and Barnabas' plans to obtain a Filindostani racing license, similar to what the Ajian drivers have previously done. To keep both drivers in WGP2 seats, Gambal has struck a deal with Kristian Szusza to find a WGP2 seat for Barnabas via their Solymok Tyres partnership. Barnabas have done extensive tyre testing for Solymok, and he believes that teams signing Solymok will have season-long benefits if they sign the Gergarian as their driver. Solymok have reached out to Kaylan Racing Team about a possible enquiry to include Barnabas Mate in any testing for their other driver spots. They have also offered their tyres to teams not yet choosing one and have offered the same driver in case the deal with Kaylan doesn't materialize.

In case of no deal for Barnabas Mate by the first driver test, he will be signed to Badai Angin-IGR as their first driver. For Gozum though, he had already received one offer for a test from Adelphia. However, with that team partnering with a different engine manufacturer, the champion was not sure if Badai Angin will allow him to do so. In a meeting next day, Executives from Badai Angin have allowed him to do the testing, but Adelphia will have to pay them compensation should they sign their driver.

IGR's preparation for the new season was not that ideal, despite committing with Solymok Tyres for the season, and completing their sponsorship deals within one month of the official tests. With a lack of certainty for their first driver spot, they have opened their invitation for drivers going for the second spot for a test in Kimantara on Thursday. Further details on the test will be announced soon. Their other problem is chassis development, as their car have failed two crash tests so far, and are frantically redoing their chassis integrity in time for the official test.

Users can shoot a telegram to this account or reply IC-ly by Wednesday 4 PM UTC.

by **Valentine Z** » Sun Feb 09, 2020 12:05 pm

Valentian White House – Yangon, Burma, Valentine Z

As the Valentians prepare to make their way to their first destination for NSSCRA 9, the two unexpected people would stay back, along with a few other Valentians.

“Well, good news and bad news from me!” Jolyn would say proudly, even going as far as stating that it was not so much of bad news.

“Ahh… bad news first, please,” Gwen replied back, hoping that it would not be anything too severe or heartbreaking.

“I will not be going for NSSCRA 9,” Jolyn announced first, “I err… I got other plans.”

“Ohh, no!” Clarissa remarked, “Hmm, I wonder what you would be going for, haha!”

“Ahh, that’s the best part, guys!” Jolyn continued on, “Because you see, I got myself an invitation to WGP2 – World Grand Prix 2! Imagine racing, but with F1 cars! Oh, and Adriana will be coming with me as well. Yep, just her and me, and maybe a few of you if you want to come along…”

All the Valentians would then go into a soft applause, congratulating Jolyn and Adriana for the new opportunities that they would be going for.

“Congratulations, my little friends!” Clarissa squealed out excitedly, “I wish you all the best with the races!”

“Yeah, that’s not too bad, actually!” Gwen would add in more, “Though one thing still makes me wonder… I thought you are all about hating the road courses, Jolyn… I mean, the Formula 1 racing is full of these things! Are you sure that you will be fine with that?”

“Yeah, I will be fine, don’t worry about that! I find myself wanting to do something differently, and so there I am going to go!”

“Haha, if you say so! How about you, Adriana? Are you excited?”

“I sure am! I will be very happy and honoured to be in this race! This is my very first time, how wonderful!”

“So… yeah, with that, I would like to give my big thanks to Valentijn for helping us get in once again! With me out of the way, and with Marcus helping out as support, you guys will have Valentina replacing me for this season of NSSCRA. Don’t worry, she will be fit for this race! Just… you just need to shrink her a little, actually. On top of that, she is new to the world of racing, so… all the best to you, Valentina and friends!”

Valentina would wave back at her, along with the rest of the Valentians. WGP2 started earlier than NSSCRA 9, so they would see Jolyn and Adriana going off on their own. They thought of asking if they would need any other help, but they were told by Jolyn that they are going to get to join another team there. That is, the Valentians did not need to come around because they will have a proper team there. Not that they are not a proper team in NSSCRA 8, but in the words of Jolyn: “I think we would rather that we have the professionals there to help us. I am sure that you are all great and thank you for helping us out, but for our very first race there, I don’t think we are cut for a team!”

Diamond Bay Circuit, Willitya

The two Valentians took a flight and found themselves at the very first host country. Diamond Bay Circuit in Willitya.

Jolyn: Quite a new place, I must say.

Adriana: I agree! Exciting, no less! I am a little anxious that people around us are watching us, though!

Jolyn: Ahh, don’t sweat it! It’s either them marvelling at our heights… or… nah, it’s our heights. You are 11 feet, I am 8 feet. That kind of thing makes people wonder.

Adriana: So err… what do you think should be the very first thing that we have to do? We have the accommodation, I believe.

Jolyn: I suppose that we can start looking for a team. New place, new race, new faces. Though… I could have sworn that I saw someone familiar… do you remember Drake?

Adriana: From Hapilopper? Yeah, I think so! They are wonderful people, haha!

Jolyn: Yeah, I think I might have saw his name. I don’t think they are here yet, but I kinda saw their name in a sign-up page. Would be great to see these guys join us again.

Adriana: Indeed!

At that point, Jolyn and Adriana went to a nearby café to have a seat. Adriana would start looking at the list of teams that are joining the competition, while Jolyn ordered herself a cup of coffee.

Jolyn: So, what do you find?

Adriana: Well, quite a lot of teams, actually! Pretty amazing, I must say! Look at the teams.

Jolyn: Ahh, well… quite a lot of unfamiliar names. Except for US Navy. They are… they are quite unusual to be there, though. You would think there will be more of corporations and stuff, not the military… or the Navy for that matter.

Adriana: Should we go and take a look at them first?

Jolyn: Well, their place is as good to start as others. Sure, let’s go!

Jolyn finished her coffee, the two women gathered their belongings, and went off to the relevant address provided to them. It seemed to be some sort of a ship… a landing craft of some sort. Adriana zoomed in with her eyes and commented that she saw a vessel in a distance, reckoned that it might be an ironclad.

Adriana: [ACCESSING…] Would that be USS Monitor?

Jolyn: Seems to be it! I… I am not that well-versed with ships, sorry! That’s that one knowledge I have not a lot of idea on.

Adriana and Jolyn approached the men, along with some sort of a landing craft that they have been working on, it seems. They doesn’t seem too… conventional compared to the typical F1 vehicles. Could it work on the Valentians’ favour? Would they be able to fit into the car?

Jolyn waved at the men and started introducing themselves, “Hello there! I am Jolyn, and this is Adriana. We are quite interested in racing for you folks, if you have a free slot, of course.”

1026 words, excluding Headers.

by **Trans-Dniesters** » Mon Feb 10, 2020 6:52 am

"All right, ladies and gentlemen," Vasily Semyonovich Gatutin said as he took his seat at the head of the table inside the UrGa Motorsports Division's Strategic Planning Center, otherwise known as the "war room". "It's only a few weeks until the start of preseason testing, and so far as I have looked, the situation does not look good. How are we doing with regards to driver recruitment?"

"Recruitment doesn't look good, Mr. Gatutin," one of the human resources people replied. "It does not look good at all. This whole thing regarding our confusion about the rules about signing drivers has left us way behind the curve on recruitment. Simply speaking, we've missed out on our preferred drivers."

"Those drivers being...?" Gatutin asked.

"Well, Drake Stevenson, for one. He was on our radar for quite some time, but right off the bat Stevenson declared that he was joining Nexus Racing, so that takes him off of our list."

"What about the other driver? The Lisanderan? Westends, what was her name again?"

"Lourdina Westgrens," the HR man replied. "Yeah, we weren't going to get her away from Bitten Heroes anytime soon. We were very much optimistic when we said that we were going to be targeting these drivers for this season, and now we don't really know who else to go for."

"What about Taras and William? Any word from them?" Gatutin asked.

"We haven't heard anything from Taras Gavrilovich, Mr. Gatutin," a woman, also from HR, replied. "He's not answering our calls, our messages keep getting seen-zoned... Basically, sir, he's dropped off the grid. We don't even know if he's looking for another team to join or not."

"Da, I had the feeling that he didn't take too kindly to finding out that we could have kept him and didn't," Gatutin muttered, shaking his head. "All right, what about William?"

"We've heard that he had received an invitation to try out for Adelphia. William said that he's going to go to every team that has an opening, and judging by his performance last season, there has to be a few teams after him."

"So, in other words, what you're telling me is that we still have no drivers?" Gatutin asked. The HR people nodded silently, and Gatutin could only shake his head at the revelation. "Well, isn't that fantastic. All right, let's move on. How are our cars going?"

"We have much better news on that front, Mr. Gatutin," one of the engineers said. "The aerodynamics tests have been completed, and we have capped our engines' output capacity as per WGP2 regulations. The front and rear wings are complete and installed. For the tyres, we determined that Tropicorp Sifaka will provide us with the best chance of achieving our maximum potential on the tracks. We would have gone with Akorn but they couldn't get themselves accredited by WGP2 before the deadline, so there we are. In fact, both of our cars are 99 percent complete. The only thing remaining to truly get them online is to have the seat fittings, and as was mentioned earlier, we do not yet have the drivers to get fitted with seats."

"So what you mean to tell me is that, aside from our distinct lack of drivers in our team, we are basically ready to go into preseason testing?" Gatutin asked. He received nods from all over the war room.

"Fantastic," Gatutin said. "We have everything that we could possibly need to compete in WGP2 right here and now except for the drivers. Amazing. Whoever would have thought that this was going to be our biggest problem coming into the season?"

"And that's not all, sir," another engineer said from the back of the room.

"What was that again?" Gatutin called out. "I can't hear you."

The engineer who spoke, who appeared to be in his early twenties and almost fresh from his mandatory service with the Pridnestrovian Armed Forces, looked around the rest of the room before he cleared his throat and said, "Not just having drivers isn't our only problem, sir."

"Would you like to clarify that?" Gatutin asked.

"Sir, when we designed our cars for the WGP2, we designed them thinking that it would be Taras Matviyenko and William Archer who would be driving them," the engineer continued. "Both of our cars are tuned specifically to their respective driving styles. Our cars were optimized to get the best performances out of Matviyenko and Archer. And now, unless something should happen that brings them back into our fold, any drivers that we sign will not be given cars optimized to their driving styles. Simply put, our drivers will not get the best cars for them."

"Well, then, isn't that all the more reason why we should already be looking for more drivers?" Gatutin asked. "What can we do about that then? Hold a test drive for all the drivers still without teams? Are there even any drivers left?"

"Only one way to find out, of course."

(OOC: Any drivers out there still looking for teams, UrGa is a team looking for drivers.)

WGP2 Season III [Roleplay Thread]

WGP2 Season III [Roleplay Thread]

Tropicorp Racing Supply - WGP2 Partnerships Available

Lane Carter: The Forgotten Galarian... (pt1)

Lane Carter: The Forgotten Galarian... (pt2)

VTRacer - WGP2 Pick 'em Competition

WGP2 – Post 1

Who is online

Driver/Round	NEK	FID	AUR	ESM	V&T	HAP	DCS	ISJ	EFL	NIM
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