World Grand Prix Championship 18 [RP/results]

[Togonistan]

Autodromo Internazionale del Rivoli
Race day

Mid season break had been a relief for Dom Falepeau. It gave a chance to take some time off and somewhat distance himself from the usual pressure. The non-championship races during the midseason had also been a nice change. With no championship points at stake, it took a lot of pressure of one's shoulders. Sure, there was a factor of putting up a good show for the spectators, but in the long run, they weren't something too overly important in regards of the results. Dom and his team had used that as an opportunity to test out different race strategies and setups, in short - trying out some new things.

However, now, they were in Nekoni. It was time to start working again. Working hard to keep up the decent performance shown in the first half of the season. Usual scenario - trying out different setups during practice to send it in qualifying. Results had been decent - Dom starting P8, with his teammate Jasmin couple spots ahead in P6.

At the morning of the race day, Dom had taken himself a liberty to invite the team staff out for a quick little motivational morning workout session. With music playing in the background from a little boombox, Dom was in front of the crowd, doing various simple exercises to be mimicked by the rest of the team.

''One! Two! One! Two!''

''Front bend! Back bend! Sidedab!'' Dom shouted out as he did a dab, which was shortly after mimicked by everyone else with some laughing.

''Aaaaand shake what your momma gave you!'' Dom said as he turned around and did some aggressive twerking.

''Okay, that's enough for now!'' Dom said as he shut off the boombox. ''If we manage to work today with the energy we all showed here right now, we have some promising results waiting for us. Half the season is over, come on guys! Let's do this!'' Dom waved his fist up in the air and received some cheering from his team. Soon, everyone head out to prepare for the race. Dom head back to his motorhome to take a quick shower and put on his racing suit. He hoped his fun little motivational thing would boost some confidence in the whole team for the race.

[Liventia]

CUTOFF

for the Eisborg Gran Premio di Nekoni at Autodromo Internazionale del Rivoli

[Liventia]

Week 12: Race

Conditions:      	Dry
Laps:              	52
Nation:         	NEK
Circuit:        	Autodromo Internazionale del Rivoli
Event:                	Eisborg Gran Premio di Nekoni
Safety Car on Laps:	28, 29
Cars on Grid:        	28

POS  # ▍DRV Name                               Team                               	Time      	Pts	Fastest Lap	
  1 50 ▍EDW Rudy Edwards                       Preston Autos Grand Prix Racing    	01:38:37.076	25		
  2 52 ▍SZR Sayono Souzare                     Polaris Racing Team                	00:00:13.593	18		
  3 56 ▍TAL Terho Talvela                      Tropicorp Racing Ælund             	00:00:33.856	14		
  4 23 ▍C23 Cocoabo #23                        Fireline Motorsports               	00:01:07.230	11		
  5 28 ▍LNA Sara Luna                          Volkov Racing                      	00:01:17.634	8		
  6 22 ▍KRA Jasmin Kranjska                    Mattijana Racing Team              	00:01:31.474	6		
  7 85 ▍STO Olivia Stone                       Schkeska-VSK Viska Racing          	00:01:35.870	4		
  8 77 ▍TII iBen Toralmintii                   Tropicorp Racing Ælund             	Laps Down: 1	3		
  9 47 ▍OKU Erica Okumura                      Polaris Racing Team                	Laps Down: 1	2		
 10  8 ▍ARC William Archer                     Preston Autos Grand Prix Racing    	Laps Down: 1	1		
 11 12 ▍DEV Anneliese Devereux                 TAS Alliance Racing                	Laps Down: 1			
 12 25 ▍KRU Gregori Krupin                     Volkov Racing                      	Laps Down: 1			
 13  7 ▍GTA Abdoulaye Goita                    Schkeska-VSK Viska Racing          	Laps Down: 1			
 14 11 ▍CRT Lane Carter                        Race Eelandii V&T GP               	Laps Down: 1			
 15 94 ▍LAN Ryker Lane                         Nexus Racing                       	Laps Down: 1	+ 2	1:43.706			
 16 41 ▍JMD Jean Mercer-Daly                   Nexus Racing                       	Laps Down: 1	 
 17 71 ▍IBU Rustom Ibuna                       Badai Angin Tim Motorsport         	Laps Down: 1			
 18 37 ▍SCH Niklas Schonbaum                   TAS Alliance Racing                	Laps Down: 1			
 19 46 ▍ARB Kitti Armbruster                   SVJ Racing WGPC Team               	Laps Down: 1			
 20 72 ▍VAL Charyseine Valkyria                WGPC Motorworks                    	Laps Down: 1			
 21 76 ▍KOW Adriana Kowalski                   Fireline Motorsports               	Laps Down: 1			
 22 27 ▍NUL Dario Nülkeschläger                WGPC Motorworks                    	Laps Down: 1			
 23 19 ▍FAL Dom Falepeau                       Mattijana Racing Team              	Laps Down: 1			
DNF 42 ▍DIM Alex Dimitrianov                   Badai Angin Tim Motorsport         	Ret. lap 40			
DNF 51 ▍CRU R.L. Cruisin                       Race Eelandii V&T GP               	Ret. lap 34			
DNF 14 ▍BJA Sigur Bjarnason                    SVJ Racing WGPC Team               	Ret. lap 27		
DNS 82 ▍LMN Kinu Luminna                       WGPC Motorworks                    	DNS				
DNS 63 ▍MIZ Daryl Mizushima                    WGPC Motorworks                    	DNS

---

Drivers' standings

Pos # ▍DRV Name                                Team [Engine]                                                            Tyres                              Pts
 1 56 ▍TAL Terho Talvela                       Tropicorp Racing Ælund [Tropicorp Engineering]                           Tropicorp Racing Supply            67
 2 77 ▍TII iBen Toralmintii                    Tropicorp Racing Ælund [Tropicorp Engineering]                           Tropicorp Racing Supply            66
 3 94 ▍LAN Ryker Lane                          Nexus Racing [Paragon Warp]                                              In Motion                          52
 4 28 ▍LNA Sara Luna                           Volkov Racing [WGPC Motorworks Engineering]                              Tropicorp Racing Supply            38
 5 50 ▍EDW Rudy Edwards                        Preston Autos Grand Prix Racing [Preston Autos]                          Tropicorp Racing Supply            37
 6 42 ▍DIM Alex Dimitrianov                    Badai Angin Tim Motorsport [Badai Angin]                                 Solymok                            32
 7 41 ▍JMD Jean Mercer-Daly                    Nexus Racing [Paragon Warp]                                              In Motion                          30
 8 51 ▍CRU R.L. Cruisin                        Race Eelandii V&T GP [Tropicorp Engineering]                             Tropicorp Racing Supply            26
 8 52 ▍SZR Sayono Souzare                      Polaris Racing Team [Polaris Trois]                                      Deyoze Tires                       26
10 71 ▍IBU Rustom Ibuna                        Badai Angin Tim Motorsport [Badai Angin]                                 Solymok                            25
11 23 ▍C23 Cocoabo #23                         Fireline Motorsports [Tropicorp Engineering]                             Tropicorp Racing Supply            24
12 47 ▍OKU Erica Okumura                       Polaris Racing Team [Polaris Trois]                                      Deyoze Tires                       20
13  7 ▍GTA Abdoulaye Goita                     Schkeska-VSK Viska Racing [Schkeska Motors]                              In Motion                          17
14 22 ▍KRA Jasmin Kranjska                     Mattijana Racing Team [Nordija]                                          Tropicorp Racing Supply            16
15 19 ▍FAL Dom Falepeau                        Mattijana Racing Team [Nordija]                                          Tropicorp Racing Supply            15
15 85 ▍STO Olivia Stone                        Schkeska-VSK Viska Racing [Schkeska Motors]                              In Motion                          15
17 14 ▍BJA Sigur Bjarnason                     SVJ Racing WGPC Team [Johansborg Motor Collective]                       Solymok                            14
18 25 ▍KRU Gregori Krupin                      Volkov Racing [WGPC Motorworks Engineering]                              Tropicorp Racing Supply            13
19 27 ▍NUL Dario Nülkeschläger                 WGPC Motorworks [WGPC Motorworks Engineering]                            Deyoze Tires                       11
20 11 ▍CRT Lane Carter                         Race Eelandii V&T GP [Tropicorp Engineering]                             Tropicorp Racing Supply            5
21  8 ▍ARC William Archer                      Preston Autos Grand Prix Racing [Preston Autos]                          Tropicorp Racing Supply            4
21 12 ▍DEV Anneliese Devereux                  TAS Alliance Racing [Harlean 1]                                          Solymok                            4
21 82 ▍LMN Kinu Luminna                        WGPC Motorworks [WGPC Motorworks Engineering]                            Deyoze Tires                       4
24 46 ▍ARB Kitti Armbruster                    SVJ Racing WGPC Team [Johansborg Motor Collective]                       Solymok                            3

---

Constructors' standings

Pos NAT ▍Team [Engine]                                                            Tyres                              Pts
  1 ABL ▍Tropicorp Racing Ælund [Tropicorp Engineering]                           Tropicorp Racing Supply            133
  2 NIM ▍Nexus Racing [Paragon Warp]                                              In Motion                          82
  3 FID ▍Badai Angin Tim Motorsport [Badai Angin]                                 Solymok                            57
  4 SOR ▍Volkov Racing [WGPC Motorworks Engineering]                              Tropicorp Racing Supply            51
  5 NEK ▍Polaris Racing Team [Polaris Trois]                                      Deyoze Tires                       46
  6 HAP ▍Preston Autos Grand Prix Racing [Preston Autos]                          Tropicorp Racing Supply            41
  7 AUR ▍Schkeska-VSK Viska Racing [Schkeska Motors]                              In Motion                          32
  8 V&T ▍Race Eelandii V&T GP [Tropicorp Engineering]                             Tropicorp Racing Supply            31
  9 MTJ ▍Mattijana Racing Team [Nordija]                                          Tropicorp Racing Supply            31
 10 ETN ▍Fireline Motorsports [Tropicorp Engineering]                             Tropicorp Racing Supply            24
 11 SVJ ▍SVJ Racing WGPC Team [Johansborg Motor Collective]                       Solymok                            17
 12 WGP ▍WGPC Motorworks [WGPC Motorworks Engineering]                            Deyoze Tires                       15
 13 LIS ▍TAS Alliance Racing [Harlean 1]                                          Solymok                            4

[Valentine Z]

Post 17 – Impossibility.

Adriana sat alone in her ground-level lounge, locking out everyone, even Angeline and Angela. There was little to nothing that they could say that they know of. Adriana is usually and normally a happy person/android, but one can tell that this was stressing her out. The two Valentians walked back to the plane, giving their friend a breathing space before deciding that they would check her again later. Intensely pacing around in her dimly lit room, she reached for her laptop and started typing out a message, one that she would draft out, but not write it out... just yet. What happened on that day? What happened on that race?

Well, the hairpin turns happened, for one. And her lack of aggression. It was almost-always the lack of aggression, she thought to herself. She was simply not brave enough to put a strain on her vehicle, or to at least perform a move or a two that would allow her to go further than her peers. Maneuvers that she wanted to do, but didn't out of her own directive of having risks more than 33%. She slowed down too much on the hairpin turns, moved too fast and overbreaked, and just about everything in-between.

The thoughts were increasingly terrifying her. Not the prospect of racing, mind her. Adriana did not come to the race simply to win again and again; in fact, that would have been deemed as boring. Even a point would make her happy, after all. It was not because of her team, for they have been increasingly supporting her - the cues and intel she got along the race should have been enough. However, there was one thing that was bothering her too much. Two, actually.

Dignity and Pride.

The Valentians pride themselves on their cheerful demeanor, among many other things. One of them is that while it was not exactly seen as narcissism, they are also sensitive of what the others think about them. Paranoia, perhaps, but they absolutely hate being embarrassed at. Adriana could have sworn that she overheard someone talking ill about her as she went back to her lounge - how she was a robotic deadweight of the race, bringing nothing but bad luck to her team. She wasn't sure who said it, but the recording her ears got was bright as day. On top of that, the Cocoabo happened. She wasn't jealous of the animal driver, and in fact, was the one driving her to win more races, or at least try to. What she could not take, however, was being compared. Being compared between a winner and a loser, with her being portrayed as one. Is she even good enough for the team?

Frustrated, and finally sitting back down on her chair, she opened her laptop and started reading the news. An article from Cocoabo reads:

Those expectations were immediately toppled when Cocoabo #23 put together a 4th place showing in their first ever World Grand Prix event in Eelandii and the Cocoabo has continued to outperform their Fireline teammate Adriana Kowalski of Valentine Z. Despite this, there was still some thought that Fireline would opt to give at least on of Benjamin Talison or Catherine Toggard a shot during the two non-championship races that accompanied the World Grand Prix Championships mid-season testing schedule. Once again, however, that turned out not to be the case. Having collected 13 points in the first half of the season, Cocoabo #23 would return to the track in the 13th position in the series point standings and carrying the momentum from another Top 5 finish - this time in the Non-Championship event at the Circuit d'Arès in the Isle of Saint-Joseph.

At least, all the weight, all the cynicism, all the eyes on her. She read one news articles after another, from both small-time and big-time reporters. Eventually, after going through all of that, she had enough, she thought to herself. She started her email application and started typing out a draft. She left the fields empty in case it was accidentally sent.

From: Adriana Krystal Kowalski Lillian
To:
CC:
BCC:
Subject: Resignation [DRAFT]

Good day to you all,

As you can probably tell by now, I am sorry to have disappointed you once again. I am aware that you could have someone else in the team, someone more human instead of a flawed android like me. After the consistently bad and awful performance I have been having, I am honestly wondering if you guys see something in me. When I did get myself a 2nd in a race, it was for a non-championship race that has absolutely no impact. Then I have to ask myself: Am I being too much of a liability to my team?

I am sorry to do this but-

She stopped writing for a while. There was no way this was going to go out. It was an angry letter, written in the heat of the moment, and Adriana knows it. Standing up and walking around once again, she kept playing a recording of the gossips that she heard. "Dead-weight," she thought to herself, referring to the recording. Increasingly furious, Adriana stomped on the floor of the lounge, letting out all of her rage into that one earth-shaking stomp. And earth-shaking it was; it would have triggered a 3.5 Magnitude tremor by the local stations. The floor tile was definitely damaged. "I will pay for that later," Adriana thought to herself, who was now feeling a little better from venting it out.

As for the email?

"Do you want to save the email as a draft?" Yes / No / Cancel... Yes. No. Cancel. Save it for later. Cancel and send it. Or discard.

As she hover her hand around the "Cancel" button, bent on trying to send the email, she suddenly played another recording. It was not the gossips. It was not the scrutiny that she was getting.

It was the message she got from her team over the radio during the race.

"Adriana, I know this may not have been the performance you were looking for...... But don't worry. We know what you can do. We know that you are a good driver. And nothing will convince us otherwise. You're a part of this team. You're a part of this family."

Slowly blinking her eyes and looking around her room much more relaxingly, she ultimately clicked No, deleting the resignation draft. She told the press that she was going to stay until the end of the season, and she was going to make damn sure that she follows through with that promise.

"Nie Rezygnuje!" she wrote with a felt-tip on her helmet, followed by packing her stuff and making her way back to her plane. Her two friends worried, but after an explanation exposition, it is more or less cleared that she is here to stay.

"Angeline, Angela... thank you for being with me."

"Przejdźmy dalej."

[Squidroidia]

"Daryl that is a 1:43.758. I know you had that podium in the 2nd of the 2 non-championship races, but you aren't going to race in the Nekoni GP. At least you finished ahead of Luminna!"

That car was a brick indeed. When it mattered most to the Squidroidian, he doesn't make the race. Daryl Mizushima had once again not qualified for a Grand Prix, but that can happen to any driver who benefits most from a reverse championship order grid position when it doesn't really matter. It's easy with this to go from a podium finish to not even making the next race. And you know what? He expected it too. Daryl knew that it was only downhill from here, and guess what? He's plopped back to his role as the joke of the garage, but you can't blame him. He was forced to be known as the joke of this garage with his WGPC Motorworks machine. That little brick.

It hasn't helped that he was lonely as the joke of the World Grand Prix Championship. William Archer, Mr. Get Good himself, had just won both non-championship races, and has been out of the talk for the joke of the series. 4 drivers didn't even score a point yet - Fireline driver Adriana Kowalski, TAS Alliance's Niklas Schonbaum, and WGPC Motorworks teammates Charyseine Valkyria and, of course, Daryl himself. At least for the previous 3 they have started all (Or at least in Valkyria's case most) grand prix so far. Daryl? He only had that Hodori GP in his starting resume, and even then it had to be done in the rain, just ahead of Dario Nülkeschläger. He finished 1.5 seconds behind the sexiest man in the WGPC in Nekoni qualifying. It didn't help, of course, that he had to go through the Motorworks qualifying procedure - And like a driver who studies nothing before his driving test, he got a six out of six... Hundred.

So what's a Mizushima gotta do if he's out of yet another Grand Prix? Message his new friend, Lane Carter.

To: Lane Carter
From: dmizushima@squidmail.sqr
Subject: RE(8): Letter

Hey there Lane, erm, Apple Man. Heh, it's as good as a nickname as Mr. Get Good himself, William Archer. I don't mind you changing the subject line, heck I changed it too! Look at that, RE(8)! Fancy as all heck!

Again, 22 apples is plenty for a guy like me! Just so you know I ate one of them to taste an actual apple and it was surprisingly sweet! I know apples come in all types but you're here making me the sweet one. I also gave an apple to my father Yusuke, and I don't know what to do with the other 20. Maybe get an apple farm up and running and monopolize the Squidroidian apple industry? Who knows?

Again, I also had fun talking to you when we were at the island for the non-championship race. To be honest I still want to talk to you back, but I know you got San Marco coming up and you wanna focus on that, and since the Motorworks "home" race is at Talbott, there is an in-between. How about we meet again in Happiloper City? Now now, we aren't conspiring to get someone a win in that "Oh Crap There's A Wall" sweepstakes I keep on hearing about from Rudy "Mr. Get Good's Brother" Edwards. He's complaining on how harmful it is, and if one of us were to crash at "Oh Crap There's A Wall", or Octaw for short, it would probably be on accident, just saying.

I have to say though, my position is unique. If I don't qualify on Saturday, I have to wipe the slate clean for next race week. There is basically nothing to worry about when you don't qualify other than being a guaranteed laughing stock for some guy who says manus a lot of the time to talk about. If we were to switch places, I would have to worry the same as you. If I were to qualify low on Saturday, the pressure is on for Sunday. I would have to deal with that next season, that's for sure. Who knows, maybe I could back up someone like R.L. Crusin like you're doing right now with Race Eelandii!

With all of that set, I hope you do well in the Nekoni GP. If you don't do well, that's fine, there's always San Marco. Good luck out there!

-Daryl Mizushima
#63 WGPC Motorworks driver

---

"The last 2 Grand Prixs where William Archer won handedly might have not counted for the Championship, but it's safe to say that Preston Autos have really gotten good! RUDY EDWARDS WINS THE NEKONI GRAND PRIX!"

...Should it even be obvious at this point? Daryl HAD to Get Good now. Get that 2nd GP start and maybe push a Preston out of the way in San Marco. Deal? That should be good... Imagine the Daryl Mizushima Get Good memes...

"HEY, DARYL MIZUSHIMA, GET GOOD!
Proud sponsors of Preston Autos, who have raced 11 more times than Daryl Mizushima in the WGPC this season."

---

Team Name Guides

OOC: In real life Formula 1, a team can be differentiated from the competition by their chassis name and their engine provider - Recent examples include Torro Rosso-Honda (Now Alpha Tauri-Honda) and Racing Point-Mercedes. For works teams (Teams that make their chassis and engines) their chassis name is only used (Ferrari and Renault for example). Here's a guide to all of the WGPC teams if they followed this principle, from first in the Constructors to last in the Constructors.

Tropicorp Racing Ælund - Tropicorp
Nexus Racing - Nexus
Badai Angin Tim Motorsport - Badai Angin
Volkov Racing - Volkov-WGPC Motorworks
Schkeska-VSK Viska Racing - Schkeska-VSK
Race Eelandii! VTGP - Race Eelandii-Tropicorp
Mattijana Racing Team - Mattijana-Nordija (Or alternatively MRT-Nordija)
Fireline Motorsports - Fireline-Tropicorp
SVJ Racing WGPC Team - SVJ-Johansborg
WGPC Motorworks - WGPC Motorworks
TAS Alliance Racing - TAS-Harlean 1

[Hapilopper]

Autodromo Internazionale del Rivoli, Val de Rivoli, Nekoni
The Grand Prix of Nekoni
There was something different about this day. Something different about this race. And there was something exciting about what was coming. For the first time, the Preston crew felt great about what was coming up. They felt like they could do something magical on this lovely day in Nekoni. Marty Lewis, who saw the Grand Prix circus for the first time at this race last season, had a huge smile on his face. Sure, he had some concerns about the “They Crash, You Win!” contest that the Hapilopper Television Network was putting on, and he was wondering if Rudy Edwards was going to show the kind of results that William Archer had shown in the two non-championship races, but for all intents and purposes, he felt good about the day.

Rudy felt good about the day to come, too. He had finally shown the racing world what he was capable of, and put the Preston PGP-01 on the outside pole for the Grand Prix of Nekoni. The car felt like it had been set up absolutely perfectly. In the morning warm-up, the car went exactly where he wanted it to go, and exactly the way Rudy wanted it to be. The car had the power he was hoping for, and had the right amount of downforce for the track. As he placed his car on the grid, he looked around, saw the mechanics getting their work done like clockwork. A camera crew from the Hapilopper Television Network made their way to Grid Position Number Two, to find Rudy climbing out of the car, grabbing a bottle of water and confidently chatting with a couple of Preston mechanics.

The Hapilopper Television Network, in the last 24 hours, had promoted the hell out of the live broadcast of the Grand Prix of Nekoni, with William Archer winning the last two races and Rudy starting on the outside front row of the race. And sure enough, much of Hapilopper tuned into the Grand Prix. Millions of Hapiloppians had woken up early on a Sunday morning, wondering if today would be the day for one of their own, Rudy Edwards, or maybe his teammate, William Archer, to take a well-earned triumph in a full-fledged championship Grand Prix.

And there were other Hapiloppians watching elsewhere. In another land, Team Blue and its drivers, Drake Stevenson, Frank Bronson and Taylor Henderson were at a couch watching the HTN broadcast. In a few hours, they would get ready to compete in the next round of the NSSCRA, but their main concern was watching their fellow countrymen in the World Grand Prix Championship.

But as Drake sat at the couch at the Team Blue Center, he couldn’t help but feel a pang of sadness. This was supposed to be his moment. He was supposed to be the one sitting on the front row of a World Grand Prix. But he didn’t make it. It was at this circuit, one season previous, where Drake and Marty Lewis flew in, checked out the sights and sounds, walked around the circuit and tried to get the attention of the teams of the WGPC circus. He wondered how different things would have been if he hadn’t completely flopped like a lead balloon in WGP2 the previous season.

Drake had lost so many nights of sleep in the last few months wondering “what if?”

What if he had gelled with Nexus Racing in WGP2?

What if he had gotten the grasp of Imagination?

What if he wasn’t going through personal problems at the time?

What if he could fully concentrate on the task at hand with Nexus?

What if he hadn’t screwed whatever relations he had been trying to build with Eelandii VTGP?

What if he “accidentally” missed his flight home from the Nexus Wardship after the WGP2 series?

And he was thinking that again as he sat in the Team Blue Center. A lump built in his throat as Doug Goodman, HTN reporter, interviewed Rudy Edwards for the Hapiloppian audience. Overcome with emotion, Drake excused himself and left the Team Blue Center, walking towards the track he was at, just trying to gather his emotions.

None of those “what ifs” were going through Rudy’s mind as he was fielding Doug’s questions. He had a huge smile on his face as he took the questions. For the first time, he felt he could win a Grand Prix. If he could play his cards right and do what he needed to do the right way, Rudy felt he could actually win on this day.

As time drew near, Rudy got in his car, put his helmet on, and the car came to life.

“Good day, Rudy,” a sweet voice inside the car’s radio system said to him. “Let’s win today.”

He knew what he had to do. Throughout the formation lap leading to the start of the race, Rudy weaved the car around, both to get the jitters out of his system and to warm up the tires, which needed to be at an optimum temperature before the start of the Grand Prix for maximum grip. When he got back to Grid Position Number Two, he looked over towards Sara Luna, starting from the pole, and then looked towards the lights. He hit the green launch control button on his wheel and set the fuel mixture to Mode 7.

The Machismo Mode. Full Power.

One light. Rudy’s eyes went wide.

Two lights. The tension was incredible.

Three lights. He glanced towards Sara Luna again, then back to the lights.

Four lights. Marty Lewis sat at the pit gantry nervously, watching the various monitors.

Five lights. Just about time to go.

Lights out. GO, GO, GO!!!!

Rudy firewalled the throttle on his PGP-01 and went hell bent for leather, determined like nothing else to be the first one to make it to the turn 1-2 complex. When he made it to the complex, he checked his mirrors, then looked left and right for anyone else. But Sara Luna had taken the lead, and Rudy realized he needed to play catch-up to one of the best in the business.

He sat behind Luna for the first part of the race, wondering if he could find a way around her. Wondering if he would get his chance to make a move. Eventually, he got his chance, and he made some wild maneuvers in an attempt to take the lead away from her. He swung left. Swung right. The two made it side-by-side into a corner, and the two made contact. Rudy took the lead. All of Hapilopper went nuclear as they watched their fellow countryman take the lead!

Rudy felt at this point, all he had to do was hang on, and just keep on going. But a little fear came into the back of his mind, fearing that something horrible was going to happen between now and the checkered flag.

Same with Marty. He remembered that day in Vilita a season before, when Drake Stevenson, driving for Eelandii VTGP, dominated the race before it all went wrong for him, and lost the lead in the last few laps to iBen Toralmintii. Marty clasped his hands in prayer and held them close to his face as Rudy crossed the line for lap 47. Five to go.

He feared what would come next. Maybe the engine would blow on Rudy. Maybe the turbocharger would conk out. Maybe the popoff valve would open up, robbing the car of much-needed boost. Maybe Sayono Souzare would turn out some of the greatest laps in history, passing Rudy on the last lap. Anything and everything was possible. Marty looked at some of the in-car telemetry, and saw the boost figure, and to his relief, it still read “55 INCHES,” the optimal amount of boost for the Skychief V6, Preston Autos’ stock block engine they were trying to sell to customers.

The laps continued to tick away. Four to go. Three to go. Two to go. Final Lap. Rudy’s lead over Souzare was around 14 seconds. Marty was trembling at this point, scared to death that Rudy’s engine would lose power on the last lap. Scared to death that something dreadful was going to happen. Scared to death that it was all going to come crashing down in the worst possible way.

The Preston crew, sitting in the pit garage on the other end of pit lane from the gantry, stood by, watching the television screens. All of them were about as nervous as could be. Some knelt in prayer. Others held on to each other, hoping against hope that the car would hold together, that Rudy would hold together, that maybe, just maybe, this day would belong to them, this group of misfits and hotrodders from Hapilopper.

The next one minute and 45 seconds went by very, very slowly for Rudy, for Marty, for all of Hapilopper. It felt like an eternity as Rudy rounded each of the corners of the Autodromo Internazionale del Rivoli. Rudy swore he could hear every part, every nut, every bolt, of his car, of his engine, in that last lap. He could hear the turbocharger breathe in and out. He waited for something to break. Anything to break. He waited for the inevitable crushing disappointment.

It never came.

He came out of turn 18, the final main corner on the circuit, firewalled the throttle and started screaming over the radio. Screaming a scream of pure, unadulterated joy. Screaming a scream of victory. Rudy looked right to see the flagman, waving the checkered flag for him. He screamed a little louder, in a joy he had never felt before.

How sweet it was.

Marty Lewis put his head down and said a soft, quiet prayer to himself. For many years, he had been known as the wild child, the party boy of Hapiloppian motorsport. He had been known as the one that had smashed up hotel rooms, gotten thrown out of numerous watering holes and dive bars across Hapilopper for his rowdy nature, and made an ass out of himself and of Preston Autos. Close to a year ago, his bosses at the Preston Automotive Company had given him an ultimatium: Clean up your act, or you’re done. No more chances. No more excuses. In order to get him away from that environment, Preston put him in charge of a prospective World Grand Prix Championship team, a team he was responsible for building from the ground up. His bosses had no expectations – it would be a lark, something they could disown after a year, or if they never made it to the grid. Or maybe it would be the greatest thing to happen to everyone involved. In that 12 months, Marty had hired a crew of people from all over Hapilopper. There were the hotrodders that knew how to get huge power out of little engines on a quarter-mile drag strip. There was the mechanics that had been around dirt sprint cars and Championship cars all their life. These were people responsible for building a team in the most advanced form of motorsports in the multiverse.

They didn’t rely on something as futuristic and wild as Imagination, as Nexus Racing had. They didn’t have a pedigree in the WGPC, as teams like Eelandii VTGP, Mattijana or Tropicorp Racing Ælund. They came to the World Grand Prix Championship using an engine based out of a Preston Skychief road car. A production-based V6 engine. And they hit so far above their weight, so far beyond expectations of a low-tech production engine in the most high-tech of high-tech racing series anywhere in the multiverse. Marty looked to a monitor and saw the graphic: “Rudy Edwards, Preston Autos GP, WINNER. 1:38:37.076.”

Tears ran down Marty’s face. This was his victory just as much as it was anyone else’s. He had gone from raging drunk idiot on his last chance at the best job he ever had, to building a Grand Prix team and putting it to the front of the field in less than twelve months. Alex Parkes, Rudy’s strategist, looked over to Marty and put his arm around his shoulder. Parkes had tears in his eyes too.

So did many of the Preston mechanics, who rushed out of the garage and embraced each other as they waited for Rudy to get back. Sure, the Preston team and its sponsors had talked up a big game, but they couldn’t imagine actually competing with some of the big guns of the World Grand Prix Championship. They had been 10th in the Constructor’s Standings leading up to this day, and there had been talks about Preston Autos possibly pulling the plug, thinking the experiment to be a waste of time.

Rudy slowly drove back to the pits, tears rolling down his face too. Earlier in the week, Marty had warned him about his performance – or lack thereof. Marty had reasoned that teammate William Archer had found the sweet spot, as far as performance was concerned, so why not Rudy? Marty had suggested that Rudy should get his rear in gear, or face the consequences. Not only had Rudy gotten his rear in gear, though, but he had won his first Grand Prix.

Meanwhile, in the Team Blue Center elsewhere in the multiverse, all of Team Blue were celebrating their fellow countryman getting his first win. Many were hugging, celebrating what was considered to be one of the biggest triumphs in Hapiloppian sport. Drake Stevenson sat at the couch, his hand in his face, thinking about what might have been. This could have been his moment. But he had a huge smile on his face. He was so happy for Rudy. He was so happy for Marty. He was so happy for Preston GP. He was so happy for Hapilopper. This was their moment.

When Rudy got out of the car, the mechanics mobbed him. Marty, overcome with emotion, rushed over and gave his driver a huge hug.

“Thank you so much, Rudy,” Marty said to his driver, emotion choking his voice. “This is our moment.”

“Damn right it is,” Rudy said. “We won, boss.”

And the two took to the podium in Nekoni along with 2nd place Souzare and 3rd place Terho Talvela. On this occasion, one national anthem was played – “The Sun Always Shines on Hapilopper.” As the song played for everyone, it was too much for Rudy and Marty to take. It had fully sunk in.

At the very least, on this day, Rudy Edwards was the best racing driver in the multiverse, and Preston Autos Grand Prix Racing was the best racing team anywhere. And nobody could take that way from them. Not this day, at least.

[Lisander]

Autodromo Internazionale del Rivoli, Paddock
Moments after the race

Her body lolled like a bottle of champagne in the ice bath. Wearing a performance swimsuit, Sissie allowed her body's tension to be dissipated by the ice. The Val de Rivoli circuit is technical, with excellent curves and several hairpins, so after 52 laps, the whole body would obviously be very tense. A lively song in her headphones, and after a session of fifteen minutes or a little less in that icy bathtub she would be ready for another one, which would already be that night. At least, they would be fewer laps. That night, she would be, albeit virtually, back in Lisander, at the Grandeville circuit, running a race at Virtual GP Lisander, a league organized by fans.

Stretching her arms and legs out and into the cold water, she danced and lip-synced the music in her ears.

"Che magnifica! Che cosa fantastica!" - She said, letting out a laugh that freed her from all mental tension.

She felt like a supermodel, a posh girl. And she was very happy with that feeling. She was finally getting the hang of the races, and finally leaving the last positions. It was a pity, in fact, that two of the last three races had not counted for the championship table. She would have three points in Raichovsky with an eighth position, and one more point in Arès, with the fastest lap. If she counted the excellent race of Nick Schonbaum in the Twicetagrian GP, the team would have 15 points more than now.

"Ohh... This is so good. This scene would only be more perfect if I had reached the podium and had a bottle of champagne sailing around, those of a litre and a half..."

That was one of the young woman's ambitions. She wanted an ice bathtub with a champagne bottle. Maybe a bathtub filled with champagne? 200 litres of that beverage? What a wild idea! She still didn't know when or if she would have that delicious opportunity, but she got goosebumps just thinking about it. Although, those chills could well be the result of hypothermia. Rising from the bathtub, she took the purple robe and covered her body. Her ice time was running out, then some circuit official would come and change the water and ice so that someone else could enjoy that refreshing sensation.

In the dressing room, she dried herself and quickly put on warmer clothes. Next, it would be time for her to return to the hotel, to have a nap. She would have more time to rest her muscles, before a light action at the simulator by night, and soon after a plane would take the TAS Alliance to the next championship stop, San Marco. To Filindostan, it was a shorter trip, but the race after that would be in Hapilopper, and it would be a longer trip. Sissie knew she needed to be as rested as possible at all times, so any minute of sleeping or relaxation was very valuable, not only for her body but for her mind too. She knew about lisanderian drivers fame of being "overthinkers", so she was always trying to keep her mind only on her duties, without caring about the team management, like most of her predecessors. Making that decision had been difficult, after all, the team's success had depended primarily on their performance.

She focused on what she could do, so while strolling with her electric scooter by the Paddock to the parking lot, she focused on watching the last fans leaving the circuit, the teams packing themselves for travel and the stewards finishing the inspections in Parc Fermé. When approaching TAS Alliance sector to pick up her bag, she noticed Kimi Nasunen with a keychain on his hands.

"Good job, Sissie. Let's keep working. Here, as a prize for today. Just make sure you will use that TAS Alliance fan livery we put in the forum. Don't forget to turn the adjustments back and return the key to Carolina after the race."

That was nice. For the first time, she was allowed to use the work simulator to make some virtual racing. Now that was another level of competition. A level where she could win almost every Sunday.

[Abanhfleft]

WILLIAM JESSPER ARCHER ✓

@OffishWillArch8

Can we just go back to using reverse championship order to decide the grid on Sunday?


#WGPC18 : #NekoniGrandPrix : #GetGood : #BringBackReverseQuali

Time to go back to reality, William Archer said to himself. Winning the past two races had been very much a joy, and they would be moments that he would never ever forget for the rest of his life, but in the end they were still non-championship races, meaning that neither of those wins ended up putting any more points beside William's name, and his team Preston Autos GP wouldn't get any points from his two wins as well. Yet another reason why William doubted the need for a race on the calendar where no points were on offer, and another reason for the haters to pile on Preston, with them claiming that Preston only did good when there was nothing on the line.

At this point, having gone through practice here in Nekoni, William was slowly starting to discover the factors that had led him to success in the past two races. Starting in the reverse championship order had meant that William started those two races further forward than he usually had, and that had meant he needed to get past fewer cars in order to get to P1. William's initial joking twii about retaining reverse championship order for qualification was beginning to get less and lest jestful as the weekend wore on.

And then there were the rumors that Rudy Edwards' place in the team was being put into question, simply because William had won those last two races. Frankly, William thought those rumors to be completely laughable. Two wins in two races that didn't count for anything in the championship (both the drivers' and constructors') shouldn't be any reason for Marty Lewis to start considering a replacement for Rudy. That was just narrow-minded thinking, completely ignoring the big picture. Throughout the entirety of the season that had already been completed, Rudy had been beating William both in qualifying and race finishes. Just because William had finally gotten good in the last two races was no reason for this team to suddenly put the position of the clearly better driver under question. It just wouldn't do.

But there was another thing that was troubling young William's mind. It had been on his mind since the impromptu party in Twicetagria, but he had already noticed hints of it before. William had seen two drivers talking between themselves at the party, and when those two drivers had seen him looking at them, William was pretty sure that they had laughed. Those two drivers had been Lane Carter and the Squidroidian, Daryl Mizushima. Or at least William had been pretty sure that they were the ones he saw. William knew that they had their reasons for not thinking very highly of him. Lane Carter, being from TJUN-ia, had reason to feel animosity about William due to the latter's father Guillermo using some of his mind game tactics from his ARTS days to wage war on Jaguar Racing in NSSCRA. William was pretty sure the name of Archer was pretty much mud over in TJUN-ia.

William had a little more difficulty seeing how or why Daryl would "hate" him too (hate being in air quotes since William thought that particular word was too strong to describe what he could sense Daryl felt about him). The only thing that William could really remember having done to Daryl was beating him in the Preston tryouts before the start of the season, and surely that could hardly be any reason for one driver to hate another. Maybe if Daryl didn't get a seat of his own, but he was in the WGPC works team, was he not?

Well, there was the "Get Good" thing. But if anybody had any right to be angry about "Get Good" then surely it had to be Rustom Ibuna, who had been specifically targeted by the marketing campaign after results in the past few points-paying races. Yet as far as William could see, Ibuna wasn't doing anything about it. If he thought ill of either William or Rudy about it then he was doing a damn good job of not showing it.

Nevertheless, William thought that he should at least make an effort to clear the air with both Lane and Daryl. At the very least, he wanted both of them to know that he knew they were laughing at him behind his back. But how could he get in touch with either of those two? Luckily, William knew someone who could maybe help him make contact with Lane.

"You know, William, this is probably the strangest thing I have ever had to do to help someone," Taras Matviyenko, William's former teammate back in his CGPRA days, said when William asked him if he still had Lane Carter's contact information. Taras had also been teammates with Lane before, specifically in WGP2 Season III. Ever since Taras failed to get a ride in this WGPC season, he had been seen hanging around the Preston garage, usually near where William was. That was how William had been easily able to ask Taras if the latter still knew of a way to get in touch with Lane Carter.

"Yes, I still have his email," Taras told William, and the Pridnestrovian driver gave the details to his Fleftic former teammate. "Mind you, I don't know if it's the same one that he still uses, but it was the one he gave me back in WGP2. Not that I was able to talk to him much via this channel because we mostly did our talking and discussions physically, but you know what I mean."

"Thanks, man," William said, nodding his head. "Now let's just hope that Lane is as willing to talk to me as I am to talk to him."

To: lcarter@JagWire
From: william_jess_archer@hayahay.com.ab
Subject: [No Subject]

Hey man.

My name is William Archer, but I kind of feel you know that already. Look man, I'm gonna cut to the chase. I saw you and the driver from Squidroidia talking during the party in Twicetagria, and I had a feeling that you two were talking about me and even laughing at me.

Mate, I'm just a simple guy. I don't like it when people are talking about me and laughing at me behind my back. I gotta admit, seeing you two laughing at me has been bothering me these past few weeks, and I've been thinking about how I was going to talk to you guys about it. But I also don't want to make a scene, which is why I've decided that I would rather send you an email instead of going to you personally, although if you would prefer we talk about this face to face, I understand and will be willing to do so as well.

I think I know why you feel the way you do about me, Lane. It's because of my father, isn't it? I know what he did to your countryman in NSSCRA, and it must have really offended everyone in your country. And I understand where you are all coming from completely. My father does that kind of thing in my country a lot, but he still went too far with what he did, and I know that there are a lot of Fleftics who feel the same way I do. Or maybe I read you completely wrong and you have completely different issues with me. I wouldn't really know, unless you'd like to talk to me.

I'd also like to clear the air with you a little bit. Yes, I am the son of Guillermo Archer, but I am not him. If you have problems with him, don't pass them on to me. I'm just trying to make a career for myself here. If you've got a problem with me then I'd love to hear it from you. But I hope you understand that I am not my father.

Sincerely,
William Archer

As William read through his email one more time before sending it to Lane Carter, he wondered if he had worded it a little too strongly. And maybe it was. But maybe it was time for William to get a little strong with his words. He may be one of the quieter and less outspoken drivers on this current grid, but that didn't mean that he was completely voiceless. And if what it took for him to finally speak up was because of two drivers talking about him behind his back, then this was a small price to pay.

And maybe those "rumors" of Preston looking for a replacement driver for Rudy Edwards was just the kick up the butt he needed to get good. He finally got Preston's first official and actual WGPC win in Nekoni. Preston had officially "gotten good", and now it was time for the rest of the grid to "get good" as well. Though only time will tell if Preston had truly gotten good or if this was just a one-off occurrence.

[TJUN-ia]

Sunday - Race
Race day arrived in Nekoni and Lane Carter was certainly feeling a bit better than he was after qualifying in 20th yesterday. Still, 20th wasn't the best, but Daryl Mizushima had responded last night with a new meeting place: Hapilopper City. With Carter wanting to focus on San Marco (for obvious reasons) and with the Motorworks team having its home race (close enough) at Talbott, it made sense that Hap City would be the one in the middle. Lane had heard a lot of Hap City from when it hosted is NSSCRA race last season. They treated that as a festival and so, Lane was expecting much of the same when the WGPC came to town. Still, Lane had to focus on a few things before that: this and San Marco. but as the light went out, the Galarian was looking forward to another meeting with the Inkhallen...maybe more than he would like to think.

The race itself was...actually alright for Carter. He got a few overtakes done and took advantage of the safety car (Sigur Bjarnason on lap 27 causing its appearance) to end up higher than he expected come the midpoint of the race. R.L. Cruisin retired soon after, as did Alex Dimitriianov, but Carter would stay around to cross the line in P14. No points, but a good job considering where he was to start. Maybe that email helped in some way, but who knows?

The field was told collectively to "Get Good" as Ruby Edwards proved that Preston's non-championship form was no fluke by winning this race by 13 seconds to Sayono Souzare. Terho Talvela rounded out the podium ahead of a charging Cocoabo #23 and polesitter Sara Luna. Jasmin Kranjska, Olivia Stone, iBen Toralmintii, Erica Okumura and William Archer rounded out the Top 10 as Lane Carter finished ahead of Ryker Lane, but it was Ryker who ended up with the fastest lap. Terho leads iBen by 4 points in the drivers, with Lane remaining in 20th. No points for Race Eelandii of course, who moved down to 8th after being jumped by Polaris, Preston and Schkeska.

The team was slipping down but would take a surprise e-mail from Will Archer for the Galarian's mood to do the same. After sending his response to Daryl, Will's e-mail arrived bearing...an interesting wall of words. The Fleftic thought that Lane and Daryl were laughing at him behind his back, especially at the Impromptu Bash he organised back in Raichovsky. He also thought that Lane had issues with him due to his father, Gil himself and that if Lane had an issue with the Fleftic man, then he'd love to hear it. He looked at the email feeling...confused. He wasn't the sort of person who would do that. Lane was kind, not evil, and he knew what to do: He had to respond to the man with TJUN-ia's Anti-Christ as a father.

---

To: dmizushima@squidmail.sqr
From: lcarter@jagwire.tj.un
Subject: RE(9): Letter

Hey there, the Apple Man once again. I'm glad you liked the change in the subject line to something less cluttered. We're at RE(9) now, which sounds like a lot and definitely is but I wouldn't have it any other way. It's been fun, this back and forth, and I look forward to your response - as it will be RE(10)! (woohoo!)

I'm also glad you enjoyed my "Apple Diplomacy(TM)". Apples come in all types of tastes and colours and if I'm making you the sweet one, then maybe I'm doing something right after all! Your 20 apples could be a good start to an empire if you so choose, but I'm not expecting you to turn a profit within a calendar year. Apples may grow on trees, but money certainly doesn't!

I would love to meet up in Hap City! I've heard a lot about it from NSSCRA 9 and it's very good indeed IMO. "Oh Crap There's A Wall" is a funny name for a corner, but that's Hapiliopper for you. Again, I don't mind where we meet up but if you want me to get you something again, I would be more then welcome to do that. Heck, you could even get me something if you want (not that I'm suggesting you should of course) but that is your call. Last time was fun and I'm expecting more of the same in 2 weeks time.

Next up is San Marco, where I hope I can be at least good enough for points here. I left here last time with pain and I hope to avenge myself in some way this time next week. I hope you do well too, as always, and if I don't see you in Filindostan, I definitely will in Hap!

Kind Regards,

Lane Carter
Driver of #11 for Race Eelandii V&T GP

---

To: william_jess_archer@hayahay.com.ab
From: lcarter@jagwire.tj.un
Subject: RE

Hello William.

I'm sorry we couldn't have talked under better circumstances. I've just read your email and I've got to say, you got me thinking. I hope this response will help.

First of all, I enjoyed your party in Raichovsky. It was great and showed me what the NSSCRA guys already did for fun, which was an experience. But I will say that I, or Daryl, did not laugh at you at that party. I swear down, we did not. We are both kind people and I certainly wouldn't resort to that sort of thing. There may have been a few memes, but that was only due to the infamous slogan you have on the back of your car. It was easy to make fun of Preston, the team that told everyone to "Get Good" while doing nothing themselves, but these last few weeks have put them to bed for good. Now everyone, including myself, has to Get Good. Sorry if you thought we were making fun of you. I'll try my best not to have that happen again.

To be perfectly honest with you, I was nervous about talking to you ever since you won your seat at Preston. Your father has left behind such a legacy back home that I was afraid of saying the wrong things if we were ever to talk. I didn't want to make a potential conversation all about your father, that's all. I just wanted to be careful...

Your father will always be seen by TJUN-ia as some sort of evil man. If he was to ever set foot in Alfonso Mercado's hometown of San Pedro del Vasquez, then I'm pretty sure 45% of the population would try and drive him out. This hatred has gotten so bad that if you look in the TJUN-ian English Dictionary, you will find "Gil" there. His name is now used as another word for snitch by the racing circles. It sounds a bit obsessive, but that's how TJUN-ia coped with what happened. The TJUN-ians are a people who, in my outside view as a Galarian, take their values pretty seriously and scorn at anything that may challenge them and, sad as it was, your father was a big threat over there. He was "The Bully" to many and while his lack of inclusion in NSSCRA X is confusing to some (due to his performances last season), most will be happy not to see him. To think, this all started because Daniel Marx mentioned your name in a statement directed at your father.

I have nothing against you as a person, and neither does TJUN-ia. Some may call you the son of the Devil, but that is not your fault at all. I'm sorry if I made you feel like I had issues with you due to your father, that was wrong of me. I'm not the sort of person who has grudges on people for things they didn't even do. Again, I'm sorry.

I hope this will be the end of this, but if not I have one request: Don't involve Daryl into this. He wouldn't do that, he wouldn't have an issue with you at all. I know that. He's a great friend to me and I don't want him to get involved in this.

Anyway, that's my piece. I'm sorry that this is how we first communicated.

Sincerely,
Lane Carter

[Diarcesia]

Eisborg Gran Premio di Nekoni
Race Day

"Oh come on," Sara exclaimed angrily. In their fight for P1, Rudy had been behind her like a shadow for several laps already. Try as she might, this Preston just was able to catch up whenever she thought she lost him in a corner. He was desperately trying to wiggle his way to a gap, and he opportunistically went for one when it opened. As Sara turned her steering wheel in one of the corners, Fitten's front wing clipped the side of Rudy's PGP01 that is taking the inside.

This sudden spanner in the works made Sara lose her composure momentarily. "The hell is that for?" She glimpsed Rudy's car speeding away from the corner with a growing distance from her. Her gaze caught that gaudy slogan of Good Motor Oil plastered on its arse, easily an effort to goad other drivers to commit mistakes. It was a nifty psychological trick, though she cared not for it. It wouldn't affect her. She has nothing to prove at this point.

Emil chimed in the radio shortly afterwards, "Rudy has a little more than a car's width of gap in the corner. Enough to try an overtake. I don't see anything intentional from both of you."

Her exasperation dissipated. "I wasn't able to see him. Understood," she replied curtly. "Front wing's screwed up. I need to box."

"Will box. Front wing. Got it. Godspeed, Sara."

"I need all of it, thank you. Good heavens, today of all days."

It was fortunate the damage wasn't enough to force her to retirement. However, it meant that her emergency pit stop took quite longer than normal. Aside from the front wing, her tires were replaced. Volkov wouldn't countenance the risk of her old sets afflicted with a potentially race-ending puncture. Obviously with everyone in a rush, Sara sped away as soon as she could.

Big mistake. Emil contacted Sara right after he got word of what happened.

"Sara, listen to me carefully: on the next lap, you will need to stop in the pit for ten seconds. We can't work on your car. Ten seconds."

"I'm sorry?"

"Pit speed infraction. Stop-and-go penalty."

"Okay. Stop-and-go in the pits in the next lap."

"Yes."

Sara was silent for several moments. "I'm sorry, guys."

The collision with Rudy was no one's fault, but this was totally hers. Ugh, she was annoyed at the thought that she committed an elementary mistake, one that would cost her hard-earned points. Still, she continued to focus on flawlessly executing her motions as if nothing happened, her body language demonstrating just how much she truly cared.

Whatever sentiment she had toward Rudy during the heat of the race was quickly forgotten. Things happen, unfortunately, she acknowledged. She appreciated and accepted the race winner's apology when it came, and she congratulated him for his achievement. Sara Luna recognizes a good racer when she sees one.

Nighttime

I will find a way. But first, I must finish this diary entry. Doing so now-a-days—

Sara was seated in her bedroom and had begun to read the rest of what she wrote when she noticed a few of the loose items spontaneously move and vibrate around her. She stopped what she was doing, stood up, opened the door to her room, and peered outside.

One of her kids was there, visibly bothered.

"You felt something?" Sara asked softly.

"I thought it was just me, but apparently not," Violet answered with a tinge of fear in her eyes. She ran towards her mommy.

Sara leaned forward and kissed the little one, who was now crying. "It's all over. I'll bring you back to bed," she whispered in Violet's ear.

Violet followed Sara, their hands joined. The child tried her best to stop sobbing and wiped her eyes with her free arm. After she was helped to bed and given her stuffed cocoabo, the mother whispered, "goodnight."

"Goodnight," Violet answered breathlessly.

She quickly fell asleep.

Morning - The Next Day

Sara woke up to a warm, dry kiss on the cheek from Tom. She turned to him and kissed him back, this time full on the lips, before hesitating. It was only the second kiss in a few seconds while laying on the bed together. Both lost it in laughter; an inside joke known only to them.

Tom sat up on the edge of the bed. "Good morning," he said.

[Lisander]

"So, there’s a lot happening, Darius. How’s going? You’re really planning to return for the next WGPC Season?" - Sissie opened their regular video calling. Darius Castellammare was supporting her as a driving trainer and an extra-official non-paid agent.

"I’m talking with Carolina. I want to keep her as our team principal, even if Kimi and Ricardo leave. Have you seen them currently? They looked upset in the last days? I’ve been talking with them since the the preseason. I really needed this season to make some things for myself and Athena. We finished the preparations for the Superbikes and I already have to search for a manager…"

Sissie smiled, it was kind of obvious. If Darius was searching a manager for his Superbikes team, so he would be back to the cockpits very soon. Not like that would menace her position. She only had that job until the end of the season.

"Do your best, boss. So, why Kimi and Ricardo would leave?"

"I’m not that sure, but based on what I see, Vetinari is there just for the looks. He brought TAS for the team, but I believe he tried to give a step too much bigger than his foot with GT, WGP3 and WGPC. We usually don't see him in the events or publishing on the team forum. He isn’t like Kimi Nasunen. Vetinari can deal with money, and this is nice, but Nasunen can deal with people, and this is even better. It’s incredible how easy it is for him. He has a surgical eye for stuff like that and a really big contact book. If Harlean bankrupted today…"

"Don’t ever say that. I still haven’t finished the payments for my new house…" - Sissie joked, but that joke had a little truth behind.

"So, they aren’t bankrupting, but if they were, Nasunen could send a mail to people back in Hinode. He has that contract with Toad Racing Team, he could ask for some engines. And I’m not even talking about parts development in Saber Ironworks. Did you know he opened a new sector for car parts? His metallurgy company is turning into a seriously big company. He uses the money of the publishing house to feed the teams, the agreements of the teams to gain advantages to the metallurgic and the metallurgic to make stuff for the publishing house. It’s like a money ouroboros. Kimi is managing three teams and two companies, and looks like piece of cake to him, while Vetinari isn’t look that interested. If he leaves the team by the end of the season, TAS will leave with him, and we’re planning to counterattack, we have LAB and I have DHMO, or better saying, Golden Star Beverage Group."

"So, will you bring Bitten Heroes back for the next season?"

"The Lisanderian license is still under the name of Bitten Heroes GPE. If Vetinari is really leaving with TAS sponsorship, we’ll certainly use that name again. Uhh... Athena says hi." -

Darius said, and rotated his camera to show Athena Haines on the laptop next to him. Sissie waved to the camera and was responded by the female superbike rider.

Good job, Sissie. Keep it going!

"Thanks, Athena. So, Darius... is our future in the hands of Vetinari?"

"Not that much, to be honest. He have the naming sponsorship, but Teus money seems to be the turning point here. Bergsteiger and TeusBank brought a lot, and they seem to trust a lot on the work of Niklas. But yet, as a licensee, we have to worry about Vetinari."

"Yeah, they keep with no sign of bothering for the bad results. He would be a great addition to the team for the next season…"

"Based on money, yeah. But only based on money. We are very attentive to public opinion. They are enjoying your season. The media is making you a kind of survivor, a hero because you are always positive and optimistic, even in a bad car like this one from TAS Alliance. You just need to maintain those good results, and you will have a spot. A full-lisanderian team would please the fans also."

That words made Sissie tremble a little with emotion. It was good to be recognized.

"But how much will it cost me?"

"You make a lot of silly questions. I wonder if the thing with you being stingy is really just a gimmick."

"I'm being realistic here." - In her heart, Sissie still nourished a fear of not being enough for the seat.

"So let me be optimistic here. We want you and Athan Lille for next season WGP2, at least. Then I would personally like to have you as my team partner in Bitten Heroes next WGPC. It depends on a lot of factors, surely it depends. But as long as you keep the constant performance, we'll find a way to make this work. If they invest a lot in Niklas Schonbaum, why wouldn't you be worthy? Look, you even got a sponsor for yourself."

"Sorry, please give me a minute. There is someone knocking at the door."

She turned off her mic and video for a while and jumped to the hotel bed.

"YEEEEES! THIS IS AWESOME! THINGS ARE WORKING NOW!!!" - she celebrated. The possibility of a second season was unveiled before his eyes at that moment. For those who, like Anneliese, were writing resumes eight months ago, it was definitely a dream.

After some instants of that celebration, she returned to the screen:

"Sorry, they're calling the team for dinner." - she spoke, trying to keep her composure. On the other side of the screen, Athena Haines had joined Darius, or rather, was passing behind her husband, within reach of the camera.

"Husband, tell her not to go out to dinner with her hair like that. Was she rolling in bed or what?" - the familiar voice of the female rider sounded in the speakers.

"She's happy because I told her about the BH plan. But that's right. You should comb your hair a little before leaving. Save this excitement for the next sponsor we find for you."

[Sorlovia]

A twelfth place finish at Nekoni was all the proof Gregori needed. This latest season was another low season. Or maybe it was evidence that his approach to the season had been flawed from the start. It seemed that no matter how hard he trained and no matter how many long hours he spend out on the test circuits he still hadn’t been able to secure higher place finishes. But a low season didn’t have to mean that a racer was losing his touch. It was simply the reality of the Gran Prix industry. It was all part of the experience and something that all racers had to deal with. Sometimes you did well. There were those seasons were you were riding high at the head of the pack pulling in good result after good result. Then there were those reasons were nothing seemed to go your way and you just never quite got the results you would’ve hoped for.

Few racers were able to continuously pull off high season after high season. Sara was experience an impressive high season in her debut with the WGPC. He’d seen her pull in high place finishes during the season and she’d proven that she could be it repeatedly. But her high season did not necessarily mean that her WGPC19 season would be the same. The World Gran Prix Championships really were an unforgiving and fluid place. But that was all part of the enjoyment of it. You were forced to always be on guard and able to adapt to the changing conditions of the race environment. Gregori had done better in his second season that he had in his first only for his third to be more challenging. It was all part of the thrill of the WGPC. What would WGPC19 be like?

He’d spent the past three hours looking over his, Sara’s and Terho’s replays from Nekoni. He stared closely at each frame and carefully studied every move of the cars. Terho had been his inspiration in his first two seasons although he’d never actually told the Abovian racer as much. Terho’s style had a quality to it that was fascinating to him. He drove with a finesse and a skill that Gregori was doing his best to mimic. In truth the seasoned Abovian racer was his role model and his style was something that Gregori believed would bring him success in his future. There were many things he could learn from Terho. The way he handled the corners, the way he made use of the straights and how he used a combination of handling and technique to get the best out of his car.

“What is your secret Terho?” Gregori said softly to himself as he watched Terho’s car flash around a corner “What can you teach me?”

Although she was a rookie Sara’s technique was of interest to him as well. This was very first season. But she had done far better than most rookies. Those high place finishes were most impressive. She drove with a skill and a confidence that impressed him. There were many things he could learn from watching her race replays as well. He could see it in the way she approached the corners, in the way she performed on those sharp bends that led onto long straights and the way she performed in the more difficult portions of track. Ryker Lane’s replays were also immensely interesting and rewarding to him. He’d begun a practice of carefully studying the replays of selected racers to glean as much valuable information as he could. Any racer could do the same if they wished. It was a practice which really was rewarding.

He was now convinced that his future lay in favouring handling and technique. He saw the practice in so many of the other racers and mentally kicked himself for not using such an approach. Perhaps it really had been the missing piece this entire time. Perhaps it was a case of less aggression, a much lighter hand on the steering wheel, much finer handling and more technique. He was young but he was learning.

[Diarcesia]

Eisborg Gran Premio di Nekoni
Practice

Sara was halfway through the session when the first incident occurred. She was passing through Turn 11 when a faster car behind her got in her way. She quickly realized that she was going to hit it and steered away. This move forced her to go wide and disrupt her rhythm. She looked forward, and she couldn't find that car. It was gone in a few seconds.

Sara felt a little bad for an instant as she accelerated back to normal speed. She could tell that a stiff breeze was in her midst, and she barely could keep her car in a straight line. But she didn't care. This happens in a race, and it is her job to make the best of it.

As she progressed through the next lap and came around the Carousel, the winds made the most difficult section of the track even more so. She struggled to get the car in position, and she had to watch that the tire temperatures don't get too low. She was in the Autodromo Internazionale del Rivoli, after all. The stakes would be high in the next two days. It was going to be a physically-demanding race.

---

"This would make some sense," said Siv Ingesson.

"I'll probably end up signing a lower-profile person to run with the eventual WGP2 team. It's not as easy as I thought it was, though. There is increased interest with their exposure to Sara's run in the WGPC so far, but the top names currently prefer to be the big fish in our WGP3. Plus, with all due respect, PB doesn't exactly have a history of success with this sort of thing. It's not like they were expecting us to run well off the bat and not have trouble with our cars."

"I understand their motivations," said Siv. "Open-wheel racing is not our forte, but you have more than exceeded your rival teams' low expectations by more than fivefold, Aldauren."

"Oh, wow. I am flattered. I'll admit it was a pressure situation but I guess I continue to do my part to make our investment worth it. You mentioned there's one team in the WGPC seeking for a partner in the feeder series? You seem to be optimistic in stepping up to the next tier this early."

"I'm aware it's early, but Viska is an established team, and I am encouraged that our cars are doing fine in the vigors of a WGPO-sanctioned event. To be honest, it's a matter of when. If we keep this up, they will also notice and our talks will progress. They have shown a willingness to listen and consider our case. There is a chance for collaboration on the technical side, if we play our cards right. I'm working to get a meeting scheduled with them."

"A potential Viska-PB team, huh? That's a bold move. You ain't afraid to enter the WGP2 to succeed."

"Fortune favors the bold. I will keep you updated," the CEO said.

---

Sometime in the Distant Future

The unthinkable has happened. The very fabric of reality itself appeared to have been shattered. Nay, the very idea of reality is anathema to the architects of this city of death. This was no place for souls in this realm. Innocents who spend their whole lives in sanctity and charity, all gone. What was once Heaven Made Almost-manifest was made into sulfur-drenched Hell.

No! No! They must not have been honest with us!

The sky was red as the magma of the apocalyptic Lake of Fire. The ground was stirred every time one of the buildings' skeletal facades crumble and collapse. Something profound and terrible had happened here. This is the place the soldier was instructed to go, but the descriptions were utterly contradictory with what his senses tell him.

We... failed, he thought.

"Anyone here?" the soldier yelled.

Echoes.

He walked for the length of an entire block and tried again. "Is anyone here?"

Still nothing.

One more block. Despair was creeping in the man's psyche. Civilians never deserve this fate.

One of the buildings was a little more intact than the others. Out of curiosity, he walked towards it. He readied his weapon, just in case.

Inside, almost everything in it was tossed around by the disaster that befell this city. Some items he could recognize were an upturned couch, a partly-torn poster of someone captioned "—ARA LUNA: WGP2 III RUNNER-UP, WGPC 18—", and a broken scanner.

"Is anyone here!?" he called out one more time. He was sure it would be in vain.

There was a series of muffled noises beyond a rubble-strewn flight of stairs leading down.

"Help! Can't—" thud, thud, "get out!"

The soldier made for the stairs. Even with his light, it was too dark to see far into it. There was much obstruction ahead.

"Are you okay?" he cried out.

"Door is jammed! Everything came down... I'm trapped."

The soldier began to clear his path to the source of the voice. "I'm coming. I'll get you out of there."

[Hapilopper]

The Preston Autos GP Shop, Hapilopper City
Right after returning from Nekoni
When Rudy Edwards returned home to Hapilopper after winning the Grand Prix of Nekoni, he found his phone flooded with text messages from well-wishers across the Dominion. Drivers from the Hapilopper Championship Series, almost unanimously, sent Rudy messages congratulating him on the win. Dozens of HASCAR drivers, all three of Team Blue’s NSSCRA drivers, Chris Holmes and Chet Byrd from Hawking-Byrd Motorsports, as well as executives from Preston Autos, personal friends and even government leaders in Hapilopper sent him messages telling Rudy that they were so happy for him, and so proud of him for what he had done for himself, for Preston Autos, for Hapilopper.

But Rudy stared at one message longer than any other. It was the only one he answered. It was from his predecessor, the first Hapiloppian to compete in international motorsports. The one that probably should have had this moment. Rudy gave Drake Stevenson a phone call, to thank him.

“Stevenson, thank you,” Rudy said. “But I feel like I owe this to you as much as anyone. You were the one that showed us the way. You were the one that opened the door. This is yours as much as it is anyone else.”

“It’s not mine, Edwards, it’s yours,” Drake said. “I was the first one, but I was the wrong one. I’m much better off running stock cars. You ran those single-seaters your whole life. You earned this.”

But even as Rudy was bathing in the high of having scored his first career victory, there had been a slight controversy that had marred it. Midway through the race, Rudy, battling hard for the lead with Sara Luna, accidentally made contact with her, a bit of contact that cost Sara any shot at victory. Rudy was downright apologetic about it. While he raced hard, and while he would make wild moves at a shot to take the lead, he absolutely detested the concept of bumping other cars, and the concept of pulling a “bump and run” to take the lead.

After the race, Rudy made it a point to apologize to Sara for the contact.

“That’s not what I am, Sara,” Rudy said, visibly upset about the contact. “I try so hard to race without bumping other cars. That’s not racing to me. I’m so sorry for what happened, and I hope we can run again close.”

Luna accepted Rudy’s apology, and congratulated him on his victory.

While Rudy was looking at his messages of congratulations, Marty Lewis was in a meeting with representatives from the Hapilopper Television Network at the Grand Prix Circuit. The meeting concerned a contest that the network was putting called known as “They Crash, You Win!”

As part of some goofball impulse, a network staffer thought it would be a hilarious idea to run a giveaway sweepstakes for people to guess the first car to hit the wall on driver’s right at “Oh Crap There’s a Wall.” If a person guessed correctly, and was selected from a random draw, they would win a free trip for two to any WGPC or NSSCRA race in Atlantian Oceania in next season, airfare and hotel accommodations included. HTN executives thought it was a great idea, and started the drawing the week the WGPC competed in Nekoni.

Marty thought the idea was tasteless. Ditto for a message HTN had placed on that wall – “HIT HERE – LUCKY FAN WINS FREE TRIP”.

Marty and the HTN executives were standing on the other side of “OCTAW” corner, and Marty wanted an explanation from them about both the contest and the message on the wall.

“Well, we’ve had a lot of people enter so far,” said Margaret Hornsby, a staffer at HTN. “When we mentioned it during the Grand Prix, a ton of people started entering the contest. They thought it was awesome.”

“No, Margaret, it is NOT awesome!” Marty said. “We put hundreds of hours of work into these cars. So does every other team. The drivers work their asses off to get ready to compete every weekend. And we’re going to honor that by… this?”

“Well, people like crashes,” Margaret responded. “There’s a ton of people that tune in to racing every weekend to watch cars crash and see the drivers get out. We’re not doing this to celebrate a guy getting injured, sir. If someone gets hurt or killed hitting that wall, we’re not giving a prize out, regardless of what happens afterward.”

“Good,” Marty said emphatically. “I’m glad you pointed that out. Because if someone, say, Abdoulaye Goita or, I don’t know, Ryker Lane, or even one of my boys, if one of them smash that wall and they got hurt or killed, and then you lampooned that by holding your giveaway anyway, I’d be the first one coming over to you guys to bonk some heads.”

“We understand, sir,” Margaret said, nodding her head.

“Do you? Because this is already tasteless enough to begin with,” Marty shot back. “I mean, imagine the photos of… what the fuck… is that a TARGET on the wall?!”

It sure was. There had been a red-and-white target in the middle of the wall, and two arrows pointing at it.

Some of the HTN executives chuckled at the design.

“You like that? We thought it was hilarious,” said HTN staffer Douglas Mills.

Marty looked over at Mills like he wanted to punch his lights out.

“Sir, I’ve been in racing for over 40 years,” Marty said. “That is the most tasteless thing I have ever seen, and I’ve seen some stuff, and… NO SIR, it’s not funny!”

Mills was chuckling at Marty’s righteous indignation, and that angered Marty even more.

“You think it’s going to be funny if someone hits that target head-on and gets hurt?” Marty asked. “What do you think the photos are going to look like? The front page of every sports paper across the multiverse are going to have that car hitting that target, and it’s going to look TERRIBLE for all of you. And no, stop laughing, because it’s not funny!”

“Marty, I find it hard to believe that something like that’s going to happen,” Mills responded calmly. “Nobody’s going to hit that wall head-on. They’ll probably just run wide and sideswipe the wall.”

“You better be right,” Marty said.

[Filindostan]

Welcome to Filindostan!
Maligayang pagdating sa Pilindostan! | Selamat datang di Pilindostan!

Welcome to Filindostan, a four-island archipelago located around Central Esportiva. Its capital and largest city is San Marco, located in the Kabishawan Island. For more information about the country and its geography, culture, and sports, please refer to this link.

San Marco is the capital of Filindostan, located at the north of Kabishawan Island. The city is divided into six administrative districts, in which Benevido is where most of the sporting locations are seen, including the San Marco Street Circuit that encompasses most of Calle Sturiaga. (Additional info)

More information such as national laws and guidelines can be downloaded at the official San Marco site: www-dot-sanmarco-dot-gov-dot-fid.

Places to visit in Filindostan
There are two islands to visit in Filindostan - the beaches at the Heritage City of Jakulta in Tanjung Pagi Island, and the fish stalls/dampas at Bandarito in Pelita Raya Island. Jakulta is known as the surfing and heritage capital of Filindostan, so people wanting to ride the waves may visit the beaches at the northern part of Tanjung Pagi. If you want to catch fish as well as to pick and decide how to cook your fish of choice, then the Pelita Raya Island is the best place to visit, with many of these located in the eastern portion of Bandarito, and the northern portion of Yogyakulta.

There is currently a travel advisory to avoid visiting Kabunuklan Island at the moment, as there are currently intelligence reports of an insurgent group planning to take over the island in the coming weeks.

The San Marco Street Circuit

San Marco Street Circuit is a makeshift circuit built along the streets near Calle Sturiaga in San Marco, Filindostan. The track is 4.373 kilometers long and has 20 corners, with a bend formed after the San Marco Rotonda between turns three and four.

As per the official track info submitted to the WGPO for the WGPC competition this season:

The narrow streets of San Marco, despite having numerous bends and straights, require technical skill from the drivers to negotiate, and a tiniest bit of mistake can cost a driver their race. The first part of the circuit is a sequence of straights and bends in a downward slope from Calle Sturiaga (between turns 1-3), before negotiating a flat portion of the track known as the 'Rotonda'. After negotiating turn 4 from the Rotonda, a sequence of twisty corners will need to be negotiated, starting with the X-chicane followed by a hairpin at turn 8. Car speeds are expected to be slow from turns 8 and 9 up to 17, when an uphill bend leads to a treacherous turn 18, a high speed bend with a blind spot, just before hitting the brakes on turn 19, and turning right to turn 20 that leads back to the length of Calle Sturiaga.

Grand Prix Filindostan Cepat

The second Grand Prix Filindostan event will be hosted this time in the streets of San Marco, having been held last time at the Yogyakulta International Circuit in the autonomous city of Yogyakulta. Tropicorp Racing Aelund's Terho Talvela won the race despite a controversy during the pitstops where a traffic jam involving his teammate iBen Toralmintii among others helped his chances for a win that time. The Filindostani Motorsports Group has decided to alternate the two venues for the next ten seasons of the WGPC. Cepat, Petrofilindo's brand of motor and performance oils and fuels, will be the sponsor of the event, the second of a three-season contract.

The track hosted the second round of the recently concluded WGP2 season, where another controversy affected the outcome of the race as the two UrGa Motorsports Division drivers Lane Carter, now racing in the WGPC in Race Eelandii! VTGP team, and Taras Matviyenko collided, ending their hope of finishing 1-2 in the event. Another current WGPC driver, Sara Luna, won the race driving for Adelphia-VMR, and with track knowledge, she hopes to bring Volkov Racing's first WGPC win.

Schedule of Activities

Friday
1000 - 1130 - WGP3.FID Qualify for Final Round
1430 - 1545 - WGPC Practice

Saturday
1100 - 1200 - Pre-qualifying paddock event
1300 - 1430 - WGPC Qualify
1430 - 1530 - Sponsor event
1530 - 1700 - WGP3.FID Final Round

Sunday
1300 - 1330 - Drivers' Parade
1400 - 1600 - WGPC Race
1600 - 1700 - Podium celebration plus open street party

---

Commercial FilindAir flight from Nekoni to Filindostan
Two days after the Nekoni Grand Prix

The mood around the Badai Angin team was gloomy after both BAP002s finished outside the points yet again, and the gap between them and the top teams just went larger, with Terho Talvela taking a podium and taking back the lead of the Drivers' championship with four races to go. Of course, both Alex and Rusty still had shots to win the drivers' championship with the former 35 points behind and the latter 7 points further back. The Filindostani constructors managed to keep themselves in third, but with other teams scoring crucial points such as Volkov, Preston, and Polaris, both Rudolf and Kristian from Solymok felt the pressure of keeping third place theirs, with their home race coming up.

Rudolf had to keep what Joko and Ilona said to him during the call at Twicetagria, but he would only keep it for a week as it is anticipated that the announcement will be made during next weekend at the GP Filindostan. What he needed to do first is to draft his follow-up email requesting for approval of a one-off livery for the cars in the streets of San Marco and press the send button once they have landed in the San Marco International Airport:

To: The WGPO President
From: Rudolf Ibuna
      Team Principal, Badai Angin Tim Motorsport
CC: Bryant Gambal, Eko Pratana, Joko Ajartambum
Subject: RE: Approval for one-off livery in Filindostan

---

Greetings!

I would like to follow-up for your approval for the one-off livery Badai Angin Tim Motorsport is planning to race in our home race in Filindostan. Below is the render image of the livery that we would be requesting for approval:

Rest assured that this one-off livery will be donned by both drivers along with matching fireproof suits for both drivers and pit crews. Hoping for your kind approval on this matter.

With that settled once the body replies, he set his sights on meeting with the owner personally regarding the big announcement that will be made that weekend.

---

Meanwhile, Rusty's irritation of the marketing campaign of Good Motor Oil has drawn his ire once again, and he seemed already snapped at the antics the Hapiloppian company is directing at him. Before the race weekend at Nekoni, he let out a sarcastic tweet at the company:

RUSTY #71 ✓

@RustyIbuna71

Hey #GoodMotorOil, want to bet? If I don't win a single race this season then i will display your logo in my racing suit next to #Cepat for next season. Otherwise, your marketing head will get a good dose of #GetGood in his mouth. Deal? /s

#FedUpWithGetGood : #GetGood : #WGPC

PROFESSIONAL HECKLER FID

@DaHecklerFID

- -@RustyIbuna71

Seems that @RustyIbuna71 has completely lost it.

#GetGood : #WGPC

His twii.tur post would have aged like milk as Preston Autos finally get their first WGPC championship race win, and put further embarrassment in his social media misadventures.

[Togonistan]

Eisborg Gran Premio di Nekoni
Race Day

Dom Falepeau pushed the throttle and took off for a formation lap. It was hard to describe Dom's feelings. It felt good to be back for a proper race, yet at the same time, he felt the responsibility on his shoulders. With 5 races remaining, the team was currently very much in that midfield battle. These 5 races would be crucial on determining the final results. Dom felt that MRT had faith in him. He enjoyed the atmosphere in the team right now, but at the same time, he could also feel the rising pressure. Currently sitting on 8th place in constructors standings, it was perhaps not quite what the team hoped for. Points difference wasn't that big, nothing was set in stone, it would surely be possible to climb up by showing great performance during the last 5 races. What the team needed right now was him and Jasmin to deliver. Dom came back from his train of thoughts as he heard his engineer on the radio:

''Sidedab, mate! Radio check, one-two!''

''Haha, sidedab, mate! I hear you loud and clear!''

With formation lap finished, Dom took his spot on the grid again. There he was, staring at the back of his teammate's car, with R.L. Cruisin next to him. Dom strengthened his grip on the wheel as the lights went on. Eager to floor it, he cleared his head of thoughts and waited for the lights to go off. Nordija engine at the back of his car roared as Dom took off. Decent start allowed him to retain his starting spot as they went into the first corner. With Cruisin in front of him, Dom set himself lurking behind the Eelandii car.

The cat and mouse game continued for the following laps, with Dom constantly getting closer to Cruisin, followed by the latter pulling away again. It surely wasn't something overly spectacular to watch at, but as a driver, Dom could only admire the smoothness of Race Eelandii driver there. Finding that perfect balance between aggression and saving tyres was something that required huge amount of focus. Dom felt how he started to slowly get some tyre wear.

''I'm starting to lose pace. Might need to pit for new tyres soon.''

''We will pit you soon. Stay out a bit more please if you can.''

It seemed as if the team knew something was about to happen, as the opportunity to pit came soon. With Sigur Bjarnason's retirement bringing out the safety car, Dom was instructed to pit for a fresh set of boots. Quick stop, fresh set of mediums and off he went. He took a spot in the queue, and tried to get some heat into the tyres. With safety car gone and green flag being raised, Dom took off and quickly gained back a few positions on the track, soon finding himself behind Cruisin again. Dom started gaining up on him and as the two entered a corner, he saw a gap and pulled himself alongside Cruisin. Sure, it was a risky move, but it was a risk he decided to take. Hopefully it would pay off...

Next thing he knew, the two cars made contact and spun off the track. Dom hit the brakes as he slid around, eventually managing to make the car come to a stop. He took a few deep breaths as he heard his engineer via radio:

''Are you okay? Dom, are you okay?''

''I'm fine.''

''Copy that. Is the car okay''

''Got some wing damage I think.'' Dom pushed the throttle and started making his way back on the track.

''Understood. Rejoin when the track is clear. Rejoin safely.''

Dom rejoined the track and eventually made his way to the pits. The crew was already waiting for him with a new front wing. After the pit stop, Dom found himself at the bottom part of the grid. As he started taking the first corner, he felt the car acting up.

''Something is not quite right with the car. Can you check?''

''Copy that. We think you have some floor damage from that collision.''

Dom sighed and carried on. He could feel the car not being quite right in the corners. As he looked in the mirrors, Dom saw Dario Nülkeschläger closing up on him. There was only so much he could do and eventually, the Hülkenberger caught up and overtook him.

''It's quite unbearable. Not much I can do about it.''

''Understood, do you want to retire?''

''Not too long to go anymore, is there? We can carry on and hope for a miracle. The car is moving, it's just hard to control in corners.''

''Understood, carry on.''

Dom kept nursing the car at the back of the grid until the final lap. Depression, mixed with frustration, were present in his head. He forced himself to stay calm and just focus on finishing the job. He set Dario ahead of him as a target to keep up with. That he managed to do, although trying to gain enough to attempt and overtake was just too much. News about Dimitrianov's retirement had reached him, didn't make much difference. Blue flags at one point, didn't make much difference. 5 second time penalty given to him for the collision with Cruisin... didn't make much difference anymore either. Right now, he just had one task - to finish the race. To bring the car home. That he did, eventually crossing the finish line on final lap.

''P23. Tough luck today.''

''Yeah. Sorry about that guys. You all worked so hard this week, i'm sorry to let you down.''

''It wasn't our day. We will come back strong next week.''

''Hope so. Final results?''

''Edwards won, followed by Souzare and Talvela. Cocoabo P4, Sara P5, Jasmin P6. Stone, Toralmintii, Okumura and Archer round up top 10.''

''Ah... at least we have Jasmin in points.''

''We do. It was a bad day for you, we will talk later. Scenario 1, scenario 1.''

Dom parked himself at the pitlane and climbed out. First thing he did was taking a look at the car. Indeed, the damage on the car was very much visible. What used to be a carefully designed piece of aerodynamics attached to the floor looked like mashed potatoes. No wonder it had affected the handling that much. Dom tried to avoid too much attention. He didn't do any of his usual post-race antics, he didn't talk to anyone more than necessary. Instead, he quickly made his way through the weighing area and was also rather short-worded in his post-race interviews, trying to get through them as quickly as possible. When asked to comment about the collision, Dom simply said: ''I saw a gap and decided to risk it. It's racing after all, sometimes things like that happen. I got penalised by the stewards for it and I respect their decision, it is what it is.''

Eventually, he made his way to the motorhome, where he sat down on his bed, wrapped his hands around his head and just looked at the wall. He didn't even think about anything anymore. He wasn't mad, he wasn't sad. Just felt empty inside. Sounds outside, around the paddock, suddenly felt so distant, as if they were from another world as his mind drifted away...

[Hapilopper]

And now, a word from our sponsors.

[Aboveland]

Autodromo Internazionale del Rivoli
Val del Rivoli, Nekoni

"Woah, shit," Terho gasps; he swerves back towards the middle of the track while applying power to exit turn thirteen, avoiding a chunk of carbon fiber strewn across the tarmac. His maneuver is effective, yet violent--Resilience's winglets flex, dynamically adjusting from right to left to keep all four wheels rolling without slipping, but the Calanian rubber reaches its limits of adhesion and sends the Abovian skidding to the far right of the track. He countersteers to get back onto the asphalt, and saves Resilience from spinning as its rear wheels graze the outside track limits. Caught up in the save, however, he misses the braking point for turn fifteen, slamming the left pedal straight through the apex and locking up his front tyres.

"Shit!" exclaims Terho, now furious. "Fuck, box now, put me on the softs."

Edvin affirms the message, mobilizing the pit crew to receive Resilience as it makes its way straight from the lockup into the pit lane, but withholds a twinge of doubt. It's lap 35, and Terho had managed to stretch his initial medium stint far further thanks to the earlier safety car period. He'd been slated to pit for the first time within the next five laps to enable a ten lap dash to the finish, but the late lockup had slashed any plans at an ambitious strategy plan.

As Terho steers Resilience into its pit box, the Volkov of Sara Luna speeds away into the pit lane ahead. In the (slow and drawn out) blink of an eye, he's off towards the pit lane as well, though as he stares at his screen his gap to Luna--now solidly P3 behind Souzare, who Terho had tried to catch with his worn mediums before his stop--increases by a few thousandths, despite both of them knocking on their speed limiters.

"Uh, Edvin?" he says, speeding away from the pit exit before braking hard into turn two, the lapped Mercer Daly avoiding his reentry to the track. "Updates on Sara Luna?"

Edvin frowns, and presses his radio button. "What happened?"

Terho stammers, unsure whether to raise his concerns fearing a reprimand for his competitor. "Uh... Sara-"

"Here it is," confirms Edvin, cutting him off. "Ten second time penalty for speeding in the pit lane; just came through the monitors."

Once Terho is round turn five, he takes the apex for turn six and replies. "Okay, thanks."

Luna's penalty, which drops her further down the leaderboard, enables Terho to take third place, with a spirited drive where he shaves five seconds off his gap to the Hodoran Souzare before the chequered flag.

For the fourth time this season, the Abovian holds his hands behind his back, closes his eyes, and smiles at the sky as the winners' anthem plays over the podium. As the first races after the mid-season break often prove, the Eisborg Gran Premio di Nekoni had been a landmark event in the season: over all else, Rudy Edwards joins the WGPC elite club of race winners, the Hapiloppan anthem finally playing over a circuit after a proper win for the often struggling Preston Autos outfit--a happy happening despite the predictable onslaught of "Get Good" publicity forecasted for the coming week. It's another good result for Sayono Souzare and Polaris, too, and for the Fast Cocoabo in the also-unfortunate Fireline team, scoring just outside the podium places. For Terho, though, it's not only another record-equalling result--as he matches Jai Kardaeri's all time top ten finish stat-- but, crucially, a firm statement of intent to his title rivals.

As he showers the other two drivers who share the pedestals with him in a feeble spray of champagne, his emotions rush to his head and organize his thoughts, which he ponders for an instant at the end-of-celebration picture. The third place points couldn't have come at a better time, capitalizing on Ryker and iBen's lower positions, and just edging him ahead in the title race with four races to go. While TRÆ's chances of defending the constructors' title look increasingly likely, the drivers' championship is still a wide open fight between himself, his teammate, and Ryker Lane...

Iskajärvi, Aboveland

...he lies flat on his back, ladles some water onto the hot rocks, and closes his eyes as the löyly fills the chamber. With a deep breath, the steam swirls around his nostrils, tunneling through his sinuses and filling--cleansing--his soul, his chest bulging and compressing like a balloon.

His eyes roll back in his sockets as he holds Ryker and iBen in his thoughts for a moment. Friends, not foes; competitors, not enemies. WIth another deep breath, he slicks his unkempt hair back and tucks it beneath the base of his skull, cushioning the pressure against the wooden planks. He licks his lips, the sweat from the top of his face rolling down the side of his nose to the corners of his eyes, the slightly salty taste of his perspiration finding its way through the ends of his mouth.

The pressure builds on him as the season begins to draw to a close, and with it grow his fears of pushing people aside. He isn't a sly, aggressive person, though he knows well that he's persistently at risk of his having his emotions boil over. He'd been relatively tame in season 14, his rookie campaign ending in a surprise success; calm in season 16, as TRÆ wrapped up a steady debut year; and concentrated but relaxed in season 17, having built a steady gap over the course of the season.

He opens his eyes for a moment, ladles water onto the rocks again, and shuts his eyes to hear the sizzle. Tsss, he mimics with his tongue.

But this time, for him, the title race is as close as it's ever been so far into the season, and he's been thrust into a cutthroat battle with two of his closest--perhaps, his only two real--friends on the grid. He's fiercely competitive, and the last time things went catastrophically against his odds--the wind outside the sauna whistles ghoulishly around the building, and as a branch rubs against the enclosure it evokes the moment--his reaction had been brutal, yet childish, embarrassing, and the lowest point by far of his career. It hadn't helped that it had come at the tail end of a massive rivalry with Jean Mercer-Daly, but his behavior had been something he'd vowed to never repeat.

Three years on, he's no longer the hotshot punk he had been behind the wheel of the harlequin MRT. Ever since the start of Project AGP, he'd found a new head to place upon his shoulders; no doubt inspired by the ethereal Ryker Lane and the impossibly professional and collected iBen Toralmintii, he had become the new Terho Talvela, who'd overseen the start of the TRÆ legacy he now hoists, jointly with the Turorian, upon his shoulders.

He takes one more deep breath before turning onto his side and dumping the last of the sauna bucket onto the rocks, which sizzle louder than before, and falls again onto his back.

He'd retreated back to Iskajärvi for a few days after the grand prix at Nekoni out of trepidation. While on the podium, he'd been wickedly satisfied that iBen had finished outside the points, leaving him to gain easy ground in the title battle, and that thought had haunted him. It was inexcusable, coming from "the new Terho Talvela", for that thought to have spawned in his consciousness. It was as if all the progress, the growth, the shared highs and the common lows, had suddenly been forgotten; as if the untaintable team spirit meticulously cultivated by every single member of the TRÆ team had vanished.

Thus--his mind wanders for a moment, and he strokes the perspiration on his slick chest, taking another breath and sighing heavily afterwards--he'd resolved that a return to his constant pillar of support, the cedar sauna at the end of the gym room of his flat complex in Iskajärvi, would evoke the necessary peace of mind he urgently demanded.

Though the title fight is heating up; though his rivals are nipping at his heels; though the remaining four races, perhaps the most crucial--and perhaps final--four races of his career, are on paper the highest mountains he'll have had to climb yet--he smiles and rubs his face, sighing with a grin--he vows to himself: may his goals, his wishes and his desires never antagonize the spirit of Coalesence.

As the rocks shift on the stove, a pool of water falls to the base of the heater. Steam fills the room once more.

[Recuecn]

Viska Factory, Sterlennau, Auruna
25th of November

“Reçueçn is… Normal, when it comes to how it treats famous people, isn’t it?” [Olivia] places a hand on her hip. “I ask because we’re not – back in the Wardship, I mean. Everyone’s far too conscientious and egalitarian for that. I don’t… So I honestly don’t know how to deal with it and, well… Everything. And I just found out that I was in this article in a Togonistani magazine that blew up online without me knowing that was grading WGPC drivers by attractiveness and –”

She lets out a puff of breath. “Look, you were WGP2 Champion, not for lack of my trying, so you’ve got to know a bit about how to do this, right? Anything would be helpful, if you can offer it.”

Abdoulaye runs a hand over the top of his head. "Yikes, Olivia... I'm so sorry that happened to you." He exhales through puffed cheeks, trying to think of something to say. "It's not an easy question for anyone, and you've come to exactly the wrong person."

Backtracking, Abdoulaye tries to do his best anyway. "Yeah, Reçueçn treats famous people normally - I mean, I assume we do. It seems normal to me. But I've never gotten that treatment at home. Other countries, sure - Savojarna, Saint Kanye, different places we've been to race - I've been recognized there and treated as a minor celebrity, and I loved it. But I think the reason I loved it so much is just because it's what I've always wanted from people back in Reçueçn: some sort of acknowledgement of what I've done. I never thought that I'd be someone who was constantly chasing fame, but the lack of any recognition at all is so total it's become kind of noticeable. At least I think; I hope I'm not imagining it. I overthink enough things already. But the thing is I don't know why it is that way. Last year I assumed it was because no one cared about the WGP2. Now I tell myself it's because Reçuecians simply don't care about racing. But I can't help but wonder if there's some other reason." He glances down at the backs of his hands, lifting his fingers as if trying a non-existent ring. "But I can't know other people's motivation."

Abdoulaye looks back up at Olivia. "Sorry, enough about myself. All that to say I haven't really lived the celebrity's life either, so I can't speak from experience. But I can speak from a place of common human decency, and it sounds like that article was pretty disgusting. I think I can put myself in its author's shoes: people are so used to thinking of celebrities only as sources of entertainment that we forget to think of them as people too. At least, I do sometimes. Maybe it's different in the Wardship. Before I was a driver myself, I talked about people like Talvela and Franssen the way you might talk about a racehorse. When you're such a big star every aspect of your life is on display. I would follow everything they did and yet it never really occurred to me that they had real emotions or feelings, or a life outside the circuit any different from a reality star's. Now when I see them in person it's still hard to approach them because they still hardly seem like normal people to me."

"Anyway." Abdoulaye pauses. "I'm kind of rambling. But what I'm trying to say is that even if it's normal for people to forget to treat a celebrity like a person, they ought to know better, especially if they're writing articles about them. Sometimes fame has its downsides. As for how you can respond, if you think it's worth it, you could reach out to the person and explain why it hurt you, ask them to retract the article maybe. But I doubt they would understand. They probably hardly put any thought into it in the first place, and they'd probably see you as a control freak trying to police your image. So in the end, I guess you just have to... have a thick skin." Abdoulaye sighs. "I know that's just about the worst answer to hear, especially when this has already upset you. But I really don't have any other kind of secret wisdom. This sucks, and I don't want to just blow it off, but I don't know what else to do besides try to forget it."

Abdoulaye looks at Olivia, wondering if he's helped even the slightest bit. He has one last trick up his sleeve to help take Olivia's mind off it.

"Forgetting is one thing I can help with though. Hey." He claps a hand on her shoulder. "Go get Baxen and let's all get lunch. I just heard about this new place that sounds pretty exciting. It's supposed to be pretty unique to the Sterlennau forest, so what they do is before you order, they take you outside..."

[Ethane]

"We need to take every chance we can"



"As we enter the latter half of the season, we have to understand that the level we are performing at do not match the expectations we set at the start of the season.". Herrick cleared his throat, addressing the whole team, gathered together in the paddocks where preparations were underway for the next race on the calendar. "Our team, when working to the best of its ability, can do better."

Silent murmurs and nods could be seen and heard throughout the gathering - there was a general consensus amongst the team that they hadn't done well enough. That was, after all, why they changed team leads. The previous team manager had left at the half-way season, half-retiring and half-pushed out due to poor performances and development on the car. A series of terrible tactical decisions had left Fireline trailing far behind even the midfield in the constructors championship. so brutal changes had to be made to get the season back on track.

"I know that this team is capable of a lot. We have a talented staff base amongst us. Look at the research and development that went on in the offseason - we improved our car's capabilities in leaps and bounds since the previous WGPC season." He paused a second, thinking about how to continue. His eyes locked with the lead in the research and development department. "But that development has slowed down significantly during the season. I understand. It's tough, working throughout the season to continually improve the car. But through our innovative methods and team spirit, I know that what needs to be done can be done, when we put our mind to it." The r&d team silently nodded. Their guilt was clear. The team had good drivers and a good basis, but had been let down by a lack of development and improvements in the car which had let the side down even from after the second race, with other team's developments leaving Fireline in the dust.

Herrick didn't want to get the team down though. There were only a few races left in this WGPC calendar season. While part of him was looking forward to the next WGPC season and that of the WGP2 and 3 seasons which would be coming on the horizon, he was also determined to get the best out of this car and the drivers for the final couple of races left - to show what Fireline Motorsports is really capable of.

"We're coming to the end of the WGPC season. The road is short, our time together in this setup is lessening with every moment. And I know that we are capable of so much more. I want us to show that as we come towards the closure of the season." He pointed up to the whiteboard to his left, which had times and tracks listed on it.

"Take a look at the most recent race, held at the Autodrome Internazionale del Rivoli in Nekoni. Cocoabo #23 finished in 4th. That's 11 points. And while they were not necessarily close to leader - 1 minute and 7 seconds behind the leader - they were competitive with a clear margin over the rest of the field. At the end of the race, a Fireline Motosports team was only 34 seconds off a podium spot, and 10 seconds ahead of 5th place. This shows we can compete."

Herrick then looked over at Adriana. "And I know you have doubts. We know you have struggled to adapt to our team, to our car. But I can assure you, that is not your fault. Your inability to get a point this season is on us. What you have given in commitment, in performance out on the track, we have returned with poor tactical planning, terrible instructions, and a lack of development. That's why I'm here." A silence fell over the room. Adriana was clearly distraught; she has had a tough season so far, and has been unable to get the best out of this car - perhaps Cocoabo #23 is more suited to the car than Adriana, especially because the similar focuses of development in Adriana's skills and the car mean other characteristics of a WGPC driver do get neglected.

"I am here for you, Adriana. I joined this team to make changes. Not only to get this team to perform, but to make it a more welcoming, inclusive place. A place where everyone can shine. A place where you can shine. And we know you can perform well. We've seen you race on track, your flashes of brilliance inspire us to be better. We've seen you dominate in the simulators we have set up, and we've seen you put in some zippy times on our technical tracks. We know you can perform, and we have confidence in your abilities. Come to me, and we'll sort out the issues you're having with the car, we'll discuss set-ups and tactical decisions, and we'll discuss the future - because you do have a future."

"As for you Cocoabo #23, I have to say that even I was confused when Fireline Motorsports signed you to be a part of this team. I didn't even know what you were. But to say you didn't belong would be wrong. Right from the start you have shown pace in this car, and the ability to win points for our team. And you've continued to do so, even though we have lacked in the r&d department. Look at last weekend - you finished 4th. We certainly were not expecting such a solid result, yet you delivered. You won this team 11 points. All I can say is push for that podium. Push for the best in yourself. And we'll do the same here - I'll be making sure of that."

Herrick glanced down at his briefing notes. He had pre-written most of this motivational speech, prepared to inspire the team to improve race on race. As they prepared for practice and qualifying, he wanted to get the team into high spirits again. "Look, we're 10th in the Constructor's standings at the moment. That is an improvement - thanks to Cocoabo #23 and their astounding race in Nekoni. But I know we can improve on that. We are only 7 points behind Schkeska-VSK Viska Racing in 7th. I definitely think that is the baseline position we should be aiming for at the end of this season. Our 'push' goal is to finish in the top 6 - that is 17 points above us. I must emphasise that is a 'push' goal; we should be completely happy if we don't reach that, because that will require possibly a miracle to reach it. But we are coming into the part of the season that is more likely to benefit us. Adriana, you're a technical driver; the remainder of the races have a technical leaning in their specifications which is likely to advantage you. And Cocoabo #23 has got the pace - we expect you to continue to find that pace which even I struggle to find in this car sometimes." An engine could be heard starting up. It was close to the time for the start of practice. Shortly, everyone would be rushing to their positions - Adriana and Cocoabo #23 to their cars, the mechanics to fix up the final set-up issues, everyone else to their monitors to analyse the car's performance during the practice and qualifying session.

"We'll be heading out to track soon, and I know we can put on a show. To achieve what we want to achieve this season, we need to do better. We can do better. We need to take everyone chance we can get. I trust that our drivers, our mechanics, our pit crew, our research and development team, and our analysts can perform to that level. I trust you can do this. Now go, let's get this practice underway. We've got a lot to do."

[Auruna]

Autodromo Internazionale del Rivoli
Before the race

MNA NEWS
VSK confirms plans on competing in the next WGP2 season following Viska's announcement of focusing on the WGPC. Another factor to this decision was the MNA's international team license rules that doesn't allow another MNA team to compete directly alongside the first MNA team in the same series.

Out of the Big 3, Schkeska is yet to join any international racing series. Team principal for the endurance team says "It's not yet worth it" while rivals Viska and VSK are well on their way to establish their spot on the international scene. However, this doesn't impact their status as an engine supplier, currently supplying engines to Viska under close cooperation with each other and is open to supply VSK's efforts if they don't choose to use their own engines.

Sudden news from the MNA got to Jöna, while scrolling through his news feed, something interesting got his attention. Artur is rushes to the garage from the pit wall, looking like he wants to tell Jöna something.

Jöna is still looking at his phone, Artur calls his name to get his attention. "Jöna!"

"News from the MN-"

Jöna cuts him off at that with a quick reply. "Yes." He quickly realises something before continuing. "Well, competition is nice but there's no way they are going to compete in WGPC so that's a great thing and if the junior team plan is successful and we have one at the WGP2, it's like what Kiiro* said, there's no need to directly compete with VSK there. Hopefully their plan actually works."

*Kiiro Sÿrenna, former rally driver and current CEO of Viska

Other than that, nothing much is happening during the preparation. Olivia and Goita are with their race engineers, Baxen and Jan respectively, doing some exercises and such.

Only a few minutes pass, they get the cars on the grid. Artur, Jöna, Baxen, and Jan are at the pit wall.

Both cars are going to start at P13 and P23, coupled with their horrible luck this season, it's going to be a difficult day.

Formation lap
Jöna's pre-race speech is quite different from usual. He starts. "Alright, time to do things differently." A short pause then it's followed by the continuation. "Let's go full send for the next few weekends. Let's do everything maxed out. Fight hard, good luck."

"Different from usual eh?"

"Had to do it, things can change."

"You think that has the same impact than usual?"

"Yep, a hundred percent sure."

The drivers line up at the end of the formation lap. It was a brief period of silence before the different engines are heard revving (apart from the cars that primarily use hydrogen/electric engines), a wide variety of sounds, it was like a chaotic orchestra. Then the five lights went out.

It's time for the Viskas to do their charge through the field, catch prey after prey.

Race
Everything is suddenly different. Viska is known to have bad luck at Nekoni but this time, it just disappeared starting at the pit lane. The problems with the tyre nuts are gone and the pits were around 2.5 seconds. It was an improvement, no, a huge improvement from before. The only thing to do is hope that this momentum carries on from now. The two Viskas are holding their ground pretty well and there were no mistakes from the drivers. Well, there's no use in holding one position, why not go for a higher one?

There's only one call for that. "To both drivers, push push. Type 4 on hybrid. Burst on overtaking. Let's go higher."

Before the next line of pit stops, they are going to try and gain a lot of positions before they lose their current pace. They slowly but surely go up the order, one by one they overtake the other drivers with some giving them a slightly difficult time but it didn't deter both Goita and Olivia. It was serious all of a sudden at Viska but it was necessary.

Laps later, they pit for softs. Then they continue their push for higher positions, and more points. They keep going until they couldn't with Olivia getting close to catching Jasmin Kranjska but the race ended before she gets that opportunity. Meanwhile, Goita did great in this race, a said by Jan, gaining 10 positions but it wasn't enough for points. Well, it was a welcome improvement. Imagine that at one race, he managed to gain 15 places or even getting a podium from the back. It would be a wonderful sight to see. It is possible and both Viska drivers are very talented.

Up next is Filindostan, time to keep that momentum up and counter their bad luck. They did well there before, it's probably a good sign. Hopefully.
#taita58

---

At an apartment in Veratuna, Auruna
A day after the race
What went wrong?

Everything.

It keeps on reminding Kinu about his bad performances recently. He couldn't sleep at night because of that. It was him, his luck, and the car combined. He was demoralised after that, he chose to get a few days of rest to try and clear his mind from it.

His phone rings, he doesn't pick it up at first but after a few more rings, he gets his phone. "Who's calling at this time?" He says before checking the name. It was Lukas, he quickly answers.

"Ah, finally." The first thing he hears from Lukas.

"What is it and why at this time?"

"Look, I know you're not doing well right now but you're just demoralised and it's not like you. Tomorrow, get you back to normal, let's go for a run at a rally stage with a classic rally car. How's that?"

"Well uh... yeah I think it's alright."

"Also, look at your teammates doing great. I know you're happy to see them do well. They probably feel the same when you do well like when Daryl gave you a gift card after your first podium and points."

"You're right... let's continue this tomorrow it's getting late now."

"Sure, let's meet up at Veratuna Circuit."

"Alright, see you mate."

He slowly puts his phone down after that call with Lukas, he was not wrong at all points there. Even after not performing well, he doesn't need to feel that way as he still accomplished something. Good thing Lukas was there for him. Kinu wants to pay Lukas, and his teammates back with something... he doesn't know what or how but he'll think of something soon.

After all that, it's time for some rest. This week is going to be eventful for Kinu.

[Siovanija and Teusland]

“Alright Niklas, I think we really need to go over the strategy again.”

Niklas Schonbaum sat in the back of a car on its way to the airport in Nekoni, alongside two of his TAS Alliance team members. Jurgen Hassenhoff and Paulus Meisner, who had both come over from TMW to work with him, were important members of his crew - and importantly, were great friends.

Niklas turned to Paulus to speak. “Ok, sure. Everyone knows what they need to get done, correct?”

Paulus and Jurgen nodded. Niklas had just finished his best official race of the season, and as the team prepared to travel to Filindostan for the important event, there was only one thing on their minds.

“Right lads, the game starts when we’re in the air. Luckily, we’ve booked one of those flights that has WiFi, so we’ll have to make sure we’re all seated correctly. We should be able to see the entire game that way - but we might have to worry if it goes to overtime.”

Today was the World Cup of Hockey 41 Final, between Siovanija & Teusland and Ko-oren. It was the biggest event on the national sporting calendar since - well, the World Cup of Hockey 40 Final. Siovanijans and Teus love football, motorsports, and cricket - and are absolutely obsessed with hockey. Niklas Schonbaum and his team were no different. Watching this game, for a person from the United Republics, was non-optional.

“I’m not worried about overtime, I think both of these teams want to get it done in 60 to be honest,” said Paulus.

“You never know,” said Niklas. “And I don’t want to take any chances with a second game either - that would be during qualifying, wouldn’t it?”

The group boarded their flight for Filindostan, each dialled into the hockey game.

“What the hell is Kirsche wearing tonight?” asked Jurgen as the broadcast of Hockey Night in Siovanija & Teusland began on their computers - referring to the colourful hockey commentator whose suits were about as bold as his takes on hockey.

Niklas laughed. “It’s what he wore last year apparently - hey, we’ll take any good luck we can get.”

Soon enough, the puck was dropped, and the TAS Alliance team members intently watched as the first period went by without a goal. The game between Siovanija & Teusland and Ko-oren was expected to be a bit of a defensive struggle, with both teams being good at the back, and there was a feeling that it would only take one or two goals for either team to win the game.

The plane continued to fly through Esportivan skies en route to Filindostan as the clock continued to tick. End of the second period, 0-0. Now just minutes left in the third period - still 0-0. Siovanija & Teusland with a chance - no, a great save by the Ko-orenite goaltender. Ko-oren chance - and a great save to match it by the Goldhorns’ netminder. Just as the plane began to descend and begin landing, regulation ended - 0-0, going to overtime.

“You said there wouldn’t be f****** overtime!” roared Jurgen.

Niklas could only laugh. “With the way these teams are playing, this might go 5 or 6 overtimes anyways. I think we’ll be fine.”

“You’re crazy if you think it’ll be 5 or 6, man, but I could see 3 honestly. They defend so well, that Ko-oren team,” said Paulus.

The group rushed off the plane as quick as possible and made their way to the baggage claim area. Niklas and Paulus rushed to get the bags, while Jurgen set up beside them with his phone on watching the game.

“Anything happening?”

“Couple minutes left in the first overtime, it’s still kinda slowing down.”

The group made their way to a taxi, along with their baggage, making sure Jurgen was sat in the middle of the back seat so they could take in the game. By the time they reached the hotel, the second overtime had also finished. The World Cup of Hockey Final would be decided in triple overtime.

When Niklas Schonbaum reached the hotel, there were a few members of the media waiting for him, as always. He noticed, however, that tonight the number was particularly smaller.

“Good evening Niklas, we’re sure you want to catch the game, but would you mind answering a few questions?”

“Of course, just a couple.”

“Most of the usual group took the day off for vacation - everyone wants to watch the game, you know. Anyways, you’re coming off the best official result of your WGPC career so far. Does that give you some inspiration heading into this race in Filindostan?”

“I mean, 18 and 19 don’t feel too different to me. I’m just trying to get the best out of myself and out of our car every week, and I think we are seeing improvements week in and week out. That’s more important to me than just being one spot higher, ideally I’d like to see that number increase.”

“Speculation in the domestic media about your future this week. Can you tell us anything about it?”

“Yes, I plan on racing this weekend in Filindostan. That’s what’s in my immediate future. Obviously when you get near the end of the season there’s always going to be questions, but I’m just focused on putting in the best performances I possibly can.”

“The track in Filindostan is a very technical street circuit. How are you preparing to adapt to that challenge?”

“Well, obviously I’ve experienced street courses back home, obviously the famous one in Stelburg. But it’s always going to be an adjustment, and I know that I’m strong on technical tracks like-”

Niklas’ words were interrupted, however, by a shout from Jurgen: “Yes! Yes! Yes!”

Every person in the lobby turned to him, as he announced jubilantly: “We won!”

Niklas Schonbaum, his two team members, and the 4 journalists present all began cheering, giving each other hugs, and celebrating the jubilant moment for the country - World Cup of Hockey Champions for the second time in a row. After a few minutes, things quieted down a bit, and the interview finished up.

“So Niklas, any comment you want to give in congratulations for the national hockey team?”

“Of course. We’re all so proud of what they’ve achieved, and I hope that one day I can bring that type of pride to our country myself. Congratulations guys, it’s been a joy to watch the games.”

“That’ll be all for tonight Niklas, we’ll see you at the presser later.”

Pumping their fists, Niklas Schonbaum and company made their way to their hotel rooms just in time to watch Gunter Pfenning lift the world championship trophy for the second straight year. Niklas was quite excited about the championship - but was also thinking about the hard road the hockey team had faced in its initial years, with heartbreaking losses before reaching the summit. He wanted to be on top of his sport the same way the Goldhorns were currently on top of theirs, and knew that they only way to get there was hard work. So, turning the television off and heading to bed, he was now focused on the task at hand: the Grand Prix Filindostan Cepat.

[Liventia]

CUTOFF

for Practice and Qualifying at San Marco Street Circuit

[Liventia]

Week 13: Practice

Conditions:      	Dry
Lap Record:      	00:01:38.809
Session Length:	75 minutes
Nation:         	FID
Circuit:        	San Marco Street Circuit

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

POS # ▍DRIVER                                     	FASTEST LAP	GAP TO LEADER
 1 85 ▍Olivia Stone                               	00:01:47.173	00:00:00.000
 2 12 ▍Anneliese Devereux                         	00:01:47.221	00:00:00.049
 3 23 ▍Cocoabo #23                                	00:01:47.294	00:00:00.122
 4 47 ▍Erica Okumura                              	00:01:47.360	00:00:00.187
 5 28 ▍Sara Luna                                  	00:01:47.434	00:00:00.262
 6 46 ▍Kitti Armbruster                           	00:01:47.542	00:00:00.369
 7 51 ▍R.L. Cruisin                               	00:01:47.621	00:00:00.449
 8 77 ▍iBen Toralmintii                           	00:01:47.628	00:00:00.455
 9 56 ▍Terho Talvela                              	00:01:47.670	00:00:00.498
10 22 ▍Jasmin Kranjska                            	00:01:47.873	00:00:00.700
11 42 ▍Alex Dimitrianov                           	00:01:47.897	00:00:00.725
12 19 ▍Dom Falepeau                               	00:01:47.923	00:00:00.750
13 52 ▍Sayono Souzare                             	00:01:48.608	00:00:01.436
14 50 ▍Rudy Edwards                               	00:01:48.687	00:00:01.514
15 27 ▍Dario Nülkeschläger                        	00:01:48.703	00:00:01.531
16 71 ▍Rustom Ibuna                               	00:01:48.877	00:00:01.705
17  7 ▍Abdoulaye Goita                            	00:01:49.373	00:00:02.201
18 25 ▍Gregori Krupin                             	00:01:49.403	00:00:02.230
19 14 ▍Sigur Bjarnason                            	00:01:49.481	00:00:02.308
20 72 ▍Charyseine Valkyria                        	00:01:49.641	00:00:02.468
21 11 ▍Lane Carter                                	00:01:49.660	00:00:02.487
22 37 ▍Niklas Schonbaum                           	00:01:49.814	00:00:02.641
23 82 ▍Kinu Luminna                               	00:01:50.773	00:00:03.601
24  8 ▍William Archer                             	00:01:52.446	00:00:05.274
25 94 ▍Ryker Lane                                 	00:01:52.476	00:00:05.303
26 76 ▍Adriana Kowalski                           	00:01:52.909	00:00:05.736
27 41 ▍Jean Mercer-Daly                           	00:01:54.772	00:00:07.599
28 63 ▍Daryl Mizushima                            	00:02:06.067	00:00:18.895

---

Week 13: Qualifying

Conditions:      	Dry
Lap Record:      	00:01:38.809
Qualifying Type:	Traditional
Nation:         	FID
Circuit:        	San Marco Street Circuit

POS # ▍DRIVER                                     	FASTEST LAP	GAP TO LEADER
 1 23 ▍Cocoabo #23                                	00:01:41.208	00:00:00.000
 2 50 ▍Rudy Edwards                               	00:01:41.227	00:00:00.019
 3 47 ▍Erica Okumura                              	00:01:41.244	00:00:00.036
 4 14 ▍Sigur Bjarnason                            	00:01:41.328	00:00:00.120
 5 25 ▍Gregori Krupin                             	00:01:41.358	00:00:00.150
 6 42 ▍Alex Dimitrianov                           	00:01:41.368	00:00:00.161
 7 11 ▍Lane Carter                                	00:01:41.400	00:00:00.192
 8 72 ▍Charyseine Valkyria                        	00:01:41.533	00:00:00.326
 9 28 ▍Sara Luna                                  	00:01:41.631	00:00:00.423
10 77 ▍iBen Toralmintii                           	00:01:41.670	00:00:00.462
11  7 ▍Abdoulaye Goita                            	00:01:41.738	00:00:00.530
12 27 ▍Dario Nülkeschläger                        	00:01:41.747	00:00:00.539
13 85 ▍Olivia Stone                               	00:01:41.796	00:00:00.588
14 22 ▍Jasmin Kranjska                            	00:01:41.976	00:00:00.768
15 12 ▍Anneliese Devereux                         	00:01:42.034	00:00:00.826
16 51 ▍R.L. Cruisin                               	00:01:42.064	00:00:00.856
17 76 ▍Adriana Kowalski                           	00:01:42.218	00:00:01.010
18 56 ▍Terho Talvela                              	00:01:42.399	00:00:01.192
19 52 ▍Sayono Souzare                             	00:01:42.468	00:00:01.261
20 19 ▍Dom Falepeau                               	00:01:42.836	00:00:01.628
21 37 ▍Niklas Schonbaum                           	00:01:42.904	00:00:01.696
22 71 ▍Rustom Ibuna                               	00:01:43.216	00:00:02.008
23  8 ▍William Archer                             	00:01:43.237	00:00:02.029
24 41 ▍Jean Mercer-Daly                           	00:01:43.320	00:00:02.112
 – 82 ▍Kinu Luminna                               	00:01:43.381	00:00:02.173
25 94 ▍Ryker Lane                                 	00:01:43.465	00:00:02.257
26 46 ▍Kitti Armbruster                           	00:01:44.052	00:00:02.844
 – 63 ▍Daryl Mizushima                            	00:01:45.717	00:00:04.509

[Hodori Motorsports]

Neocastella, Nekoni
Post-Race
It had started as Hakusa’s idea. She and An’ue had sprung this on Sayono when she returned to her motorhome following the race in Val de Rivoli.
“If we have time, there’s a place in Neocastella you might like.”
What was one more day, in a nation of catgirls, going to hurt?
And so the three women were now seated at a table in a maid cafe, the music playing in the background cycling through generically sugary Ajian pop and generically sugary Hodoran pop. A cute maid added the finishing touches to a ketchup-art topping to Hakusa’s rice-filled omelette, while An’ue snapped pictures of her own.
The maid turned to Sayono, asking what she wanted drawn.
“Mayari.” Hakusa offered.
Sayono just looked at her wife.
“Or Okumura?”
“no.”
“Why not both?” An’ue chimed in.
“Kissing.” Hakusa added, trying not to giggle too much.
Sayono’s face was almost as red as the ketchup.
“That might be a little too far.” A smirking An’ue retrieved a pen from her purse and wrote something on a napkin. “We’ve had our fun. Let’s just go with this.”

In the end, Sayono had simply gone with the message: a celebration of her P2 finish.

---

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The Blue Flag Report
Posted by 87 Pigeons

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Polaris drivers, various occasions

First, let’s take a moment and enjoy the fact that a thing documenting WGPC drivers that fall behind on pace itself fell behind on pace.

And now our disclaimer:
The Blue Flag Report is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by the WGPO, the WGPC, or its media partners.

So, time to play catch-up. We’ll do rounds 2, 3, and 4.

In the meantime, here’s our standings as of Nekoni for those of us who just want to keep current:

Pos No  DRV  Driver                    LNC  BFP  MBP
 1  28  LNA  Sara Luna                   1    1    0
 2   7  GTA  Abdoulaye Goita             2    2    0
 3  25  KRU  Gregori Krupin              3    3    0
 4  50  EDW  Rudy Edwards                4    4    0
 5  71  IBU  Rustom Ibuna                4    4    0
 6  94  LAN  Ryker Lane                  4    4    0
 7  52  SZR  Sayono Souzare              6    6    0
 8  11  CRT  Lane Carter                 6    6    0
 9  12  DEV  Anneliese Devereux          6    6    0
10  85  STO  Olivia Stone                7    7    0
11  46  ARB  Kitti Armbruster            7    7    0
12  76  KOW  Adriana Kowalski            9    9    0
13  27  NUL  Dario Nülkeschläger        14   14    0
14  42  DIM  Alex Dimitrianov           15    2   13
15  82  LMN  Kinu Luminna               18   18    0
16  56  TAL  Terho Talvela              20    1   19
17  72  VAL  Charyseine Valkyria        20   20    0
18  77  TII  iBen Toralmintii           26    2   24
19  63  MIZ  Daryl Mizushima            31   31    0
20  47  OKU  Erica Okumura              32    9   23
21  22  KRA  Jasmin Kranjska            33    5   28
22  37  SCH  Niklas Schonbaum           41    5   36
23  19  FAL  Dom Falepeau               49    2   47
24  41  JMD  Jean Mercer-Daly           58   10   48
25  23  C23  Cocoabo #23                67    5   62
26  51  CRU  R.L. Cruisin               69    2   67
27  14  BJA  Sigur Bjarnason            80    1   79
28   8  ARC  William Archer            118    4  114

Pos Constructor                        LNC  BFP  MBP
 1  Volkov Racing                        4    4    0
 2  Schkeksa-VSK Viska Racing            9    9    0
 3  Badai Angin Tim Motorsport          19    6   13
 4  Polaris Racing Team                 38   15   23
 5  Tropicorp Racing Ælund              46    3   43
 6  TAS Alliance Racing                 47   11   36
 7  Nexus Racing                        62   14   48
 8  Race Eelandii V&T GP                75    8   67
 9  Fireline Motorsports                76   14   62
10  Mattijania Racing Team              82    7   75
11  WGPC Motorworks                     83   83    0
12  SVJ Racing WGPC Team                87    8   79
13  Preston Autos Grand Prix Racing    122    8  114

---

Round 2: Hodori

Pos No  DRV  Driver                    LNC  BFP  MBP
 1  42  DIM  Alex Dimitrianov            0    0    0
 2  28  LNA  Sara Luna                   0    0    0
 3  71  IBU  Rustom Ibuna                1    1    0
 4  77  TII  iBen Toralmintii            1    1    0
 5  12  DEV  Anneliese Devereux          1    1    0
 6  51  CRU  R.L. Cruisin                1    1    0
 7   7  GTA  Abdoulaye Goita             1    1    0
 8  50  EDW  Rudy Edwards                1    1    0
 9  94  LAN  Ryker Lane                  1    1    0
10  56  TAL  Terho Talvela               1    1    0
11  52  SZR  Sayono Souzare              1    1    0
12  46  ARB  Kitti Armbruster            1    1    0
13  25  KRU  Gregori Krupin              1    1    0
14  11  CRT  Lane Carter                 2    2    0
15  23  C23  Cocoabo #23                 2    2    0
16  37  SCH  Niklas Schonbaum            2    2    0
17  72  VAL  Charyseine Valkyria         2    2    0
18  22  KRA  Jasmin Kranjska             3    3    0
19  76  KOW  Adriana Kowalski            3    3    0
20  41  JMD  Jean Mercer-Daly            6    6    0
21  85  STO  Olivia Stone                6    6    0
22  63  MIZ  Daryl Mizushima             6    6    0
23  27  NUL  Dario Nülkeschläger         6    6    0
24  82  LMN  Kinu Luminna               10   10    0
25  47  OKU  Erica Okumura              30    7   23
26  14  BJA  Sigur Bjarnason            40    0   40
27  19  FAL  Dom Falepeau               47    0   47
28   8  ARC  William Archer            114    0  114

Pos Constructor                        LNC  BFP  MBP
 1  Badai Angin Tim Motorsport           1    1    0
 2  Volkov Racing                        1    1    0
 3  Tropicorp Racing Ælund               2    2    0
 4  Race Eelandii V&T GP                 3    3    0
 5  TAS Alliance Racing                  3    3    0
 6  Fireline Motorsports                 5    5    0
 7  Nexus Racing                         7    7    0
 8  Schkeksa-VSK Viska Racing            7    7    0
 9  WGPC Motorworks                     24   24    0
10  Polaris Racing Team                 31    8   23
11  SVJ Racing WGPC Team                41    1   40
12  Mattijania Racing Team              50    3   47
13  Preston Autos Grand Prix Racing    115    1  114

JMD won, with a total of 11 drivers completing all laps. Ibuna was the best of the didn’t-complete-all-laps drivers. Fast food Cocoabo #23, Kowalski, and Carter finished 2 laps down. Okumura was the last of the classified finishers, ending her race in the gravel with 54 laps completed (see top of article). Bjarnason had a nasty crash with 32 laps complete, and Archer had his car die on him again after 4 complete laps.
Two races in, we have Luna and Dimitiranov as the only two drivers to complete all laps so far. Bjarnason collects 29 more meatballs, and Archer doubles his score. Nülkeschläger and Luminna get their 5 BFP for failing to qualify.

Wtih Ibuna and Cruisin one lap down and Carter two laps down, there are now zero teams that have completed all laps. SVJ and Preston remain the biggest losers here, with 40 and 114 meatballs respectively. Polaris and MRT did manage to avoid collecting more meatballs, and are the only other two teams at this point to have MBP.

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Round 3: Nimbus

Pos No  DRV  Driver                    LNC  BFP  MBP
 1  42  DIM  Alex Dimitrianov            0    0    0
 2  28  LNA  Sara Luna                   0    0    0
 3  71  IBU  Rustom Ibuna                1    1    0
 4  51  CRU  R.L. Cruisin                1    1    0
 5  50  EDW  Rudy Edwards                1    1    0
 6  94  LAN  Ryker Lane                  1    1    0
 7  25  KRU  Gregori Krupin              1    1    0
 8  12  DEV  Anneliese Devereux          2    2    0
 9   7  GTA  Abdoulaye Goita             2    2    0
10  52  SZR  Sayono Souzare              2    2    0
11  46  ARB  Kitti Armbruster            2    2    0
12  11  CRT  Lane Carter                 3    3    0
13  22  KRA  Jasmin Kranjska             3    3    0
14  76  KOW  Adriana Kowalski            4    4    0
15  85  STO  Olivia Stone                6    6    0
16  72  VAL  Charyseine Valkyria         7    7    0
17  27  NUL  Dario Nülkeschläger         7    7    0
18  82  LMN  Kinu Luminna               11   11    0
19  63  MIZ  Daryl Mizushima            11   11    0
20  56  TAL  Terho Talvela              20    1   19
21  77  TII  iBen Toralmintii           25    1   24
22  47  OKU  Erica Okumura              30    7   23
23  37  SCH  Niklas Schonbaum           38    2   36
24  14  BJA  Sigur Bjarnason            40    0   40
25  19  FAL  Dom Falepeau               47    0   47
26  41  JMD  Jean Mercer-Daly           54    6   48
27  23  C23  Cocoabo #23                64    2   62
28   8  ARC  William Archer            114    0  114

Pos Constructor                        LNC  BFP  MBP
 1  Badai Angin Tim Motorsport           1    1    0
 2  Volkov Racing                        1    1    0
 3  Race Eelandii V&T GP                 4    4    0
 4  Schkeksa-VSK Viska Racing            8    8    0
 5  Polaris Racing Team                 32    9   23
 6  WGPC Motorworks                     36   36    0
 7  TAS Alliance Racing                 40    4   36
 8  SVJ Racing WGPC Team                42    2   40
 9  Tropicorp Racing Ælund              45    2   43
10  Mattijania Racing Team              50    3   47
11  Nexus Racing                        55    7   48
12  Fireline Motorsports                68    6   62
13  Preston Autos Grand Prix Racing    115    1  114

Lane is your winner here, with 13 drivers finishing all laps. Goita, Armbruster, Souzare, Carter, Nülkeschläger, Kowalski, Luminna, and Devereux add one more incomplete lap to their totals. Talvela’s race ended after 45 laps, Toralmintii’s after 40. Schonbaum got 28 of 64 complete before retiring. JMD bluescreened again after 16 laps, and the Cocoabo is cooked on lap 3. Valkyria and Mizushima did not start.

TAS Alliance, Tropicorp Ælund, Nexus, and Fireline enter themselves into the running for the Unaward for Unreliability and a shipment of meatballs. This leaves only five teams with zero MBP. Polaris, the best of the constructors with meatball points, climbs to fifth on the basis on not having as bad a day as some of the others.

---

Round 4: Auruna

Pos No  DRV  Driver                    LNC  BFP  MBP
 1  42  DIM  Alex Dimitrianov            1    1    0
 2  28  LNA  Sara Luna                   1    1    0
 3  71  IBU  Rustom Ibuna                1    1    0
 4   7  GTA  Abdoulaye Goita             1    1    0
 5  50  EDW  Rudy Edwards                1    1    0
 6  94  LAN  Ryker Lane                  2    2    0
 7  25  KRU  Gregori Krupin              2    2    0
 8  11  CRT  Lane Carter                 3    3    0
 9  12  DEV  Anneliese Devereux          3    3    0
10  46  ARB  Kitti Armbruster            3    3    0
11  22  KRA  Jasmin Kranjska             4    4    0
12  76  KOW  Adriana Kowalski            5    5    0
13  85  STO  Olivia Stone                6    6    0
14  52  SZR  Sayono Souzare              6    6    0
15  72  VAL  Charyseine Valkyria         9    9    0
16  82  LMN  Kinu Luminna               12   12    0
17  27  NUL  Dario Nülkeschläger        12   12    0
18  63  MIZ  Daryl Mizushima            16   16    0
19  56  TAL  Terho Talvela              20    1   19
20  77  TII  iBen Toralmintii           25    1   24
21  47  OKU  Erica Okumura              30    7   23
22  37  SCH  Niklas Schonbaum           39    3   36
23  14  BJA  Sigur Bjarnason            46    0   46
24  19  FAL  Dom Falepeau               47    0   47
25  51  CRU  R.L. Cruisin               49    1   48
26  41  JMD  Jean Mercer-Daly           56    8   48
27  23  C23  Cocoabo #23                65    3   62
28   8  ARC  William Archer            115    1  114

Pos Constructor                        LNC  BFP  MBP
 1  Badai Angin Tim Motorsport           2    2    0
 2  Volkov Racing                        3    3    0
 3  Schkeksa-VSK Viska Racing            7    7    0
 4  Polaris Racing Team                 36   13   23
 5  TAS Alliance Racing                 42    6   36
 6  Tropicorp Racing Ælund              45    2   43
 7  WGPC Motorworks                     49   49    0
 8  SVJ Racing WGPC Team                49    3   46
 9  Mattijania Racing Team              51    4   47
10  Race Eelandii V&T GP                52    4   48
11  Nexus Racing                        58   10   48
12  Fireline Motorsports                70    8   62
13  Preston Autos Grand Prix Racing    116    2  114

Toralmintii and Talvela turn around and go from double-DNF to double-podium, taking the top two spots. Edwards starts to Get Good by combining a fifth-place finish with the fastest lap bonus. 10th place Yummy Cocoabo is one lap down. JMD is two laps down, and is joined by Valkyria. Souzare’s race ended on lap 46 after her car just up and died on her (see top of article), but at least she managed to avoid getting meatballed. Bjarnason adds six more MBP with a lap 44 retirement, and Cruisin only logs one lap complete before everything goes wrong. Nülkeschläger and Mizushima are your DNQs.
Dimitrianov and Luna, having been the only two drivers to have completed all laps so far, can no longer claim that award.

Badai Angin leads the pack with the most laps complete. Race Eelandii falls from third to tenth with Cruisin’s lap 2 retirement. While bad, it could have been worse; a lap one retirement, from pole (related: see top of article). Bjarnason adds six more MBP to SVJ, giving them the same number of LNC as the WGPC Motorworks team. Only four teams now have managed to avoid meatballs: the top three and the Motorworks team (spoiler alert: for one of these four this doesn’t last).

Our next report will cover Rounds 5 part 1, 5 part 2, 6, and 7.