WGPC :: World Grand Prix Championship 19 [COMPLETE]

[Lisander]

Anneliese Devereux is confirmed as Eminent WGPC Team Second Driver.
Catherine Toggard is confirmed as Eminent WGPC Team Test Driver.

[Filindostan]

A private track in Bandariyan

The car launch of Badai Angin Tim Motorsport was not as grand as previous seasons expected to be, on the request of team principal Tauro Volante. There was less fanfare on the launch of the car this time, as the removal of Rudolf Ibuna and Bryant Gambal as team principal and technical director at the end of last season left a bad taste in most Filindos, and the Hispino team principal now in charge was not a popular choice among petrolheads in the country.

Nevertheless, he invited several people from the local media for the official launch of the BAP003.

The livery is a big change from last season's 'Badai Angin blue' and red, with corporate colors of title sponsor Telebuenas taking over the car for this season. Another change in the car is the tyre suppliers, as Tropicorp replaces Solymok as the official tyre supplier of the team.

Additional sponsorship is provided by Britonish company Elegamment, which personally sponsor second driver Dom Falepeau, and the logo was seen in the old Badai Angin-IGR car when the Togoni driver was part of the team in WGP2 two seasons ago.

Interviews and more images of the car in the next part.

[Schutzenphalia and West Ruhntuhnkuhnland]

Der Nordschutzenphalenglaubreiterfluchtschlamterkrötische Flümederthelweiderverlautzällegerwißmeinschlaftsörbschlimmelbeobachter.

Lukas Fichter has praised Carvenlo Liventia Airways for prioritizing mental health and driver wellness in their new World Grand Prix Championship campaign, saying it proves that “having a little compassion doesn’t require dulling that competitive edge”. Fichter’s comments come after team principal Matthew Portland extended an offer to the team’s drivers, including test driver Fichter, to provide pastoral support, including provisions to fly out family members and loved ones to be in attendance for the Liventia Airways Grand Prix of Liventia (which takes place in Liventia).

Fichter endured a difficult WPG2 season last year as tensions frayed at the underperforming Nykipiflugpuun Noortekoondis team. While Fichter did not call his former team out by name, he did acknowledge that he’d “been in environments where driver mental health wasn’t taken so seriously”, and that he’d “seen how ugly this business can get”. He was relieved to be part of a “modern, forward thinking team organization”, in which he will serve as a test driver for the forthcoming season. “Also it’s good that the team office doesn’t smell quite as strongly of walrus scat,” he added. Carvenlo face a challenging season as they return after an absence of several seasons despite their awesome historic pedigree, and Fichter acknowledged the docket was “very competitive”. But the season starting on home soil could give them a “slight edge” on the all-important first race weekend.

Despite the offer, none of Fichter’s family will be making the trip to Talbott as they all died some years ago in a tragic, but hilarious, accident involving a startled beaver.

[Siovanija and Teusland]

TeusBank TMW Rennsport - WGPC Season Guide

Second Edition
First Edition

A Message from CEO Magnus Schonau

Dear fans,

When my great-grandfather founded TMW over 100 years ago, I doubt he imagined that his company would one day become one of the biggest auto manufacturers in the country, and would have its cars driven around the world. I doubt he could've foreseen that his tiny factory would one day turn into an entire complex full of thousands of employees, each working so hard to develop the car. And most of all, I doubt he could've foreseen TMW joining the ranks of the international racing giants and competing on the WGPC season.

We are so proud to be on the WGPC grid for the first time in our history after a brilliant debut year in WGP2 competition. Our talented young drivers Heinz-Otto Junker and Joy Wingelaar are drivers we have a great deal of confidence in as they make the step up to WGPC with us, and we're hoping to give our brilliant fans the season they deserve. Particularly exciting will be the provisionally-scheduled race in the streets of Stelburg, where we know we will have the backing of the black and gold faithful.

Wishing you a great season following our team,
Magnus Schonau

Our Team - Our Story

It all begins in 1905, when the first grand prix race happens on a series of private roads near Stelburg. Teussische Motoren Werke, of course, enter, and go on to dominate the event, taking a 1-2 finish. From then on, TMW’s involvement in motorsport in Siovanija & Teusland would continue to grow and grow. When the National Grand Prix Championship was established in 1954, TMW began participation, and are the only constructor to have entered every single race, winning 38 constructors’ and 41 drivers’ titles in the 74 seasons since then. TMW also participate in domestic endurance racing championships, and are one of only 3 teams to have won the NGPC constructors’ title as well as the Stelburgring 24 Hours.

TMW’s founder, Julius Schonau, believed in a certain elegance and class, and that is something our team has always strived towards. From the first-ever champion, Andreas Reizel, to many other champions such as Heinrich Herschinger, Patrick Metzinger, Elias Rossel and more, and now to today’s heroes, Heinz-Otto Junker and Joy Wingelaar, there is a tradition that continues on, a torch passed down, and one that we hope will bring good fortune into the next challenge. Last season saw the new generation capture the WGP2 Drivers' Title, as Heinz-Otto Junker became the champion, and the duo of Junker/Wingelaar helped the team to second place in the contructors' standings. There's a long way to go now, however, as we reach WGPC, but we will always be true to our roots. We are TMW.

Our Team - Staff

Jorn Feistel will serve as the Team Principal for TeusBank TMW Rennsport once again after the successful debut season in WGP2. Feistel has also been the Team Principal for TMW in domestic competitions, and is a veteran member of the staff Joining him as race engineers will be Oliver Werich leading Heinz-Otto Junker’s half of the garage, while Kaspar Flugel will lead Joy Wingelaar’s half. Heinrich Herschinger, a three-time domestic drivers’ champion, will serve as the Sporting Director of the team. We cannot forget, of course, our great race-day staff, both on the pit wall, in the garage, and back at the factory in Litzengau - each member of the TMW team contributes to our success week in and week out.

The Challenger

New opportunities call for new legends to be written, new names to remember. And the name to remember this year is Teussische Motoren Wagen WGPC-1, or TMW WGPC-1, the chassis that serves as TMW's challenger for this season. It is again a very balanced effort, with a focus on ensuring strength in all areas. The car is in theory the successor to the W27A which captured a WGP2 Drivers' title last season, but in practice is a very different car and one more suited to top-level grand prix racing. The beast inside is the TMW Powertrains V10, which has been used by TMW in Formula ST competition for several years and will also serve as the engines for Marijke Rennsport in AOGP competition as well as the spec engine for the Esportivan WGP3 series. We're proud to serve these customers, and aim to provide the best engine possible.

The livery is the traditional TMW colours: black and gold, with the newly-designed logo featuring on the front wing. The logo was designed in consultation with a Farf design firm.

Our Drivers

The fan-favourite duo of Heinz-Otto Junker and Joy Wingelaar returns to the fold as the driver lineup for TMW's WGPC debut campaign. Both drivers will also be making their WGPC debuts. Heinz-Otto Junker has been a known talent as an aggressive, confident driver, and that was seen in his WGP2 campaign last season. Despite not winning a single race, Junker managed a remarkable consistency, finishing the season with 168 points and several podiums en route to the WGP2 Drivers' Title in a field stacked with young talent. He will be looking to continue that performance at the next level.

Growing up driving tractors and karts, Joy Wingelaar adapted quickly to the WGP2 scene last season and put up several brilliant drives, finishing the season with 69 points and 10th place in the drivers' standings as TMW fought hard for the WGP2 constructor's championship. With another season under her belt, and now making the step up to the premier class of world motorsport, Wingelaar will be using her great technical skills and a great rapport within the team to help make her debut season one to remember.

Team Principal's Message

Dear fans,

It's been a long, busy offseason here at Litzengau preparing for the WGPC season. I'm very excited about the season, and I hope you are too. We're confident in the car we have built, that it can give our drivers the best possible chance to be competitive this season. And we're confident in the drivers too, that they can continue to meet their own goals and live up to their great potential. Last season saw Heinz-Otto and Joy both prove their potential with great seasons, and of course we're proud to have the WGP2 Drivers' title in our trophy cabinet at Litzengau. But the work isn't done for anybody here, and I know that myself, Heinz-Otto and Joy are all excited about the season ahead and excited to continue our progress as one team. We're looking forward to seeing you around the world, as well as hopefully in Stelburg later in the year.

Thanks,
Jorn Feistel

[WGPC 19]

[Liventia Airways] Grand Prix of Liventia

Talbott Autodrome, Talbott, Liventia - Rushmore


The Grand Prix of Liventia was traditionally shared between the Talbott Autodrome in Talbott and Neverend's Gold Park Circuit, but Gold Park's long-standing contract with Motorsport Liventia lapsed at the end of Season 17. Since then, a new agreement reached between the three circuits is for Talbott to host WGPC and Gold Park to host WGP2 events. Therefore, the Talbott Autodrome, also nicknamed "The Dog" for its canine-like outline, has been nominated to host the Grand Prix again this season. Coming down the start-finish straight from turn 21, drivers build up a fair amount of speed before braking for a tight section that comprise turns 1 and 2. Turn 2 is a second-gear right-hander leading onto a technical section of esses up through turn 6, where the first intermediate is located. This is a section not taken at above fourth gear. Turn 6 is a smooth left-hander onto a very short straight before a sharp hairpin at turn 7, which leads into one of the faster sections of the circuit. Turn 8 is a fifth-gear right hander before a sharp breaking point at turn 9 which is a second-gear corner. A small 'S' later and we're onto a section of the track with three quick chicanes in a row, which leads to another hairpin at 14. 14 through 16 is a fairly quick section, but 16 is another hairpin. From here onwards it's almost totally flat-out with a nice, long straight leading up to the quick left-right combination of 18 and 19 before a last hairpin at 20 leads back onto the main straight. The technicality of the track means cars with poor reliability tend to fair better here as cars aren't all-out through the whole circuit. It is technically situated in the Folenisa Desert, which makes rain unlikely, though not impossible—when it does rain, it drenches everything. It is not impossible to overtake on the circuit, although it feels like a street circuit in parts, and it is more difficult than on a usual track. There are no walls, however, only gravel pits and run-off areas, which helps avoid major safety car incidents.

Companion Event(s): None

Conditions:      	Dry
Lap Record:      	00:01:40.071
Session Length:	180 minutes
Nation:         	LEN
Circuit:        	Talbott Autodrome

Drivers have 180 minutes to complete as many laps of the track as they like

POS # ▍DRIVER                           	FASTEST LAP	GAP TO LEADER
 1 51 ▍R.L. Cruisin                     	00:01:46.270	00:00:00.000
 2 50 ▍Sara Luna                        	00:01:46.273	00:00:00.003
 3 71 ▍Rustom Ibuna                     	00:01:46.364	00:00:00.094
 4 37 ▍Laura Haukanna                   	00:01:46.367	00:00:00.097
 5 11 ▍Lane Carter                      	00:01:46.389	00:00:00.119
 6 17 ▍Janne Laukkanen                  	00:01:46.389	00:00:00.119
 7 77 ▍iBen Toralmintii                 	00:01:46.402	00:00:00.132
 8 41 ▍Jean Mercer-Daly                 	00:01:46.422	00:00:00.152
 9 40 ▍Adriana Kowalski Ela...          	00:01:46.529	00:00:00.259
10 82 ▍Kinu Luminna                     	00:01:46.568	00:00:00.298
11 19 ▍Anola "Wrench" Melani            	00:01:46.594	00:00:00.324
12 19 ▍Dom Falepeau                     	00:01:46.639	00:00:00.369
13 63 ▍Daryl Mizushima                  	00:01:46.717	00:00:00.447
14 31 ▍Joy Wingelaar                    	00:01:46.746	00:00:00.476
15 88 ▍Ted Pressley                     	00:01:46.858	00:00:00.588
16 94 ▍Ryker Lane                       	00:01:46.900	00:00:00.630
17  8 ▍William Archer                   	00:01:46.933	00:00:00.663
18 15 ▍Heinz-Otto Junker                	00:01:46.955	00:00:00.685
19  5 ▍Rudy Edwards                     	00:01:46.982	00:00:00.712
20 24 ▍Sayono Souzare                   	00:01:47.031	00:00:00.761
21 25 ▍Gregori Krupin                   	00:01:47.052	00:00:00.782
22 85 ▍Olivia Stone                     	00:01:47.067	00:00:00.797
23 27 ▍Dario Nülkeschläger              	00:01:47.847	00:00:01.577
24  7 ▍Anneliese Devereux               	00:01:48.122	00:00:01.852

Week 1: Qualifying

Conditions:      	Light Showers
Lap Record:      	00:01:40.071
Qualifying Type:	Two-Tier
Nation:         	LEN
Circuit:        	Talbott Autodrome

POS # ▍DRIVER                           	FASTEST LAP	GAP TO LEADER	FASTEST LAP	GAP TO LEADER
 1  8 ▍William Archer                   	00:01:51.366	00:00:00.003	00:01:49.117	00:00:00.000
 2 51 ▍R.L. Cruisin                     	00:01:51.363	00:00:00.000	00:01:49.133	00:00:00.016
 3 17 ▍Janne Laukkanen                  	00:01:51.364	00:00:00.001	00:01:49.344	00:00:00.227
 4 25 ▍Gregori Krupin                   	00:01:51.498	00:00:00.135	00:01:50.108	00:00:00.991
 5 82 ▍Kinu Luminna                     	00:01:51.436	00:00:00.072	00:01:50.700	00:00:01.583
 6 71 ▍Rustom Ibuna                     	00:01:51.431	00:00:00.067	00:01:50.858	00:00:01.740
 7 88 ▍Ted Pressley                     	00:01:51.487	00:00:00.124	00:01:51.078	00:00:01.960
 8 41 ▍Jean Mercer-Daly                 	00:01:51.429	00:00:00.066	00:01:52.094	00:00:02.976
 9  7 ▍Anneliese Devereux               	00:01:51.567	00:00:00.204	00:01:52.343	00:00:03.226
10 37 ▍Laura Haukanna                   	00:01:51.546	00:00:00.183	00:01:56.008	00:00:06.891
11 11 ▍Lane Carter                      	00:01:51.576	00:00:00.213		
12 77 ▍iBen Toralmintii                 	00:01:51.802	00:00:00.439		
13 19 ▍Anola "Wrench" Melani            	00:01:51.814	00:00:00.451		
14 19 ▍Dom Falepeau                     	00:01:51.832	00:00:00.469		
15 40 ▍Adriana Kowalski Ela...          	00:01:51.916	00:00:00.553		
16 31 ▍Joy Wingelaar                    	00:01:51.932	00:00:00.569		
17 50 ▍Sara Luna                        	00:01:52.003	00:00:00.640		
18 27 ▍Dario Nülkeschläger              	00:01:52.058	00:00:00.695		
19  5 ▍Rudy Edwards                     	00:01:52.168	00:00:00.804		
20 24 ▍Sayono Souzare                   	00:01:52.181	00:00:00.818		
21 94 ▍Ryker Lane                       	00:01:52.310	00:00:00.947		
22 63 ▍Daryl Mizushima                  	00:01:52.790	00:00:01.427		
23 85 ▍Olivia Stone                     	00:01:52.811	00:00:01.448		
24 15 ▍Heinz-Otto Junker                	00:01:53.423	00:00:02.060

Week 1: Race

Conditions:      	Light Showers	
Laps:              	49	
Nation:         	LEN	
Circuit:        	Talbott Autodrome	
Event:	[Liventia Airways] Grand Prix of Liventia	
Safety Car Deployed on Laps:		
Cars on Grid:	24

POS  # ▍DRV Name                     Team                     	Time      	Pts	Fastest Lap	
  1 51 ▍CRU R.L. Cruisin             Carvenlo Liventia Airways	01:37:38.111	25		
  2  8 ▍ARC William Archer           Preston Autos GP         	00:00:00.494	18		
  3 82 ▍LMN Kinu Luminna             Viska Racing             	00:00:13.774	15		
  4 71 ▍IBU Rustom Ibuna             Badai Angin Tim          	00:00:31.033	12		
  5 17 ▍LAU Janne Laukkanen          Carvenlo Liventia Airways	00:00:39.745	10		
  6 19 ▍FAL Dom Falepeau             Badai Angin Tim          	00:00:54.295	8		
  7  7 ▍DEV Anneliese Devereux       Fireline+Heroes Eminent  	00:00:56.153	6		
  8 88 ▍PRE Ted Pressley             Kaylan Racing Team       	00:00:58.721	4		
  9 41 ▍JMD Jean Mercer-Daly         Nexus Racing             	00:01:03.269	2		
 10 25 ▍KRU Gregori Krupin           Race Eelandii VTGP       	00:01:07.308	1		
 11 11 ▍CRT Lane Carter              Race Eelandii VTGP       	00:01:10.710			
 12 37 ▍HAU Laura Haukanna           GP Pryfors Bilar Viiska  	00:01:11.705			
 13 77 ▍TII iBen Toralmintii         Tropicorp Racing Ælund   	00:01:22.024			
 14 40 ▍AKS Adriana Kowalski Ela...  Fireline+Heroes Eminent  	00:01:30.423			
 15 19 ▍MNI Anola "Wrench" Melani    Kaylan Racing Team       	00:01:30.461			
 16 50 ▍LNA Sara Luna                Tropicorp Racing Ælund   	00:01:53.307			
 17  5 ▍EDW Rudy Edwards             Preston Autos GP         	00:01:55.874			
 18 85 ▍STO Olivia Stone             Viska Racing             	00:01:56.651			
 19 15 ▍JUN Heinz-Otto Junker        Teusbank TMW Rennsport   	Laps Down: 1			
 20 94 ▍LAN Ryker Lane               Nexus Racing             	Laps Down: 1			
 21 27 ▍NÜL Dario Nülkeschläger      GP Pryfors Bilar Viiska  	Laps Down: 1	 + 1	1:54.539	
 22 31 ▍WIN Joy Wingelaar            Teusbank TMW Rennsport   	Laps Down: 1			
 23 63 ▍MIZ Daryl Mizushima          WGPC Motorworks (O)      	Laps Down: 1			
 24 24 ▍SZR Sayono Souzare           WGPC Motorworks (HR)     	Laps Down: 1

Constructors Standings After Race #1

Pos NAT ▍Team         Pts
  1 LEN ▍Carvenlo Liventia Airways      35
  2 FID ▍Badai Angin Tim                20
  3 HAP ▍Preston Autos GP               18
  4 AUR ▍Viska Racing                   15
  5 F+H ▍Fireline+Heroes Eminent         6
  6 TGN ▍Kaylan Racing Team              4
  7 NIM ▍Nexus Racing                    2
  8 V&T ▍Race Eelandii VTGP              1
  9 DCS ▍GP Pryfors Bilar Viska          1

Note: Race #2 is a short turnaround. Practice and Qual Will be posted separatelywith the WGP2 Cutoff

[Hapilopper]

(OOC: Short by my standards, yes, but I’m trying to get this done in my layover to Austin for the US Grand Prix.)
Talbott Autodrome, Talbott, Liventia
The Liventian Grand Prix
Many months had passed since Rudy Edwards smashed a Preston into a barrier during qualifying for the Liventian Grand Prix, but it was still bothering him. One could say he was experiencing some kind of gunshyness as he rounded the corners of the track. After all, why else would Rudy have been so much slower than William Archer? It wasn’t as if the PGP-02 was a bad car.

All Rudy could think of was that hard shot into the wall during qualifying the year before. Heading into turn 18, Rudy hit the DRS switch, and to his horror, found his rear wing snap off. There was nothing else he could have done. He went right into the wall, and it still bothered him. The whole track bothered him. And that was bothering Marty Lewis as he watched Rudy struggle near the back of the field, while William Archer battled for the lead.

And after the race, Marty went over to Rudy in the paddock, almost as if he was demanding an explanation.

“I fucking hate this track, Marty,” Rudy said. “I nearly got killed here. I can’t help but think about that.”

“Well, you need to get over it, Edwards,” Marty snapped. “I know plenty of guys that have wrecked, but you don’t see them moping around about their wrecks! Jesus Christ, Edwards, if every driver out there got scared of going back to those same tracks they wreck at, we wouldn’t have a sport anymore!”

“I get it, but…”

“But NOTHING,” Marty continued. “We’re a World Championship team. We’re a team that can win a World Grand Prix Championship. You can’t let yourself get spooked like that. Before we get to Hodori, talk to someone about it. Hell, talk to Drake Stevenson. He’ll be able to tell you about not getting spooked. Talk to Chris Holmes. He nearly got killed in Newmanistan a few years ago but he keeps going to Newmanistan to race.”

Rudy sat down in a seat in the paddock, contemplating his boss’s words.

“I’m not trying to diminish what happened, Rudy,” Marty said, softening his tone, almost as if he was apologetic for what he had just said. “Hell, when you smacked that wall last year, I was scared to death. I was scared you might have gotten hurt. You hit that barrier an absolute ton. But you can’t let that get to you. The best drivers get back up on the horse and ride again. You’ve got to do the same thing. Talk to Drake or Chris about it.”

So, before leaving for Hodori, Rudy called up Drake Stevenson, who gladly told stories of his times wrecking in his dirt days and in HASCAR. How he’d flip over a wall and the first guy to get to him offered him a beer. How he had to run away from a car on fire.

“But I kept getting back at it, Rudy,” Drake explained. “You’ve got to do the same.”

Rudy’s lethargic run notwithstanding, the race in Liventia was an eye-opener for Preston Autos. It was a sign they were still onto something great with the PGP-02. It was a sign they had a great car, one that could win races, and a car that could win a championship. Their time searching for the moving target had passed. Now, they were becoming the moving target.

[TJUN-ia]

WGPC19 Round 1
Grand Prix of Liventia
Talbott Autodrome, Liventia
Post-Race

It didn't matter what was going on within his mind, his main focus was now on the season ahead no matter what. Lane Carter knew that everything depended on him now in some way at Race Eelandii! and with that in mind, he knew he needed to get points on the board as quickly as possible if he was to grow in confidence. This weekend in Talbott would be very weird indeed and Lane didn't know if this was going to carry on throughout the whole season.

24 cars would take part in this weekend's proceedings, including both Daryl Mizushima and Sayono Souzare in the Motorworks cars that didn't need to fight amongst themselves to actually race this time around. Practice on Friday would be the first real chance for everyone to see where everyone stood in the pecking order this time around and Lane actually did quite well out there. His pace was surprisingly good and to end up in 5th was surely a good sign. Teammate Gregori Krupin was down in 21st in his first session with the car while R.L. Cruisin topped the session and Mizu (AAAAAAAAAAAAH!) was down in only 13th...pretty good from him!

Qualifying on Saturday was Two-Tiered but Lane couldn't make the Top 10, missing out in 11th by only a few hundredths to Anneliese Devereux. Mizu didn't fair better in 22nd but Kruin certainly did, ending up in the Shootout and ending up in 4th for the race, another good sign for the team as a whole. William Archer took the first pole over the Carvenlo's and that just meant the race was to follow.

To the surprise of everyone, the Grand Prix itself had zero retirements and that just meant on track performance would be the only true factor in this race. R.L. Cruisin did his magic again, winning the first race of the season for the home team for the 2nd year in a row over Archer and Kinu Luminna with Rostom Ibuna, Laukkanen, Dom Falepeau, Devereux, Ted Pressley, Jean Mercer-Daly and Krupin rounding out the Top 10. Lane was 3 seconds off the points in 11th and Dario Nülkeschläger got the fastest lap from 21st, meaning that 9 of the 12 teams scored points on the opening round. The 3 without? TMW, Motorworks (with Daryl ahead of Souzare in the bottom 2) and, most shockingly of all, Tropicorp Racing Ælund itself. The defending Contractors Champions, and the favourites to claim the Driver's too, will leave Round 1 with no points at all - and Lane certainly didn't see that one coming!

Chaos in his head and chaos on the track - what's not to love so far! Lane knows he will need to do better next time and hopefully, the Yakumicha Circuit can bless him with some points this time around. We still have a long way to go, but Lane already felt as though this season (the first without Terho Talvela) will certainly be a wacky one...

[Lisander]

So, another POV of Anneliese, this time, with her Sim-ified by the fantastic hands of Valentine Z. Thank you so much, Val!

"So, are you okay? I mean, you hardly call us to simply have some chatter. Also, you never did it at night. Is there something you would like to talk? Is something troubling you? Is everything going nice with the plan you presented us in the last session? Hey, wait. Are you Sim Racing just after the real race? Anneliese, you can't do this. Put this out. You're an elite athlete now. Your work schedule is heavy, and you need to rest your body before the next event." A masculine voice invaded Sissie's headphones, with a serious reprimand on her actions.

"Okay, I'm turning it off..." - With some touches on the screen, Anneliese Devereux left the meRacing training screen and turned off the Sim Racing system of her room, and pinched the video-call interface, to see her psychologists in a bigger size. On the screen, a middle-aged, well-groomed looking man. Talking from somewhere that seemed to be a kitchen. His pale blue shirt had a small embroidered coat of arms, which soon caught her attention.

"Nice shirt, Bruno. I didn't know you were into all this nobility and coat of arms stuff. Laurie I can get, I knew her with these dreams of being a princess..."

"Laurie is putting the baby to sleep. By the way, it was Laurie that found the documents of this. This Coat of Arms was given to my grandfather decades ago. She's completely mad about it and is changing things everywhere in our house. She already bought some embroidered shirts, bath towels and handkerchiefs. She even ordered some new dishes, with the coat of arms painted on it. She is feeling exactly like Baroness Dorset of Brax."

And you are a baron and I didn't know it? I mean, I knew that you have relatives in politics, uncles and cousins and so on... But in nobility?

"No. Baroness Dorset of Brax was my grandma, in fact The title was only my grandfather's, used only while he was alive. The coat of arms yes, my father inherited it, and after he died it passed to me, but I never actually used it myself, at least not until now that Laurie found it. But Laurie's posh dreams are not in question here. Shall we begin our session? So, what do you have to talk about? Why are you on the Sim at this time of night instead of resting? I mean, you must not have arrived in Lisander more than three hours ago, judging by the time zone difference between Lisander and Liventia. Shouldn't you be sleeping?"

"I can't. The more I think about what these last few weeks have been like, the more I get restless, worried, unable to sleep. It must be because I haven't had time for my monthly visit to you. I mean, I traveled to many countries, it was a rush, and everybody was watching me, analyzing me. I know it's their job, but it was hard for me to be the center of attention. The cars were all great. Everyone was nice, very friendly, but I didn't feel comfortable talking to anyone, even if I really wanted to, even if I had to. I wanted to talk a little, maybe you could give me some directions."

"Well, according to what we talked about before, wouldn't that be a good thing? Being direct and assertive with what is necessary and avoiding unimportant matters? Isn't your plan to manage to stay in the WGPC, preferably in a discreet way?"

That is the point. I couldn't feel "discreet", I was just isolated, I was having trouble communicating, I felt bad and cowering, like a spidery kitten in a box. But my expressions must have given me away in every possible way. In the Viska test I was very, very angry with my results, even in pictures they took of me my expression was evident. This is also why I took as long as possible to confirm my place at Eminent. I didn't want the team to come up with any kind of solemnity or presentation event. I felt that it would be counterproductive to my plan to act discreetly. I am having a little difficulty separating discretion from isolation. I know the difference, but when it comes to applying it to real life, I can't get it right.

But the plan has worked, hasn't it? You see, you came and left Liventia without giving an interview. By now the media must be talking about your "silent" phase. Laurie and I have always recommended that you ignore public opinion as much as possible, but since you have become a public personality in the last year or so, you should at least be aware that it is the fans who help pay your salary, and so ideally you should build your image so that you can be seen the way you want to be seen. Manipulating public opinion about you is possible if you are dedicated to your plan and act as you have set out in it. Of course, you don't have to create a persona, you can just try to correct those habits that are hurting you. If something is going wrong, you can always go back to your plan and start over. You want to act quietly, but you don't want to be so defensive? Then you need to think about it and look for an alternative. - the man said.

Soon a woman appeared beside Bruno, first with her head behind his shoulders, then sitting at the kitchen table beside the man. Laurie was also a psychologist, and the two of them did a slightly different kind of "couple therapy," where the couple were the psychologists and the single person was the patient.

"And then, our patient elite athlete. Now that I am breastfeeding, I have plenty of free time, to sit and watch TV in that rocking chair. I followed your whole weekend. From last position in Friday's practice session to finishing the seventh today. It was quite a growth. Although I was worried that you wouldn't take the seat. I mean... Each new test that happened without you I kept thinking: 'Where is she? Why hasn't she confirmed her presence yet? But since you said it was a safety measure for your emotional planning, I believe it was a good choice. How is it going with your work tool?"

"Well, the car is good. Even the tires from Stellenbosch I'm liking this season. The real problem is between the seat and the steering wheel. I'm feeling that I need a new strategy for dealing with people while maintaining my space and that if I don't get it, it will make my results worse."

"Well, there is your search for the season. Anything else that bothers you?"

There is one thing, but it is just nonsense. It's just that I wanted to drive home, but... On the weekend scheduled to have a race in Lisander the WGPC will be in Hapilopper. This new organization prioritizing their allied countries is a shame for us. The rope always breaks on the weaker side, doesn't it?

Yep. That's unfortunate, but remember that they also have their commitments to fulfil. - Laurie said.

You know what I think? About this, you can continue being unapologetic as you are. - That was Bruno once again - Of course, you don't have to carry this ranting, after all, it's not the Hapilopper people's fault that they were matched with Lisander's weekend at WGP2. In their eyes, the problem may be the opposite. It may be that they see WGP2 on Lisander as being something that spoiled a Triple-Header for them. Ranting about it will only bring you inconvenience over there. As you say, your problem is with the establishment. You can be critical of the establishment, as long as it doesn't get you in trouble with it. It's okay to say that you would rather be in Lisander, but avoid being overly emotional about it. I mean, you are a professional. You go where the team goes.

I'm with Bruno on this one. I would say that the personality you need to cultivate is this. Be yourself. Unapologetic. Emotional. But all of this in moderation. You love driving race cars, every petrolhead and his dog in this nation knows that. Stay strong, do your best on the track, while getting close to people who will be positive for you. Your teammate, the mechanics who can help you improve the car. Is that plan of yours to use social media less still in practice?

It is working. I have deleted all the apps from my phone, and I am looking for a reliable person to take care of this for me. Accompany me to events, take pictures, answer messages, that sort of thing. I will avoid public opinion as much as possible without this filtering. Just smile and nod. Interviews with pre-sent questions help too. It's not as if I want to create a character, but it's good to have everything under control.

Good girl, that's how it's done! You became a public person rather suddenly last year, so it's good to keep trying to deal positively with this "fame". Is there anything else you want to share today? - Laurie asked.

Not really. I just want to relax, talk about those things that were ticking me off. I want to abstract myself from these problems tonight. I have nothing else to say. I'm just happy that I got some points. I'll just relax and open this bottle of Liventian Wine, La Famille Schuster. Liventia isn't really a nation of Winemakers, they're more into beer, but I'm with this nice idea of getting a bottle from every race, and with the help of some people, I could get a pair of these beauties. No matter if I don't get a bottle of champagne and a trophy every new Grand Prix. I'll make my own bottle collection. Tomorrow, I'll return to the gym, it will be the first time in some weeks, so I'm not drinking that much. I believe it was all I had. Have a good night people!

The psychologists ended the call and Sissie left the room, returning some time later, with a glass and a bottle of Liventian wine. Leaving it over the table, to get some oxygen, she returned to computer. It was time to get in touch with the friends she had made in Hodori. Maybe someone would find a good bottle of wine for her. She would also accept sake. But of course, champagne from the podium was what she wanted the most.

[Squidroidia]

Back to where it all ended last term... Daryl Mizushima was on the map once more, slotted in the WGPC Motorworks team this time with Sayono Souzare as his wingwoman. The Squidroidian landed at the Talbott Autodrome with higher hopes than last term, especially with a guaranteed race seat... For now at least. He was even decent enough in practice!

But this was Motorworks. The team to go to when there's no other options, no other seats to drive in. So come qualifying, guess who ended up on the Island of Misfit Toys with Heinz-Otto Junker and Olivia Stone? If you guessed the 19 year old from Squidroidia, have a trophy! He was 1.4 seconds off of the arrow from Archer's pace, and a decent way behind his teammate. 11th row on the grid with Ryker Lane by his side. It was like he never left Motorworks at all. Because he didn't.

And then... Blue flags. There was blue flags. With Archer and R.L. Cruisin locked in a tight battle for the first win of the season, those flags came by quick. It like he never left Motorworks at aaaallll! Sarcasm added since he finished 23rd, with Sano in dead last. Hey, at the very least he isn't chained dead last.

Takeaways from this week: Same old Mizushima, different paint job. Onwards to the next race!

Oh wait, another blue flag. Dammit.

---

OOC: Sorry for the short RP, not a whole lot of time in the world for me with work and all in the way.

[Sorlovia]

Gran Prix of Liventia
Talbott Autodrome - Raceday

Being out there again felt natural.

The great bears of Sorlovia had the forests and mountains. The wolves had the plains and crags. The eagles had the skies and their eyries in the mountain peaks. Gregori had the track. It was his natural environment. It was the place where he belonged and where he was most himself. He loved the feel of it, the smells of it and the sounds of it. It was all part of the exhilarating experience that he craved more than an alcoholic yearned for that next drink. The track was where he was meant to be.

His focus was so great that he saw nothing but the cars in front of him and the layout of the track as it unfolded before him. He’d waited so long for this and he was going to savour every last moment of it. It was an honour to wear the Race Eelandii jumpsuit and a privilege to drive their car. He was sure he’d learn its quirks in the same way that he’d learned the nature of the Volkov car last season. He’d learn how to get the most out of it in order to perform at his best for Race Eelandii. They had taken a chance on him and he wasn’t about to let them down.

“Keep your eyes on the prize Gregori,” he said to himself softly “you’ve got this!”

It was qualifying, not an official race, but that wouldn’t stop him from taking it seriously. Qualifying is equally as important as raceday. It was an opportunity to prove yourself to your team and see what the car you’d been given was capable of. He would give Race Eelandii a show. Starting in twenty first position hadn’t been ideal but it was a worthy challenge. Starting further back the pack meant that you had more ground to take. But it also meant that you had more opportunities to learn from those cars ahead of you. Gregori loved a challenge. Perhaps he’d see Rusty.

Lap 33

The race was proving to be more challenging than he’d anticipated. But he liked that. A racer needed a challenge to keep him sharp and focused. As far as Gregori was concerned if things were too easy it was boring. The high pressure and intensity of the race was what he thrived on. The feeling of that car hot on your tail and the awareness that everyone was gunning for your position was what drove him. The absence of a challenge was lamentable indeed. Fortunately he could already tell that there would be plenty of challenges to come.

Gregori pushed his car hard into the sharp seventh corner using the g-forces to slingshot himself onto the straight ahead of the eighth corner. There was nothing but him, his car and the track. He’d seen Lane a couple of times as the dynamics and shifting positions of the race changed. He’d passed him on the third corner on the last lap and had quickly shot him a nod as their cockpits passed. This was raceday. Lane was his teammate, and he valued that, but he wasn’t going to hang back to allow him the lead. He wanted to help Lane and if that meant challenging and pressuring him on the track then he would do so.

“You can do this Lane,” he said softly to himself “give it everything you’ve got.”

Talbott Autodrome proved to be an enjoyable track. Gregori looked forward to the next time he'd get a chance to race on it. All the sharp corners and straights lent themselves well to his slingshot technique and he found himself enjoying the feel of the track itself. There was no place that he'd rather be that out on the asphalt.

[Tumbra]

Talbott, Liventia
Pre-race

"And Ted Pressley in P7. Norman, what are we making of this performance from the rookie?"
"Well Clyde, it's a strong performance in his first ever qualification session. Of the graduates from last season's WGP2 — Laukkanen, Pressley himself, Haukanna, Melani, Wingelaar and Junker — he finished second amongst this lot in a car that doesn't really suit this track. We know the T-180 is set up for fast, aggressive circuits, and the multiple testing sessions in which he finished top did take place on said circuits; so there's a point to be made that he outperformed the car this session."
"Will he perhaps suffer in race pace conditions?"
"Well, that's what we're looking for today; he did go on record stating that he felt rather uncomfortable after his first time in a WGPC car. This will probably be the first time he's going to be doing the full three hundred and five kilometres that makes up a WGPC race; and for those of us who are new to WGPC, firstly, welcome; we know there are many first time viewers, particularly from Tumbra and Chromatika, secondly, yes, WGPC races are run to three hundred and five kilometres plus one lap. It'll be the first time he'll be racing that distance, and I imagine more than a few people will be interested in his performance today. As you said, though, Clyde, he has expressed that he hasn't really gotten to grips with long runs in the car yet."
"Hopefully he's gotten that out of his system by now; you'd imagine he would! You drove in open wheelers for a bit, Norman, what was it like?"
"It's a bit difficult to explain if you've never been in a car yourself, Clyde. It's a bit like being pulled in all directions. When I was on the grid just now he did decline to talk to me; presumably he was trying to focus on his first ever race..."

---

Breathe.
Breathe.
You're about to take part in your first ever WGPC race.
You want to — no, you can't puke again, for fuck's sake, you already did that this morning, you idiot.

"Ted? You alright there mate?"
"Yeah, I'm...I'm fine, Simon, just nervous."
"Chin up, it's your first race. Whatever happens, happens; there aren't many expectations out of you today, especially since this track and the T180 don't really fit each other. And you managed to stick it on seventh yesterday."
"It was raining..."
"You won your first race in the rain, Ted. And there's a good chance it'll rain later in the race. Track's already damp, we'll have to see if we need to come in early."
"Still can't get the nervous feeling off, you get me?"
"Is it the nausea again?"
"Sorta."
"We did do race stints on Friday, and you were feeling alright afterwards."
"It's the race..."
"I get what you mean." Simon patted Ted on the shoulder.

The grid looked...different from WGP2. Of course, this was to be expected; but there was still the general vibe that he was faced with. It was less smiles, more frowns, more serious looks, and less laughter. A whole new world, he reflected. Kinu Luminna, Rustom Ibuna, Jean Mercer-Daly...the three drivers around him all had way more experience than he did. All of them paid no attention to the fresh-faced driver in seventh, all preparing their own races with their engineers. What the hell was he doing here, so far up?

He glanced at the man in the yellow jumpsuit in third. It was a ways away away, but Janne Laukkanen looked seemingly at home; more comfortable, naturally fitting in with the rest of the grid. Anneliese Devereux, right behind him; she'd brought up the field last season so many times but she looked right at home in WGPC, too. He felt awkward; glancing down at his race-suit, he genuinely felt like he didn't belong. Awkward was the best way to describe it, definitely; his movements felt unnatural, the car felt like a stranger to him all of a sudden, and he couldn't keep the idea that he'd mess something up out of his head. The skies were grey; they felt like they could open up at any moment. It did harken back to his first win at the Stelburgring, where he'd timed his switch to inters to perfection; but he had no idea whether he could keep the new bucking bronco of the T180 under control enough to do that.

Slowly, he lowered himself into the cockpit of the car; while it felt and looked much like the T-170, the low, satisfied purr of the engine as he tried to settle in reminded him again that this wasn't WGP2 anymore.

"Radio check, radio check."
"Confirm, I can hear you."
"Alright."

Slowly the cars peeled off on the formation lap; and the bright green Kaylan followed in seventh, weaving around, trying to get as much heat into the tyres from the cold early afternoon air as possible. As the circus lined up on the grid again, Ted genuinely felt like he was going to be sick in his helmet; but kept the vomit down as he readied himself for the race start.

And soon, they were off.

---

Lap 8

"Ted, how are you feeling?"
"I'm...doing...fine."
"If you say so. Remember to drink, Ted. Listen, we think the time is right to switch to inters, but it's your call."
"How...far...behind...is she?"
"One point five, but we think Devereaux is going to go in this lap. How wet is it out there?"

Ted was struggling, again. Perhaps it was the pressure of the race, perhaps it was the damp track that was slowly inching closer to the crossover point, perhaps it was the feeling once again that the T-180 was trying to pull Ted in several directions at once every time he turned the steering wheel. The liquid was getting extremely hot; he was getting overwhelmed.

Somehow he'd managed to hold seventh off the line; but Devereaux had overtaken Mercer-Daly off the line, and the Eminent driver was now hot on Ted's tail. He'd already gone slightly wide through one of the corners; and that had lost him a massive amount of time. His first proper outing in the Kaylan was shaping up to be less than ideal, and now he was being forced to defend on old tyres.

"I think...I think it's fine."
"You sure?
"I can...hold her. We can...overcut. Overcut her."
"Confirm, no pit."

His breathing was getting heavy, the pit entrance passed; Devereaux did indeed dive into the pits for inters, but the spray he kicked up on the straight from turn 7 to turn 8 told him that he indeed had missed the crossover point. He nearly flew off the track at turn 9; it was then he realised he'd messed up. Falepeau, who'd switched to inters earlier, was bounding on him like a wolf in search of his prey.

"Am I...the only one...on slicks?"
"Looks like it."
"Fuck! I fucked up. I'm so sorry. Box, box...box...I can't hold it much longer. Sorry."
"Pit confirm, please, Ted."

He limped back to the pits, allowing Falepeau to overtake him; and nearly missed his marker on the pits, to add insult to injury. It would be a recovery drive from here on out; but when he found himself staring at the dark purple rear wing of Sissy Deveraux on the exit of the pits, he realised that he'd fucked up majorly. Overtaking was going to be difficult; his best bet to make up positions now was to hang on the back of the Eminent car and try to ride on her coat-tails. To try and mount an overtake on her was going to be difficult, particularly with the car not being as adept in turbulent air as he'd hoped.

Ted gritted his teeth as he grasped the steering wheel tightly. He'd already messed up, today; he couldn't afford to screw up any more. The two passed car after car; but he just couldn't get within striking distance of the purple Eminent...

---

Post-race

Ted found himself breathing extremely heavily through the end; it seemed to be the only way to keep himself going. Yet he only fully realised this when Simon radio'ed in to confirm he'd scored Kaylan's first points in WGPC, when he took two full corners to respond to Simon's congratulatory message. Yet he still felt like kicking himself as he trundled back to the pits; he'd lost two points today to a mistake that he was almost certain he wouldn't have made in WGP2. A lot of cars overtook the Tumbran on the run back; in the limited cockpit space that he had, he allowed his head to rest against the air intake, relaxing his neck muscles.

He'd tensed his muscles so much that it felt a bit weird when he relaxed them; but his head was spinning as he came back into parc ferme. Slowly, he guided his car into the eighth-placed finishing spot; but all he wanted to do was curl up in a bed somewhere and let this uncomfortable feeling pass. Catching a glimpse of his eyes in the side mirror as he prepared to exit the car, he noticed how red they were; how sore his entire body was as he slowly, feebly undid his seatbelts.

Could he stand up? He slowly leant against the air intake for support - fuck, Jesus, that's way too fucking warm right now - before grasping the halo. Slowly, steadily, he stood up; he wasn't sure whether he was going to be able to lift his leg above the halo to actually extricate himself from the car, but as if being controlled by a puppet string, he lifted the first. Slowly settling his bum on the halo to steady himself, he lifted the other leg; but his world began to spin. Nevermind, he thought as he put both legs on the ground, it'll go away soon.

He pushed himself off the halo, took one step forward, then took two steps backwards.

And gravity decided to act on him.

[Auruna]

Talbott Autodrome, Liventia
Race
It was time for the first race of the season and while qualifying in the day before resulted in both Viskas qualifying near both ends of the grid, it was not a bad start especially with Kinu qualifying fifth with high hopes for the race. A quick check on the conditions revealed that there are light showers, the same as qualifying, there was a lot to do to ensure both Kinu and Olivia gain more from their starting positions. Later, before they set off for the formation lap, Jöna's usual pre-race speech was broadcasted over the radio to both drivers. "It's that time of the weekend again and I'll keep it brief this time, it's wet out but don't let it put you off. Just look ahead and aim for further than where you currently are. Good luck and don't spin."

Looking to get the jump on whoever's ahead of them, both drivers are starting on inters. Artur believed that it wasn't too wet nor too dry for both VK-02Hs and in turn, the whole team took the gamble and they are just hoping that it will work. If it did work, then it'll open up new avenues for Artur's strategy calls for the race. The drivers set off for the formation lap and as they go around the circuit, the surface was noticeably wet but it was dry enough to warrant slicks although the skies were getting dark. It looked like it was the wrong call.

The drivers line up on the grid and the tension at the start can be felt, especially with Kinu as he know his bad luck always gets him whenever he starts inside the top 10. Then soon after the five lights went off, it was the start of the race. Kinu had an amazing start as he got the jump on both Krupin and Laukkanen and managed to stay ahead of them after the first corner, he is now third while struggling a bit. Meanwhile, Olivia had a similar start as well, overtaking the Motorworks of Daryl Mizushima and diving right down the inside of fellow Nimban, Ryker Lane, into the first corner. Then Olivia goes after the second Motorworks piloted by Sayono Souzare. Miraculously, there are no major incidents during the opening lap.

"Alright Kinu, good work. Mode 3 if it goes too wet for you later on."

"Copy Jan."

"Feel free to go for second when you get the perfect opportunity otherwise, hold off and conserve."

"Alright, alright."

At the pitwall, Artur is completely silent as he's formulating a strategy that would benefit both Kinu and Olivia and as the rain lookin like it won't stop anytime soon. Jöna glances at Artur and both race engineers, the three are completely focused on their jobs, communicating back and forth with the drivers and each other. Jöna just leaves them to it knowing that they are doing quite well.

Back on-track, Kinu is increasing his gap from P4 after the rain came in at the eighth lap. It was rather a quiet run around the circuit soon after that and by the halfway point, Kinu is sitting comfortably in P3 but it was not the time to rest. Way behind, Olivia reported a loss of grip and had to pit. Jöna could only hope that there wouldn't be any problems with the pits. "Ah miin jÿmä, naatanie." He said as Olivia pulls into the pits. Around 2 seconds later, Olivia's tyres are changed to a new set of inters. Jöna turns to look and see a successful stop, he lets out a sigh of relief.

Meanwhile...

"Kinu, how are the tyres?"

"Still feels fine, I'm doing my best to conserve them."

"Go to Mode 2 now and take it easy on the tyres, you're running 35-lap old inters."

"Holy shit. Any plans on stopping?"

"Artur said no. It's a gamble we're willing to take and you're pulling off a miracle there."

"Copy that."

Near the closing stages of the race, Kinu starts to slowly lose pace with around a second lost every lap to Rustom Ibuna at P4 but Kinu is still far ahead, he just needs to nurse his car to the finish. Managing his tyres that are now on life support, he keeps going as his pace dwindles but then came the final lap. Determined to finish, he adjusts his settings on the wheel to help him retain his gap for the final lap. "Ibuna is 18 seconds behind. You're clear."

As he rounds the final corner, he pulls to the left to see the Viska crew cheering for him, achieving his second WGPC podium of his career. Later, Olivia finished P18 after putting all her effort to regaining positions after her relatively late stop. Still, there's still one thing worth celebrating.

"And that's P3! Great work Kinu! That's a great start to the season! Good job with those tyres, you pulled it off!"

"Mate.. I think they are so close to bursting if not for my attempts at managing them. Haha!"

"Yeah! See you at the podium, you know what to do, Herra P3!"

"Thanks!"

Jöna's celebratory message came soon as both drivers go around the circuit in their cooldown lap. A lot of cheers came from the Viska garage, Jöna couldn't help but join in as the team earned their first points of the season. "Kinu, Olivia, great effort! It's a great start! We're happy with the results for today so there's something worth celebrating! Don't feel down as there's still a long way to go! Täitä!" And it was immediately followed by the entire team cheering "Täitä!"

Edited because of me being stupid and wrote this before Tumbra's RP.

[Liventia]

(OOC: I am going to follow Tumbra's RP as he RPed first – that the crossover is on lap 7/8/9 and NOT, as Auruna RPed, on the formation lap. I'm surprised Auruna would ignore that Tumbra had already RPed the crossover later.)

Rain? In the desert? Turns out, it was one of those weekends. To complicate things, this was one of those fine misty rain spells — uncommon to Talbott, where if it rained, it was usually torrential.

Thankfully, there were only light showers, and despite being located in the Folenisa Desert, the Talbott Autodrome had very good drainage to avoid the usual desert flooding on the rare occasions it did rain.

With only intermittent light showers — albeit making conditions wet enough to ensure that both qualifying sessions would have to be run on inters — race strategy would be vital.

The Carvenlos, racing on their home circuit, certainly had some advantages. While R.L. Cruisin probably knew the circuit like the back of his hand from all his visits here, Janne Laukkanen did not. That's where the mechanics', and internal test driver Ryan Harris-Jones', knowledge came in.

A tweak to tyre pressures here, a click to the roll bars there. A two-three in qualifying, supplanted only by the Preston of William Archer.

Now, raceday. Cruisin on the front row; Laukkanen on the second. Team principal Troy Wilkins, after discussing with the engineers and strategists, had agreed that Cruisin would start on soft slicks and change to inters once it had got too wet, marking the likely moves of the others near the front of the grid. Laukkanen's relative inexperience, however, meant that Wilkins was willing to risk a bold, daring call: the Abovian would attempt a no-stopper, running the entire race on a singular set of intermediate tyres.

"These are odd conditions," technical director Darren Franklin had murmured to him in a post-qualifying debrief. "It's never like this here. Usually clear and warm, or completely drenching."

With the general mistiness set to stay for the entire race and no heavy rainfall in the forecast, Wilkins made the call.

Off the line, Laukkanen – struggling with his inters on what was still a track with decent dry grip – lost a spot to the fast-starting Kinu Luminna, although he just about kept his composure to hold position from the Race Eelandii of Gregori Krupin.

While Cruisin drove a masterful race in the tricky conditions, undercutting Archer on the one and only stop – he'd stopped on lap 7; most of the other teams seemed to have waited until lap 8 to switch to inters, while some like Ted Pressley held on too long for lap 9 – to win, the zero-stop idea didn't quite work out.

By lap 30, Laukkanen – running up to second with most of the other cars already having pitted, and starting to close the gap – was basically on interslicks on a still-wet track. Having radioed his engineer, Antti, that he needed to box, the team set about readying for the stop.

It was an impeccable 2.3-second stop for new inters, but it would drop him to fifth, where he eventually finished.

As Cruisin took the chequered flag to wild celebrations from the garage and the home fans in the stands, holding off the fast-closing Archer as the two came down nearly nose-to-tail on the pit straight, director of motorsport Matt Portland got on the radio.

"Yes, R.L.! That's P1, P1! It's a race win at home, thank you!"

After Antti had been on the radio to Laukkanen, Wilkins then dropped the WGPC rookie a congratulatory message too.

"Well done, Janne. Sorry about the strategy, I know you must be frustrated at missing out on the podium. R.L. was P1. Good drive, kid, bring her home."

[Diarcesia]

Phoenician-InMotion Intermediate Tire with the 'Carthago' Branding

Creusa Nárë

As I mentioned before, Pryfors Bilar is currently in the process of adjusting to properly compete in WGPC19. We can assume that things under the purview our newly-minted team principal, which had been working wonders in the beginning, could be encountering some speedbumps in the moment.

"We know that our pace in light rain would not be enough, not yet at least. We'll try some different things, see what sticks," I said.

Dario radioed his okay. I picked up a hint of curiosity in his voice.

"I also wanted to know, can you overtake Edwards, what do you think are your chances?"

It was not really likely, he replied. Considering his aptitude in finding opportunities to take advantage, he was surprisingly certain.

"Well, we've got a few alternatives. For one, can you set the engine mode to 6?"

He did as instructed. His gap from Rudy Edwards slightly narrowed, at the cost of the Phoenician-InMotion Carthago intermediate tires having to work harder.

"Alright, I think we've got ourselves a situation. Can you increase the engine rpm a bit?"

He replied that it was done. Some the readings from his car returned to nominal ranges. Almost a lap later, he radioed me again.

"Carthago deleta est."

"What? Audio's quite bad. Please repeat."

He clarified.

Oh, your tires are losing grip. "Okay, box this lap. Box this lap. Try not to give up, it's not as bad as some my think."

Actually, it turned out that I was right, even though Dario and Laura were outside of the points. Dario went to the pit lane, got his tires changed to a new set of intermediates, then returned to the track. At that point our chances of Laura regaining her starting P10 position was very slim. Dario's new tires, however, allowed for very quick laps afterwards.

"Dario, your lap is 1:54.539. That is good for fastest lap. Nice job."

He thanked me for the compliment. There was still a few more laps to go.

My driver's spirits were on the upswing compared to a few minutes ago, even as he was lapped by the leaders and was at P21. We as a whole were a bit behind our expectations, but we never lost confidence in each other. The twiis circulating after the race were about how we salvaged a FL point out of the rainy mess that was the Liventia GP. Outside PB, it was great to see Carvenlo back with with a vengeance after RL Cruisin won and Janne Laukannen get fifth, especially when one of Preston's drivers managed to qualify ahead of them.

"We worked hard. It's not just our drivers that have had an impact, everyone has played a part. Yourself included," Aldauren would later tell me as we discussed what exactly didn't go as planned this weekend.

---

Tropicorp Racing Ælund Office
Grand Prix of Liventia
Post-Race

"Silly race. I know, I know," Sara said. "I like to have talk about this in the briefing later. I didn't know that rains would screw up our driving like this. It is a shame, considering how things might've turned out if it was a dry race."

All drivers have their ups and downs. In this particular episode, it was a downer for Sara. It's part of the job description. It was only week one: the championship was still up for grabs. No one in TRÆ liked leaving Liventia empty-handed, least of all Edvin. Sara was sure everyone would work double-time to figure out what exact part of the setup caused her and iBen's times to slow down drastically. Free practice was initially very promising, with Sara's lap times just behind the race winner's.

"At the time, we thought we really have the 'it' factor in us. Maybe we've been too fixated in how our cars behave in ideal situations? After all, we haven't driven the AGP004 in wet conditions this season until qualifying."

Sara didn't really know what exactly needs to be changed; she had limited information at hand yet. She was no longer a rookie in the WGPC, and already she'd helped Volkov be the best team that was not TRÆ last season. A large part of that was her and Gregori's input on how to tweak the cars. For the first piece of her puzzle, her plan was to talk with iBen. She was sure he wasn't too happy with the car either. The team coming out of Liventia without any points was an anomaly to everyone involved. They want to show the message that it was a blip in the grand scheme of things.

"At the end of the day, we have an enormous body of race knowledge with us. No one can take that away. We can find a way around our issues," she told Agreka.

"It's been a tough race far. We'll also observe the factors behind Carvenlo's success in Liventia, judging by how their cars have performed in both dry and wet surfaces. Hopefully, we can pull it together and put in a good performance in Hodori. As always, if you have any questions, feel free to ask."

[Filindostan]

Bandariyan Circuit
Bandariyan, Filindostan

A private track owned by Jaganya Nutrition was chosen by the team to do their official shoot. Rusty and Dom was seen driving the two BAP003 cars around the track, with one capture requiring the two cars near each other. Other than the possible close call, no other incidents were noted and the shoot completed successfully without a hitch.

In the media room near the track, Tauro and Pamelita sat at the centerstage, with the two official drivers sitting between the two, and Alvis Kalvin sitting beside Pamelita near the wall. While the setup of the conference is being done, a slide show containing the cars select shoots of the angles of the car were shown along with sponsor placements:

As with tradition, at the start of the conference, Tauro presented the sponsors embedded in the car for this season, from the Title sponsor, down to the minor ones:
- (Title Sponsor) Telebuenas MotoMo'To!, a Hispino telecommunication company, with the MotoMo'To brand launch specifically in Filindostani market for mobile phones, WiFi pocket mobile, and other telecommunication devices.
- Descension, a local BPO company which focuses on delivering different technologies. Most of the teams' engineers and support staff of the team were outsourced by this company, and thus its logo are incorporated in the car.
- Elegamment, a Britonish retail brand which personally sponsor Dom Falepeau.
- Tropicorp Racing Supply, a Tropicorp-based company supplying the team's tyres for this season.
- Masayabee, a local fastfood chain known for their delicious Filindo Spaghetti, Mi Goreng, and Fried Chicken.
- Zalada, an online shopping service which is known for holding sales (the 4.4 Sale and the 8.3 Sale dedicated for the NSSCRA operation's car number (#83))
- Cepat, oil and fuel brand from Petrofilindo, which also sponsors the Filindostani Grand Prix at Round 7 of the WGPC.
- Yogyakulta Tourism Board, the city's organization that mainly focuses on the tourism and beautification of Yogyakulta, which bares plans to make a new airport and a technology park to be built near the Yogyakulta International Circuit
- Jaganya, a Filindostani food and nutrition company, carrying over their sponsorship from the KISMO team last season.

Pamelita then introduced the three drivers:
- Rustom "Rusty" Ibuna (#71), Sangtian-Filindostani/Fil-Sangtian WGPC driver in his fourth season and his second season with the team. Started his career at Mattijana Racing Team (MRT), and had stints at Eelandii VTGP. Finished 9th in the WGPC 18 Drivers' Championship. Helped MRT capture the Constructor's Championship in WGPC 16. Currently has one race win under his belt and four podium finishes.
- Dom Falepeau (#19), Togoni WGPC driver in his second season and his first season with the team. Started his WGPC career at Mattijana Racing Team (MRT) last season, Finished 21st in the WGPC 18 Drivers' Championship. Raced for Badai Angin Junior Team in the 3rd season of WGP2 prior to WGPC promotion, and finished 4th in the drivers' championship.
- Alvis Kalvin Lacsamana (#T/47), Filindostani-Hispino WGP2 driver who is the designated test driver for the team. Was the WGP3 Filindostan National Champion in the second season, and will drive for Aji No Moto AutoRacing Alliance (ANMARA) as part of the Badai Angin Driver Academy (BAAP).

After the introductions, the media were given thirty minutes to ask various questions regarding the team and the drivers.

Journalist: Last season, Badai Angin Tim barely finished in the Top 3 of the Constructors' Championship. What were your thoughts on this?
Tauro: I'd say the previous management did a stellar job in maintaining the high status of the team, credits to them for the finish which was due to their good start of the season. The new owners probably wanted to change for the greater good, as you know, Mr. Varadi is an ambitious gentleman, and he wanted the team to capture the championship now that the frontrunners does not have Terho on their helm anymore.

Journalist: Rumors have swirled that the team attempted to sign surprise rookie Sara Luna last season, but chose to drive for TRAE this season.
Tauro: With respect to Dom, we don't want to delve more details regarding this. We considered her to pair up with Rusty but she had other plans and we respect her decision there.

Journalist: You also had a chance to sign Gregori Krupin this season, but you decided to choose Dom Falepeau as your second driver. Why?
Tauro: Dom already has experience in driving for Badai Angin-powered cars, and performed admirably in WGP2 when he drove for the junior team. That actually weighed high in our consideration for him, in addition to him besting three other drivers in the private test the team had, Krupin included. I'd reckon the Sorlovian to perform well in Eelandii VTGP this season, and time will tell if we made the correct decision.

Journalist: Where do you put yourselves this season?
Tauro: Pamelita and I are working hard to quickly adapt to life as a WGPC technical director and team principal respectively. With the previous lead driver Alex Dimitrianov not returning to the team after another stellar season, it will be on Rusty to carry the Badai Angin's name to the doldrums of success in WGPC. Also we have faith in Dom to rack up points and contribute highly in our fight to retain third in the championship. Realistically speaking, since we could be at the post-transition stage, we are expecting a mid-pack placement minimum, and there might be a small chance we can fight for the title once the season comes to a close in Turori.

Journalist: Which of the new teams you think will make an impression this season?
Tauro: Preston and Volkov did well last season, it's a shame that controversies kept the latter from competing this season, but with a slew of new constructors coming into the competition this season, we could probably see Kaylan and TMW do the same thing the two did last season.

Journalist: Which teams do you think will contend for this season's constructors' championship?
Tauro: TRAE has been the gold standard in recent constructors' championships, but Carvenlo's return is the wildcard, given their stature as a six-time constructors' champion, and a large veteran presence in R.L. Cruisin. Preston is high up the list, we could be there as well. Kaylan has shown some speed in pre-season testing, and Viska is showing some improvements as well.

Journalist: Who is your bet for the drivers' title come the finale at Turori?
Tauro: Terho Talvela's retirement has opened up the competition for the drivers' championship. Maybe one of Toralmintii or Cruisin will get the crown this time. Maybe our own Rusty.

Journalist: Speaking of Rusty, could we shed some light on why he skipped the last two preseason tests?
Tauro: (looks at Rusty) Do you want to answer that question?
Rusty: (slightly annoyed) Uh, it was due to a prior commitment aligned with Badai Angin. The latter gave me a go-signal to run some NSSCRA races and it happened that those two races coincided with the two tests. Thanks to our test driver and later Dom, there was coverage for our team in the testing.

Journalist: Is there any possibility Lacsamana steps in to replace you at some points scoring races?
Rusty: My priority is still the WGPC, if I raced full time at NSSCRA then I would have retired, right? There may be times AK will be in the car for some midseason tests or non-championship races, but I have a contract to fulfill and that is to race for Badai Angin Tim in the championship races.

There were some questions raised at Dom too, and he answered those diligently, much to the delight of the rest of the team.

[Chromatika]

By: Anola "Wrench" Melani, WGPC Racer and Member of Kaylan Racing Team

Part 1: Wrench

Legacy.

Legacy, History.

Legacy, History, and Determination.

People have asked me how I got into racing. Why it is that I have spent my life on the racetrack, despite being in my early twenties. What it's like to be the first Chromatik to be somebody in something.

I think it's best to start with a simple fact and then go from there.

There is a lot that you can learn from names. Why someone was given a particular name. What a surname means to a family.

However, it is in nicknames that we learn the most about people. Either you take a nickname as your own, or one is given to you and you didn't have a choice. Me? Mine was given to me at a young age, and I've learned to embrace it.

Before I became a racer, I was an aspiring mechanic. My Dad owns a small automobile repair shop in Alnio; he's been a mechanic for over twenty years, specializing in small vehicles and occasionally trucks and SUVs. I thought that fixing cars was the coolest thing in the world - you got to put something back together and reap the rewards as you saw the change that you were doing impact the object one step at a time. Of it all, my favorite was body work - straightening out bent metal and making sure that it looks pristine is so much fun.

One day, my Dad was asking me to hand him the Wrench, and he slipped and called me Wrench instead. We had a good laugh about it, and when he realized that I didn't mind, it just kind of stuck.

When I first

"How's it going?" came the voice of Scarlett through the open door as she noticed that Anola was at her PC, tying away after the first race of the season.

"As you suggested, I'm finding it a bit easier to put my own thoughts down than iterating them to you," Anola admitted shyly.

"Oh? I'm glad," answered Scarlett, nodding, "We do want you to be comfortable. I wasn't just talking about the article, though. You just completed your first race in the WGPC ranks. Thoughts?"

"Is this on or off the record?" inquired Anola.

Before Scarlett could reply, Anola raised a finger.

"Sorry about that, that wasn't entirely fair. It was difficult - I guess veteran knowhow is a huge deal, some of the drivers were taking turns in angles that I'd never thought of before, and the racing was very high-octane. Vladimir and I are pretty sure we'll be able to make improvements on every race, though, and Ted did wonderfully. Not really sure what our goal is this initial season in the WGPC, but I'm hoping to show continual improvement and hope that that is what that will be needed to show that I belong here."

"Kaylan already decided that you belong here by signing you," reminded Scarlett, "And I don't see Xander and Vladimir as types to change that as long as you're trying your best."

"I hope you're right," stated Wrench, "I guess time will tell. Now, I'm going to go back to writing this intro to your column. It won't be any Gwenderyn, but it should help, I think."

Understanding herself to be dismissed, Scarlett left the room and called a number.

"Hey. It's me. Can you make it to one of her races? I think she needs a pick-me-up," Scarlett spoke.

"Uh-huh. Got it. Yeah, you've seen the schedule. Just make it here - I'll make sure you get a chance to come through. Okay, thanks."

Hoping that a meeting with another one of her old friends would lift Anola's spirits, Scarlett left her friend to continue to write the column.

[Togonistan]

Talbott Autodrome, Talbott, Liventia
Race Day

With the pre-season phase done, the show was on the road once again. Clouds in the sky were an indication about the light rain that had been present in Talbott throughout qualifying was, for now at least, intending to stay. For Dom, the time of 01:51.832 he had driven during qualifying put him at P14 on the starting grid. While the time he had spent driving BAP003 during free practice, as well as the time spent in simulator in-between the test in Tumbra and first race weekend here in Liventia had given him a chance to get more to grips with the car, qualifying session had still gone a bit south. Starting his last flying lap with 30 seconds remaining until the end of Q1, everything had gone well up until the 19th corner, where he had just slightly run a bit wide. However, that minor mistake was enough for him to end the lap .469 off provisional polesitter Cruisin, miss the top 10 and keep the door into Q2 closed for Dom. Hence, he was about to start the opening race here in Liventia from the 7th row on the grid, right next to Kaylan's rookie Anola Melani.

With a young brown-haired woman holding an umbrella with Badai Angin logo on it above his head, Dom was sitting in his car and looked around as other drivers also climbed into their cockpits. Soon, he heard some crackling noise inside his helmet, followed by a radio message from his race engineer Esteban: ''Radio check Dom, radio check!''

''Yup, I hear you mate!''

''Copy. Remember, Toralmintii in front of you alongside Carter. Melani next to you. Wingelaar with Kowalski behind. Formation lap starts in three minutes.''

Eventually, support crews left the grid and everyone were waiting for the formation lap to start. Dom turned his head and looked at Melani next to him, before closing his helmet visor and putting hands on the steering wheel. Gently applying pressure on the throttle, he took his BAP003 out on the formation lap. Trying to get some heat into his soft compound Tropicorp tyres, Dom was weaving the car left and right as much as possible. Eventually, he took his spot on the start grid again and took a deep breath as he was waiting for the race to start.

Lights off and away they went! Dom pushed the throttle and BAP003 came to life. Going side by side with Melani through the straight, Dom decided to brake late into first corner and managed to quickly leave the Chromatik with nothing to do but admire his rear wing. After the first few laps done, the tightly packed grid started to spread out more and Dom found himself chasing after iBen Toralmintii.

''How are the track conditions out there?''

''Uh... it's getting slightly damper with each lap.''

''Copy that. We can expect that light rain to last so we're looking into switching for inters in a few laps time.''

''Mm... copy.''

The next few laps saw Dom gaining up on the grandmaster from TRÆ until lap 6, when the two entered the long straight between turns 17 and 18. Staying in iBen's slipstream, Dom eventually made his move and the two went through chicanes side by side. It was clear that Toralmintii was not planning to give up that easy and the two stayed pretty much side by side up until the hairpin at turn 20, where Dom pulled back a little to give room for iBen, only to go alongside him again during the next corner. The two kept going side by side all the way through pit lane straight, where eventually, the Togonistani managed to get a better entry into the next corner and pull ahead.

''Nice work Dom, great overtake!''

''Heheheh! Let's gooo!''

''Alright, the track conditions show signs of worsening. We are pitting next lap!''

''Copy that.''

With another lap driven, Dom brought the car into pits and got his slicks swapped for inters.

''Release, release!''

New set of intermediate boots under his car, Dom re-joined the track and started pushing again. With the pit window open, a fair portion of the grid got shuffled around and soon, Dom noticed the green blob of a Kaylan car going wide in front of him. Of course, Dom showed no mercy and started catching up.

''Who am I racing against?!?''

''That would be Pressley in front. Pressley in front.''

''Has he pitted or not?''

''Negative, he's on slicks.''

It became apparent that pitting for inters had been the right call, as the Tumbran in front of him seemed to really struggle. Soon enough, Dom was already able to clearly see the KitKraft Foods branding that decorated the rear wing of Pressley's car. However, before he could get into a comfortable striking distance, the Tumbran pulled into pit lane, allowing Dom to have some clear air in front.

The following laps saw Dom keeping up his pace, with his tyres kicking up spray from the track as he aggressively took the corners. Lap after lap, he was steadily gaining up on Rusty ahead of him. However, his aggression was also putting more pressure on his tyres than would've been ideal and soon, Esteban had to remind him of that fact.

''Dom, we need to get to the end on this set. Conserve your tyres, we cannot allow this set to turn into slicks.''

''Copy that.''

With that, the rest of the race became a sort of a one man show for him. Dom's early overtakes on Anola and iBen, accompanied by early pit stop had allowed him to climb all the way up to P6. While Dom had the urge to keep on pushing, he also understood that the pack in front of him had formed a comfortable gap and attempting to catch up with them would risk him ruining the tyres. And that wasn't something that seemed profitable in the given scenario. Thus, Dom was on full on conserve mode from there on, focusing on keeping his gap with Sissie behind him instead. Lap after lap went by, with Esteban constantly giving information about Devereux's pace and Dom adjusting his own pace accordingly. Managing the tyres through the remaining laps, the pressure put on them eventually started to show signs in the later stages.

''Esteban, I think the tyres are starting to give up now.''

''Copy that. Gap to Devereux is 5.2 seconds. Ten more laps to go.''

''I'll do what I can.''

The remaining laps saw Dom paying close attention on the purple Eminent car in his mirrors. Lap after lap, Sissie started to gain up on him more and more. However, luckily, the race simply ended before she got the chance to make her move.

''Chequered flag! Chequered flag! That is P6, Dom! P6!''

''Whew! Let's gooo! Yeah!''

''Great recovery from the start, nice tyre management. It was starting to get a bit close for comfort in the end, but you manage to hold on to it!''

''Thanks Esteban! Yeah, great job guys! The car felt great, tyres went bit dead by the end but, all good!''

''Aaaand scenario 1, Dom! Scenario 1!''

''Copy that! What are the results?''

''The final results are Cruisin P1. Then there's Archer, Luminna, Rusty, Laukkanen and yourself. Devereux P7, then Pressley, Jean and Krupin is P10''

''Alright! Well, nice job guys!''

''You too mate! See you in the paddock!''

With that, Dom brought the car to the pitlane and parked it at his designated spot. Having removed the steering wheel and opened the seatbelts, he climbed out and gave a thumbs up into the camera filming him. Despite bottling the qualifying session, the stars had aligned in his favour today and Dom was happy with the points he had brought to himself and the team. Having shaken hands with Cruisin, Archer and Luminna (and congratulated them for their podium), Dom went through the weighing station before moving on to give a few post-race interviews to the media.

Kaylan Racing Team Centre
Talbott Autodrome

After the race, Xander had gathered the team for a post-race briefing to quickly talk through the day. With Ted bringing the team their first points at the team's first WGPC race, the atmosphere was positive, even if the Tumbran himself wasn't in the best mood and had hoped for better. With the team having taken their seats, Xander took in his spot at the front and started speaking: ''Alright, listen up! First race of the season done. First WGPC points on the table. I have to admit, when we came here, I didn't know what to expect. However, today has proven us that, at the very least, we have a car that can fight for the points. Drivers, you did what we asked from you. Brought the cars back in one piece and when it comes to Ted, our first points from the opening race. Of course, there were things we could have done better. The strategy call on tyres should've come sooner, I admit, that is where we messed up today. It's something we need to go through and learn from to minimize the chances of such things happening in the future. All in all, even though everything didn't go 100 percent right today, we still managed to take what we could from the situation. The work we have put in has paid off... and that is what matters the most right now.'' Xander made a brief pause, before continuing: ''When I took over the team in WGP2, we didn't immediately set the world alight either. We all constantly learnt new things, constantly improved ourselves. In the end, we managed to beat the odds and bring home that title! And that... is what we need to do now as well. No, I'm not talking about the winning the title. What I'm talking about is that, if we want to leave a mark into this season, we need to do what we did in our WGP2 days. Stay calm, analyse every situation... find the balance. And that applies to everything in this sport. The way you drive your car, the way you change a tyre, the way you decide on a strategy... everything. Sometimes, you mess up. Sometimes, the risks don't pay off. Sometimes, you just have a bad luck. But that's just how life is.''

[Nico Hulkenberg]

Talbott Autodrome
Liventia

Pre-Qualifying

”No, surely not… gah, fuck!” thought Dario. The sight of rain clouds hovering over the track sent a shiver down his spine. He never was the best driver in the wet, and surely being in the desert would allow him to avoid the possibility of any rain at the circuit, right? How was there rain in the desert? Why was there rain in the desert? He didn’t pay much attention during geography at school, but he did remember that deserts were dry, arid places with little-to-no rain - where had it come from? Where would it go? How wet would the track be? (Wet enough for inters, certainly.) The more questions he asked himself, the more stressed Dario got, and hence he decided to go back to his driver room and scream into a pillow. He simply wasn’t good enough in the rain.

Qualifying

”Well, as I’m sure you’re perfectly aware, there’s some rain on the circuit. Not to worry, however - it’s not completely soaked. You’ll be going out there on inters, so make sure that you can make it count, alright?”

This message from Dario’s race engineer inspired very little confidence from him. Not once had he ever performed well in wet conditions - he could never get his braking points right, couldn’t warm up his tyres well enough - and this was certainly on his mind before he drove out of the garage for qualifying.

(So, now you’re all hoping for Dario to set the lap of his life and have a brilliant wet qualifying, aren’t you? Hah, that’s too bad!)

”That’s your quali over, mate. That’s P18.”

“Agh, bugger. How far off was I from Laura?”

“Around five tenths, and she’s through to the second stage of qualifying.”

“…oh.”

The race hadn’t even come close to beginning, and yet here he was, getting his arse handed to him by his teammate in qualifying. What a brilliant start to life in a new team, eh?

(One, two, skip a few, clubs, ace,
here’s Post-Race)

Quite frankly, Dario was quite chuffed with his first point of the season, despite his overall finishing result. Sure, he had dropped three positions and could hardly keep the tyres in the operating window, but he had a point - and that was all that mattered. After the chaotic and yet entertaining race that he’d just experienced, Dario took it upon himself to post about his result on social media, as he always did.



Social media decided to do what it always did - cause conflict over pointless (hah) issues. Not that Dario cared, though - nothing could displease him for the rest of the day. He had given his team a point, all while proving one. He may not be quick in the wet, but he certainly perseveres.

(Dario has now had three points-scoring finishes, despite only finishing in the top ten twice in his entire career. Just a wee bit of an entertaining stat.)

[Tropicorp]

Cocoabo Overlooked by Eminent, will Accept Motorworks Seat

Cocoabo #23 was the second highest performing driver in the Badai Angin Tim Motorsport test and just narrowly missed out on the second seat with the Filindostan based team which was instead offered to Dom Falepeau. It seemed the only remaining option for Fast Cocoabo was the Fireline Motorsports team that Cocoabo #23 had raced so strongly for during WGPC Season 18. However, Fireline Motorsports had merged with Bitten Heroes of Lisander to form the new Fireline + Heroes Eminent GP team and Fast Cocoabo was left out of the mix again. It would leave Cocoabo #23 with no choice but to Accept a seat on the WGPC Motorworks Team for Season 19.

WGPC19 Supplier Performance Standings

[1] - 26 :: Phoenician/InMotion
[2] - 18 :: Tropicorp Racing Supply
[3] - 6 :: WGPC Official
[4] - 0 :: HR (Deyoze / Gajamina)

The Tyre Supplier standings return for the World Grand Prix Championship's 19th season. As with previous seasons, only the top finishing driver for a given tyre supplier in each event counts toward the standing in addition to the single point award for the tyre supplier of the fastest lap driver.

At the season opening Liventia Airways Grand Prix of LIventia, The Phoenician/InMotion
Tyre crossed the line first with R.L. Cruisin and the home team Carvenlo Liventia Airways. Two-time defending Supplier Performance Leader Tropicorp Racing Supply crossed the grid in second place through William Archer and Preston Autos Grand Prix keeping the balanced supplier within range of the top of the leaderboard even though Phoenician/InMotion also claimed a point for the fastest lap from Dario Nülkeschläger.

The WGPC Official Tyre Compound earned a surprise 6 points on the day thanks to Anneliese Devereux finishing in 7th position in the #7 Fireline + Heroes Eminent GP machine with Stellenbosch labeling on her tires. The other supplier in the race, the High Reliability tire fielded by Sayona Souzare with Deyoze lettering did not earn any points for the standings following a finish of last place in the race results.

Now the field moves on to the Yakumicha Circuit for the Grand Prix of Hodori where Deyoze will be looking to claim their first points on their home track.

---

[Aboveland]

Talbott Autodrome
Talbott, Liventia

"You've got to be kidding me."

Fine droplets, immediately turning into globs, splash onto Edvin's outstretched palm. Terho, dressed in his TRÆ apparel, approaches him silently from behind.

"I can't believe this," Edvin continues, his voice almost trembling; he doesn't exchange any words with Terho as he marches away towards the pitwall and jumps onto his stool, the patter of the rain on the half-roof intermittent.

Since qualifying, the bug in Edvin's stomach won't stop turning. He'd already been at the track three times prior, twice in charge of his own team's cars, and the rain hadn't fallen a single time; even if there was to be any rain, it wasn't supposed to be a problem! And yet, something — perhaps in the water? — had slashed their predicted testing advantage in an instant. Somehow, adapting the qualifying setup to suit the wetter conditions had become an ordeal; finding a suitable race setup, an impossibility.

His right foot taps the metal flooring frantically, his mouth hidden in his hands, as the five red lights fade to black. Immediately, as the grid is engulfed in a puff of mist, the new-look AGP004 — both of them — peel away from their grid spots like salty snails. One, two, three, positions are lost before the first turn, iBen struggling to find grip, Sara Luna playing chicken against the cars behind her.

"What the fuck is going on?" Edvin groans. The pearly eyes of the team boss in the stall next to him — in the heat of the moment, he's not got a single clue who his neighbor team is — glare in his direction accordingly. How had the rain suddenly foiled two straight seasons of competence?

---

"You've got to be kidding me."

It's what Janne had said to Antti quietly, taking a precautionary step closer to his ear, before the race start. The wind had been rattling the sheet metal doors of the paddock all morning, and the air was heavy, sticky, gooey, and disgustingly damp; his racesuit, gloves and balaclava revoltingly moist since the moment he'd slid them on.

He'd, also, repeated it halfway through the race: all the positives of his third in qualifying, and his ongoing second position in the race — on a greasy asphalt, still on his slicked-up intermediate tyres — had rapidly effervesced in the front of his mind. There wasn't any way in hell that he'd have challenged the team's strategy call — either directly or through Antti —; much less on his first top-level race, and at odds with the wise words of a double world champion leading a six-time winning team. But a no-stopper had seemed ludicrous from the start, and on lap thirty had almost culminated in a screeching halt: getting the Carvenlo machine around the circuit had become a trudging chore, and it only took a moment's lapse in his concentration — and idiopathic, blank zoning out — to miss the dry line into the corner. First, it was oversteer, as the rear wheels spun on the standing water to the right of the line; then, terminal understeer, as the interslicks glided over the collected film which glazed the surface. His quick reactions — at this point in his diverse career, second nature — couldn't do much to save him from becoming a passenger towards the outside walls past the runoff to the left of turn thirteen, but were effective enough to snap him back onto the track as he crossed back over the dry line, from the inside to the outside of the sweeping corner before the turn fourteen hairpin.

He was fortunate enough, too, that his cry for help — read: a new set of inters to tiptoe along the God awful surface just a little longer — was heeded immediately; and by the time the race had come to an end, the radio had crackled to life with an appropriate apology.

Back at the paddock, as he clambered out of the chassis — his body ickily wet and soggy everywhere — he felt embalsamed: how he'd taken the Nexus race suits for granted! It took him a good minute and a half to stretch beside his car, to roll his shoulders, to pop his knees, to crackle his back against a chair — his vertebrae snapping one by one to the beat of a distant zipper — before he could muster up the energy to walk over to the podium balcony. His team, and Antti, and Sami — beautiful, gorgeous, slightly bored-of-the-paddock Sami — were surely waiting for him to cheer on his veteran teammate's victory and Carvenlo's early teams' lead.

He opted to take the long way round — unusual, as he was all too visible to the prying eyes of the media in the post-race pitlane, something his reserved self had never been too keen on. And it wasn't supposed to be anything other, or anything more, than just having taken the exterior route rather than the interior paddock hallway towards the balcony.

But along the way, a clumsy, fluffy-haired, garishly neon-yellow ragdoll fell to his feet, his head landing solidly on the pointiest edge of his kneecaps.

"Oh!" he exclaimed, as the ragdoll, perhaps in pain, moaned a low "eugh". He dropped to his knees to thrust his hands under his arms and lift the sock-puppet man back up, but his trembling post-race legs were no match, and they both tumbled flat onto the oily cement with a thud. The sock puppet's fluffy hair intertwined with the exposed velcro strap across Janne's lap.

[Lisander]

"Oh, great! They put the Mini Helmet of my last WGP2 season on sale!" - said Anneliese while looking around at her favourite racing memorabilia website.

[WGPC 19]

Horikawa Instruments Grand Prix of Hodori

Yakumicha Circuit, Hodori


Lap Record (WGPC Car)(seconds): 1:26.973 [A. Mayari - Scuderia Fuoco e Ghiaccio, WGPC13 Qualifying]

The circuit is constructed outside Yakumicha in a scenic valley in Hodori's Toudekan prefecture. Access to the circuit is primarily through public transit, with dedicated rail and bus lines connecting the facility to Yakumicha and Jechiru. Additional road lines allow access from the village of Yegitou. As part of the three-year title sponsorship deal, automotive electronics and telemetry systems manufacturer Horikawa Instruments returns as title sponsor of the WGPC event, alternating with Dashoze Circuit.

Starting from the grid, drivers will first climb six meters from the starting line and pit exit to the crest at the entry of First Corner, before dropping 52 meters through the downhill First, Esses, and WhiteRock Corners. Levelling out for the Shameimaru Chicane, the track will descend another 3 meters to join the Junior Circuit at the exit of 50R.

Climbing over 16 meters from 85R to the peak at the middle of 90R, drivers will then drop 14 meters as they run down the Junior Back Straight to the chicane of 55R, 25R, and 45R. Racing down the Junior Grid Straight at a slight downward grade, the track starts to dive more sharply past the Junior Pit Exit into the Valley Corner, with its middle third — and the lowest point of the circuit — 6 meters below the corner entry.

Climbing out of Valley to 30R, drivers will take the hairpin to rejoin the National circuit at Turn 17. From Turn 17, drivers will climb over 50 meters up the back straight and through the Hairpin, PrismRiver, TIREIPALACE Chicane, and Final Corners. Out of Final Corner and past pit entry, drivers will have returned to the starting elevation.

Companion Event(s): WGP2 Non-Points Race

Week 2: Practice

Conditions:      	Cloudy
Session Length:	180 minutes
Nation:         	HDR
Circuit:        	Yakumicha Circuit

Drivers have 180 minutes to complete as many laps of the track as they like

POS # ▍DRIVER                           	FASTEST LAP	GAP TO LEADER
 1 40 ▍Adriana Kowalski Ela...          	00:01:29.731	00:00:00.000
 2 11 ▍Lane Carter                      	00:01:29.746	00:00:00.015
 3 31 ▍Joy Wingelaar                    	00:01:29.805	00:00:00.075
 4 77 ▍iBen Toralmintii                 	00:01:29.817	00:00:00.087
 5 24 ▍Sayono Souzare                   	00:01:29.827	00:00:00.096
 6 88 ▍Ted Pressley                     	00:01:29.941	00:00:00.210
 7 94 ▍Ryker Lane                       	00:01:29.944	00:00:00.213
 8 19 ▍Dom Falepeau                     	00:01:30.001	00:00:00.270
 9 17 ▍Janne Laukkanen                  	00:01:30.126	00:00:00.395
10 41 ▍Jean Mercer-Daly                 	00:01:30.231	00:00:00.500
11 83 ▍Anola "Wrench" Melani            	00:01:30.254	00:00:00.523
12 37 ▍Laura Haukanna                   	00:01:30.392	00:00:00.661
13 25 ▍Gregori Krupin                   	00:01:30.492	00:00:00.761
14 15 ▍Heinz-Otto Junker                	00:01:30.654	00:00:00.923
15 71 ▍Rustom Ibuna                     	00:01:30.657	00:00:00.927
16  5 ▍Rudy Edwards                     	00:01:30.708	00:00:00.977
17  7 ▍Anneliese Devereux               	00:01:30.730	00:00:01.000
18 82 ▍Kinu Luminna                     	00:01:31.088	00:00:01.358
19 27 ▍Dario Nülkeschläger              	00:01:31.182	00:00:01.451
20  8 ▍William Archer                   	00:01:31.197	00:00:01.467
21 50 ▍Sara Luna                        	00:01:32.246	00:00:02.516
22 85 ▍Olivia Stone                     	00:01:32.606	00:00:02.876
23 51 ▍R.L. Cruisin                     	00:01:32.849	00:00:03.118
24 -- ▍Cocoabo #23                      	00:01:34.844	00:00:05.114
25 63 ▍Daryl Mizushima                  	00:01:36.996	00:00:07.265

Week 2: Qualifying

Conditions:      	Dry
Nation:         	HDR
Circuit:        	Yakumicha Circuit

POS # ▍DRIVER                           	FASTEST Q1	GAP TO LEADER	FASTEST Q2	GAP TO LEADER	FASTEST Q3	GAP TO LEADER	FASTEST Q4	GAP TO LEADER	
 1 19 ▍Dom Falepeau                     	00:01:27.083	00:00:00.534	00:01:27.555	FASTEST : Q2	00:01:27.025	FASTEST : Q3	00:01:27.025	FASTEST : Q4	
 2 77 ▍iBen Toralmintii                 	00:01:27.464	00:00:00.915	00:01:27.584	00:00:00.029	00:01:27.030	00:00:00.004	00:01:27.030	00:00:00.004	
 3 25 ▍Gregori Krupin                   	00:01:26.784	00:00:00.235	00:01:27.705	00:00:00.151	00:01:27.065	00:00:00.039	00:01:27.065	00:00:00.039	
 4  5 ▍Rudy Edwards                     	00:01:26.549	FASTEST : Q1	00:01:27.600	00:00:00.046	00:01:27.072	00:00:00.047	00:01:27.072	00:00:00.047	
 5 85 ▍Olivia Stone                     	00:01:26.691	00:00:00.143	00:01:27.670	00:00:00.115	00:01:27.120	00:00:00.094	00:01:27.120	00:00:00.094	
 6 71 ▍Rustom Ibuna                     	00:01:27.385	00:00:00.836	00:01:27.864	00:00:00.309	00:01:27.133	00:00:00.108	00:01:27.133	00:00:00.108	
 7 17 ▍Janne Laukkanen                  	00:01:27.223	00:00:00.674	00:01:27.910	00:00:00.355	00:01:27.200	00:00:00.175			
 8 94 ▍Ryker Lane                       	00:01:27.060	00:00:00.512	00:01:27.991	00:00:00.437	00:01:27.208	00:00:00.182			
 9 88 ▍Ted Pressley                     	00:01:27.240	00:00:00.691	00:01:27.751	00:00:00.196	00:01:27.249	00:00:00.223			
10 50 ▍Sara Luna                        	00:01:26.793	00:00:00.244	00:01:27.740	00:00:00.185	00:01:27.255	00:00:00.230			
11 24 ▍Sayono Souzare                   	00:01:27.121	00:00:00.572	00:01:27.983	00:00:00.428	00:01:27.378	00:00:00.353			
12 51 ▍R.L. Cruisin                     	00:01:27.108	00:00:00.559	00:01:27.968	00:00:00.414	00:01:27.445	00:00:00.420			
13 83 ▍Anola "Wrench" Melani            	00:01:27.148	00:00:00.599	00:01:28.076	00:00:00.521					
14 40 ▍Adriana Kowalski Ela...          	00:01:27.065	00:00:00.517	00:01:28.099	00:00:00.544					
15 37 ▍Laura Haukanna                   	00:01:27.235	00:00:00.686	00:01:28.210	00:00:00.655					
16 15 ▍Heinz-Otto Junker                	00:01:27.349	00:00:00.801	00:01:28.213	00:00:00.658					
17  7 ▍Anneliese Devereux               	00:01:27.851	00:00:01.302	00:01:28.332	00:00:00.777					
18 41 ▍Jean Mercer-Daly                 	00:01:27.356	00:00:00.808	00:01:28.355	00:00:00.800					
19 31 ▍Joy Wingelaar                    	00:01:27.918	00:00:01.369							
20 11 ▍Lane Carter                      	00:01:27.980	00:00:01.431							
21 27 ▍Dario Nülkeschläger              	00:01:28.045	00:00:01.496							
22  8 ▍William Archer                   	00:01:28.332	00:00:01.783							
23 82 ▍Kinu Luminna                     	00:01:28.410	00:00:01.861							
24 63 ▍Daryl Mizushima                  	00:01:28.469	00:00:01.921							
25 -- ▍Cocoabo #23                      	00:01:29.914	00:00:03.366							

Note: Race #2 Results will be posted in Approximately 12 Hours From this post. Any RP posted between now and the race results counts for Same RP Cutoff Period (So if you've already posted a significant contribution since Race #1, there is no driving need to 'squeeze' in something of similar caliber between now and race results posting)

Note 2: Q3 = Q4 Above; Looks like something in TRS that causes it. As these results are valid and done on sporting merit with the as-bid scorinator they will be accepted as is. ICly the results from Q3 carried over into Q4 And/or there was no Q4 session held. Will work on an appropriate fix prior to next elim race (Race #3)

[The Licentian Isles]

It had been a rough weekend in Liventia.

Maybe it was always going to be that way. After all, no matter how TMW had performed, it was their first season on the biggest stage of them all, and it was Joy’s first too. Faster cars, more experienced drivers, and a whole lot of money on the line. The pressure was on for this shy youngster from the Licentian Isles.

Of course it didn’t help that it rained. In a bloody desert.

There wasn’t really any way things could have been more difficult. Joy had done well to put the car in P16 in the two tiered qualifying, so she would start alongside Adriana towards the middle of the pack. Then came the crossover, where people started to switch to inters. Joy picked the wrong time, pitting a bit too late: perhaps she was just worried about losing the car by switching too early. Instead, she just struggled as other cars caught up to her on the optimum tyre before she came into the box. After that, there wasn’t much that she could do to recover. She was the last finisher that wasn’t driving a Motorworks car. There wasn’t anything wrong with those drivers: it just felt like she should be doing better.

Maybe Hodori would be a better race for her.

---

“That’s P3 Joy, P3. Good job, you got the best out of the car there.” As she pulled back towards the pit lane at Yakumicha, that comment from Kaspar had the Licentian feeling pretty happy with her performance.

“Danke team, danke. Great work from the whole crew, it was feeling really good out there.” Sure, it was only a practice session, but it felt good to be coming to terms with the car, and doing well on this technical circuit. Maybe she could start further up the field this time. “How did Heinz do?”

“P14. Heinz P14,” came the reply from Kaspar. “The car is looking promising here. Lots of work to do though, head down.”

“Head is down Kaspar.” It was one of the great things that she had with this team: they always knew how to keep her in the right headspace. All her focus needed to be on quali.

---

Joy had pushed her hardest on that last lap in Q1. Speed through the esses without losing the rear, keep focus for the two hairpins coming out the valley. The undulations reminded her of Hessington, which was good: she’d always liked that place. As she crossed the line, she was hopeful: it felt like a good lap.

“We’re out Joy. 6 hundredths behind Devereux.” Kaspar’s voice over the radio immediately cut through the optimism in Joy’s head.

“Bollocks. Sorry team.” She thumped the wheel in front of her, needing a way to let out the frustration.

“It’s alright, we were super close there, you’ve got the pace. Tomorrow is where the points are up for grabs, let’s focus on that.”

“Thanks Kaspar, thanks team.” It would be a rough race coming from P19, with the task becoming even more of an uphill climb when Joy saw some of the drivers behind her: a lot of really experienced hands with pace to burn. Time to get her head down and focus on her race. That was the only way to get the best out of this.

[Valentine Z]

The Valentians - Chapter 5 - An Inner Fire.

So I took a couple of photos with the second driver that came into Eminent Racing - Anneliese Devereux! I know her a little bit from the previous seasons. Based on my data, along with checking up on the internet, she was in TAS Alliance Racing for WGPC 18, and then PrismRiver Racing in WGP2 4. I'm glad she is getting into WGPC now, she deserves a great chance to prove her performance, and I am sure that she will fit just fine in the championship. Anyway, the sign-up with Fireline (and Heroes) was relatively fine for me, you know how it is like! Granted, I have said before that I wasn't performing as well for the previous season when I crapped out on the last few races, but with the recent change codes, along with more experience, I am sure and am hoping that I will do better for Eminent. I am still thankful for that opportunity. On that note, I also heard from Angela just recently that she got the place with Fireline (the one in WGP2 is not a joint team); her voice was high and happy when she was talking to me, saying that while the other tryouts were nice, Fireline was the only one so far that offered her a spot without even asking her to go for a tryout. There was so much faith put into someone like her who stepped up onto WGP for the first time, and she was more than happy for that. I'm glad as well, I told her! Now all I am wondering to myself is whether or not I can find Jane to train me a little bit more once again. We have history with one another, and she knows how I drive, so my analysis says that this would work much more perfectly if you re-use the same trainer-and-driver pair.

So that was in the present. What about the test sessions way before this? Well, there was the test session at Elbej Historic Site Circuit, Diarcesia. The track was a little demanding, but so were the fastest lap times and the others who were driving against me. I was decidedly average, I suppose. The first test session had me at 13th, another at 12th. Could my lap times be better? Oh, definitely! At the same time, being in the middle is not too bad, considering how I am not the absolute worst. Then came another session at Mount Fesmos Circuit, Caldwell, Tumbra. As the track description says: Tight yet flowing corners that flow into one another, and highest point at the banked turn 9. I should still be fine with the technical challenges, since I have not sacrificed all of that for my more aggressive driving. It's just the reliability that I am afraid of, the possibility of getting a DNF has slightly increased. So, how did I do overall? Oh, still average, but slightly above average now, hehe. 9th for the first session, 11th for the second session. Ted definitely got the home advantage for the second session, on top of him being pretty good! I am sounding like I am a little obsessed with him, and if others hear and read my thoughts, they are going to think the same, haha! To be blunt and honest, I simply respect him for being such an excellent driver, along with Anola being his teammate. I know great performance when I see one. I see that there is also a William Archer, the name I doesn't exactly know. The "Archer" part I definitely do, mainly because Anastasia told me about the NSSCRA antics.

And that is it for now! I am currently on the Yakumicha Circuit at Hodori and well, the qualifications went pretty okay! I got 14th, but like what the Valentians in NSSCRA told me, maybe there is still hope for me with the whole "Not so good qualifications, great race" kind of thing. After the racce at Talboot Autodrome, I sure need to put a lot more time and commitment into this race, on the grounds that being placed in the average spots was not earning me the points. I mean, Anneliese already got 6 points, so I need to earn my keep as well - not only because Fireline was giving me the chance, but with Heroes also being there, I just can't let them down, you know?

Here's to a better race tomorrow! If the circumstances permit, I am most definitely going to plug into my car a little bit more. There are a lot of data that I can tap into, on top of the human instincts that I am using more and more of as of now.

[Abanhfleft]

Rain? In the bloody desert? When did that happen? William Archer asked himself as the first drops started to fall on the Talbott Autodrome. There were still a few minutes to go before the start of the first of two qualifying sessions to set the grid for the first ever race of the 19th season of the World Grand Prix Championship, and it was most probably going to be declared a wet session. It’s because of that damn climate change, William added before he slid himself into the cockpit of his PGP-02, which he had named “Brigitte” in honor of his stepmother. His first car, the PGP-01, William had named after his biological mother Jessica, so it was just fitting that he named his next car after the other most important woman in his life. The thought made William chuckle. He couldn’t imagine his little sister Paige taking kindly to her brother naming a racecar after her. Heck, merely calling her little sister made Paige cringe, which only made William all the more determined to call her that.

“Come in, William,” Claude Stacks called out on the radio.

“I’m here, Claude. Five by five,” William replied.

“So we see some clouds coming over the circuit according to the weather radar,” Stacks said. “We don’t expect the rain to get any heavier than this unless another front moves in, but the rain itself won’t fall in its entirety until the middle of the first quali tier. Should we stick with the slicks or do you want to start your quali run on inters?”

“I’ve been thinking about that myself,” William admitted. “Yeah, you know what? Let’s stay on the slicks for now. I’ll try to set a banker lap if nothing else.”

“Sticking to the slicks, copy,” Stacks nodded. “And William, be careful out there. Preston doesn’t have the best of memories at this place.”

“I know,” William nodded back, and then he turned his full concentration back to his car. The weather didn’t seem to have taken a turn for either the better or the worse, but once William went out onto the pit lane, he could tell that keeping the slick tires on was a mistake. “Shit!” he called out. ‘It’s now too slippery for slicks! Get the inters ready, Claude!”

“Copy that, William!”

William basically tiptoed his way around Talbott for what was supposed to be his out lap. Nobody was surprised when he pulled back into the pits almost immediately after he had gone out; the gamble to stay on slicks at the start of the session didn’t pay off. But at least William now knew what kind of conditions at this place would require intermediate tires. The rain continued to fall, but like Stacks had told him, it didn’t get any stronger than a light shower. The inters were definitely the perfect tire in these conditions.And the rain certainly seemed to add some more pace to what William already had. He could still remember that he got his first ever WGP2 win on a wet and rainy Crossbay Circuit, and it was just possible that perhaps he could do the same thing here. His qualifying times certainly seemed like proof of it. In the first qualifying session, William was just three thousandths of a second off of R.L. Cruisin. R.L. bloody Cruisin! And Cruisin was in a bloody Carvenlo of all things too! If William could put his Preston just three thousandths of a second off of Cruisin then where else could he put it?

The possibilities opened up as soon as the checkered flag was waved to mark the end of the second qualifying session. “That last run felt like a good one,” William said as he crossed the finish line. “What’s the sitch, Claude?”

“You’re not gonna believe this, William,” Claude Stacks said. “You are P1, my man!”

“You said what?” William asked again. “Can you say that again, Claude?”

“You are P1, William Archer! You are on pole!”

“Ahaha-hahaha! Woohoo! Let’s go! Come on, you guys! That’s the power of the Preston, baby!” William shouted.

GUILLERMO RODOLFO ARCHER ✓

@ItsGilArcher69

Thats my boy! First pole position down, a helluva lot more 2 go!


#WGPC19 : #LiventiaGP

---

Race day started off dry, but the clouds on the horizon were a hint of what was to come. Since the qualifying session had been declared wet, everyone had a free choice of tire to start the Liventian Grand Prix. William opted for the softest tires available after the weather people told him that there was a possibility of rain within the first ten laps of the race. William knew that none other than R.L. Cruisin himself was starting alongside him on the front row, so he knew that he would have his hands full trying to keep the veteran racer from overtaking him on the first corner. Three, four, and five lights… and they’re gone! William thought he had a good start off the line, and the proof of that came when he saw Cruisin and his Carvenlo appear on his rear-view mirrors. Now it was a matter of putting as much distance between him and the two hometown team drivers as possible before the rain fell and they had to pit for intermediate tires.

On lap 6, Claude Stacks asked him, “How’s the track, William? How heavy is the rain falling?”

“It feels like I’m just in the shower,” William replied. “The rain’s not too strong, and I’m starting to lose just a little grip. But I think I can hang on.”

On lap 7: “Cruisin is in the pits, Cruisin is in the pits! It looks like he’s going for inters. Do you think it’s time to go to inters?”

“No! Slicks still feel good,” William said. “I can do one more lap!” And of course, just as he said that, he aquaplaned across the hairpin at turn 7. “Yeah, scratch that. Boxing now.”

William’s decision could very well be the one that cost him his first ever WGPC victory, at least one where a win counted for the full 25 points. Just as in the first stint where young William was able to keep himself just out of reach of the veteran R.L., it was now the wily and experienced veteran’s turn to keep the young and impetuous Fleftic at bay. William was able to keep himself within one second of Cruisin, enough to keep getting DRS on the Vilitan driver, but William was just never close enough to actually take advantage.And his constant efforts to push for the overtake didn’t do his current set of intermediate tires any favors as well. “You need to watch your tire wear, William,” Stacks told him on lap 37. “We might need to keep this set going to the end of the race.”

“Negative!” William said back. “This set doesn’t feel so good now! It might be time for a new set. Find me a gap to pit in!”

On lap 39, the team found that gap, and William went in for a set of fresh inters. Other drivers seemed to be trying to tough it out on just one set of inters at the moment, but for now, William seemed to be the only one who went for the two-stopper. And it almost paid off for him. The fresh rubber underneath him allowed him to get right back on Cruisin's tail, but then William had to go through a graining period where he neither gained nor lost ground to the Vilitan. He finally got through the graining with a handful of laps left, but at that point time had become his enemy. And William found himself out of time, and laps, to reclaim first place from Cruisin by the time the checkered flag had come out.

"Yeah, that call not to pit for inters immediately might have cost me," William said to the interviewer just before the podium ceremony. "I thought maybe I could hang on, get some more grip out of the slicks, but the conditions didn't want me to do it. But this proves we've got a great package with us. Luck and the conditions have nothing to do with why we're on the podium today. We have a great car, and I like driving that car. That win's gonna come, and I think it's gonna come sooner or later."

GUILLERMO RODOLFO ARCHER ✓

@ItsGilArcher69

Always hurts 2 lose a race win but its a learning xperience. Makes ur 1st actual win all d much sweeter tho!


#WGPC19 : #LiventiaGP