I Forzala 1 Imperial Championship

[Diarcesia]

However, could he beat the polesitter's curse?

Spoiler alert: He did.

[Republica Cernosa]

How can I join?

[The Macabees]

How can I join?

New teams can apply for participation by following the steps here (Making Your Team and Designing Your Drivers). Teams get 400 points to distribute across five categories: top speed, cornering, acceleration, energy, and reliability. Drivers get 400 points (each), similarly distributed across five categories: skill, consistency, aggression, tire management, and qualifying bias.

Livery design is not required. If you'd like to design a visual for your livery, you can use the base template here. Use of AI to create the livery design is accepted.

[Retro Caliland]

Cooper Motors HQ, San Clemente, Caliland:

The Cooper Motors headquarters building was a striking, modern building built next to the San Clemente Raceway. The ground floor was the garage and fabrication area. The second floor was R&D, and the third floor was mostly offices and driver training. In conference room A, an important team meeting was going on.

“Ok so we need to discuss this new marketing initiative.” Said Melissa, standing at one end of the table, while Trevor sat at the other end, flanked by Jose Luis and a jet-lagged, hungover Alessandro.

“Not interested” said Alessandro and Jose Luis at the same time.

“Come on guys, it’s just a quick meeting for your driver profile, and we’ll take it from there.” Said Melissa’s sidekick Heather, standing next to her.

Trevor spoke up. “This is important for us to get new sponsors. More sponsors, more money. More money, better team. Play along guys, and we’ll be able to afford that upgrade package Mila’s designing.” Trevor straightened his suit, and walked out. Melissa walked over to Trevor. “I really don’t want to work with Alessandro.”

“This is your thing, handle it how you see fit."

“Heather! Remember how you wanted that promotion?”

“Yeah?”

“You’re working with Alessandro.”

Heather clapped her hands giddily, Alessandro sighed, and slumped in his chair. Heather got in a rolling chair and rolled it next to Alessandro. “This is gonna be fun!”

“It’ll be fun” said Jose Luis sarcastically as Alessandro grudgingly got up and followed Heather. Melissa grinned as she waved Alessandro and Heather goodbye. Heather led Alessandro out of the conference room and down the hallway.

“My office is on this floor.”

“You have your own office?”

“Yup!”

“And it’s on the third floor?”

“Uh huh!”

“Here it is” Heather walked past the C-suite offices with the glass doors and stopped in front of a plain door with a piece of paper that read “Heather’s Office” taped to it. She opened the door and showed Alessandro inside, gesturing as if she were showing him around a 5-star resort. Instead, it was a small room with cleaning products on the shelves and brooms in the corner. In the center, a few boxes of trash bags had been stacked up. Heather sat on one stack, put her laptop on another stack, gestured for Alessandro to sit on the third stack, and closed the door behind him.

“This is your office?”

“Pretty sweet right? Third floor office, just like the big bosses.”

“Heather, this is a janitor’s closet.”

“I prefer to think of it as a cross-department, multipurpose space. Paul just uses it sometimes.”

“Who’s Paul?”

Just then, the door opened, revealing a middle-aged, heavyset man pushing a mop bucket.

“Morning, Heather. How’s it going?” Said Paul, cheery as ever.

“Hi Paul! How are you? How’s Janet?”

“Great! It’s her birthday tomorrow, so I’m doing something special.”

“Aww, that’s so nice! Tell her I said happy birthday!”

“Will do! Anyways, I just need that bottle of window cleaner by his head.” Paul pointed at Alessandro.

“Si, si, of course.” Alessandro grabbed the spray bottle and handed it to Paul.

“Thanks, man. I’m stopping by the breakroom in 5 minutes, you guys want anything?”

“I’m good, grazie.”

“I’m fine, thanks Paul. See you later!”

“See you!”

“Ciao, Paul” said Alessandro, slightly bewildered.

Paul closed the door and resumed his cleaning.

“What a friendly guy.” Said Alessandro.

“Great guy.” Said Heather. “Anyways, let’s do this profile thing.” Heather opened her laptop and leaned forward. “So, why do you race?”

Alessandro scoffed. “To win. Obviously”

“But what drives you to win?”

“The car.”

“No, you drive the car. What drives you to drive the car?”

Alessandro sighed and leaned back, resting his back on a shelf of paper towels.

“I want to be the best.”

“Why?”

“Because that’s the whole point of racing. Nobody gets on the grid thinking “I want to be tenth”. Nobody spends their hard-earned money on tickets saying “I want to watch my favorite driver finish third”. Nobody as a kid watched racing on TV saying “when I grow up, I want to just like them, and work hard and become a racecar driver and finish in last place”. We race to win because we dream of winning.”

“Did you ever dream of being a racecar driver?”

“Every day. All day. When I was in school, my mind was never in the classroom. It was doing 210 on the Mulsanne Straight, or whipping an F1 car around Monza. My teachers said I lacked focus, but I could focus. I could focus on getting the car on the perfect race line.”

“You’ve wanted this for a while.”

“My whole life.”

“So you never really outgrew that dream, huh?”

“Everybody has a dream as a child. They want to be a racecar driver, or an astronaut, or a football player. When they grow up, they outgrow them. But the few that put their minds to it never outgrow the dream. They chase it. And that chase can lead them to places they never imagined they’d be.”

“Like a janitor’s closet?”

“Like a janitor’s closet.”

“So I bet your family is proud of you.”

Alessandro took a deep breath. During his speech, he had gradually leaned forward and stopped slouching. But now he leaned back.

Outside a bar, last Sunday after the Targul Grand Prix:

Alessandro opened the voicemail his father had left him.

“Hello, son. I watched your race on TV today. I’m sorry about what happened. I know you don’t want to hear this. But I want you to know that your mother and I are always here no matter what happens. If you ever need to come back to Naples, we’ll be right here.” he said in Italian.

Alessandro scoffed.

Present day, Heather’s office:

“They don’t believe in me. They wanted me to take over the family business with my older brother Luca.”

“But you had bigger dreams.”

“Luca dreams small, so mama and papa always supported him. They knew he dreamed too small to fail. But when I took a risk, became a racing driver, they disapproved. They don’t believe I have what it takes. Every loss just proves them right. And now they want me to come back and work a mediocre job for the rest of my life, hating myself for never aspiring for anything greater than what I started with.”

Heather just sat there silently.

“I made it my mission to prove them wrong. And so far, I’ve only done the opposite.”

Heather leaned forward. “Let’s change that.”

“How?” scoffed Alessandro.

Heather gave him a look that said “you’re not gonna like this”. Alessandro knew right away what it meant. Swallowing his pride and learning from “the old man”.
Objectively it made sense. Jose Luis had won the last race, while Alessandro had come dead last. But a part of him didn’t want to accept that his strategy was wrong.

“Alessandro. Right now your family thinks you’re a selfish, stubborn, hard-headed loser.”

“You don’t sugarcoat things, do you?”

“The best way to prove them wrong is to become not just a winner, but a changed winner. A winner who puts his team above himself. If you really want to prove them wrong, prove you can change. They’re not doubting your talent, they’re doubting your attitude.”

Alessandro sighed. He knew what he had to do. Talk to Yoda.

[The Macabees]

WEEKEND WARMUP
RUSKA GP

AURILLACRING, PROVINCE OF RUSKA

WELCOME TO THE RUSKA GRAND PRIX, the halfway point of the championship.

The Aurillacring sits in the suburb of Granadac, south of the River Styx, which bisects the city of Aurillac along its lower third. Granadac rose as a suburb only in recent history, following the War of Golden Succession, during which Aurillac was firebombed by Safehaven — the Golden Throne's southern neighbor. It's populated by the refugees and, later, migrants seeking work during the ambitious reconstruction effort that began two years after the fateful battles at the Styx. It has been (~)16 years since the firebombing of Aurillac, and the renewed city has outgrown — though still not fully shed — its scars from that war, so that the Ruska GP at the Aurillacring serves as just one, albeit an important, example of the metropolis' bright present and future.

In some ways, the Aurillacring resembles the Rezhenring. In totality, it has slightly fewer straights and somewhat more fast corners. Overtaking on this fast-paced circuit is expected to be limited, making qualifying important for drivers and teams seeking to score points. Weather is not expected to play a major role in the outcome of the race, with sunny skies on race day, though heavy winds are likely to affect qualifying.

For international fans who've traveled to the previous races, they may be struck by the recentness of Aurillac's urban landscape, but also its relative lack of 'political' architecture. Cities like Fedoroville, Fedala, and Beda Fromm are filled with palaces, temples, and historical buildings, whereas Aurillac is comparatively utilitarian. In a sense, it's similar to Targul Frumos, but whereas Targul Frumos' urban landscape was defined by its proletarian past, in Aurillac's case the city reflects the dire financial straits that the Golden Throne was in following the War of Golden Succession. There are exceptions, of course, such as the Triumphal Arch commemorating Safehaven's surrender, but compared to the empire's other major cities, Aurillac seems 'plain.'

Tourists can visit the Park of Metal, one of the few areas of "old" Aurillac still visible, where the ruins of the fire bombing are conserved as a memorial to the event and to the war. They can also visit the Museum of The War, which contains hundreds of exhibits, including armored vehicles from all sides, aircraft — including restored specimens of the bombers used to destroy the old city —, and other weapons, as well as other forms of memorabilia.

Closer to the topic of racing, Aurillac — and Ruska, the province — has become famous for its rally championship, as well as the racing team (and car manufacturer) Suprillia.


ATTENTION: RP cutoff date for the qualifying session is 7/11 08:00 PST. RPs after race results but before this post count.




Key Details

49 laps; 6.4km lap.

• Track Type: High-speed flow circuit with extended sweeping sections and long straight
• Rewards: Sustained cornering speed, aero efficiency, rhythm, high-speed confidence, exit consistency
• Punishes: Hesitation in fast corners, poor line discipline, drag-heavy setups, instability under sustained lateral load
• Overtaking: Moderate; primary opportunity at end of main straight, with limited secondary chances elsewhere
• Tire Factor: Medium — long-duration corners create steady wear, balanced by recovery on straights
• Setup Bias: Medium–low drag, strong aero stability, predictable high-speed balance
• Qualifying Importance: Medium–High — clean air improves rhythm, but overtaking remains possible
• Safety Car Likelihood: Low — flowing layout reduces incident clustering
• Time Profile: Built through sustained speed and rhythm; lap time gained in fast corner commitment and long straight exit
• Driver Bias: Skill > Consistency > Qualifying Bias > Tire Management > Aggression
• Race Character: Flowing and momentum-driven; gaps form through rhythm disruption rather than sudden errors
• Notable Traits: Long sweeping sections dominate lap time; final straight creates the primary overtaking window

[McNernia]

CCL SPORTS-FORZALA 1 WIRE

---

The sitituation is jubilant in the Lanto Camp, we are looking at a forthcoming Qualifier which will guarantee prospects. The Drivers have been taking to Social Media for the audience back home in Archinia but well as thing stand Lanto is poised to potentially move into the upscale supercar market in combination with Racing and commercial automobiles.

---

[The Macabees]

QUALIFYING
RUSKA GP

AURILLACRING, PROVINCE OF RUSKA



RP bonuses counted through McNernia's.

Pos Driver                      Team                                 Time
--- --------------------------- ------------------------------------ --------
1   Jose Luiz Lopez             Cooper Motors                        1:49.968
2   Rouben Veurien              Lanto Automotive                     1:52.663
3   Karina Monraksha            Lunar Firestorm                      1:53.007
4   Nassrena Kang Salarzai      Lunar Firestorm                      1:53.117
5   Alessandro Di Raffaele      Cooper Motors                        1:53.188
6   Arturia Nero                CAMDEN NEXT                          1:53.619
7   Laurens Scherpenkate        Pryfors Bilar                        1:53.896
8   Marko Meya                  Tango et Kartuma RMK                 1:54.070
9   Ror Rakken                  Tango et Kartuma RMK                 1:54.260
10  Basiv Darjis                Team Sasha                           1:54.541
11  Sam Blaatschapen            Pryfors Bilar                        1:55.241
12  Kamila Saidova              Team Sasha                           1:55.407
13  Karles Jasper               Ekklesson F1                         1:55.520
14  Felix Klasen                Ekklesson F1                         1:55.612
15  Sebastian Heidfeld          Kronenstahl Motors                   1:55.681
16  Ralf Hülkenberg             Kronenstahl Motors                   1:56.029
17  Thomas Monteiro             CAMDEN NEXT                          1:56.164
18  Lucas Alynbac               Lanto Automotive                     1:56.477
19  Seárlas Dhomnaigh           Dunne Motors                         1:56.631
20  Lonán Leanacháin            Dunne Motors                         1:56.667
21  Amber Astota (2)            Neon Void Energy Aftershock Racing   1:56.727
22  Gabrielle Figueroa (2)      Neon Void Energy Aftershock Racing   1:56.924
23  Santi Balenciago            Valle Zuma F1                        1:58.315
24  Emilio Blanco               Valle Zuma F1                        1:58.924

Race Details

Race Weather Prognostic: Sunny
RP Cutoff: 7/12 @ ~8AM PST

[The Macabees]

Igalo joined the other two team principals on the stage for the pre-race interview. The season was full of its ups and downs, including a pointless race for Ror Rakken, but the team was hanging on to second place in the constructors' and was only 18 points from the lead. There was a real belief amongst the mechanics, engineers, and drivers that Tango et Kartuma could compete for the championship, even if it was over for the drivers themselves. It was this spirit that the director hoped to communicate on that stage.

"Cooper Motors has emerged as a real contender, despite their late entry into the championship," said the presenter, asking, "do you see them as a threat?"

Nodding, Igalo replied, "Absolutely. Luiz Lopez is a top driver, perhaps as good as Arturia Nero, and he has a great car underneath him. Right now, he seems unstoppable."

The presenter moved on to the next question. "Do you still think that Tango et Kartuma RMK can win the constructors'?"

"Absolutely," he responded. "Both of our drivers are race winners and, more often than not, we are capable of putting up double points. I have faith in our team, including the mechanics in the garage and the engineers back home. We weren't necessarily where we wanted to be with regard to quali, given the team's high ambitions, but on paper, both of our drivers are in point-earning positions. If we move forward tomorrow, rather than backwards, we can maintain our momentum in catching up to CAMDEN NEXT."

The presenter pointed at someone from the audience. That person said, "Vivi Laasten, Frommia Sports Magazine. This question is for Igalo Barastek. The team must be happy that Marko Meya gained seven positions in the last race, after Ror Rakken's mistake caused him to drop four. Given Meya's consistency in putting up points, does Tango et Kartuma value him as a driver and what are your thoughts on the rumors regarding his exit to Ekklesson?"

Igalo had guessed he'd get that question. "Look, I can't control other teams, and I can't stop them from tempting our drivers. That Marko is being courted by opponents is a positive sign in that he is valued not only by us, but the entire paddock."

"Will Marko Meya be driving for Tango et Kartuma next season?" Mr. Laasten followed up.

"No question about the future can be answered with absolute certainty," replied the TK team director, "but what is certain is that, at this point today, Tango is a more attractive prospect for any driver than Ekklesson. They've put up 10 points in seven races, we have 120 and are fighting for the constructors'."

It was natural for another press rep to ask, "But is the car good enough to get a drivers' championship? Surely, that is the objective that both Marko and Ror have in mind."

Igalo laughed. "As I said, at this point, Tango has a much better package than Ekklesson, so, in my mind, the answers to your questions are no-brainers. Nevertheless, I can't control our drivers or foretell the future, so we shall see. What I can say is that TK RMK is committed to being a top team in Forzala and that we will continue to have a strong car going into next year. Furthermore, as part of our mission, we seek out the strongest drivers. We're happy with both Ror and Marko; both are race-winning drivers, and they know that they have to commit to us, just as we have to commit to them. Only by pairing our strengths, only by combining the talent of our engineers with that of our drivers, can TK win great things. All the same, if Marko decides to leave, I am comfortable in the fact that TK can attract top talent."

"Is Tango et Kartuma RMK looking at other teams' drivers?" asked another person.

He smiled. "We keep all of our options open."



As the team director gave his interview, Marko Meya stepped into Ekklesson's office on the paddock. The team owner was sitting behind his desk. On the tabletop was a contract.

[Diarcesia]

Time: 2:00 PM (local)
Track Conditions: Dry, sandy, but not dusty.

While the Ruska Grand Prix qualifying was still in progress. Saisu and the strategists around her reached a less-than welcome conclusion: at the rate things are going, Cooper Motors are poised to take the pole, and perhaps the race win. Whatever setup and car-driver combination they arrived at seemed to be the winning formula.

AI-generated; does not represent what was actually happening

Once all the dust was settled and the starting order was decided, Saisu could only wonder how the fuck could Lopez finish his pole lap 2.705 seconds faster than the next fastest driver.

[Retro Caliland]

Cooper Motors paddock, before the race:

Trevor Cooper swaggered in like he owned the place. Well, he did own the place, so in a way it made sense. But he wasn’t just happy because he owned an F1 team. He was happy because he owned an F1 team with two drivers in the top 5 qualifying positions. Jose Luis Lopez had repeated his success last week by clinching pole position again. And in a shock to everyone, Alessandro di Raffaele had come back from his embarrassing last place finish last week to land a valiant P5. Trevor walked past Declan Graham and tried to high-five him, Graham was too busy to notice. He was focused on making sure Jose Luis kept P1 just like last week.

“Alright lads, lasses. We need Jose Luis to keep that lead. Mila, which tyres do we go for?”

“Softs have their advantages, but for a race like this, the rest of the field will pounce like animals if we box too much. I think with intermediate tyres we find a good balance.”

“You think you make it a two-stop race?” asked Jose Luis

“I think so. Ronny, are you guys prepared for a 2.2 second pit stop?”

“We’re locked and loaded ma’am!”

“Brilliant. Jose, I need to see your best defensive driving today.“

“The track is less suited for overtakes than last week’s so we have that going for us” said Jose Luis

“Plus, the rest of the top 5 seem to struggle in the overtake department lately” added Mila.

“Speakin’ of the rest of top 5, where the hell’s Alessandro?”

Alessandro, for his part, was also going over important decisions with his race engineer Kowalski.

“I like the first option.”

“I feel like I get more power from the second option, though.”

“The first option is faster”

“But it’s not just about how fast it is, but whether you can feel it drive you”

“What’re we talking about?” asked Trevor, who pulled up a stool next to the two.

“Which playlist I should listen to during the race.”

“Our options are classic rock, or alt punk.”

“Depends, are we getting gatekeep-y about what counts as “real alt rock” or “real punk”?”

“No”

“Yes”

“Just stick with the classics, man.”

“Alessandro!” snapped a familiar voice

“Oh my god. Heather, what do you want?”

“Can I talk to you for a second?”

“Sure. Be right back guys.”

“Yeah ok. So we agree Linkin Park isn’t punk, right?” Asked Trevor.

“I mean it depends on your definition…”

Alessandro’s room:

Heather and Alessandro shuffled into his room. She shut the door behind him.

“You know, if you wanted me all to yourself, you could at least wait until after the race.”

“This is serious, Alessandro. Why haven’t you asked Jose Luis to train you?”

“I don’t know if you noticed, but I got P5 in qualifying. I don’t need his help.”

“You lost P8 in your first race. You’re not prefect, Alessandro.”

“Oh, and Jose Luis is?”

“Of course not, but the results speak for themselves. If you want to get better, you have to swallow your pride and ask him for help.”

“I don’t have to ask him for help. I can figure it out on my own.”

“Look how well that’s going.”

“Trial and error, Heather. Trial and error.”

“Seems like more error lately.”

“Why are you so stuck on that one point?”

“Why are you so stubborn?” Asked Heather, not realizing she already knew the answer.

“I’ll make you a deal. If I finish below P10 in this race, I’ll ask Jose-Wan Kenobi for help. If not, I don’t. Deal?”

“Deal.”

Cooper Motors paddock:

“How is Green Day better than Nirvana?”

“You’re being irrational right now!”

“Oi! Shut up you pillocks! Led fucking Zeppelin is better than both of them!”

“I mean, I feel like Red Hot Chili Peppers should at least be in consideration here.” chimed in Ronny

“Oh for god’s sake!”

“Come on!”

“Lads, lads, let’s not get bogged down with which band is better than which other band. We’re here to race. So let’s get put there and show these people what Cooper fucking Motors can do!”

Trevor felt the need to join in. “He’s right. We’re making a name for ourselves. We got a car that goes like lightning, and behind the wheel; we got one of the best drivers in the world. And also Alessandro.”

“Well said, Mr. Cooper, well said. If this was the Inspirational Speaking Grand Prix, you’d be in first.” quipped Graham.

“Wait, is that a real thing?” Asked Trevor

As the cars were wheeled out to the grid, Alessandro and Jose Luis walked towards their respective cars. Melissa had told them to “project an energy of camaraderie” as they walked in public, in order to make potential sponsors think this was a solid, united team.

“See you on the podium, old man” said Alessandro, extending his fist towards Jose Luis for a fist bump.

“See you in the rearview mirror, kid” replied Jose Luis, bumping his fist.

As they got in the cars, they could feel the pressure to step up coming down on them. The burden of expectations. Or in Alessandro’s case, the lack thereof. As Alessandro settled into the seat of the CM-01, Kowalski played the agreed-upon song for Alessandro to get in the game.

“And here…..we…..go……”

[The Macabees]

RACE
RUSKA GP

AURILLACRING, PROVINCE OF RUSKA




It's a hot, sunny day in the imperial agricultural heartland of Ruska. The rays of the sun bounce off the black tarmac of the Aurillacring as our drivers make their way around the track for the formation lap, finally taking position in one of the 24 grid slots. V10s roar as the drivers rev their engines, that beautiful, shrill whine reaching the grandstands, the mechanical melody of combustible power sweeping over the fans like the tournament's national anthem.

Cooper Motors' Jose Luiz Lopez was the first driver to break the polesitter's curse, taking pole, the win, and fastest lap at the Targul Frumos Speedway. Can he repeat a hat-trick in Aurillac?


RP bonuses included up to Retro Caliland.

Race Results

Pos  Grid  Driver                     Team                                   Race Time    Fastest Lap  Fl Pt  Status     DNF Cause          Incident            Pts
---  ----  -------------------------  -------------------------------------  -----------  ------------  -----  ---------  -----------------  ------------------  ---
1    9     Ror Rakken                 Tango et Kartuma RMK                   1:39:58.811  1:57.056      0      Finished                                          25
2    1     Jose Luiz Lopez            Cooper Motors                          1:40:10.459  1:55.495      0      Finished                                          18
3    8     Marko Meya                 Tango et Kartuma RMK                   1:40:12.018  1:57.645      0      Finished                                          15
4    4     Nassrena Kang Salarzai     Lunar Firestorm                        1:40:31.131  1:57.583      0      Finished                                          12
5    3     Karina Monraksha           Lunar Firestorm                        1:40:34.750  1:58.608      0      Finished                                          10
6    6     Arturia Nero               CAMDEN NEXT                            1:40:36.941  1:55.697      0      Finished                                          8
7    17    Thomas Monteiro            CAMDEN NEXT                            1:40:45.527  1:58.177      0      Finished                                          6
8    10    Basiv Darjis               Team Sasha                             1:40:47.194  1:57.851      0      Finished                                          4
9    12    Kamila Saidova             Team Sasha                             1:40:51.302  1:57.940      0      Finished                                          2
10   5     Alessandro Di Raffaele     Cooper Motors                          1:40:58.695  1:47.801      1      Finished                                          2
11   19    Seárlas Dhomnaigh          Dunne Motors                           1:41:02.180  1:58.455      0      Finished                                          0
12   2     Rouben Veurien             Lanto Automotive                       1:41:04.373  1:59.292      0      Finished                                          0
13   11    Sam Blaatschapen           Pryfors Bilar                          1:41:07.446  1:56.493      0      Finished                                          0
14   7     Laurens Scherpenkate       Pryfors Bilar                          1:41:15.640  1:59.187      0      Finished                                          0
15   13    Karles Jasper              Ekklesson F1                           1:41:16.359  1:58.146      0      Finished                                          0
16   20    Lonán Leanacháin           Dunne Motors                           1:41:25.721  1:58.281      0      Finished                                          0
17   15    Sebastian Heidfeld         Kronenstahl Motors                     1:41:25.831  1:58.563      0      Finished                                          0
18   21    Amber Astota (2)           Neon Void Energy Aftershock Racing     1:41:28.588  1:58.494      0      Finished                                          0
19   14    Felix Klasen               Ekklesson F1                           1:41:37.595  1:59.106      0      Finished                                          0
20   22    Gabrielle Figueroa (2)     Neon Void Energy Aftershock Racing     1:41:39.956  1:58.643      0      Finished                                          0
21   16    Ralf Hülkenberg            Kronenstahl Motors                     1:41:41.501  2:00.037      0      Finished                                          0
22   18    Lucas Alynbac              Lanto Automotive                       1:41:48.512  2:00.194      0      Finished                                          0
23   24    Emilio Blanco              Valle Zuma F1                          1:41:56.144  1:58.867      0      Finished                                          0
24   23    Santi Balenciago           Valle Zuma F1                          1:42:03.125  1:57.272      0      Finished                                          0

Drivers' Standings After W8

Pos  Driver                     Pts
---  -------------------------  ---
1    Arturia Nero               134
2    Basiv Darjis               99
3    Ror Rakken                 89
4    Marko Meya                 71
5    Rouben Veurien             65
6    Jose Luiz Lopez            60
7    Laurens Scherpenkate       56
8    Nassrena Kang Salarzai     54
9    Karina Monraksha           41
10   Sam Blaatschapen           39
11   Seárlas Dhomnaigh          27
12   Kamila Saidova             23
13   Ralf Hülkenberg            22
14   Thomas Monteiro            18
15   Felix Klasen               10
16   Sebastian Heidfeld         4
17   Lucas Alynbac              2
18   Alessandro Di Raffaele     2
19   Lonán Leanacháin           0
20   Karles Jasper              0
21   Emilio Blanco              0
22   Santi Balenciago           0
23   Coda Yin Saodah            0
24   Amber Astota               0
25   Gabrielle Figueroa         0
26   Gabrielle Figueroa (2)     0
27   Amber Astota (2)           0

Constructor Standings After W8

Pos  Team                                   Pts
---  -------------------------------------  ---
1    Tango et Kartuma RMK                   160
2    CAMDEN NEXT                            152
3    Team Sasha                             122
4    Pryfors Bilar                          95
5    Lunar Firestorm                        95
6    Lanto Automotive                       67
7    Cooper Motors                          62
8    Dunne Motors                           27
9    Kronenstahl Motors                     26
10   Ekklesson F1                           10
11   Valle Zuma F1                          0
12   Neon Void Energy Aftershock Racing     0

[The Macabees]

WEEKEND WARMUP
THEOHUANACU GP

NORTH POINT STREET CIRCUIT, TERRITORY OF THEOHUANACU

WELCOME TO THE THEOHUANACU GRAND PRIX, and to the city of North Point, where we officially enter the second half of this inaugural Forzala 1 season.

Hosted at the old Theohuanacán capital of North Point, the Theohuanacu GP takes us back to the wall-bound street circuits that reward precision, qualifying performance, and consistency. Safety cars are expected to be common, although a surprisingly low DNF rate so far this tournament suggests that overall safety car risk remains low. Nevertheless, aggressive drivers risk putting themselves into the wall or...each other.

The city of North Point was founded by Guffingfordi settlers in the late 17th century, when that country first began colonizing the island-continent. Of mixed Knootossian and Questerian origins, these settlers retain their identity through their unique Knootossian dialect that distinguishes itself from both the original language and the Guffingfordi variant. The dialect, called Theokaans, remains the predominant language in the Prefecture of Zealand, whose capital is North Point. The Theokaans identity has strengthened in recent years due to the large-scale migration of settler-descendant peoples from Holy Panuli to northeastern Theohuanacu, who, though historically separate and politically independent, now claim shared heritage in the face of Panuli political empowerment in that territory.

A beautiful, seaside, and major commercial city, North Point's population of 27.3 million seems small in comparison to the prefecture's total population of 2.4 billion. But Zealand is also Theohuanacu's most urbanized prefecture, with the only recently decontaminated Mazteca — a longtime nuclear wasteland — being sparsely populated. In the southeast, what is now known as the Imperial Prefecture was previously infamous for its semi-autonomous pirate likutats (semi-autonomous city-states that are federated to the Golden Throne). Those who follow recent global events may know this part of Theohaunacu for a series of rebellions against the Golden Throne, including the most recent rebellion that formed part of the larger Gothic War, ending in the razing of the cities of Palenque and Tiwanaku, between which now sits the new territorial capital of Fedorohuacán. North Point benefited from these wars, both because of its longtime stability and prosperity, and also because of the inflow of imperial capital, soldiers, and provincial expatriates that over the years helped the local economy explode. The recent improvement of infrastructure and living standards in Inxautl, always a problematic prefecture, has also made North Point more important as a trade hub that now connects far more deeply into the Theohuanacan hinterland — a hinterland that has rarely been in control of the colonial heartland of Zealand, with North Point as its metaphorical center.

The city retains many of its historic quarters, with its colonial architectural styles. Its history is best represented by the 200-year-old Cathedral of St. Botha, overseeing the sea from the top of a sheer cliff that drops precipitously into the ocean. Fans spending a few days in North Point can also visit the resplendent Imperial Temple of the Willed, which, though built only in the last decade, gives the city a loud touch of baroque architecture increasingly common throughout the empire's major cities, accented by three triumphal arches commemorating the three separate victories against the rebelling city-states of the old slave-trading, pirate-governed coastline.

But fans will likely flock to the city's multiple golden beaches, which, despite the winds sweeping over the coastline, will remain warm under the beating sun. Though North Point has history, most of it reflects a modernity speaking to the burgeoning tourism industry sparked by recent population trends. More people visit the metropolis from the provinces and from Guffingford than ever, and visitors include even Ordenites (when allowed to leave their country) seeking a calmer, more beach-bound vacation than Fedala or even Macabea. Thus, fans residing at one of North Point's many luxury hotels and resorts, with their glistening blue pools, lubricated by poolside bars, will also be able to enjoy an excellent multicultural cuisine known for its seafood, an exciting nightlife, and plentiful entertainment options catering to an international audience.

The circuit itself sits in the city's commercial district, by the old fishing harbor now a private marina. Its facilities are now lined with eccentric shops and restaurants, where locals and tourists alike can walk through the tight, enclosed walkways of the old wharf. Like tall towers, hotels and resorts line sectors 1 and 2. Sector 3 heads toward the wharf area, ending very nearly at the waterline, taking an abrupt right turn at Turn 15.

Though the sun promises to sit high over the city and the track throughout the weekend, medium winds on qualifying day will give way to light spotty rain during the Sunday race.


ATTENTION: RP cutoff date for the qualifying session is 7/18 08:00 PST. RPs after race results but before this post count.




Key Details

82 laps; 3.8km lap.

• Track Type: Tight, technical street circuit with dense corner sequencing and short straights
• Rewards: Precision, braking control, rotation in low-speed corners, consistency through complex sequences
• Punishes: Over-aggression, missed apexes, poor positioning through linked corners, instability under braking
• Overtaking: Low; limited to heavy braking zones and errors ahead
• Tire Factor: Medium–High — repeated low-speed traction zones increase rear degradation
• Setup Bias: Medium–high downforce, strong mechanical grip, stable braking platform
• Qualifying Importance: Very High — track position is critical with limited passing opportunities
• Safety Car Likelihood: High — confined layout and frequent braking zones increase incident risk
• Time Profile: Built through technical sector execution; time gained in precision and consistency rather than speed
• Driver Bias: Skill > Consistency > Qualifying Bias > Tire Management > Aggression
• Race Character: Constrained and unforgiving; races defined by errors and pressure rather than pace
• Notable Traits: Central technical complex dominates lap time; rhythm disruption makes sustained pace difficult

[The Macabees]

"That's P1." The race engineer's voice seemed distant. Ror's mind was still in a state of flow even after his TK-01 screamed by the waving checkered flag. "You were a freakin' rocket ship, mate."

Even Igalo, as his voice came through the radio, was detached, as Ror basked in victory. "Brilliant drive. Absolutely brilliant. That's 25 points, Ror. You've done a fantastic job."

It was only after a moment, as his mind only slowly receded from the race, that the driver replied. "Thank you. Thank you. The car felt great today. Really good job to everyone, including the mechanics and the people back home. Everyone deserves credit; this was a group effort. Very happy for the team, good job everyone." He brought the car around for a slow cool-down lap, and then darted into the pitlane to leave the car for weighing. Removing the steering wheel and the halo, he pushed himself up from out of the chassis, ignoring the sharp pain that spread widely from out of his back. As if there were no pain at all, he bent his knees and brought up his arms with clenched fists, celebrating his win at the Targul Frumos GP. Ror Rakken had won his second grand prix, and TK's third. He felt in that moment that he could make a championship run. The adrenaline was getting to his brain.

Marko Meya was already in the cooldown room. His orange helmet was on the stand for the third-place driver. While not a one-two, two cars on the podium were a major achievement for the team, considering that, at Targul Frumos, Ror hadn't even been in the points. But Marko didn't seem to be relishing in his performance. He was talking to Lopez, but likewise, his eyes seemed focused on some other point. Behind their heads, the panels on the wall were showing clips from the race.

Right then, the clip of Lopez' pass on Marko showed. The TK driver had come into the pits first to try an undercut. The undercut worked, with Lopez coming out just behind Marko after his own pit stop. But after a series of consistently perfect laps, Lopez had positioned himself to make a move. The move came out of Turn 14 onto the long straight, headed to the starting line. There, the strong Cooper Motors car kept pace and then some with its Tango et Kartuma counterpart, giving their talented driver enough power to overtake Marko on turn six.

The screens showed how the attack played out. Both Marko and the second-placed driver had stopped talking to focus on the replay of their battle. At turn one, Lopez tried his first attack, just cutting off his lunge at the very end to avoid a certain collision. Meya gave him no space. Lopez simply pinched off at the right moment, staying close to Marko's rear wing. The dirty air didn't seem to affect the Cooper Motors car, as Lopez managed to stay tight to the man ahead as they made their way through the shallowly sweeping track line toward turn two. Lopez just seemed to effortlessly float behind the Tango car, as he proceeded to execute a switchback, coming out ahead at turn four. But Marko had closed the space, and the two cars touched, giving the engineers and mechanics watching from the pit lane a truly heart-in-mouth moment.

"You didn't leave enough space," said Lopez, just then. "I was ahead at the corner.

Marko didn't respond. The replay continued.

Marko placed the car rather well, all told. By turn five, he defended his position, retaking it in fact. But momentum was with Lopez, who followed through and once again came out ahead at turn six. From there on, the Coopers' driver put distance between them. Two crucial seconds.

"Good move," said Ror. The two other drivers must not have been paying him much mind, as they both startled, in the subtlest ways, at the sound of his voice. Ror had put his helmet on the stand reserved for the race winner, then sat down in the chair prepared for him. To his teammate, he said, "Fantastic drive, Marko. You couldn't do anything about that. That Coopers car is a beast. Did you see Alessandro's lap? A 1:47. What's powering that engine?"

Afterwards, Ror made the rounds with the press, including an interview between the three podium-taking drivers. Then came the long hours of technical debriefs, reviewing the telemetry data and strategy. Unlike last weekend's, these debriefs were quite positive, though there was ongoing concern with the car's overall lack of consistency. It was only after all that that Ror had free to take his customary ice bath, which, despite the frigid cold piercing his body like lightning bolts, felt quite good. That was followed by a message and a sauna session, and finally a team dinner. In all of that, there was little time for celebrating, and Ror went to sleep early, as he was back up and at it at 0400 hours. A flight took him back to Macabea, outside of which was the team headquarters (and not at its home city of Beda Fromm), where he'd spend the day in sims, the gym, and more meetings, along with some photo and film shoots for promotional materials. Such was the glorious burden of a Forzala 1 grand prix winner.

It wasn't until Tuesday midday, after that morning's gym session, that he found out about Marko. The young TK driver was leaving the team. Ekklesson had offered Marko a sweet deal, at Ŗ6 million a year — roughly $15 million NSD. Their contract would begin next season. Though for the veteran driver, this meant that his teammate would be quickly sidelined from decision-making, and it put to bed the whole question mark about whether TK should have a number-one driver, the news still came as a shock.

Marko was considered TK's future number one. Now they'd have to search for a new rookie. And the man currently fourth in the championship would become the present and future of Ekklesson F1, TK's direct domestic opponent in Forzala 1.

It also meant that he received a call later that day from Igalo. The team director needed to reassure team ownership that their other driver still felt at home and wasn't going anywhere. "Ror, how are you feeling about the whole situation?" asked Igalo. "I want to make sure you know how much the team appreciates you. You've been our number one since the first day and there are no plans for it to be otherwise. This includes next season. I've already spoken to leadership about it, and they're on board."

Though an F1 team's word didn't go even as far as you could throw it, Ror answered, "I'm happy to hear that, I appreciate it. Yes, yes, I have no plans to take a contract elsewhere. The car is competitive, I've felt the team has had my back, and our inaugural run has exceeded my expectations. I'm very happy at TK," he finished. His wife and daughter were swimming in the pool, just outside the sliding glass door separating their living room from the balcony. He smiled at them.

"Excellent, excellent," Igalo went on. "That's good. We want to offer you a new contract to seal the deal. A one-year extension, Ŗ8 million a year for the next two." That was about 20 million in "international" currency standard.

Marko's decision to leave the team was paying off for Ror as well, it seemed. He'd go into the office the next day to sign the contract personally, and official statements regarding both Marko's exit and Ror's renewal were issued on Wednesday. The statement on Marko was curt and to the point, with the team thanking him for his service and the results, including celebrating his Fedoroville Grand Prix victory. The one on Ror was longer, more upbeat and colorful, as the team clearly wanted to focus attention on one matter over the other. Still, Marko's move to Ekklesson would occupy the paddock for the next race weekend at least, and there was the question of whether he'd be allowed to finish the year with Tango et Kartuma. He'd take all knowledge with him to Ekklesson, and TK did not want anything more than what Marko already knew to transfer with him. Just how much would he be frozen out was the question.

[Retro Caliland]

A hotel bar somewhere:

It was late. The team had just caught an international flight to arrive in time for the start of qualifying. Most everybody had gone straight to bed to sleep off the jet lag. Alessandro wanted a drink first. He was at the hotel’s bar. The warm lights were low, with soft music playing in the background of the empty lobby. In the midst of this, Alessandro was drinking and scrolling his phone. His friends had been sending him memes roasting his performance in the season thus far. He didn’t mind his friends talking shit, it was part of the fun. He did mind the missed call from his dad. He didn’t even want to hear the voicemail. So he just kept looking at the memes. One in particular made him chuckle.

“Damn, who got you smiling like that?” said Heather playfully, walking up to Alessandro, in an effort to cheer him up.

“Buonasera” he said, not looking up from his drink.

“Wow. You win our bet and all of a sudden you think you’re too good to talk to little old me, huh?” said Heather sarcastically.

“Believe me Heather, nobody thinks I’m too good,” Alessandro said before he took another sip of his drink. “That’s my strategy. I’m going to make everybody think I’m shit so they underestimate me, then: BOOM! I shock everybody with a win. Is a perfect plan.” Alessandro said, the delusion noticeable in his tipsy voice.

“That’s. . . Definitely a plan. I guess.” said Heather, trying to figure out of Alessandro was being serious or not.

“Everybody loves an underdog, no?”

“They love underdogs who win.” said Heather, not realizing she was being too harsh, until after the words left her mouth.

Alessandro just glared at her. He took the last sip of this drink, set the glass down, and sighed. He was too tired to think of a snappy comeback. Too tired to think about work. Too tired of loosing. He didn’t want to hear this. Heather could tell.

“For what it’s worth, I know you have it in you.” She said.

“And what makes you say that?” said Alessandro, signaling for the bartender.

“Everyone else out there wants it. You need it.” she said. “Sooner or later, that’s gonna stop being your distraction and start being your motivation.” Heather and Alessandro stood in silence as her words sank in.

“Good night, Alessandro. See you tomorrow” she said, walking away.

“You gonna go after her?” Asked the bartender.

“It’s not like that,” said Alessandro. “She’s a colleague.”

“So?”

Rather than answer, Alessandro simply handed the bartender the money for his drinks plus a generous tip, a custom he had picked up from his American friends. He walked away, dreading tomorrow’s lecture from Graham. Nothing he hadn’t heard before. Nothing new to ignore. Or so he thought…

[Diarcesia]

A driver in Tango et Kartuma RMK won the race, but the team's future is uncertain as Marko Maya officially announced his departure after Ror Rakken consistently outshone him.

On that race, Cooper Motors's Jose Luiz Lopez broke away from his competitors when the lights went out, the shrill whine of his engine drowning out the mechanical cacophony of the other drivers. As laps went on, the highlight of the event was the intra-team battle between Maya and Rakken. The former defended valiantly, but the eventual winner stuck the pass at the front straightaway.

Thus, that closes the first half of the inaugural Forzala 1 season.

[The Macabees]

QUALIFYING
THEOHUANACU GP

NORTH POINT STREET CIRCUIT, TERRITORY OF THEOHUANACU



RP bonuses counted through Diarcesia's.

Grid Position  Driver                    Team                                   Qualifying Score
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1              Jose Luiz Lopez           Cooper Motors                          1:07.260
2              Rouben Veurien            Lanto Automotive                       1:07.439
3              Alessandro Di Raffaele    Cooper Motors                          1:07.571
4              Ror Rakken                Tango et Kartuma RMK                   1:07.770
5              Marko Meya                Tango et Kartuma RMK                   1:08.588
6              Nassrena Kang Salarzai    Lunar Firestorm                        1:08.987
7              Arturia Nero              CAMDEN NEXT                            1:08.990
8              Basiv Darjis              Team Sasha                             1:09.392
9              Gabrielle Figueroa (2)    Neon Void Energy Aftershock Racing     1:09.615
10             Karina Monraksha          Lunar Firestorm                        1:09.682
11             Thomas Monteiro           CAMDEN NEXT                            1:09.724
12             Laurens Scherpenkate      Pryfors Bilar                          1:09.781
13             Sam Blaatschapen          Pryfors Bilar                          1:09.932
14             Felix Klasen              Ekklesson F1                           1:10.035
15             Kamila Saidova            Team Sasha                             1:10.100
16             Lucas Alynbac             Lanto Automotive                       1:10.237
17             Sebastian Heidfeld        Kronenstahl Motors                     1:10.256
18             Lonán Leanacháin          Dunne Motors                           1:10.470
19             Karles Jasper             Ekklesson F1                           1:10.621
20             Ralf Hülkenberg           Kronenstahl Motors                     1:10.635
21             Amber Astota (2)          Neon Void Energy Aftershock Racing     1:10.667
22             Seárlas Dhomnaigh         Dunne Motors                           1:10.770
23             Emilio Blanco             Valle Zuma F1                          1:11.211
24             Santi Balenciago          Valle Zuma F1                          1:11.920

Race Details

Race Weather Prognostic: Light Spotty Rain
RP Cutoff: 7/19 @ ~8AM PST

[The Macabees]

A SNEAK PEAK INTO REGULATION CHANGES FOR SEASON II

Based on the results so far, I've made some changes to the scorinator script. These changes will come into effect for the second season. The remaining races of the current championship will continue to use the same script as was used in the previous sessions.

For each update, I've tried to associate it with an in-character regulatory change. The regulatory change is the in-character window dressing, and the exact mechanical change (or, rather, its explanation) is considered out of character.


PART EXCHANGE LIMITATIONS
_______________________

Manufacturers will be limited to four engines, three MGU-Ks, three electronic control units, and four exhaust systems per season.

Mechanical change: Season I results clearly show that a manufacturer can sacrifice reliability without a significantly higher probability of DNFing. Reliability also impacts lap time consistency, but is not the only score that influences that outcome and is, all considered, underpowered. Reliability has been changed in at least three ways to make it a more important stat and better balance outcomes. The scorinator will still prefer cars that specialize, but manufacturers have more freedom to specialize in a direction meaningful to the player without sacrificing championship contention. A car like Lanto will be likelier to score points.

(A) The scorinator will run a performance integrity check at the beginning of each session, with the check depending on the track's attrition rating, the track's energy demand, the car's reliability rating, and the weather (e.g. rain). This check cannot result in a DNF. If the check fails, the car will be impacted by a reliability issue. This does not permanently change anything about the car; it imposes a performance penalty for that session. The exact penalty depends on the type of reliability failure, which can include issues with the power unit, KERS, suspension, brake cooling, and gearbox. The penalties come in three degrees of severity, depending on the check: minor (2–5 percent impact), moderate (5–10 percent impact), and severe (10–18 percent impact). Highly reliable cars are unlikely to be penalized.

(B) The performance penalty also impacts the DNF multipliers. Minor is about 1 and Major is about 1.18, all else equal. In other words, the increase in chances of DNF due to a performance penalty from reliability is very small. If your car does DNF as a result of a reliability check failure, the cause of DNF will be related to the cause of reliability penalties. This is still probabilistic, so it will not always be the case that the reliability issue caused the DNF.

(C) DNFs will generally be more probable, however. I am aiming for multiple DNFs per race.



TIRE STANDARDIZATION
_______________________

All manufacturers may now only use FIA-approved tires. Full sets of tires may be purchased from Sorelli International or Helion Tires. Teams must purchase whole sets; teams may not use more than one provider's tires in a race.

Mechanical change: To buff the tire management stat (drivers), drivers optimized toward this stat will have more consistent lap times over the race. Aggression has also been updated to reduce lap-time consistency; a higher tire-management stat can balance this.



TIME SYSTEM CALIBRATION
_______________________

The systems responsible for recording lap times have been audited, rehauled, and brought to the technological frontier.

Mechanical change: Outlier fast laps are less likely.



DRIVER TELEMETRY, DATA, AND SIMULATION STANDARDIZATION
_______________________

Manufacturers will be required to standardize their telemetry, data, and simulation technologies to bring all teams to the technological frontier.

Mechanical change:

(A) Because of a variety of factors, the theoretical 65:35 split between car and driver in terms of performance can actually be closer to 90:10. The driver can still have a huge impact on car performance, as we can see from pretty dramatic splits in lap and race times between a team's two drivers. Nevertheless, the script has been updated to make the performance split more consistent, with a new ratio of 70:30.

(B) To help players correct for perceived weaknesses in their point distributions, drivers will get two "simulation sessions" per season. A simulation session will allow a player to redistribute 20 of 400 points between categories.

(C) A variable called weekend form is rolled at the beginning of the quali session. This variable carries into the race (it's not re-rolled until the next quali session), affecting that driver's pace the entire weekend depending on the roll. A good quali, therefore, is more likely to translate into a good race, and vice versa.



ATTACK MODE
_______________________

Drivers have an attack mode option for energy deployment during overtake attempts.

Mechanical change: Energy has been buffed.

(A) Better energy deployment out of corners, allowing for lap/race-time gains. For clarity, the change does not change the overtake success probability or the probability of an overtake attempt. It simply adds to the reward of an overtake attempt.

(B) Energy now contributes to acceleration's effect on qualifying lap times, following the same logic of time gains from higher speed out of corners.

(C) Finally, energy now has more impact on late-race pace.



SAFETY CAR ENHANCEMENTS
_______________________

The safety car system has been overhauled to better regulate races and protect drivers.

Mechanical change: A safety car component has been introduced to the script. These are connected to DNF incidents, with the probability of a safety car introduction depending on the DNF's cause. Safety cars also introduce restart, tire, and energy components to the scorination. They, for example, can compress the field, lead to a new collision, or create overtaking opportunities.

[The Macabees]

"P5," said his race engineer.

Marko shrugged, though no one could see it. He replied, "Not bad."

The new car was working well, honestly. He'd miss it. But Ekklesson had offered him something that Tango was dangling in front of him, but never giving him: team stardom. He was the championship's fourth-best driver, at least in the first half, and yet it felt that Tango saw him as little more than a rookie. Well, they'd miss him, because the young talent had already penned the deal with the Macabea-based team.

Ekklesson, the big boss, had already given an interview about it. "We're excited to have Marko, he is a race-winning driver and can bring that ambition here. He's also young and has a long future, a long future with Ekklesson F1, which is already heavily investing in next season's package. We don't like being one of the worst-scoring teams, we really don't. That doesn't reflect my vision for the team's participation in this sport. No, we're going to have a much stronger car next championship, I guarantee it."

"Will the team be introducing any upgrades this season?" asked the presenter.

Smiling, the big boss answered, "Yes, yes, for tomorrow's race, there will be some new parts."*

"Why weren't they tested earlier?" was the logical follow-up question.

"Because they didn't arrive in time," replied the 63-year-old man, who was once a racer himself, a very long time ago. Ekklesson, despite its first-season performance in Forzala 1, was a household race team name in the Golden Throne (at least, its core provinces). Its luxury and hypercars were famous, and turned heads when the rare ones passed you on the highway or slowly galloped down the street. That the parts did not arrive in time for free practice was itself a major failure, one unbecoming of Ekklesson's stature, but these inauspicious events in the inaugural season were precisely the reason why the big boss had met with Marko, bribing persuading the kid to defect from a Tango et Kartuma good that overall was looking very strong. P4 and P5 on the starting grid for the ninth race were certainly statements of intent, as far as TK's intentions of defending its narrow lead in the constructors' championship.

Marko was still a TK driver, of course. Until the end of the year, in theory. So he could overlook the hiccups still undermining Ekklesson's performance. He chose to, at least.

He already had enough problems, causing him much stress. Indeed, in general, the team was giving him the cold shoulder. His engineers and mechanics were still all quite friendly, and their work ethic was unquestionable, but still, Marko felt as if even they were more guarded in what they told him. Igalo, the technical director, had almost not spoken to him since the news came out. Igalo had heard it through the news. Marko hadn't mustered the courage to tell him first, though he did end up visiting the team boss' office to give his official notice.

There were rumors that Tango would take Marko out of the car altogether. They'd put the test driver in the car, Viting Horsele.

But they wouldn't do that as long as Marko was maximizing his points. And sitting snuggly behind Ror, with light spotty rain on the horizon, Marko felt good about his chances in tomorrow's race.


* Ekklesson's F1 is updating car stats to:

Top Speed: 86
Cornering: 93
Acceleration: 80
Energy: 76
Reliability: 65

[Diarcesia]

Race Day

"How is the ingress system?" The crew member asked Sam as she was assisted into the car.

"This feels different from the last one," she answered.

"Yes. It's slightly different. Came with the setup and the updated seats."

As she got settled in to the car and powered it up, she noticed more changes in her steering wheel. The seat was a lot more comfortable now, the fruit of her relentless lobbying after her complaints about her seating position in the past races. She thought the steering wheel computer had also been upgraded to the future. "And it runs DOOM now!" she exclaimed.

She drove her car to her starting position in the track, and she took a moment to check for anything that needed updating before the formation lap.

"All good! Race preparation complete!" she gave the affirmative radio response. Despite her less than ideal qualifying spot, Sam felt strangely good about today. She hoped this feeling would materialize into reality.

[Retro Caliland]

Cooper Motors paddock, before the race:

Hope.

It was a feeling the team hadn’t felt since the wide-eyed newcomers first joined the championship. Two drivers qualifying in the top 3. Jose Luis had taken his third P1 in as many weeks. Alessandro had shocked the team, and the rest of the grid, by qualifying 3rd. It was a result nobody expected (not even Alessandro). Hope could be felt throughout the paddock. So today, the team was getting ready for what could be their most important race yet. Jose Luis Lopez was going over corners and optimal race lines when Melissa and Graham entered the conference room, squabbling as always.

“I just need a few moments of his time, that’s it” asked Melissa

“He needs to focus on the race, not being a fucking show pony” argued Graham.

“Look, do you want a better car?” snapped Melissa.

“Aye.”

“A better car costs money. Money sponsors will give us if we play along. Jose Luis is one the most famous drivers in the world right now. I’ve got calls from all over the place asking for him. Just let him look over the offers, and let him decide” explained Melissa.

Graham huffed. He looked at his watch, then back up at Melissa. “You’ve got three minutes.”

“Don’t bother, I’m not interested” interjected Jose Luis.

“You will be when you hear how much they’re offering” said Melissa.

“I don’t care. It’s not about the money. I just want to race.”

“Smart chap” said Graham.

“It’s not just about the money. It’s about showing the world that Cooper Motors is a serious team. You’ve shocked the world for the past 3 weeks. People are noticing, caring. Trevor Cooper says it’s about proving we belong here. I say it’s about proving we’re on the same level as those other teams. On and off the track.”

“I’m not here to prove anything to anyone. If you want people to care about Cooper Motors, just let them watch us race” answered Jose Luis.

Melissa groaned. Not because Jose Luis wasn’t cooperating, but because she’d now have to take the offer to Alessandro, who would readily accept. She dreaded having to work with him, finding him insufferable. As she walked off, thinking of clever insults to call Alessandro, Graham turned to Jose Luis.

“Why is she so upset?” Jose Luis asked.

“Because now, Alessandro’s got to do all the sponsor things. And she fucking hates him. Smart lass that Melissa.”

“Say what you will about Alessandro di Raffaele, but he has potential”

“What?”

“Crude, unrefined potential, with no understanding of strategy, but potential all the same. And once he learns to be a team player, he’s going to be unstoppable.”

“If he learns”

“He will. Sometimes failure is the best teacher.”

“If that’s true, Alessandro’s got a fucking doctorate by now.”

Jose Luis chuckled, then walked away to get ready. Graham left shortly after, as he needed to go come up with an innovative new way of keeping Trevor out of the way. Once they left, Alessandro stepped around the corner where he had been standing for some time. Not sure what to make of the exchange he had just heard, he left for his room to prepare, and to ponder a weighty question: would he take the Rolex sponsorship, or the Omega one?

Alessandro’s room, a few minutes later:

Alessandro lay in the couch in his personal room in the paddock. He stated at the ceiling while Paranoid by Black Sabbath played on his headphones. His mind kept going back to what Heather had said.

“Everyone else out there wants it. You need it. Sooner or later that’s gonna stop being your distraction and start being your motivation.”

Alessandro pondered the meaning in her words. So far he’d been determined to prove everyone was wrong about him. It had come to define his every waking moment. What was that if not motivation? Alessandro turned his head to the shelf across the room. He saw the toy Ferrari, his good luck charm, resting on the shelf. He felt his stomach churn. A familiar, almost comforting feeling of unease reared its ugly head whenever Alessandro thought about home for too long. His gut punch down memory lane was thankfully cut short.

“Knock, knock.” Said a familiar voice.

“Come in, Heather.”

“What? No gloating? No smug face? No “ha ha I told you so”?”

“Qualifying isn’t the race, anything can happen.”

Heather raised an eyebrow. Alessandro’s rare moment of insight stunned her a little.

“But I’m going to kick ass in this race. The track doesn’t lend itself to overtakes, so all I have to do is defend, maybe try and make a run for P2.”

Heather’s face relaxed as she saw Alessandro was back to his usual cocky self.

“Meanwhile, back in reality, Melissa asked me to ask you about sone sponsorship opportunities. She said she’d do it yourself execpt she quote: “hates your annoying, evil, smarmy, chiseled face”. Her words, not mine.”

“Chiseled?”

“That word was mine. But she looked like she was about to say it, so it basically counts,” Heather handed a folder to Alessandro. “There are all the sponsors willing to work with you rather than Jose.”

It wasn’t a long list. Rolex and Omega were nowhere to be seen. Not even Breitling or TAG Heuer. Actually, no luxury or prestigious brands at all.

“What the hell is BetKings?”

“They describe themselves as an “open-source, financially-enabled prediction analysis trading market””

Alessandro gave her a blank stare.

“They’re a gambling app” she said plainly.

Alessandro sighed. “This is a joke.”

“I’m not laughing.”

“Can I ask you something?”

“What?” asked Heather, suspecting the question would be “You wanna have dinner?”.

“What did you mean when you said proving myself was my distraction and it should become my motivation? I can’t figure put what that means.”

Heather took a seat on the chair across from Alessandro’s couch. “It means that trying to prove your family wrong has become an obsession with you. It’s all you talk about. It’s pulling your focus away from the race. Am I right or am I right?”

Alessandro glanced at the toy car again. “You’re not wrong” he admitted. “But it motivates me, not distracts me” he insisted.

“Alessandro, you need to get out of your own head. Beating yourself up with other people’s shit talk isn’t motivating you, it’s distracting you, pulling your head out of the race.”

“What the hell am I supposed to do?”

“I don’t know. I’m not a racecar driver” said Heather, getting up and walking out.

Alessandro just sat there. Then he stood up to get his headphones again, turning away from the shelf with the toy car. He put his headphones on and resumed getting his head in the game. His mind was racing. Soon, the rest of him would be too.

[The Macabees]

RACE
THEOHUANACU GP

NORTH POINT STREET CIRCUIT, TERRITORY OF THEOHUANACU




Light rain sprinkles the circuit in short batches, gray clouds intermittently breaking up to reveal the beating sun. The cars complete the formation lap at leisure, weaving to put temperature into their tires. On either side, the crowd cheers. At Turn 13, they make a sharp turn, with the wharf on their left and fans tightly packed into a storefront walkway incorporated into the track grounds for the weekend. Finally, the twenty-four cars take their position on the starting grid.


RP bonuses included through Caliland's.

Race Results

Position  Start  Driver                    Team                                   Race Time    Fastest Lap  Fastest Lap Point  DNF Cause  Incident  Status    Points
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1         1      Jose Luiz Lopez           Cooper Motors                          1:34:18.594  1:05.228     1                             Finished  26
2         2      Rouben Veurien            Lanto Automotive                       1:38:19.649  1:09.226     0                             Finished  18
3         7      Arturia Nero              CAMDEN NEXT                            1:41:34.391  1:10.158     0                             Finished  15
4         5      Marko Meya                Tango et Kartuma RMK                   1:42:07.544  1:12.247     0                             Finished  12
5         8      Basiv Darjis              Team Sasha                             1:42:27.314  1:11.315     0                             Finished  10
6         10     Karina Monraksha          Lunar Firestorm                        1:42:33.505  1:11.935     0                             Finished  8
7         16     Lucas Alynbac             Lanto Automotive                       1:43:00.454  1:12.328     0                             Finished  6
8         4      Ror Rakken                Tango et Kartuma RMK                   1:43:02.017  1:12.057     0                             Finished  4
9         6      Nassrena Kang Salarzai    Lunar Firestorm                        1:43:17.133  1:12.247     0                             Finished  2
10        22     Seárlas Dhomnaigh         Dunne Motors                           1:43:22.594  1:12.158     0                             Finished  1
11        14     Felix Klasen              Ekklesson F1                           1:43:33.533  1:12.681     0                             Finished  0
12        18     Lonán Leanacháin          Dunne Motors                           1:43:58.244  1:11.879     0                             Finished  0
13        11     Thomas Monteiro           CAMDEN NEXT                            1:44:11.830  1:12.758     0                             Finished  0
14        17     Sebastian Heidfeld        Kronenstahl Motors                     1:44:20.336  1:12.466     0                             Finished  0
15        20     Ralf Hülkenberg           Kronenstahl Motors                     1:44:25.332  1:12.993     0                             Finished  0
16        15     Kamila Saidova            Team Sasha                             1:44:40.485  1:13.236     0                             Finished  0
17        12     Laurens Scherpenkate      Pryfors Bilar                          1:44:42.176  1:13.681     0                             Finished  0
18        9      Gabrielle Figueroa (2)    Neon Void Energy Aftershock Racing     1:44:46.340  1:12.962     0                             Finished  0
19        19     Karles Jasper             Ekklesson F1                           1:45:13.958  1:12.263     0                             Finished  0
20        21     Amber Astota (2)          Neon Void Energy Aftershock Racing     1:45:22.342  1:13.597     0                             Finished  0
21        3      Alessandro Di Raffaele    Cooper Motors                          1:45:27.261  1:06.931     0                             Finished  0
22        13     Sam Blaatschapen          Pryfors Bilar                          1:46:11.811  1:13.466     0                             Finished  0
23        23     Emilio Blanco             Valle Zuma F1                          1:46:42.641  1:14.588     0                             Finished  0
24        24     Santi Balenciago          Valle Zuma F1                          1:48:40.381  1:13.962     0                             Finished  0

Drivers' Standings After W9

Position  Driver                    Points
------------------------------------------
1         Arturia Nero              149
2         Basiv Darjis              109
3         Ror Rakken                93
4         Jose Luiz Lopez           86
5         Marko Meya                83
6         Rouben Veurien            83
7         Laurens Scherpenkate      56
8         Nassrena Kang Salarzai    56
9         Karina Monraksha          49
10        Sam Blaatschapen          39
11        Seárlas Dhomnaigh         28
12        Kamila Saidova            23
13        Ralf Hülkenberg           22
14        Thomas Monteiro           18
15        Felix Klasen              10
16        Lucas Alynbac             8
17        Sebastian Heidfeld        4
18        Alessandro Di Raffaele    2
19        Lonán Leanacháin          0
20        Karles Jasper             0
21        Emilio Blanco             0
22        Santi Balenciago          0
23        Coda Yin Saodah           0
24        Amber Astota              0
25        Gabrielle Figueroa        0
26        Gabrielle Figueroa (2)    0
27        Amber Astota (2)          0

Constructor Standings After W9

Position  Team                                   Points
--------------------------------------------------------
1         Tango et Kartuma RMK                   176
2         CAMDEN NEXT                            167
3         Team Sasha                             132
4         Lunar Firestorm                        105
5         Pryfors Bilar                          95
6         Lanto Automotive                       91
7         Cooper Motors                          88
8         Dunne Motors                           28
9         Kronenstahl Motors                     26
10        Ekklesson F1                           10
11        Valle Zuma F1                          0
12        Neon Void Energy Aftershock Racing     0

[Diarcesia]

In hindsight, it was clear that PB's "downgrade" package did not work as hoped. For the next GP, the cars would hopefully fare better. May Margaret have mercy on them.

Car Details - Post Second Upgrade

Code: Select all

Top Speed: 89
Cornering: 108
Acceleration: 75
Energy: 57
Reliability: 71


[The Macabees]

WEEKEND WARMUP
INDRAS GP

VASOZIA RACEWAY, TERRITORY OF INDRAS

WELCOME TO THE INDRAS GRAND PRIX, held in the prestigious portside city of Vasozia. Known for its long, brilliant beaches, Indras is a relatively new federal constituent of the Golden Throne.

Vasozia has been an important trade city for many centuries, and it retains that unique character it has earned for itself through history. Fans can still visit the old harbor, the various "palaces" belonging to the most important merchant families, as well as the medieval-era highland fortress and temple, proud symbols of a people once ruled by a small group of very powerful urban magnates. For the most part, undoubtedly, fans will more likely stick to the vast, expansive beaches of fine, golden sand that comes up against bright blue ocean waters, warmer here than in other parts of the world. It is up against a "plaja," as they were called locally, that the Vasozia Speedway lies, in the picturesque western beach town, or "statiune," neighborhood of Recacău.

The Raceway is a balanced circuit with flowing technical sections and a long back straight. Overtaking is expected to be common and frequent. The weather is not expected to play a role in either the quali or race, as it is expected to be sunny all weekend. Good news for the sunbathers.

The tenth race of the season comes just as things get interesting between drivers and teams. Tango et Kartuma just barely holds on to the lead in the constructors' championship, with CAMDEN NEXT only nine points behind. A bad — or good — weekend could mean anything and everything. Our newest team on the grid, Cooper Motors, has quickly made a name for itself, already solidly ranking seventh and with a likely opportunity to overtake the middle pack ahead of them. Jose Luiz Lopez in particular has impressed, already having won two races and secured the last three consecutive pole positions. Will he extend his hot streak to four weekends? The Cooper driver has swapped race wins with Tango et Kartuma's Ror Rakken, who looks to bounce back from a rough race day in North Point.

Lanto Automotive's Rouben Veurien has also managed to score big points for his team, how will he perform this weekend? Team Sasha, once dominant, will look for a resurgence, same as Pryfor Bilars, which brings upgrades to Vasozia. Ekklesson F1 also brings upgrades, after announcing the hiring of driver Marko Meya for the next season. Lunar Firestorm seeks to continue building on recent successes, as they chase Team Sasha for third in the constructors'.

Amidst it all, CAMDEN NEXT's Arturia Nero retains her commanding lead over the rest, with 149 points against the 109 of the second-placed Basiv Darjis. Third, Ror Rakken's inconsistency has undermined his championship bid; will he be able to make a late-season lunge for the title? Of course, with four successive podium finishes, including two wins, Jose Luiz Lopez already looms behind Ror Rakken. The question is, will Lopez catch Nero by Berliston?

Though most residents in the city and its suburbs speak the local language, Romescu, Common and Díenstadi are commonly known as secondary languages. The latter is now a requirement in the territory's education system, from preschool to college.

Fans coming to see their teams at the track are encouraged to try the local cuisine. Being by the ocean, one can count on plenty of fish, shrimp, lobster, and other sea creatures. Eels dipped in various sauces are a local delicacy.


ATTENTION: RP cutoff date for the qualifying session is 7/25 08:00 PST. RPs after race results but before this post count.




Key Details

56 laps; 5.6km lap.

• Track Type: Balanced circuit with extended straight and technical closing sector
• Rewards: Straight-line speed, braking precision, traction out of slow corners, consistency through technical sections
• Punishes: Poor braking control, compromised exits onto long straight, instability in low-speed sequences
• Overtaking: Moderate–High; primary opportunity at end of long straight, with additional chances into heavy braking zones
• Tire Factor: Medium — mixed load profile with traction zones stressing the rears
• Setup Bias: Balanced with slight emphasis on low drag and braking stability
• Qualifying Importance: Medium–High — grid position matters, but overtaking is achievable with pace advantage
• Safety Car Likelihood: Low–Medium — open layout reduces clustering, but technical sector introduces risk
• Time Profile: Built on straight-line gains and final sector execution; exits onto main straight heavily influence lap time
• Driver Bias: Skill > Consistency > Qualifying Bias > Tire Management > Aggression
• Race Character: Structured with overtaking windows; pace advantages convert through braking zones and exits
• Notable Traits: Long main straight defines race strategy; tight final sector disrupts rhythm and creates mistakes

[Retro Caliland]

Cooper Motors HQ:

Alessandro was focused on his lap. He was focusing on the race line, the apex, braking points. It was all going perfectly, until

“Hey Alessandro, you want some coffee?” asked Heather.

“Don’t distract him!” yelled Kowalski

But Alessandro was distracted, he crashed headfirst into a wall.

“Oh. Well, that sucks” Alessandro said, getting out of the driver’s seat and walking over to Heather. He grabbed a coffee from the tray and leaned on the counter, looking at the simulator.

“I mean, a 7:40 lap time at the Nurburgring is still pretty good, dude” said Kowalski, trying to cheer Alessandro up.

From the back of the room, Jose Luis just chuckled. Everyone’s heads turned to look at him.

“You think you can do better, old man?” asked Alessandro.

“That’s a stupid video game. Its not reality” said Jose Luis.

“Actually, the simulator is a sophisticated racing simulation, designed to be as realistic as possible. It’s not a video game” clarified Mila.

“It’s not the same thing as being behind the wheel, out on the track. You can’t feel the engine, feel the acceleration, the gear changes” said Jose Luis.

“Why don’t you give it a try?” invited Kowalski.

“That’s not necessary” said Jose Luis.

“Tell you what, old man; if you can set a lap time on the sim faster than mine, I’ll train your way. If not, you leave me alone. Si?”

“Si.”

Jose Luis got in the simulator and turned to Kowalski and Mila.

“Give me the exact same setup as Alessandro. Same car, same conditions.”

As Jose Luis got ready, Alessandro watched on, in incredulity.

“There’s no way he’ll set a faster lap time than me.

7 minutes, 10 seconds later

“Ma dai!”

A stunned silence befell the room.

“One more race” said Alessandro. “Not a lap time, a head to head race. I’ll even let Jose pick the cars and track.”

Heather chuckled, amused at Alessandro’s stubbornness.

“You don’t have to do that” Heather said to Jose Luis.

“Le Mans. Ferrari 499” said Jose Luis.

An “oooooooooh” spread across the room, where more team staff has gathered, having heard of the sim showdown going on. Even Graham poked his head in the room.

“On one condition” said Jose Luis. “If I win, Alessandro has to train my way. If I lose, I leave him alone.”

On hearing this, Graham barged through the doorway, and stormed over to Jose Luis.

“What the fuck are you doing?” he said to Jose Luis.

“What Cooper told me to do. Train el muchacho” Jose Luis said. Then he spoke up louder. “Do we have a deal?”

Alessandro walked over and shook his hand. Then he hopped in the sim next to the one Jose Luis was using and motioned for Kowalski to boot it up. While he did, he felt the need to inform Alessandro of something.

“You do know this guy actually raced Le Mans in a Ferrari, right? Like, in real life?” he said.

“Relax. I know what I’m doing” said Alessandro, revving the virtual engine.

3 minutes, 27 seconds later

“Merda.”

The gathered crowd was shocked that Jose Luis had just beaten Alessandro on the simulator. They started clapping and cheering. Jose Luis, for his part, was more understated.

“See you bright and early tomorrow morning. Training starts at 5 AM” he said, leaving the room.

While Alessandro stormed out, the team took in the moment. And for the first time, Graham began to feel a tad hopeful about Alessandro.

[The Macabees]

"Isn't that place violent?" asked Viting, the test driver. He was talking about Vasozia. The track map was on a screen in front of the room.

He had always been with the group in the debriefs and engineering meetings, but had tended to sit in the back and not make much noise. But things had changed in recent weeks, quite dramatically. Marko had taken a new job for the next season at Ekklesson. The number two Tango driver was being gradually siloed away from the team to avoid giving him more information and knowledge on next season's car than strictly necessary. Viting had already been chosen as Marko's replacement. TK wanted another young driver to pair with Ror, who'd remain number one. Nobody knew how many years Ror had left, and they wanted a franchise driver who could be nurtured into the number one position over time. There were rumors within the team that Viting would replace Marko in the second seat sooner rather than later, meaning in the present championship. Whatever nerves about the prospect Viting had, he did not show them publicly.

Igalo shook his head. "Do you guys even follow the news? That place has been pacified."

"You believe the government?" barked one of the engineers. "My buddy over there tells me there are still insurgents in the countryside."

"He's just trying to scare ya!" said another engineer, sitting across from the skeptical one. "There are 60 million soldiers over there! And that's not even counting all of the veterans they're settling in Indras. With all those new people, I doubt the insurgents have the room to hide in anymore. Don't listen to them, kid" — speaking to Viting now — "these days Indras is safer than Fedala."

The skeptical engineer scoffed. But before he could reply, Igalo said, "Zano is right. Anyway, Vasozia is not the interior, and there's an entire fleet group sitting not too far away from where we'll be."

Apart from the younger drivers, most of these people had seen war. The Golden Throne fought many wars and marshalled large armies, recruiting from throughout the empire but, until the last decade, was heavily reliant on provincial conscripts. Even Ror had served, and as a pilot no less. He had served in Theohuanacu, piloting a utility helicopter during the First Theohuanacu Pirate War. They all knew of what the imperial military was capable of. Though things were different, very different, these days, through the experience of war, the average 'Macabéan' (a spurious identity in the Golden Throne), men and women alike, had a relatively deeper appreciation of imperial geopolitics. Besides, the fleet in Indras had earned eternal fame due to its actions against Ordena during the Fourth Krasnovan War, the most recent one. Still, Viting didn't seem entirely persuaded.

Young adults in the Golden Throne had come of age during an era of foreign expeditions and "peacekeeping actions." After school, they'd come home to the news blasting stories of bombings and battles in all sorts of places, Indras included. It was in Indras that the empire's army performed what became known as the Massacre of Senelica. After details of the siege had been leaked to the press, a media frenzy and domestic uproar had whipped up enough protest to force the armed forces to adopt significant reforms, including the adoption of new rules of engagement to minimize civilian casualties.

"The country is quite beautiful," said Ror. "Stunning beaches. I came with the fam last year for summer vacation." That seemed to put the test driver at ease, a little at least.

"But you lot won't be able to enjoy it unless we complete a good race on Sunday morning," added Igalo, pointedly. "So focus on the quali and the race."

Ror took that as if it all fell on him. Inconsistency on race days was costing the team points. His losing four places in North Point was just the latest example. The same had happened in Targul Frumos and at the Rezeghring. Two race wins kept him in hopeful, but unlikely, contention. Otherwise, he had scored a single additional podium, at Fedoroville. It would be important to bounce back in Vasozia and score TK big points.

Of course, Marko was also part of the team. And Ror was ahead of him in the drivers' championship rankings, despite Marko's good performance at North Point. But his impending departure from the team took the pressure off the junior driver.

"We'll do everything we can to maximize points," Ror said, looking at Igalo.

The technical director nodded. "We can win. We've done it three times; we can do it a fourth. But other teams believe they are also due the glory of a race win, so it won't be easy. But I believe in you, Ror, as I believe in Marko. You are both race winners. The pressure is high. The board back home is excited to see us at the top of the constructors', but don't be fooled into believing that they understand the challenge ahead of us and the odds that we face. They will be unhappy if we are unable to defend our lead in the championship. There are maximum expectations on both drivers at the moment."

Marko said nothing. Jose Luiz Lopez had split him and Ror in the drivers' standings, and was gunning for the senior driver. There was little doubt that the Cooper driver would soon leapfrog to lead TK. But Marko had finished the last race where Ror had started, fourth. Ror had tumbled back. The younger driver felt no pressure on him, even ignoring the fact that by season's end he'd be part of another team.

Ror answered, "Understood."

They all — racers, engineers, and mechanics, all inclusive — flew together from Macabea to Vasozia on the team's corporate jumbo jet. Touching down Wednesday night, it was Ror and Viting on the track the next two days for free practice. Marko would drive the second car for quali and the race of course, but Viting was getting preference in the practice sessions to get him up to speed on the car for next season. Viting alone among almost all people on the team knew that his time was coming much sooner than that.