Chapter 38 - And All We Know, Is That She’s Called Yuka
Yuka and Hitomi arrived at the Top Gear Test Track with their borrowed Elise.
Yuka: Ah, so this is the Top Gear track? It seems much bigger than it does on TV.
Hitomi: Yeah.
Yuka: I’ve watched enough Top Gear to know the track more or less. As long as I keep my speed up I see no reason why we’d lose.
Hitomi: What about Kyoko’s Type 72?
Yuka: True… Speaking of Kyoko, is she here yet?
Hitomi: I’m not sure.
Yuka: Well there’s only a few minutes before they get start briefing us about the track so she should be here soon.
Just in time, Kyoko arrived into the pit lane and parked up behind Yuka and Hitomi’s Elise.
Yuka: Speak of the devil!
Kyoko: Yo.
Yuka: We were starting to think you were going to show!
Kyoko: Never! I want this race more than anything. It’s go time!
Hitomi: Before you two kill each other and end up on BBC news, can I interest you both in a bet?
Yuka: Sure.
Kyoko: Go on.
Hitomi: First place wins 24,100 Euros and second wins 17,400, correct?
Kyoko: Yeah.
Hitomi: Me and Yuka are going to need a German car to take on both German leagues, where a boosted Golf isn’t going to cut it. We’ll need something that’ll smoke League A completely and still put up a fight in B. Huge gap between racing against Golf’s and racing against an Audi R8.
Kyoko: I think I know what you’re suggesting Hitomi.
Yuka: 41,500 for first place and nothing for second?
Hitomi: Bingo. How about it girls?
Yuka: Lets do it Kyoko.
Kyoko: Yeah. Shake on it?
Yuka and Kyoko shook hands and hugged each other.
Yuka: May the best girl win!
Kyoko: Don’t hold back!
Starting Grid
1. Purple MGF
2. Kyoko’s Black Lotus Elise Type 72
3. Blue Lotus Europa
4. Red Lotus Elise
5. Green MG TF160
6. Blue Lotus Elise 111S
7. Yuka & Hitomi’s White Lotus Elise
8. Gold Lotus Elan
9. Red TVR Griffith
10. Orange Lotus Elise
11. Silver Lotus Elise Sport 190
12. Blue Lotus Elise 111R
MGF Driver: That Elise behind me is perfectly suited to this track, let’s hope I can win one for MG.
Kyoko: Lotus designed track, Lotus car and a Lotus sponsored driver. Let’s see you top that Yuka!
Europa Driver: Lets teach these young Elise drivers a thing or two…
Elise Driver #1: Ah that Type 72 is a beast, I’ll aim for second.
TF160 Driver: Damn! I wanted pole again.
111S Driver: There’s a lot of Elise’s here…
Yuka: This is going to be fun!
Hitomi: Go go! I want a fast German car!
Elan Driver: Oh that’s that Elise that beat Kyoko last race. Looks like a pro race car from here.
Griffith Driver: I’ll power past these Lotus’ on The Follow-Through and win!
Elise Driver #2: I know I’m going to lose, but being on the Top Gear track is rewarding enough.
Sport 190 Driver: Alright! Time to make an impact with my Sport 190!
111R Driver: Last…
The pack crossed the start line and began a full throttle assault down Crooner Curve.
Yuka: I’m going to get you Kyoko!
Hitomi: Go inside!
Yuka: That Elise in front is going inside! Oh crap it isn’t! Damn it!
TF160 Driver: It’s that Elise that won at London! I’m screwed!
Yuka flew into Chicago, braking as late as she could behind the Elise ahead.
Yuka: Damn good brakes!
Hitomi: Full Audi mode!
Yuka: Too wide!
Hitomi: They’ve all gone too wide, is that the racing line?
Yuka: Who cares! Overtake all the cars!
Hitomi: This isn’t part of the track! Stay right!
Yuka: Oh crap!
Yuka chased down the red Elise towards Hammerhead, barely making a legal pass on the inside around the turn.
Elise Driver #1: Huh?!
Yuka: I’m still on the course! Technically!
Yuka: There’s Kyoko! Up ahead!
Yuka sped through The Follow-Through, cutting the grass to overtake the Europa.
Hitomi: You’re such a cheat Yuka.
Yuka: Pfft.
Yuka kept her speed up through Bacharach Bend and Gambon, sliding the Elise through the corners to catch up to Kyoko by the end of the first lap.
Yuka: I’ve got you Kyoko!
Kyoko: I was wondering when you’d show up. Alright, time to race.
Kyoko: Just like old times Yuka! Arse out!
Kyoko: You’ve not lost your touch at all Yuka. If anything you’ve improved a lot more than I have. I haven’t felt this sort of pressure since our last race.
Yuka: I’m feeling that sensation again. The same one I get with the Civic…
Hitomi: Hmm?
Yuka: I’m not holding back Kyoko!
Yuka went into full attack mode, chasing Kyoko’s Type 72 into Hammerhead at full speed. Kyoko went wide at the exit, leaving a gap for Yuka to take.
Kyoko: Damn lost the nose briefly!
Yuka: Go Elise! Go!
Yuka: Gotcha!
Kyoko: You’re forgetting one thing Yuka! This is my turf!
Kyoko made her move into The Follow-Through.
Kyoko: Side by side!
Yuka: Oh she’s still got moves.
Hitomi: What?! I thought you knew her driving!
Yuka: I do, but she’s improved!
Hitomi: Do something Yuka! We’ve only got one more lap after this!
Kyoko: Lets see you counter that one!
Yuka: Damn she’s good.
Yuka: Ooooh…!
Yuka: She’s getting away!
Hitomi: Stay on her!
Kyoko: Guess I’m going to be the one to break the tie after all these years.
Yuka slid the Elise through the next few corners, keeping her speed up until she reached the rear end of Kyoko’s Type 72 again.
Yuka: Keep up the momentum!
Kyoko: What the…? It can't be, I’m running as fast as I can!
Kyoko’s Type 72 started to understeer coming out of Hammerhead. The front tyres had taken a beating.
Kyoko: No way, my tyres are already finished? Yuka’s pushed me this far? I can’t lose now!
Hitomi: Her tyres must be destroyed after all this high speed drifting.
Yuka: Ours too, but this little Elise is kinder to it’s rubber.
Kyoko wrestled her car through the corner as Yuka sped by, still in control of her Elise.
Kyoko: No!!
Yuka: It’s not over yet!
Kyoko: Hey! Did you marry David Coulthard or something?!
Hitomi: You’re such a cheat Yuka. I can’t help but point that out.
Yuka: Deal with it.
Yuka kept up her speed and pulled away from Kyoko, who was struggling with her worn front tyres. Yuka went all the way to the finish, drifting Gambon in celebration.
Kyoko: Damn soft compounds…
Yuka: Woohoo!
Yuka: Win!
Hitomi: And that’s how we do that.
After the race, Yuka, Hitomi and Kyoko went up to the podium to celebrate the end of the championship, along with the Elise driver that came third. The event organiser walked up towards the third place Elise driver and handed him a bronze trophy and a bottle of champagne. He then handed Kyoko a silver trophy and another bottle of champagne. He picked up a large gold trophy and two bottles of champagne and walked towards Yuka and Hitomi.
Organiser: And to our series champions, the newcomers, Yuka and Hitomi! Congratulations girls!
Yuka and Hitomi held the cup up together and cheered, with the crowd cheering loudly.
Yuka: Wooooo!!
Hitomi: This feels great huh?
Yuka: Hey! Hey hold the cup for me.
Hitomi: What are you doing?
Yuka turned towards a celebrating Kyoko, shook her champagne bottle up and blasted Kyoko with a shower of champagne.
Kyoko: Yuka!!!!
Yuka: Hehehehehehe!
Kyoko fought back, shaking up her own bottle and soaked Yuka in champagne.
Yuka: Oh no you didn’t!
The pair started a full on champagne fight, pulling on each other’s clothing to poor champagne down each other’s tops. The Elise driver fled to avoid the madness. Hitomi sat down on the podium and started drinking her champagne.
Yuka: Ahhh! Hitomi help me out here!
Kyoko: I’m pouring it down your pants next!
Hitomi: You think I’m going to waste this? This is quality stuff.
Kyoko: Not down my back Yuka!!
Yuka: Haaaa!
Later on…
After an intense champagne fight, the girls received their prize money and made their way back to Yuka and Hitomi’s London hotel to get cleaned up and changed. At the hotel, they took it in turns to shower and get changed, whilst taking swigs from Hitomi’s unfinished bottle. After cleaning up, Kyoko reached inside her handbag for her prize money.
Kyoko: Well, this is what I owe you two. Good racing out there. I’m going to even the score again one day.
Kyoko handed Yuka her prize money.
Yuka: Yeah, we’ll have to do this again.
Hitomi: The second Italian Festival race is in London, which will probably be our last race if we don’t have enough to do those Lamborghini races. How much do we have now anyway?
Yuka: 135,000 Euros in total now. We’ve sure come a long way since our original budget.
Hitomi: Yeah, we’re definitely getting something epic in Germany. Anyway, how about you two settle your score next time we’re in London?
Kyoko: Next time you’re in London? Yeah, we’ll have our rematch then. Right Yuka?
Yuka: Totally!
Kyoko: Alright. Well it’s getting late and these hotels are strict on late-night visitors so I’ll see you both tomorrow? We’ll go shopping!
Yuka: Well… We’re kinda leaving tomorrow…
Kyoko: Already?
Hitomi: Tight schedule between the British Lightweight series and the first German league.
Kyoko: I understand. Kick some butt out there, I want to race the girls who dominated Europe’s organised scene.
Yuka: We will!
Hitomi: Yeah.
Kyoko: Alright then. I best be going then. Have a safe journey you two!
Kyoko gave Hitomi a hug.
Kyoko: Keep Yuka safe for me.
Hitomi: Will do.
She then turned to Yuka and cuddled her tight.
Yuka: Kyoko…!
Kyoko: I’ve missed you Yuka. This has been so awesome to race with you.
Yuka: I’ve missed you too Kyoko, it’s a shame I didn’t have my Civic with me.
Kyoko: I’ll have my MX-5 ready for the next time we meet.
Yuka: I’ll probably have whatever Italian car we end up with. It’ll be a close race no matter what.
Kyoko: Yeah. Well then.
Kyoko let go of Yuka and picked up her handbag.
Kyoko: See you both soon!
Yuka: Byee!
Hitomi: See you!
Kyoko left the hotel room, waving at the girls before closing the door behind her.