Grand PriX - Updated 22/01/12 with 33. HIRING FOR 34 (56k warning.)

[Onboy123]

Same. But I has no grip and I has crapped pants after race.

 

[C-ZETA]

Just a quick note...the next chapter, 17, is going to be really, really picture heavy. To give you an idea as to how pic heavy, I have taken 158 pictures for the next chapter. So please, if you're on something like a mobile or app...expect crashes. And if you have a slow connection, well, just expect it to be a slow process to load everything up. It's a good job Onboy started a new page for me before I got the next chapter up

 

[Darren.]

Just a quick note...the next chapter, 17, is going to be really, really picture heavy. To give you an idea as to how pic heavy, I have taken 158 pictures for the next chapter. So please, if you're on something like a mobile or app...expect crashes. And if you have a slow connection, well, just expect it to be a slow process to load everything up. It's a good job Onboy started a new page for me before I got the next chapter up

Really eh? Why not split it up into parts?

 

[uMadson?]

Really eh? Why not split it up into parts?

Brilliant organization idea right here. 👍

 

[Skython]

Wow, all the Zonda's, scary. Shows how a overpowered Mitsubishi can escape them Great chapter

 

[C-ZETA]

Really eh? Why not split it up into parts?

That's what I was thinking at first. But my idea would make it hard to balance out the image count...plus I'm not sure if I can be bothered for at least a little while. I've only just got back home...

 

[C-ZETA]

Chapter 17 - The Long Struggle

So here we were, at GP Week at long last. Everything seemed to be here. Small cars, classic cars, super cars, GT1's, LMP's, Japanese tourers and more. Oh, and of course, the F1!

The three of us had already made a good showing in our cars. I'd had some close races in my C4 and GTO, and I took my Giulia TZ out into one of the race break sessions. Ishizaki hadn't used his Yaris, but once again was driving my dad's GT and was once again superb to watch. Russell hadn't done much racing, except for a classic muscle car race in his 'Vette.

However, it was now time for my first race in the Giulia TZ2 - a ten lap race around Monza, much like my race in the rain in my GTO, against cars which all had vastly more power (see tuner cars and GT300 racers) but much less weight. On a tight twisty city circuit I'd have no problem fending them off. Monza, however, has enough straights to make the Giulia TZ2 weak enough to be left lifeless by the other cars. The chicanes, however...would lead to their downfall for sure.

As I was watching the closing moments of the second F1 practice session which our race would be after, I got a tap on the shoulder from a person I didn't know.

"...Who are you?"
"Oh, sorry, you don't know me, do you?"
"Uh...no."
"Right then. My name is Alexei Novikov. I have a reputation as one of the top five street drivers in the world. I'm entering the next race in my 'Vette."

He pointed me to a silver topless C1 Corvette with a ton of body work.

"You're entering the race as well, so I gather?"
"I am."
"And what are you using?"
"My Giulia TZ2."

I pointed it out to him. Then he just laughed.

"I'm sorry...you're using that against all these on Monza?! You, sir, are mad."
"Yes, but this thing weights hardly over half a ton. When I get to the chicanes, you won't be laughing then, will you now?"
"May I remind you of the straights down here?"
"I don't need reminding, no."
"OK then. We're almost starting now. Good luck in your mini-mobile."
"Good luck to you too in your fat Corvette..."

The checkered flag was waving to signal the end of the F1 practice session, so we were indeed getting ready to race.

As I watched Felipe Massa's Ferrari go over the line, I slipped over to my car and got myself in racing gear. I got in, started it up and knew that I was gonna be having both a fun and difficult race...

Starting Grid
1. Autobacs Garaiya GT300
2. Nismo Fairlady Z-Tune
3. Amuse Nismo 380RS
4. Blitz Skyline D1GP
5. Mine's Evo VI
6. HKS Silvia D1GP
7. Amemiya RX-7 GT300
8. Amemiya RX-7 GT300
9. Black/Red Honda S2000
10. RE Amemiya RX-7
11. Toyota MR-S GT300
12. Alexei's Art Morrison Corvette
13. Nissan Silvia GT300
14. Spoon S2000 Race Car
15. Grey/Black Toyota Altezza
16. Jason's Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ2

"First place! I'm gonna win."

"This is what all the practice has really paid off for."

"Power may be short, but weight is short as well."

"My power shall win on the straights of Monza!"

"Speed and cornering shall win this one for me."

"Even if I can't win, I'll drift my way around!"

"The all rounder will be all winning at the end of this."

"Go, Amemiya! Let's show these non-rotored rascals our power!"

"I'm slow, but strong!"

"The rotor shall come to power in this race."

"Lightweight is always key, no matter what track you're on!"

"Let's rip, Corvette. Let's do it!"

"I should have enough to do this."

"My sound shall amaze all!"

"This thing don't stand a chance now..."

"Ooh boy. A fast set of cars this bunch is..."

We got away from the line, only to find myself immediately stranded.

"Bugger, these boys are fast!"

And then we got to the chicanes. Then everyone just...disappeared.

"Whoa, hey! Where everybody be going?"
"Whoa, he's past us all!"
"...I am genuinely amazed."

And then as we came out of Turn 1 I was immediately forming a queue.

"Quit it, will ya?"
"Oi! Move, slowcoach!"
"Let's be going up there, yeah?"

As a result I found myself rather sandwiched between an RX-7 and an S2000...

"Oi! Move!"
"Come on!"
"Go!"

But then I left them for dead again as we arrived at the second chicane.

"Later, dawgs!"

Out of the two Lesmos I saw the Mine's come closely into view.

"Let's do this!"
"No!"

But then came another straight, and boy was that a killer. As it would be about a million times throughout the race...

"Dear god, how can these men gain this much on me down a straight?"

I was saved again though by the Ascari chicane.

"...Wow. At this rate, this race could go anyway it wants to."

Through the chicane I passed the Evo VI.

"Bye!"
"Oh no!"

This time I did manage to hold the gap surprisingly well...

"Come on..."

And as we went through the Parabolica I got my first glimpse of the last RE Amemiya RX-7.

"This shouldn't be a problem..."
"Man, he's getting close."

Then came the home straight - which would be my main weakness point throughout the whole race.

"Bloody hell, this doesn't look good."

But on my first go round it didn't matter.

"Right, this is looking good."

Then into the first chicane I passed 3 cars. I was now up to 3rd. Already...

"Wow, this thing can go fast!"
"Damned tyres..."
"Whoa, who's this guy?!"

But once again I got myself in a huge spot of bother coming up to the second chicane.

"Damned lack of power..."
"Haha, loser!"
"Move, 🤬!"

I held station over the 380RS and RX-7.

"Hoo boy, this is nerve-wracking..."
"How am I not passing him..."

And then I got away from them again in the chicane.

"I can't help but think this is gonna end in tears."

Then, at the Lesmos, having passed the Blitz again, I moved up into second at the expense of the Fairlady Z-Tune.

"Bye!"
"...🤬!"

The Lesmos were easily the kindest part of the track to me throughout the whole run.

"They don't stand a chance up there..."

And then the rundown to Ascari came again.

"Oh bloody hell! Quit it already!"
"Go go Nismo!"

But then Ascari came once again and I got away again. Again. Basically, you should know the score already by now...

"Bye, again!"

"These guys are just gonna be hassling me for the whole race, right?"

At this point the Fairlady Z-Tune got a close run in on me.

"Puny little weakling."
"Bloody power supplies of these guys..."

Guess what happened at the Parabolica though.

"...but screw power. It's all about weight sometimes!"

And then...well, I don't need to bother describing, do I?

"Haha! What sort of car do you call that?"
"Oh, just you wait, I tell you."

Yep...

"Bye, again."

And the loop continued.

"Oh, 🤬 off already!"
"Man, what is up with that car?!"

"I'll just keep you here..."

"...and say goodbye to you again!"

Alas, at this rate, the first placed ARTA Garaiya had long gone from the scene. Catching it wasn't gonna happen.

"Through the Lesmos again where I can gain so much time..."

And yep, the opposition closed me up again down the straight.

"I shall get you this time!"

He didn't, obviously. He just got good straight line speed then it all went wrong for him.

"How does that moron corner so fast?!"

Low weight and better tyres is the answer, my friend, as I got closer to the Parabolica again.

"Still have no idea where I'm gonna finish."

"Ahh! They're coming at me again!"
"Go on, Nismo!"

"And to think I've gotta hold another 6 laps of this 🤬!"

"Jesus! They're past me again!"

However, a new challenger was emerging entirely...

"Wait...Alexei?"
"You've done well, Jason. But prepare to be utterly destroyed...now!"

And sure enough, his modified Corvette left me for dead down the next straight.

"How can you possibly beat me now?"
"Surely he doesn't know my party piece yet..."

"But my lords, is he getting away fast!"

In fact, I wasn't able to pass through the chicane. Luckily...

Next came the Lesmos.

"...Jesus! That is fast cornering speeds!"
"Have some of that, Alexei!"

"I feel he is gonna be harassing me throughout the whole race now."

And sure enough, both him and the Fairlady Z passed me before Ascari.

"Yeah, this is gonna last a while, isn't it?"

"I'm still faster than him through the corners though."

"We're just polar opposites of each other, aren't we..."

"Although I can still get a podium place if he beats me..."

"I need to remember the finish line's on the home straight!"

Then all of a sudden Alexei found himself down in 5th.

"Whoa, hey guys!"

"Right, it's that time of the lap again..."

"Man, is this gonna be difficult to keep second on the last lap."

"And here I'll get second again..."

"And now I brace myself for another bunch of horsepower to chase me down."
"Good, but not good enough, my friend..."

"We'll see how you can handle my actions!"

Pretty well, it would seem.

"Don't bother, Alexei!"
"His speed in the corners is...too fast!"

"I can get away from him here."

"Then we just come around here..."

"...and he's onto me like a firefly again!"
"You'll be gone this time, for sure!"

"Yep, there it is!"
"Not for long, I tell you."

"You see what I mean, Alexei?"

"Hehe...you're gonna be seeing a lot more of me, I can tell you."
"This is just gonna turn into a boring loop, isn't it?"

"Yeah, it is. Still, at least I've got close company!"

However down the straight it was the RE Amemiya RX-7 that got the first attack.

"Hyaaaa!"
"No, don't bother."

Before all three of my main rivals caught me down the straight.

"This'll be interesting when I get to the last lap and I need to stop three guys from passing me..."

Then all three of them went behind me again as I got through the first chicane with more speed than any of them. As usual...

"Oh, sorry, have you not figured out my plan of victory yet?"

"I have to say though, in all honesty, the cornering on this car is so good."

"It feels really...in touch with me."

There was no time to talk on about cornering though, because a silver Corvette was once again showing up in my mirrors!

"Please, just stop."
"Come on, 'Vette..."

And sure enough, the Parabolica killed them all off again.

"Later, boys!"

Then I was left stranded again by my competitors, with the Amuse 380RS and the Blitz Skyline now joining in with the mix.

"These guys are just banzai attackers, aren't they?"

To be fair, I was probably the real banzai attacker though. I just left them stranded again, again, through the first corner.

"This is actually pretty fun, just watching everything disappear whenever I get to a corner..."

"And it's not fun to watch everything go past down a straight."

"So I won't make them!"
"Aargh! Blocking moves..."

"And here we go again, pulling away from my opposition for the umpteenth time today..."

"This car isn't meant to race these things at all."

"But if I wanna race it against these, I can."

"And I can prove that these sorts of cars..."

"...are still up to scratch against the modern day motorcars."

"Mind you, Alexei's Corvette is even older than my Giulia..."

"So what the bloody hell am I saying?"

"I'm surprised this thing hasn't broken down yet."

"Because if I do recall correctly, this is an Alfa..."

"Right, why don't we just concentrate on the race again?"

"And those two go by again..."

"...and then I go by again."

"Now the Lesmos where I can get a gap on them..."

"Then the straight, where they make back all of that gap so quickly!"

"Haha! You just don't give up, do you?"

"Well, not if my cornering ability has anything to say about it."

"Haha. Your straight line speed is abdominal, Mr. Cutler."

"And once again the straights are the bane of my existence."

"Then the corners are the bane of their existence."

"Well...at least it's like that to me anyway."

"Right, Fairlady Z-Tune, have a go at me then."
"I've had enough of that Alfa already!"

More people were passing me down the straight than I would have liked.

"Seriously, this Amuse came out of nowhere...it's annoying me now."

"And there we go, into second through the corner for the over 9000th time..."

As Alexei passed me again, the Fairlady Z-Tune also got close again.

"Yes! Just leave me now!"
"He still doesn't get it, does he?"

I passed him through the chicane, but Alexei stayed ahead this time...

"Aargh! I didn't pass him!"
"That should be the end of it, I hope."

Luck was on my side though as the Lesmos once again proved a valuable proving ground for me.

"Later, Alexei!"
"Damned Lesmos! Always letting him get ahead!"

Of course though, he passed me on the straight. However, the last lap was the next one...

"Let's see how you handle this."
"And this should be easy."

It was.

"...Bye."
"I'll have him down the straight on the last lap...for sure!"

This was gonna be a race to the finish.

"How much money did you need to waste on a Corvette that can't beat this?"

For a classic car, it was probably far too much.

"He still doesn't realize power isn't the answer to everything."

But as came up to the last lap...

"Bye, again!"
"You won't be there by the end of the next lap, I can tell you!"

...I was gonna need all the power I could get to keep myself ahead of Alexei, as we all got in formation line.

"Last lap. At last..."

At first the Fairlady Z-Tune got another overtake on me.

"That'll be the last overtake you do on me today."

Followed by me jumping to 2nd again. Weirdly the ARTA Garaiya seemed rather close...but catching it was probably out of the way as it had been since I got 2nd.

"This is where I wanna be for the rest of the race."

I did manage to hold my position relatively well down the straight.

"This is the last time I need any pressure..."

Not even Alexei was able to pass me there - a good contrast to how I wasn't able to get by him at the chicane on the previous lap.

"Oh god, I hope I can pass him..."
"Hah! In your face, Alexei!"

But out of the chicane, all of a sudden the RE Amemiya RX-7 emerged into 3rd.

"I'll be damned if he stays 3rd."

I came out of the Lesmos for the last time, using up my final chance to get the best getaway from the bunch.

But the Amemiya RX-7 came into view again...

"Aargh...even he's still a target!"
"Go!!!"

"Bloody hell, he's close!!"
"I need to get past you!"

We went through Ascari for the last time, leaving me only one chance to get a big enough gap - the Parabolica.

"God, I can't do this anymore..."
"Aargh! Just die already!"

"I can see the Monza podium now..."

All of a sudden though, Alexei drove past us both!

"Haha...2nd place will be mine!"
"No!"
"What?!"

I got through the Parabolica, with the RX-7 back in 3rd, but the gap wasn't good enough...

"...OK...I'll do it."

So there was only one thing I could do.

"Whoa, what's this going on?"
"Hey! You're blocking me!"

"Just move already!"
"Get out the way!!!"
"...Come on..."

"Hah! He's left it open!"

"Wait, what- no!"

However...

"Oh God...Alexei's on the other side! Who do I go for?!"
"Hah...can't block me here, can you?"

"No! I won't get 2nd!"
"Haha! Come on!"
"Wait!!!"

"This can't be!"
"God's sake!"
"Come on!!!!"

"We're side by side!!!!"
"Come on!!!"
"Go!!!!!!!"

"Gasp...what happened? Did I finish 2nd? 3rd? 4th? I don't know..."
"Wow...that was so close."
"I must have gotten 3rd! Come on!"

I opened my small window box to talk to Alexei.

"Hey! Alexei!"
"Jason! Great racing!"
"You too! Where have we all come?"
"I have no idea..."

The announcer started saying the results.

"In first place, by 4 seconds, the Autobacs Garaiya!"

Of course.

"In 2nd place..."

Come on...

"...Alexei Novikov, in the Art Morrison Corvette!"

Damn it.

"Aww man!"
"Unlucky, mate!"
"Have I finished 3rd though?"

"In 3rd place..."

If I could get 3rd, I could still stand on that podium.

"...just two hundredths behind 2nd and a hundredth ahead of 4th, it is..."

Come on...

"...Jason Cutler in the Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ2!"

Yes! 3rd place.

"Nice job on 3rd though! I've never seen such a car like that being able to get 3rd on Monza."
"Thanks, Alexei!"

Back in the pits, I was congratulated on my job by Dad, Ishizaki and Russell.

"Well done, son. You absolutely thrashed them out there."
"That was amazing, mate! Well done!"
"That was a true masterclass, Jason. Well done."
"Thanks to all of you! By the way, how is the Amemiya RX-7 driver about his loss?"
"Livid."
"Seems fair enough. Right guys, I gotta go, I'm gonna be on the podium soon!"

In the area leading to the podium, I talked with Alexei again.

"Hey again, Alexei."
"Hi. Can I just say that for a car like that you did an amazing job."
"Thanks. Can I just ask you something...do you compete in any racing series?"
"...But this is a racing series."
"Wait...is it?"
"Yeah. The World Tourer Championship. I'm this year's champion."
"Wait. Did I make you champion by finishing 3rd?"
"No. I already was champion. Say, you wanna join the series permanently?"
"...I'm not sure. There's other series I'm willing to compete in more. My dad was in the last X2010 Championship and I wanna try and follow him there."
"...That's gonna take many years, friend. Even though I know you're such a promising racer, you aren't developed anywhere near enough to drive an X2010."
"I kinda gathered...but just you wait. You'll see me there soon, I tell ya."
"I've also been trying to get a spot in the DTM...but there's just no free space in the series. The teams haven't started their hiring sessions yet so I can't. Anyway, it's time we got onto this podium."
"I agree. Let's go."

And so, I got a taste of possibly the near future. Me standing on a podium, with two other excellent drivers, spraying the champagne all over and having a good time in general. The question is...will I ever get to the top spot?

Jason has had his races at GP Week done, and has raced around Monza in the underpowered but light Giulia TZ2, fending off all different kinds of cars. He's also met one of the top street drivers, Alexei Novikov, and now hopes to move on into further spotlight. But where will his racing career go from here?

Stay tuned to Grand PriX to find out!​

 

[yellomello]

Really good

 

[DK]

I doubt Amuse were "amused" by your review of their S2000.

 

[uMadson?]

The 380RS is good but it's just too sluggish for its class.

Sad for Amemiya though, I couldn't get a can of AsparaDrink for celebrations.

 

[Onboy123]

Oh hai lurver boi!! how's things going? Anyways, nice chapter, poor Jason, fighting all that way just to be pipped to second place……is this his first lose to date?

 

[GSports]

What a mix of cars and a great chapter!

 

[C-ZETA]

is this his first lose to date?

Beating three RX-7's, two Fairlady Z's, a Skyline, two S2000's, an Altezza, an MR-S, two Silvias and an Evo VI in a Giulia is hardly what I would call a loss. But yeah, it's weird how no one is finishing 1st in all of these recent races...

Spoiler

Although the next race will see someone winning.

Also in case you're wondering if Alexei will get a character bio, he might, but it will be later on when he gets seen in the story again.

 

[Jacob]

Corrected it for you.

Meh. I'm pretty satisfied with that.

Oh, and about both chapter 16 and 17, great work. 👍

 

[Skython]

That chapter was crazy, great chapter 👍

 

[C-ZETA]

Chapter 18 - The Speed

We were going home from GP Week having watched the Grand Prix. We were taking a short stop in Siena's Piazza del Campo though where we could sit down and have some food.

"Tell you what, that Grand Prix was great."
"I know! The way that Hamilton and Alonso were fighting, Vettel charging up the field...it was awesome."

However, I then saw a glaring pink car to my left. It could only be...

"...Hang on a second, I'll be right back."
"Hey, hey, what is it Jason? Jason?! Jason!"

I went over to it, and sure enough, Katie was in it. She climbed out of her LFA when she saw me.

"Hey, Jason!"
"Oh, hi, Katie. Long time no see, eh?"
"Indeed. How was GP Week for you?"
"Great. All the races were a ton of fun for me. Did you see me in my Giulia TZ2 racing?"
"Oh yeah! How did you manage to stick so close to Alexei? Especially around Monza?"
"I guess the cornering and braking on my little boy is so much better than I thought."
"Either that or you're just a...great racer. Heh."
"Hmm. So, how was your GP Week?"
"...Well...it wasn't brilliant."
"Hmm?"
"Listen, Jason. Why don't we talk about this inside my LFA? I wanna keep this as private as possible to be honest?"
"...Right, OK."

We both got into the LFA. The interior seemed exactly stock, strangely. It still felt rather luxury though...

"OK, listen Jase. I've recently not been particularly happy with my crewmates. They aren't performing up to a good standard for me anymore. Danielle is now getting outpaced in the tuned car tournaments, Krystal's lost pace in the classic muscle car leagues, and Terri's lost her kei cup crown. They're just letting me down now, and I don't want our team to be a one woman band of just me winning races. And to be honest...I think the competition's beginning to catch up with me now."
"Hmm...I understand your point. When your team mates start under performing you do become displeased with them. But...that does remind me..."
"Huh?"
"Me, my mate Ishizaki and Russell Jackson are trying to form a racing team of our own. Unfortunately, we still haven't found a fourth driver. Considering the situation you're in...maybe you could join us?"
"...Well, I can't do it just yet. I still haven't disbanded our group yet...so I can't just betray them yet."
"But maybe after you've disbanded?"
"...Hmm...I'll consider. I mean, transferring from one team to another totally different one straight away would feel kinda...weird to me."
"If you say so. How about you have a think after your team disbands - if you decide to, of course - if you wanna join our team."
"I will."

She then placed her hand on top of mine. Hmm...

"Uhh...so, this all you want from me?"
"Well...pretty much, actually. You can go now. Sorry about all of this..."
"Nah, it's OK. It was good to talk to you again after such a long time."
"...Well, if that's how you feel about it then...good. See you later."

"Later, Katie."
"Bye."

Meanwhile, Ishizaki had been called to an important test meeting in Belgium (he'd had to leave before the race sadly). However, this was actually a test meeting that would see Mazda's new LMP2 challenger, the F877B, take to the track for the first time. Ishizaki wasn't the only one there though - 15 other competitors from the top GT1 leagues had also been called to help Mazda out with their testing process. Among them were Henry, Darren and the Ford GT team.

"Hello there and welcome to our testing ground here in Eifel, Belgium-Germany. You have been called here to test our new LMP2 race car for the first time, the Mazda F877B. We expect some clean racing from you boys, not just on our Mazda, but all around as well. We're doing a 5 lap test race to start, so get yourselves ready and slot into your assigned grid slots."

As everyone went to their cars, the Mazda crew lifted up the cover concealing their challenger.

Stuck in a stunning unliveried white pearl aerodynamic look, it seemed hard to see how Mazda could not win this year's LMP2 class at the Le Mans 24 Hours. But of course, this was only their first day of testing...so no one knew how well it would do.

Starting Grid
1. White Mazda F877B Prototype
2. Panoz Esperante GTR-1
3. Dodge Viper GTS-R Oreca #91
4. Henry's Pagani Zonda R
5. McLaren F1 GTR
6. Red/White/Blue Nissan Fairlady Z
7. Black Ford GT
8. Red/Blue Nissan GT-R
9. Blue/Orange Ford GT
10. Chapparal 2J
11. Darren's Black Pagani Zonda
12. Dodge Viper GTS-R Oreca #51
13. Black/White Ford GT
14. Green/White Chevrolet Camaro
15. Yellow Chevrolet Corvette
16. Ishizaki's Red Citroen GT

"I just need to take this first race nice and easy. Wonder how it performs..."

"Who cares if this is old? It's still fast!"

"Under performance compared to these, but still a rocket none the less!"

"I can win the war of attrition over these men."

"The old legend...shall take off...and win!"

"I shall slip through to victory!"

"Heh...these guys won't be able to SEE what's passed them."

"This things speedy shifting shall ensure me a slick win."

"The GT won Le Mans once in this guise...but not as you'd think!"

"Yes, it's a washing machine, but a turbo-fan powered one!"

"Le Mans testing...always the perfect time for some vengeance matches."

"This thing's so speedy it'll speed your nuts off!"

"Even if I don't get first, I'll LOOK first..."

"Big bad power for the win!"

"This Vette's big, old and heavy now...blaaah."

"This sure as hell looks a really big race."

As the speedy GT's got off the line Ishizaki gained a couple of positions.

"Woo! Let's go!"

And through the first corners he rose further, with him slotting behind the F1 GTR very quickly.

"Man! I'm in the top half already!"

It wasn't long before he passed him.

"Woo! Yeah!"
"Aargh! Damnit!"

He then came up to the slow starting Panoz...

"Come on! Let's do this!"
"Oh god, I can't be losing another position already?!"

...and got by him as well.

"Later, dawg!"

He now came up to the Gulf GT.

"Hey! You're blocking the view a bit..."
"Come on!"

But he wasn't an easy target to hunt down.

"Woo! He's staying there!"
"Oh, come on!"

Yet Ishizaki found his way past like nothing was there at all.

"Hey, who's ahead now?"

Then the Carbon GT was very quickly taken as well.

"Hey, look at me!"

Then he gave it back almost immediately.

"Huh...seems like I'm not as good as I thought..."

He immediately started to chase down his target again.

"Come on then! Bring it!"

He made a good job of his chasing skills.

"Dude, how do you get to me that fast?"
"I'm gonna get you now!"

But when he arrived at the GT itself...

"Come on! Have a go!"
"I can't get through!"

...his movements just stalled.

"No room there, mate!"
"Sigh..."

This GT had taken a toll on his gap to the leading Mazda.

"See? You can't get past me!"
"No way is this happening!"

But after a while he was finally able to make his move.

"Aha! There it is!"
"Darn! It was coming..."

He started to make a gap between him and the GT.

"Catch ya later, alligator."
"Damn! How is the Citroen so...fast?!"

As he was catching the Viper up ahead, however...

"Blast it! I'm off!"

He was lucky enough to stay in his 4th position as the 3rd lap begun for him.

"Whew...that was a close one."

He would immediately latch onto the back of the Viper again.

"No! You can't!"
"Hell yeah!"

Another easy pass for him.

"Bye bye!"

Next up the road to him was Henry's Zonda R.

"Wow...I've had an eventful race!"

He would maintain the gap at first...

"Right then. Let's bring it, Zonda R."

...but was then able to close it.

"Hey! Look out!"
"Is this a joke? How is a Citroen GT now catching up to me?"

He then let him get away however.

"Yikes! He's getting away!"

But then, with no warning at all...

"Ahh 🤬! I'm going!"
"Oh...toodles!"

"DAMN!"

So after that...minor incident with Henry, Ishizaki was now up to 2nd place.

"If I can catch this Mazda..."

"I'm not sure they'll be particularly impressed with how they've done their car."

"Especially considering how it won't have beaten a GT1 car..."

"But meh. Let's let them have their own way."

"Just a quick thing though...where is that LMP?"

"I can't even hear the scream of that thing from over here."

"To be fair though, that's cause I'm in another car. Oh...there it is."

"Right, I'm almost certain I can get by this thing on the last lap!"

"He's just down the hill from here!"

"I can see myself closing in on this thing here..."

"But it's just really fast on the straights!"

But then it was time to attack.

"Yes! Here we go!"
"Huh?!"

And in one fell swoop...he was gone.

"Woo! That's me in the lead!"
"...Curses."

He was even getting away from the LMP2 proto.

"Yeah! I'm starting to get away!"

And in fact, he was nearly a second ahead within...seconds, really.

"Hehe! I can't believe Mazda can't build a car faster than this!"

But then he started to get a little bit incompetent...

"Whoa! I'm going wide!"

This allowed the F877B to close in again.

"Huh, I guess I'm still ahead."
"Mistakes shall be made..."

And then it got worse.

"God! I'm further wide!"
"I'm coming for ya!"

He was lucky enough to stay ahead even then though.

"I'm still ahead."

He was to hold his victory all the way to the finish.

"Aha! Here it is!"
"Good racing..."

"Woo! There we are! Over the line in first!"
"Aha. Good guy."

"It's evident this thing still needs a ton of work if it can't beat a GT1 car...the power restrictions are too harsh even for the weight of this thing."

After the race, the drivers all arrived back at the pits.

"Hey there, Ishizaki. Well done on your win."
"Thanks."
"You've given us valuable testing information for our next test. Clearly our prototype has not got enough power or cornering speed as of yet."
"To be fair though, your car seemed very speedy through the corners. What's the secret?"
"We've kept our car to 675kg. This is way over the limit for LMP2 weights, but we raised an appeal to the ACO to allow us to have such a light car at the expense of extra power. However it appears we have not got enough power for competitiveness. We may try for further downforce also. But seriously, thanks for joining our test. We're gonna do some single laps in the car now using it and change it according to our information."
"My pleasure to help you guys out. Good luck in the endurances!"

Jason has met Katie for the second time now. She seemingly doesn't want to be with her team anymore, and maybe she might go and join forces with Jason, Ishizaki and Russell. Ishizaki has also helped out Mazda with the testing for their new F877B, their LMP2 proto, particularly by beating it. How will their next racing life chapters go?

Stay tuned to Grand PriX to find out!​

 

[DK]

That 2J might do better if you put some Calgon in it...

 

[Michelin]

Well, I stopped doing whatever I was in the last two hours to read those 18 chapters so far... and consider you got a new fan ! Can't wait for the upcoming chapters, maybe you could make a book out of it when it's finished ?

 

[C-ZETA]

That 2J might do better if you put some Calgon in it...

It's used most of its supply to Live Longer.

Can't wait for the upcoming chapters, maybe you could make a book out of it when it's finished ?

There's lots of chapters to come yet, my friend. We aren't even halfway yet That gives you a description of where I am in this story, and also why it would take forever to make this into a book.

 

[Skython]

Wow, the Fur.. I mean F877B isn't actually that good compared to the French Citroen.

 

[Michelin]

There's lots of chapters to come yet, my friend. We aren't even halfway yet That gives you a description of where I am in this story, and also why it would take forever to make this into a book.

I though you we're close to halfway by now LOL

 

[C-ZETA]

Chapter 19 - Hot on High Speed

Russell had entered a number of races in America and had therefore flown over there for a week. His Clio and Corvette both showed their worth over in America, but one race for the Clio really showed other drivers its power.

The first race of the Supercar Festival was being held at the High Speed Ring, Hawaii. One of the biggest events of the whole calendar, to prove who the top drivers were. Alas, only one race for it this year was being held in Europe - on the Nurburgring, to be precise...and I wasn't entering it. Still, this is how Russell got on...

"Everyone's gonna think I'm stupid because I'm not in my Corvette. I probably am stupid I'm not in it, too. But just they wait till I get this Clio fired up and speeding away from them...ohoho."

"I have to say though...it's gonna be difficult on a high speed circuit where I've got a 200hp disadvantage to most of the cars here...but so what! I can still win. Let's go..."

Starting Grid
1. Blue Ferrari California
2. Black Aston Martin DB9
3. White Cizeta V16T
4. Black RUF RGT
5. Black Chevrolet Corvette C5
6. Blue Chevrolet Corvette C4
7. Russell's Blue Renault Clio
8. Yellow Chevrolet Corvette C3
9. Silver Jaguar XJ220
10. Yellow/Silver Bugatti Veyron
11. Silver Pagani Zonda
12. Beige Ferrari 458

"The power shall win this thing. And no top."

"Stealth is the key. Especially in a James Bond car..."

"I have BIG power, BIG engine and BIG winnings!"

"The acceleration speed of this will win this race for me."

"It's nothing but power here!"

"I'm underpowered. But I can come way with a win here, surely."

"Two Corvettes in front, one in the back. This makes me wish I'd brought MY Corvette..."

"Oh god, this thing is too old!"

"This car doesn't need full potential to win!"

"The fastest car in the world, on a HIGH speed ring. Hmm..."

"Elegance, beauty and shouting. The Zonda is the REAL supercar."

"So much wasted on such a pretty face...I'm last...waahh..."

"And ALREADY my power disadvantage is showing..."

"But look at me through the corners!"

"One's gone already."
"Ahh...wait, what?"

"You see? It's not all about high speed here!"

"Well...it does here."

"Aaand I'm now starting to lose them..."

"Holy cow! They're storming around me!"
"Maybe..."
"Oi! Move!"
"Oh, come on!"

"And now I can get away again. Yay."

"I'm not losing too much down the tunnel..."

"And that allows me to do THAT!"
"WHOA! Big car don't get passed by small car! EVER!"
"Aargh...seriously?"
"Whoa! No way!"

"And there goes the Aston."
"Whoa! Jesus! I can't escape a Clio?"

"Hmm...? I appear to be forming a queue. 🤬 magnificent!"
"Now I shall fight back!"
"GO!"
"Mwahaha..."

"Bloody hell! Leave me off already!"
"He's not going down easily!"
"COME ON!!!"
"This is...awkward."

"Oh my god, how do I hold 6 cars off at ONCE?!?!?!"
"He's giving up!"
"YEAH!!!"
"Come on!"

"Right, now get in formation...and don't touch me ever again!"
"Garrrrr!"
"Sigh..."
"WHAT? NO!"

"Jesus, this Aston Martin is all over me!"
"Come on! I can't lose!"

"And bye everyone..."
"Help! The Zonda's coming as well!"
"See? I told you this is the fastest..."

"That California looks long out of the question now...I have, what one good corner for me to go."

"But I'm guaranteed 2nd at this rate..."

"Right...last stretch!"

"Oh yeah, that California is winning for sure."

"Stay away now..."

"...Nope, there's a Zonda closing in on me."
"Muhaha! Come on!"

"This won't end well."
"I can get 2nd!!"

"It's there though!"
"Nooooo!"

"I've beaten 10 foolish supercars, in a super car. Haha."
"What?! I was beaten by a Clio! Oh my god! Someone kill me! Now!!"
"Graah...I don't understand..."

"So, that's more street cred for my Clio now...I think I might come back home now. Not to Luzern, but to Portland. If I can get a flight in time..."

Russell, after his trip to America, has now established his racing credit outside of Europe, with his Clio and Corvette in hand. The rest of the gang will continue looking for a 4th driver to join their crew. But how soon will it come, and who will it be?

Stay tuned to Grand PriX to find out!​

 

[uMadson?]

Can't go wrong with dat VTEC V6.

 

[Michelin]

I lack skills to do what Russel done.

 

[DK]

I'm pretty sure they don't sell the Clio V6 in the States...anyways, nice chapter.

 

[C-ZETA]

Chapter 20 - The Last Missing Piece

In Bern, at 7:00 in the morning, I was sitting in bed, on my phone when I got an unexpected text that made me jump. It's not helpful when you have a high-pitched scream for your text tone.

"Hey there! Can you come down to the Nurburgring for me? I wanna talk with you, and also the Supercar Festival race is on today and I'm racing in it ;-) <3 Katie xxx"

"...She wants me to come down to the Nurburgring then? Wonder what she wants to talk about...speaking of which, I need to know if she wanna join us."

I started texting back.

"OK, I can make it. When is it? Jason ;-)"

"It's at 2pm. So see you there ;D Katie x"

So, not much later, we were off to the 'Ring, for purposes I still didn't fully understand...but it was probably gonna be fun.

At 2pm, with Ishizaki and Russell following me behind, and us barely a mile out from the 'Ring, I checked the time.

"Damn! It's 2pm and we aren't there yet! We've missed the start of the race!"

We hurried there quickly, and then quickly found ourselves some seats.

"So then...where are we at the moment in terms of the race?"
"I dunno. Let's just wait and see..."

Almost instantaneously we heard a bunch of loud screams coming from down at the hairpin.

"There they are!"
"Who's leading?"

As the cars came past, there was an all pink LFA - Katie's LFA - leading a very similar LFA, but painted with black wheels and gold paint and a yellow Cizeta.

"And over the line to begin the last lap go the two LFA's, followed closely by the V16T!"

"The last lap? How much have we missed?!"

"Come on! I can't lose to this idiotic LFA!"
"Man, she's fast!"

"Hahaha...how do you like this? Being trailed by a young woman like me?"
"This'll be an easy pass..."
"Sigh...these two are fast..."

"I swear I'm not even gonna bother using full throttle now..."
"Come on!"
"Dude, you aren't Lewis Hamilton, don't bother..."

"Sigh...I can't get through..."
"I'm not losing second to a whopper meal like yours!"

"I admire your skill..."
"Aww, big boy can't get through...aww..."

"Now I need to take down this...insult to the LFA!"

"Look, you're obviously not gonna catch me, so why not give up?"

"I'm faster - I will catch you!"
"Look, bro, obviously you need a few more mods to get your LFA close to mine...if you actually have the money."

"I bet you my race winnings he can't outsmart Katie."

"Hey! That's just uncalled for!"
"There, ya see? Now get back in the kitchen!"

"Ooh, I appeared to have found my perfect match. Not!"
"Wait! You're not supposed to come back!"

"Later, bro."
"Oh my god is this agitating..."

"Ooh, you're a annoying one, aren't you?"
"I'm not getting beaten by this thing!"

"Have some of this, slut!"
"What the 🤬?!"

"🤬 🤬! Shoving me off the road like a complete 🤬!"
"Whoa, hey, what's going on here?!"

"I'm not having that. Dirty 🤬."
"That looked like a meaningful shove..."

"It's time for a little...revenge."

"Here goes nothin'..."

"...Wait - hey, what? Don't shove me, Katie!"
"That wasn't quite planned. But still..."

"I'm coming for you now!"
"Wait a minute...she's there?!"

"I'm gonna give you a taste of your own medicine, you bloody perv!"
"Oi!"

"Yeah, how'd ya like that, bastard?"
"How?????"
"I can see why she'd do that...but bravo."

"I can still get you, you ugly slut!"
"Toodles!"

"Heeeeelllll yeaaaah!"
"Aargh! Bloody jerk!"

"She won it!"
"Wow, she did well!"
"Whoo...was that a nail-biter."

We then came down to the pits. The first thing we saw was Katie having quite a raging argument with another man - who I can only presume would be the other LFA driver.

"I'm sorry, but you shoved me off there going into the turn. You could have lost me the race then."
"Yeah, but you lost me the race by carelessly cutting the chicane like a complete noob, which is what you are since you're just a woman-"

The man was cut off by a royal bitchslap to the face from Katie. Me and Russell gave off surprised faces, where as Ishizaki just giggled. Not a good idea...the man heard him. Then he started marching over to him.

"You. What was that?"
"...OhmygodI'msorryI'mreallysorryitwasjustanaturalreaction-"
"Stop talking. You don't giggle at me, ever. You're just out of order if you do that."
"...Who are you?"
"Oh, I'm Taro Mizushima. One of the best up and coming racers around. And you are?"
"I'm Ishizaki Akiyama."
"Oh, I've heard of you. You've beaten some of the top racers in a Citroen GT. You even beat Mazda's new LMP concept."
"I did, yes."
"Right. I'll see you again some time. Don't take the mick out of me again."
"Sorry."
"You'd better mean it."

"...I don't know what I even did wrong. I just giggled at him for getting bitchslapped..."
"Don't worry about him, Ishizaki. He's such a wannabe. He SAYS he's all tough, and he SAYS he will become the best supercar racer ever, but for as long as I stay around he's not getting that title."
"Right...what were you arguing about?"
"Well, let me explain. I was running first, coming out of the long chicane, then he just shoved me off the road for no explained reason. So what I did is when we came up to the chicane, I cut across him and shoved him to get first, which makes us pretty much even...the thing is though he never gave any reason at all for him shoving me off in the first place, the bloody bastard. So he says I'm a noob because I'm a woman, and that's just sexist...so the bitchslap was the best option there. And now he's just run away like a 🤬 because that's what he is."
"I see...now, what was it you wanted to talk about with me?"
"Actually since you're all here, it's really with all of you."
"Right, I see-"

Suddenly a hugely loud sound blocked out our voices. It was the yellow V16T from the race that had just gone past us. I got a glimpse of the back of the car, but for some reason the I in CIZETA on the back had been rotated, to make...C-ZETA. Which sounds like a rapper's name*.

"Bloody loudmouth."
"Hey, allow the damn thing! It's alright!"
"If you say so yourself. Anyway, Jason, I considered joining your team back in Siena, correct?"
"I do believe so, yes."
"Well, I have disbanded from my former girls..."
"Good..."
"And I've now made the decision...to join with you now."
"Yes!"
"Awesome!"
"I knew that would make you happy."
"Well wouldn't it just. You're the last member of our crew!"
"Glad to be with you boys. Now, I say we go find some racing to do."
"Couldn't agree with you more. Let's hit the road and get ourselves some cars to race!"

So now our four heroes have been joined together at last.

Jason Cutler, with his Citroen C4, his Mitsubishi GTO and his two Alfa Romeo Giulias...

Ishizaki Akiyama, with his Toyota Yaris and his Citroen GT...

Russell Jackson, with his Clio and his Corvette...

...and Katie Hart, with her Lexus LFA.

With these 4 racers looking for fresh blood to take on, one can only wonder how their racing careers will go from here. Can they all win races for their brand new team?

Stay tuned to Grand PriX to find out!
​

*Yes, even I confess that it could be improved on. Sadly Premium is a long way away yet for me

 

[DK]

That asshole in the gold LF-A is like Miki Watanabe except not a steroid junkie, Honda nut or a pervert.

 

[C-ZETA]

That asshole in the gold LF-A is like Miki Watanabe except not a steroid junkie, Honda nut or a pervert.

And always not as cool for life if he gets bitchslapped by anyone

Also this will be the last update for a good 3 weeks now. I'm going on holiday for that long tomorrow and while I will be able to keep in touch here, I won't be at the PS3 and can't write anymore chapters! So...yeah.

 

[Michelin]

bitchslapped to the face HA! Three weeks without this... I know I will be reading over and over and over this fanfic. Great job!

 

[Skython]

That asshole in the gold LF-A is like Miki Watanabe except not a steroid junkie, Honda nut or a pervert.

So I wasn't the only one thinking that Cool chapter 👍