Chapter 3: The Race

Inside a studio, there are two commentators sat on a chair. One is a man, and the other is woman. The man grab the headset from the headphone stand, and wears it. He adjusts the microphone on the headset. The woman also wears the headphone, and adjust its microphone. 

Then a speaker on the racing stand, where spectators looking at the starting grid, the man commentator spoke up excitedly first: “Welcome to Daiban Raceway grand opening race! You’re in time to witness Japan’s entering the Automobile Racing scene for the first time in history.”

The one who is in pole position (P1) is McCane Thomas, and second place (P2) is Dave Jones. Michael Strand taking third place (P3), Noah Pierez taking fourth place (P4), Kono Ikeda taking fifth place (P5), Ronen Endou taking sixth place (P6), Zhou Xi takes the Seventh place (P7), Xiao Yu taking eight place (P8), Rowan Cooper in ninth place (P9), Tanner Forster takes tenth place (P10). Kenzo Tanaka taking eleventh place (P11), Kouta Sato taking twelfth place (P12). Finally thirteenth place (P13) is placed by Kei Eida (Speed Joker).

Then the woman commentator spoke up: “Yes, this is going to be a race very exciting. We can see each driver in their starting grid, in their cars ready to go. All of them are hyped up for this event.” Then she continued after looking at the message on her the monitor: “Oh look, it is about to start now.”

The male commentator looks at the countdown on the clock, counting down from five to zero. He said as the traffic lights above the starting grid turns green: “Lights out and away we go!”

All cars launched on start, and accelerated quickly in the first straight. Kei Eida (Speed Joker) right behind the BMW keeping close to the bumper. They all passed the first chicane of the track without any problem, then went through the third curve, and went into the medium-straight. As the U curve was coming up. All of them brake at the two hundred meter mark, and each of them went into the turn. After passing that turn. Quihan Veil lead driver Zhou Xi make his move in the long three kilometer straight.

The male commentator said: “Driver Zhou Yi make his move in the straight, trying to pass Ino One team. Can he do it until the end?!” Then the BMW M4 GT leading driver of Ino One team make his defensive move, blocking Zhou Xi in the straight. The commentator said: “What an Unexpected surprised move from Kono Ikeda. He is blocking Zhou Xi preventing him to be passed.”

As the long straight nearing to a end, it was a fifteen degree high speed curve to the left. Kono Ikeda hit the brakes lightly. While Zhou Yi hit the brakes of his car a lot more. Entering the corner, Zhou Yi turn his car to the left, but the front tires can’t hold too much from the weight shift and losses grip on the asphalt. He under steer into the corner, went into the grass, and stopped there.

The man commentator said: “Looks like Zhou Xi got a bit late on his brake there.” Then the female commentator continued: “Yes, I saw his front tires locked up.”

Speed Joker’s right earpiece turned on, a radio from Tanami to warn her: “Watch out. Zhou Xi got off the track.” She said on her microphone: “He got a bit too greedy in the first lap.”

Quihan Veil engineer said to Zhou Xi on the radio: “Are you okay?” He replied back on the radio with disappointment: “I’m fine. This is my fault getting too hasty. Don’t worry, I will get back into position.”

This put Zhou Xi to last place, thirteenth place (P13). Kei Eida (Speed Joker) moved to twelfth place (P12). At the exit of the high speed corner, they entered a one kilometer medium straight.

Speed Joker keep her position behind Kouta Sato’s BMW M4 GT. She get close to the bumper, and look at her rear view mirror. Zhou Yi re-entered into the race track with a few minor damage in the front lower bumper. She said in her heart with amusement: “Wow, big damage on the bumper. That thing will have hard time gaining aerodynamic in the front.”

In the end of the one kilometer straight, it was the second chicane. Thirty degree to the left, and then thirty degree to the right. Speed Joker follow smoothly on the rear of the pack. While Kouta Sato keep his defense up, preparing any moves coming from Kei Eida (Speed Joker).

In the exit of the second chicane, they entered a short straight of five hundred meters long. At the end of the short straight, it was the third chicane. First turn it goes into a thirty degree right, and the second goes thirty degree left. Next they entered a one kilometer medium straight. On the end of the of the medium straight, it was a fifteen degree high-speed curve to the left.

On exit of the second high speed curve. They entered a one point five kilometer medium straight. Where the end of the straight, there is the first fifty degree sharp curve to the right, the first sharp curve. Next, they entered a five hundred meter short-straight. At the end of the short straight, its a second fifty degree second sharp curve to the left.

Next is the medium straight, which is one kilometers long with a slight incline of five degrees. At the end of the medium straight, it was a hairpin turn. At the exit of the hairpin turn, its connected to a ten degree third high-speed curve. In the end of the high-speed curve. It’s a two point five kilometers long straight-away, which has the finish line. All of teams car passes by, created another lap for the race.

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Somewhere in a random household. A boy looked at the television, and he said this excitedly: “Dad, its starting!” His dad looks at him, and smiled. He said this to his son: “Hmm, this is going to be interesting to watch. You really like this TV show since three years ago.”

His son brightly said: “Because its cool! Better than girls that are running around in grass with weird looking outfits.” Then a voice of girl shouted coming from the second floor: “I can hear you! I don’t like you slandering on my favorite Horse Girl (Uma Musume)!”

The television in a living room shows a Television channel called Japan Sports TV. It displays a man wearing as suit along with a woman beside it. The woman in suit first spoke up: “Welcome everyone to the Japan Sports TV. My name is Yumiko.”

Then the man in suit spoke up: “And my name is Shigeru.” Then both of them said in synchronized: “Today we will be your host for tonight live TV.”

Shigeru looks at Yumiko and said: “Yumiko-san, did you know that a new Racetrack open today?”

Yumiko looked at Shigeru with surprised expression, and said: “Really? I didn’t know.”

Shigeru nodded with a smile, and said: “Yes, today we will watch the night race in Japan’s first legal race track opened. There is many big teams will be there too. Big famous automobile teams from Americas, Europe, and Asia. All come here to do the big grand opening race.”

Yumiko smiled, calmly put her hand covering her mouth, and said excitedly: “Oh my, I can’t wait to watch the Race!”

Shigeru look with a straight face, and said with a polite bight smile: “Now, we will watch the race for the grand opening of Daiban Raceway.”

The display of the television switches to the race in Daiban Raceway. Where the camera is showing in the fourth turn. The current pole position car is McCane Thomas, who is holding strong. While Dave Jones behind in the second place holding his defense against Michael Strand, who is closing on his rear bumper, and manage to bump on it.

Team engineer from Ravenwest said to Dave Jones: “Hold P2, don’t let Thunder Group get it.” He replied back on the radio to his engineer: “I’m trying my best.”

On the Thunder Group side. Michael Strand said to his Racing Engineer: “I’ve got a bad feeling with Noah’s engine.” His racing engineer replied to him: “Don’t worry, the computer says all good. Just focus on putting pressure on Ravenwest.”

Once exit the fourth turn. They entered the long straight (three kilometer straight). Kono Ikeda make his move on Thunder Group teammate driver Noah. He went to the right, accelerated, and side by side with Noah Pierez. He said in his heart: “Go!!!”

Nearing the end of the long straight. They both brake at the same time, and went into the first high-speed corner. Side by side, scrapping on each others paint with tires squealing. Kono Ikeda manage to push through, and Noah Pierez slightly went off track, lost two position, . It moves him down to sixth place (P6).

Noah Pierez said to his racing engineer on the radio: “Sorry guys, I was pushed off. I didn’t expected he pull of an attack move right on that corner.” Then his racing engineer replied on the radio: “Don’t worry, you did your best.”

On Ino One team side. The racing engineer said to Kono Ikeda on the radio: “Beautiful overtake!” Kono Ikeda replied back on the radio to his team engineer: “Thanks. I was patient enough to wait for that moment.”

Rear of the pack. Speed Joker still keeping close on the bumper of Kouta Sato. Then she look at the incoming second chicane. She went on the outside on the first part of the chicane, and went inside at the second part. She overtake Kouta Sato, and took the eleventh place (P11).

Kouta Sato said on the radio: “That surprised me!” Then his team engineer radio said: “Don’t worry, you’re doing great. Just follow as in the simulation practice.”

Speed Joker on the short straight, she keep her front bumper close on Kenzo Tanaka. As the short straight is slowly ending, and soon entering to she third chicane. First she went to the inside, which Kenzo Tanaka make a defensive move by blocking her. But then she quickly went outside as they entered the first part of the chicane, than move into the inside on the second part of the chicane, and passed Kenzo Tanaka. This makes Kei Eida (Speed Joker) into tenth place (P10).

Kenzo Tanaka said on his radio: “Ah! He got me there, smart move by him.” His team engineer replied on the radio: “You did great. More practice should sharpen your skills later. ”

In the medium straight. Speed Joker accelerate hard on the straight, pushing speed to two hundred and eighty kilometers an hour. In the second high-speed curve at the end of the medium straight. She manage to push at one hundred a fifty kilometers an hour turning into the corner, with her rear wheels felt it was losing grip.

At the end of the second high-speed curve, and went into the medium straight. Speed Joker manage to get closer on Dexter Torres team by zero point eight seconds. At the end of the medium straight, through the first sharp curve. Then to the short straight, and went through the second sharp curve.

Then the radio called from Tanami on Speed Joker as she entered the medium straight: “Your pace is significantly faster. You should able to catch up to Dexter Torres within one point two seconds.”

Entered the final medium straight. She saw the figure of Dexter Torres’ second car in the distance turning into the hairpin. At the end of the medium straight, she went pass through the hairpin quickly, and the accelerate at the third high speed curve.

Exits the high speed curve, and went into the finish line straight. It created the third lap of the race. Passed the first chicane, and the third curve. Speed joker manage to get close to Tanner Forster rear bumper of his car. In the fourth turn, she follows him in the racing line from behind, until in the exit of the turn. Where she accelerate first, and went pass Tanner Forster. This increase her place from tenth (P10) to ninth (P9).

Behind Speed Joker, Tanner Forster hold on her rear bumper in the long straight. He said on the radio: “You’re not going anywhere.”

At the end of the long straight, and into the first high speed curve. Speed Joker keeps hold of her pace. At the end of the first high-speed curve. She increases her pace further, pulling away from Tanner Forster in her rear. She passed through the second chicane, and manage to get closer to Rowan Cooper.

Rowan Cooper make his attack move on Xiao Yu. He said on the radio: “I will make that four tires of yours into a slide.”

In the third chicane. Xiao Yu look at his rear view mirror, and saw Rowan Cooper went near to his rear bumper, and give it a little kiss on the first part of the chicane. On the second part, Rowan Cooper went into the inside, with his front bumper scratching on side of Xiao yu’s car

Xiao Yu said in his heart: “Is he Crazy?! Damn it! I’m losing grip.”

Rowan Cooper manage to went through at the second part of the chicane. While Xiao Yu understeer his car at the exit. As Xiao Yu manage to recover back control of his car. He saw the glimpse of Kei Eida’s car pass him on his left window door. He has lost two positions, putting him into ninth position (P9). While Kei Eida (Speed Joker) move his position into eight place (P8). Rowan Cooper increased from eight place (P8) to seventh place (P7).