Chapter 4: Final Stretch!

Rowan Cooper looked at his rear view mirror, and saw the Jetsun LP1440. He said this in his heart: “What is that car? I’ve never seen it before. Not only that, the size is a lot more smaller. It must been using a lot less powerful engine.”

They both entered the second high-speed corner, and The Jetsun LP1440 behind him is getting closer to his bumper. Until in the end of the high-speed curve. He looked again in his rear view mirror, and it was gone. He said in shock: “What? How!?”

He look at his left side, where the Jetsun LP1440 is side by side with his Aston Martin. In the first sharp curve, the Kei Eida (Speed Joker), he takes on the outside. As they both exit the first sharp turn, there is no change is position, still side by side.

In the second sharp curve. Kei Eida (Speed Joker) take the inside, and manage to pass through Rowan Cooper by scrapping on the left side of his Aston Martin.

Rowan Cooper look at the Jetsun LP1440 passed him. He looks at silhouette of the car getting further, and further into the distance. He said this in awe, and a grin: “What an Amazing driver. I never thought myself not regretting of entering this race.”

This make Kei Eida (Speed Joker) taking seventh place (P7), and makes Rowan Cooper down to eight place (P8).

Speed Joker continue to pass the hairpin, went to the third high-speed curve, and into finally the finish line straight. Creating the fourth lap.

A radio call come from Speed Joker’s left earphone. It was her racing engineer (Tanami): “Can you get at least up to P2?” Then she replied to him: “That’s a tough question. But I will try.”

She passes the first chicane, then the third curve, and the fourth curve. In the long straight. She manage to increase her pace by a margin, that she saw Thunder Group’s Chervolet Camaro ZL1 in the distance.

Noah notice the White Jetsun LP1440 in his rear view mirror, and said: “What a driver, let’s see if he can pass me.”

And so, Speed Joker manage to get close to his bumper on the first high-speed curve, and into the medium straight. In the second chicane, she went to outside of the first part, and went into the inside on the second part of the chicane. She passes Noah’s Chervolet Camaro ZL1 on his right side. Moving her from eight place (P8) to seventh place (P7).

In the third chicane. Noah follows her behind, try to follow the trick on Speed Joker, and try to do the same to her in the second chicane. He first go outside in the first section of the chicane. Then try to the inside of the second part of the chicane. On this part, Speed Joker defended her position, making Noah outside of the track limit, and also passed her. This gives Noah a five second penalty as the result.

Noah said on the radio: “So, close. I was so close. But also too careless.” His team engineer replied back on the radio: “Should’ve not copy him. For now try for race strategy type B.”

In the exit of the chicane. Speed Joker passed Noah, and continue speeding up further in the medium-straight. She passed the second high-speed curve, and increases her gap from Noah to two seconds.

In the far front. Two BMW M4 GT are battling against Thunder Group’s lead driver, Michael Strand. Speed Joker manage to closer its gap the time to zero point six seconds. Ronen Endou saw this coming on his rear view mirror.

He brakes at the entrance of the first sharp curve. Then he went into the curve, and exit. He to only find the Jetsun LP1440 on his left side, as both of them went through the short-straight. In the second sharp curve. Kei Eida (Speed Joker) went inside of the curve, and Ronen Endou tries to block it.

As he turn inside, and in front of the Speed Joker’s car. His rear tires lost grip, and turning his car into an oversteer. He quickly counter steer his over steer, but also lost his placed due to losing his pace. This moves Kei Eida (Speed Joker) to fifth place (P5).

Meanwhile in the Tristan Star Racing garage. Everyone watching the TV mounted on the ceiling, they all went excited. Tanami Hideyoshi scratch his chin, and said: “I can’t believe it. He went from last to fifth place within within two laps.”

One of the mechanics shouted: “Go get’em Kei! Show what our team can do!” Another one shouted, and makes fighting moves: “Hell yeah!!! Go hit them!”

Tanami smiles while looking at the Television, and said this in his heart: “I’ve seen you grown ever since debuting in the Japan Junior Rally Championship. But I didn’t think you would toe-on-toe against professional drivers to this day. What else of surprises in the future can you bring to us, Speed Joker.”

Back in the race track. Speed Joker pulls away from Ronen Endou, and gets closer to Kono Ikeda. Kono Ikeda looked at his rear view mirror, while also busy pressuring Michael strand in front of him. He said in frustration within his heart: “Tch, I miss calculated about Tristan Star Racing team. I never thought they had such a fast driver. Now its all crawling back behind me.”

Speed Joker get closer behind of Kono Ikeda’s bumper, nearing touching them. Once she got close. Kono felt the pressure from behind. He said this in his heart: “Just what is this feeling?”

Next was the upcoming hairpin. Kono brakes, and turn into the hairpin. Meanwhile, Speed Joker, she went outside and do a powerslide. Effectively passing Kono Ikeda. Now she moved to fourth place (P4).

Kono Ikeda looked the Jetsun LP 1440 on his front, and said in surprised: “This guy really has a lot of guts. But that move really shred his tires a lot. Won’t do much in a five lap race anyway.”

Speed Joker move closer to the rear bumper of Michael Strand’s Camaro ZL1. Michael looks at his rear view mirror, and said on the radio: “Any change of plans? Because Kono got taken over by Kei Eida.” Then his team engineer replied on the radio in disappointment: “Unfortunately, we don’t have any plans against Kei Eida. He is just a new driver entering the Motorsport scene not to long ago.”

Then his team engineer continue: “However, try to hold on to P3 as long as you can.” Michael Strand replied on the radio: “Roger.”

As they exit into the finish line straight, creating the final lap of the race. Into the first chicane. Kei Eida (Speed Joker) move outside on the first part, then got to the inside in the second. This didn’t budge Michael Strand in the slightest. He kept his defense held high.

They went to the short straight. Michael Strand keep his focus on the rear view mirror. Approaching the third curve. Speed Joker held her position behind Michael Strand. They passed the medium straight, and onto the fourth turn. Exiting the fourth turn, they went to the long straight.

As Michael Strand accelerate as the usual, his engine finally start knocking, and smoke coming out from the engine bay. He said on the radio to his team engineer: “Damn it! Engine failure.” Then his team engineer bfreplied on the radio: “Okay, okay. Just move aside on the road, and we will take the car.”

Speed Joker looked at the Michael Strand’s Camaro ZL1 went to the side of the road, slowing down, along with white smoke and oil coming out below of his car. She said on the radio: “Michael must be having a rough time.” Tanami replied on the radio in agreement: “Very common on the LS1 engine failures. They surely tuned it wrong if it end up in smoke.” This moves Speed Joker to third place (P3)

With the long straight coming to an end, and entering the first high-speed curve. In front of Speed Joker, there was Ravenwest teammate driver, Dave Jones.

Dave Jones looked at his rear-view mirror, there is the white Jetsun LP1440. He said on the radio to his racing engineer: “Any plans for Kei Eida?” Then his racing engineer respond quickly, and said: “There should be no trouble, try to hold the position.”

Exited the first high-speed curve, and went to the medium-straight. Speed Joker speeds up her car, slowly but surely get closer to Dave Jones’ Dodge Viper.

At the end of the medium-straight. It was the second chicane. Speed Joker manage to increase her pace on the second chicane, then into the short-straight. In the end of the short-straight, it was the third chicane. She reduce the time between her and Dave Jones.

Dave Jones looked at his rear-view mirror, and saw the Jetsun LP1440 slowly get closer within each turn. He said on the radio: “I don’t think I can hold P2. That car behind me is going very fast.” Then his team racing engineer replied: “Just focus in the race, and stop being negative.” After that replied, Dave said this under his breath: “Tch, stubborn old man.”

Into the second high-speed curve, the Jetsun LP1440 manage to get closer to Dave Jones’ Dodge Viper, to around zero point one second behind.

Exiting the high-speed curve, went into the medium-straight. There is no change position, or gap. Next was the first sharp curve. Dave Jones hold his defense for his position sharply, until it reaches the second sharp curve.

On the final medium straight. Speed Joker went to the right, and side-by-side with Dave Jones’ Dodge Viper. In the end of the medium straight, it was the hairpin. As two of them brake together at the one hundred and fifty meter mark. Both went through the hairpin, and Speed Joker is position inside of the high-speed curve.

The male commentator said on the speaker: “Here comes Kei Eida toe-to-toe with Dave Jones. Who will make it to the finish line first?!”

Both of them entering the finish-line straight. Speed Joker manage to gain more speed then the Dave Jones’ Dodge Viper. They both crossed the finish line.

The Male commentator continued: “Who is the second place winner?” He looked at the reply screen, and saw Kei Eida (Speed Joker) manage to win by two centimeters ahead. He said in full blow excitement: “Kei Eida wins the second place! While first place goes to McCane Thomas!”

Speed Joker heard Tanami in the radio on her earphone: “Good Job! We got second place. More than enough to start celebrating for this night.” She exhale her breath, start breathing more normally, and said in her heart: “That was intense.” Then she replied on the radio: “Gotcha that right, WOOHOO!!!”