Chapter 4: What meant to be business

In the paddocks, each racing teams were watching the race by a television mounted on the ceiling.

They saw every live footage, every sound of engines, and every words of the commentators.

Tanami crossed his arms and looked up at the Television. He saw the live footage of Kei Eida overtook Ino One's S30Z at abnormal speed in the first high speed turn.

One of the nearby young mechanic was curios, and said, "That is insane. How can a car move like that?"

"If you have a driver that is very skilled. They can control the car's movement as they like. For them, it is like controlling an extension part of their body, " Tanami replied to the young mechanic.

That young mechanic was Kenji Hiru, who was currently under training from Tanami Hideyoshi.

"I see. It is amazing isn't it?"

"It sure does, you will never get tired seeing this type of scene in a race. Preferably the one's that are unpredictable."

Meanwhile in a paddock team of Ino One. Their instructor was Keiya Hideyoshi, frustrated at Ronin Endou had been took over.

"Dammit! I throught we had it," Keiya said, clenched his hands tightly.

An older driver came from behind him. That driver was Daigo Jun, the previous lead driver for Ino One.

"It's fine. Its for us to learn our mistakes from this one," Daigo said.

Keiya turned around and saw Daigo. He bowed to him politely.

"Daigo-sama, I didn't see you there," Keiya said.

"Whoa, don't be so tight there. I heard your strategy failed because you didn't take Tristan Star driver into account," Daigo calmly said.

Keiya straightened his back and saw Daigo in the eyes.

"Yes, unmistakenly so. It is my blunder on my part in the lack of research on that team," Keiya replied.

Daigo chuckled, and said, "It is fine, because a new era is about to be born. This will help both of them grow better. Their dream are just about to begin in this world."

Keiya looked at Jouhan Racing in the Television scene, he saw them sandwich Zhu Yi in the middle, and didn't him let him free. They continued not to gave him any breathing room from there.

Commentator 1 said, "Zhu Yi have been trapped by Jouhan racing. A beautiful teamwork from them."

"Both drivers have the best synergy in this race. I can't believe they have this much skills in them, " Commentator 2 added.

---

Ronin saw the LP1440 in front of him gets further into the distance after it passed him.

"I'll chase that thing down, doesn't matter how fast it is," he said.

His S30Z accelerated, tried to chase down the LP1440 that was about 1.1 seconds ahead.

They both passed the Z chicanes, and now on the medium straight toward the second high speed turn.

Then he finally saw the odd movement of the LP1440. It begins by loosened its grip on the rear wheels, it slided naturally as if skated on ice; and kept more speed and momentum into it.

It entered the second high speed turn over 210 KM/H in speed, and exited with a speed of 230 KM/H. The LP1440 neared on the track limits in the exit, but didn't fully went off-road.

Ronin just saw it blurred through the second high speed turn, and expressed in awe.

"How is that even humanly possible?!"He said in surprised.

As he entered the second high speed turn with a speed of 180 KM/H. But the S30Z front tires will started losing grip, and made a slight understeer.

However, Ronin managed to recover from the understeer. He knew this was his limit of his driving skill. It doesn't matter how powerful the car went, only the driver would hold it back.

---

Back in the paddock. Ravenwest team focused in Jetsun LP1440 (Kei Eida) passed through both sharp curves on the Television.

The instructor for Ravenwest team was Jones Hanks. He was a well respected racing instructor for both rookies on this race, and also the most experienced in the team.

"I didn't expected a fast driver in Japan. But it is shame that driver have one thing it doesn't have," he said in mild surprised.

The racing engineer of Ravenwest was Mike Rooney. He looked at the television, and saw the Jetsun LP1440 racing through the medium straight before the hairpin.

"I've never seen a car like that before," he said in surprised.

Jason turned his head, got his attention to Mike.

"That car is from a new released from a car brand named Jetsun. I've heard it about them a while ago," he replied.

Mike looked confused at the car brand that Jones mentioned.

He said, "Jetsun? In the longest standing of motorsport, I've never heard of it. This is first time hearing it."

"You're not the only one," Jones said, "That car brand only have few car catalogs. However, the cars and trucks they build is amazing. It was build for both drivers and casuals in mind. I've read it in many community post in Umasports."

Mike grab his notebook and noted down all about the Jetsun brand. It listed down for the known cars and rumors about it, as per mentioned in public knowledge.

"The car seem fit a lot for the country," Mike said, "But isn't there more trusted brand like Nissan, Toyota, and Mitsubishi?"

While Mike was correct about those car brands. But missed one point of it, which Jones soon explained.

"In general, those car brands are great, but they lack the technology. Nissan just released their S30Z about 2 years ago. Now, Jetsun released their L2011 Comet, both performance and cost difference are big. Maintenance for it is a lot cheaper too. People will start flocking there like birds when they know about it."

"I see," Mike replied, understood what Jones explained.

Mike put his notebook on top of the table.

"I'll be heading out for a bit," Mike said.

Jones squint his eyes with curosity, "You're going somewhere?"

"Just going to get some fresh air,"
 Mike replied.

Jones snickered at his response, "Just be quick."

---

On the fourth lap. Speed Joker used her skills to the fullest. Pushed out what the car can gave to her. She already used her tire management skills for the laps from before, to preserve as much durability of her tires.

As she kept drove through. She saw Thunder Group in the distance. Between the two Thunder Group drivers sandwiched a single car; it was Ino One's S30Z being in the middle as a filler, Kono Ikeda.

They passed the fourth curve, Speed Joker got closer to Noah Pierez behind his Camaro ZL1.

Noah saw the LP1440 behind him on the reflection of his rearview mirror.

{No doubt that is Kei Eida behind me. Just what is this intense pressure I'm feeling. Unlike my last races, this feeling the closest thing if I'm dogfighting against my seniors,} he thought.

In the long straight. Noah keep his calm and cool despite the intense pressure behind him.

As Noah was halfway through the long straight, he heard something in the engine. It was like knock.

{Tsk, why all times have to be now.}

"Ray, is there any issues with engine?" Noah asked on the radio.

Ray Frogon was his racing team engineer. His engineer check any error code from the ECU on the computer, but there was no error code to be found.

"There is nothing here," Ray replied.

{I don't like this feeling on what my instincts are telling me. Please this just be false alarm,} he prayed in his heart.

Quarter way of the long straight, now neared the first high speed turn. Soon Noah's worries are about to be true. His hood suddenly released a mist white smoke. Then the LS1 suddenly jammed, because one of the piston had been snapped inside.

His rear wheels locked up, and his car spun. Noah saw the LP1440 through the windshield, it took over him and avoid crashing into him.

Not long after, he stopped at the grass and hit the barrier, with a slight damage on the rear bodywork of the Camaro.

He was very disappointed at the car performance in this race.

"DAMMIT!" he said, slamming both hands on the steering wheel.

However, there was no oil leak on the race track. But a yellow flag had been raised to cleaned up the leftover debris from the crash.

The race continued without any worried. Speed Joker saw everything in front of her, like she sat on VIP seat in a cinema. 

It was truly devastating for Thunder Group for them to lost one of their driver in this race.

"I just hope he is alright," she said.

"He didn't got injured, but he is out of the race," Tanami replied.

She gave a sigh of relief. This was a close call that she had experienced.

---

After that accident. Speed Joker continued her focus on Kono Ikeda in front of her.

She stuck close behind him.

Kono Ikeda saw everything on his rearview mirror.

{Kiddo, you're very lucky to get into the top 5. But I'm not letting you into the top 4!}

At the second chicane, Speed Joker went outside, then went inside of the second part in the chicane. She completely took over Kono Ikeda easily.

For Kono Ikeda, he wasn't giving up easily. He stuck close behind her for slipstream, and went passed third chicane at the same pace.

Neared the end of the medium straight, both of them went ready for the second high speed curve.

Kono Ikeda saw the LP1440 loosened its rear wheel grip, then turned into the high speed curve with a controlled four wheel power slide.

{Tsk, tsk. Such fancy movement.}

Kono Ikeda tried to replicate the movement. He did successfully at the entry of the turn.

{Simple enough, I'll pass you soon.}

When in the middle of the action. He felt his front wheels delayed at his steering input, and also heard a very noisy squeal.

{No way, my front tires! I thought it had enough to do this move. I've underestimated you, Kei Eida.}

Kono hit the brake pedal in rhythm, allowed the weight of the car to go front. Now he felt his steering input response a lot more better.

But this costed him to pull away from Kei Eida (Speed Joker) further.

Speed Joker was now moved to P4, one more position needed for her to finish her contract.

There was also another condition in her contract. If she get to P2 and above, she would get additional fifty million yen. It was a bargain for her. She wouldn't be missing this opportunity to get extra cash to boot.

---

Michael Strand focused on staying close to Ravenwest. He didn't notice behind him that Kono Ikeda had been took over completely by Kei Eida.