TESTING
Planet: Suaria
Track: Torus Test Track
Driver: Kira Duni
Car: Super Gipulli
Kira followed one of the other cars around the test track for a lap. Getting a feel for the new aero package on the car. The car she was following was a Voss, all in black and super sleek. She had no problem keeping up with the other car in the corners and nearly ran into the back of it in the chicane, but when the track opened up into a straight, the Voss Just disappeared.
“How does the car feel in dirty air, Kira?” came a voice through her helmet. It was the familiar sound of Rosco, her race engineer.
“It’s fine,” she said between corners “some understeer on turn in.”
“Only to be expected when following,” said the pit engineer, “We can up the front downforce if we think you will be in traffic.”
Kira kept driving, the grip in this year’s Super Gipulli was incredible. The designers had come up with a strange eight wheel design and the increase in grip was sensational, she was being pulled from side to side in her seat through the corners and thrust forwards into her harness in the braking zones.
“We are running low on fuel, but all other systems appear to be optimal,” said Rosco, “can you give us a qualifying lap to finish the stint?”
“Brilliant!” thought Kira, this is what she loves doing the most. A qualifying lap is when you get to push the car to its absolute limit, when a driver has to do the fastest lap time possible.
Torus Test track was an easy place to push aswell, the runoff areas were gigantic, you have to crash pretty bad to hit anything out here, so if things went wrong, there was room for error.
She drove round the last set of corners of the track, a quick right followed by a long sweeping left, the car snapped back to the right, causing Kira to slide off line and into the runoff. She put the brakes on to slow down gently to half speed, something wasn’t right. She turned the car to the left, then the right, feeling where the tyres were and how the g-force affected the car. “I think something’s gone in the suspension.” she said over the radio.
“We are seeing, right side, wheel three.”
“That’s what it feels like.”
“OK, come into the pits, no point testing with a broken car.”
“On my way” said Kira, she knew the car was damaged, she was already half way into the pit lane.
…
It was the last day of testing, it was traditional to get a good lap done, but Kira couldn’t do any more for a good hour or so. The car felt great, it had good grip, downforce and responded like an insect. She just wished it had a bit more power. But there wasn’t much her team could do about that.
She left the Super Gipulli pit area and had a bit of a stroll around the back of the pits. Even at a testing session Kira still got the butterflies in her stomach and even after a year at the Super Gipulli X-1 team she couldn’t believe she had made it. X-1 is the biggest racing series in the galaxy. The fastest cars and the fastest drivers on the best tracks.
She walked through the paddock passing other teams’ hospitality areas. Tan Gia, K.M.F. and Pegasus, all different teams with different backgrounds and from different cultures. Kira dreamed big though, she loved the Super Gipulli team but every driver wants to be snapped up by the top teams. If she kept driving hard, who knows maybe she could be offered a drive with the leaders, Seskarin or Techno Union.
She spotted a driver she knew from last season, wearing all black overalls and chatting with his mechanics, Lucas Beckett. One of the human drivers on the grid, Lucas drove for Voss, a team that was known for cars that were extremely fast in a straight line but a little cumbersome in the corners.
“Kira!” called Lucas once he spotted her, he then waved at her to come over, so she did. “I saw you following my car in testing today, that thing you are driving is insane, it has some crazy grip.”
“Yeah, it’s pretty fun to drive, I don’t think we’ve managed to get the most out of it yet though,” said Kira, “The Voss looks fast again, the way you just disappear in the straights is just not fair.”
“Yeah, I guess it is” laughed Lucas. Lucas was a dark skinned human and one of the older drivers on the grid, a one time champion too, he was very approachable though, much more than the other champions. “So what brings you over here?”
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“Nothing really,” said Kira, “the team is working on the car and I’m just out here enjoying the peace and quiet before the press swarm the paddock.”
“Good idea,” said Lucas with a smile.
“I guess you are done testing for a while?” asked Kira.
“We’re finished, just going through some of the notes now.”
“I won’t get in your way,” said Kira, “I’ll see you at the first race.”
“See you there,” said Lucas, as Kira Duni left to continue her little walk up the paddock.
Lucas watched Kira leave, she had a very bouncy step to her walk, with her light brown, scaly tail sweeping from side to side. She was still a young urian and still excited to be racing in X-1.
Lucas had been racing for so long now, a lot of the fun had faded. He still loved driving the cars and the thrill of winning was always incredible, but he had lost patience with the press and didn’t have time for it anymore, always answering the same questions over and over again, having every little thing he did scrutinised by every journalist that covered the sport. After much debating internally he had decided to make this his last season in the sport, but this was still secret, even to his team.
...
Extracts from testing:
Norbert Schweinsteiger (two time champion) - Techno Union
This car is fantastic, I can’t wait to get it on track and test it out in a real competition. We have a real chance this year to not only challenge for wins, but this time we’re in with a chance to be able to beat the Seskarins to the title.
Sommarrammos looked very comfortable in his car, do you think Seskarin are sandbagging a bit?
It’s possible, but we all hold a little something back when we’re testing.
There is only a week to go until the first race, what are you going to do until then?
It’s quite a long flight to Nkurdamus, so I’ll be doing the usual, just training, doing runs in the simulator. We’re heading there as soon as we wrap up here so I can have some time to acclimatise.
Your last championship win was a long time ago, there are some saying that you are past your prime, what do you say to these critics?
Really? that was only three seasons ago, I’m just as fast as I ever was. What I say to those critics… did you see last season? I was racing just as hard as anyone, it’s clear the Seskarins had a performance advantage.
Nato Criffion - Pegasus
Dude, this season is going to be awesome. There are so many teams with fast cars and it looks like we’re one of them. We’ll be fighting for wins this season for sure, not just the odd podium. Our car is so cool to drive, it handles great and it’s really strong on downforce, and the best thing is, we have some power too, so we won't be just stuck at the back somewhere on the power tracks.
I heard HC Boranistipi is doing commentary this year! That’s going to be sweet, he’s my kind of guy.
Hashtiget - Cypher Engineering
How did testing go for your team?
We completed all testing successfully, many operational issues have been resolved.
Does that mean some issues have not been resolved, can you tell us what they are?
I cannot answer that question.
You are racing for a new team this season in Cypher engineering, but you are not the only new team this year. Nillitai is also starting out. Do you see them as your rivals?
All the teams are our rivals. Our rival is always the car in front.
Your new teammate is running well. What do you think of her?
Elizabeth Nightingale is a very talented young human, but she has a lot to learn.
So you think you will have the advantage?
Yes.
Yildamik - XYTRAN
The first race is your home race, are you excited to race in front of your fans?
Ofcourse, I love my fans. it just lifts the spirits, there is nothing like racing in front of you home fans. They say the cheers of the crowd are worth two seconds a lap *laughs*
The XYTRAN did the fewest laps in testing, it looks like there are some underlying reliability problems.
It’s possible, but we are fast. I’m sure I can win the first race of the season. It’s meant to be you know what I mean.
X-1 Season - Full Entry list
* 1 - Sommarrammos - Seskarin
* 2 - Elli nas Sogdo - Seskarin
* 3 - Norbert Schweinsteiger - Techno Union
* 4 - Kuthmananga - Techno Union
* 5 - Yildamik - X.Y.T.R.A.N.
* 6 - Santino Nuvolari - X.Y.T.R.A.N.
* 7 - Nihlus des Amanai - Ultracar
* 8 - Benjamin Chen - Ultracar
* 9 - Karrannatos - Voss
* 10 - Lucas Beckett - Voss
* 11 - Nato Criffion - Pegasus
* 12 - Bannassaton - Pegasus
* 13 - Tleriont - K.M.F.
* 14 - Ji Jin - K.M.F.
* 15 - Thleshton - K.M.F. Design
* 16 - Tumus des Akanau - K.M.F. Design
* 17 - Ngantfi - Tan Gia
* 18 - Mikah Elinas - Tan Gia
* 19 - Aflkin - Super Gipulli
* 20 - Kira Duni - Super Gipulli
* 21 - Vissinnitipi - Boscer-Yent
* 22 - Nizio Faust - Boscer-Yent
* 23 - Hans Burg - Naffa
* 24 - Illirriya - Naffa
* 25 - Kasih Darma - Nillitai
* 26 - Issivvinni - Nillitai
* 27 - Hashtiget - Cypher Engineering
* 28 - Elizabeth Nightingale - Cypher Engineering