24 cars parked in their specific grid in front of the starting line, all determined to win, or at least reach the podium. Alice looked around her and saw familiar faces, some of whom she saw as friends and some as foes. But to her, everyone is an opponent she must watch out for. As she waited for the cars to move, she received a radio transmission from Ghazali who was in the pit.

"Gaz to Alice, can you copy?" Ghazali asked the drivers.

"Copy, loud and clear Gaz." Alice responded

"Great, you guys will start doing some warm-up laps to warm up the wheels. After that, the rolling lap will begin. When the first car reaches the starting line, the race starts. Do you copy?" Ghazali asked her.

"Copy that Gaz." Alice said to him.

The race cars began moving at a specific speed as the pace car spears headed the group. Many racers began swerving to warm up their tires and Alice followed suit. As she swerves, she notices that Sugimoto is not warming up his tires. She chuckled a bit seeing him imitating a legend.

"Hey Senpai, you think you're Kimi Räikkönen or something?" Alice said teasing him over the radio.

"Heh, I'm gonna race like him as well." He said with a confident tone on the radio.

The race cars began approaching the starting line and the pace car went to the pit. Sugimoto's Porsche crossed the starting line and the race has officially started.

"Lights out, good luck guys!" Ghazali told both of them over the radio.

Everyone began sprinting and the engines screamed through the circuit. Sugimoto stayed in the racing line and Kara's GR86 got beside them as they entered the first corner into the hairpins. Sugimoto got to the corner exit first and squeezed Kara from overtaking him. Sugimoto managed to maintain his lead and Kara got behind him. Alice carefully enters the first corner into the hairpins following Richard from behind.

"Yellow flag, yellow flag!" Ghazali told over the radio.

Alice looked behind and noticed two cars behind her had spun out upon entering the hairpins. This caused most of the cars behind her to slow down while the leaders sped off. The leaders began moving in a single file as they reached the first high-speed straight of sector 3. Sugimoto is met with Kara who is trying to use the slipstream to pass Sugimoto. She tried to overtake but had to bail last second because they were approaching the chicane. While they fought, Richard and Alice used the four-car slipstream to their advantage.

"Looks like they're fighting hard out there, I just need to remain focused and follow Richard as close as I can." Alice muttered to herself.

The gap between the leaders and the other cars behind them was significant. The cars made it through lap 1 and there were 19 laps left. The race continues as normal with a few unsuccessful overtakes occurring until lap 3. In lap 4, Sugimoto battles out with Kara again on the straights as they enter the Hairpins. Sugimoto notices the GR86 went on the outside line and Sugimoto went to shut her down by occupying the middle of the track.

"You won't pass me on the outside Fujiwara." Sugimoto muttered.

"You fell into my trap Asashi." Kara said to herself.

The GR86 suddenly came up and got beside him forcing herself into the inside line. The GR86 hooks onto the Apex surprising Sugimoto and he gives up his position. On the next turn, Kara blocked Sugimoto who was trying to switch back and successfully overtook him.

"Damn, I went too wide. I'll get you back Fujiwara!" Sugimoto chuckles and feels fired up.

Kara is now in the lead, Sugimoto in second. As the race continues, Alice notices that Richard is a bit slow and the gap widens between them and the leaders. Alice out of desperation asked Ghazali for opinions on what to do next.

"Gaz, should I overtake? Richard seems slow on the straights and the gap is widening!" Alice asked on the radio.

"Copy, you may overtake him when you have the chance. Once you overtake, follow the Toyota and use her slipstream instead." Ghazali told her on the radio.

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Alice began to feel fired up once she had the green light to overtake Richard. On the straights, Alice tries her luck and tries to overtake him. As they approach the chicane, Alice takes a different line and late brakes into the corner of the chicane and overtook Richard.

"Get smoke buddy." She muttered to herself feeling pride from it.

"Good overtake Ally. Be careful on the second straight." Ghazali informs her on the radio.

Alice took his advice and defended her position. She grins to herself looking at his Ferrari behind her from the mirror. The 4 leaders widen their gap from the other racers as they all form their own packs. The race continues with minor incidents involving an engine failure from a car in 13th position. They entered the two other sectors and entered Sector 1 again. After completing lap 5, Alice caught up to Sugimoto and Kara while Richard followed suit. They're all drafting to benefit from the slipstream.

"3rd position now, 2 more laps to go before the pit window will open. Keep racing." Ghazali told over the radio.

The cars started slowing down to enter the hairpins, they entered sector 2 one by one until Alice felt a strong bump from behind. Her car narrowly spun out but Alice managed to save it. Alice was in a state of shock. The Ferarri took the opportunity to overtake Alice In the hairpin.

"What the heck man! That's literally not fair!" Alice felt furious about the incident and began ranting.

"Calm down Alice, we'll contact the stewards about this." Ghazali told Alice in a calm tone.

Alice tho still frustrated hoped that she would still get her justice. She is being left behind as the cars widen the gap, Alice feels shocked but isn't ready to give up and begins to push herself back and try to catch up with the pact. A minute went by and still no response.

"Well Gaz, any news?" Alice asked a bit calm now.

"We've got words from the stewards, no penalty for Richard." Ghazali said with a frustrated tone.

"What the hell Gaz?!" Alice screamed at Ghazali.

"We will investigate this later. Keep going and chase him." Ghazali told Alice in a calm tone.

Alice is angry that there were no penalties given to Richard but she continues racing. She pushed herself and the M235i to the limits. They continue hard racing through laps 5, 6, and 7. After her valiant effort, she caught up with the pack, and the pit stop window opened.

"Alright drivers, the pit window is open, come into the pit lane as soon as you finish this lap." Ghazali told them over the radio.

They enter the pit stop earlier than the rest of the rest just according to their plans, while Kara and Richard stay out and continue their race. They have to wait a minimum of 3 minutes before going back onto the tracks. The crew may change tires and the drivers can freshen up a bit.

"That was unbelievable!" Alice said as she threw her gloves on the floor and removed her helmet.

"Calm down kid." Sugimoto said in a calm voice and tried to calm her down.

"Calm down? I nearly spun out because of him!" Alice snaps at Sugimoto.

"It's racing, what do you expect?" Sugimoto told her with a stern voice.

"I expected the stewards would do their jobs but it seems like they aren't!" Alice said feeling frustrated.

"Look, It's probably a racing incident, so let's assume the best." Sugimoto said to Alice.

"Why are you defending him Senpai? I can't believe you could defend someone like him!" Alice said to him.

Sugimoto remains quiet not to further their argument. Alice went over to inspect the damage on her car and there was a clear dent on it. Alice placed her hands on the damaged part visibly furious.

"Biru... That punk will pay for this." Alice muttered to herself.

The pit crew inspected the car for further damage and began refueling. Alice sat down beside the wall feeling defeated. Ghazali ran over to her and handed them a bottle of cold water.

"Here, stay hydrated for a bit." Ghazali tries to ease her.

"Thanks, Gaz..." Alice said to him.

Ghazali went back to help the pit crew with the car. Alice took a sip of the water and calmed down. As she was sitting down, she remembered snapping at Sugimoto and feeling ashamed for it. Sugimoto noticed her curled up by herself and sat beside her.

"You still mad, kid?" Sugimoto asked her.

"N-no, not anymore. I'm sorry for snapping at you Senpai." Alice told Sugimoto.

"Nah I understand. Racing is sometimes like that you know?" Sugimoto told her.

"I'm used to it, but I don't know why but this time it feels like I can't let it go." Alice told Sugimoto.

"Perhaps you wanted revenge?" Sugimoto asked her.

Alice began having flashbacks from the vending machine incident where Richard made fun of her and her team. The thought of that interaction fills her mind with rage.

"I-I guess I do want a bit of revenge..." Alice muttered to Sugimoto.

"If it's about that, forget about winning kid." Sugimoto told her.

"W-why?" Alice was confused by his statement and asked.

"Racing for revenge is a recipe for disaster. If you want to beat him, get him out of your mind first." Sugimoto revealed to her.

Alice grudges her hand knowing that it's probably what's best for her. She hesitantly nods and Sugimoto suddenly pets her head, but this time she embraces it.

"T-thanks Senpai." Alice smiled as she told him.

Alice got her spirits back up and pushed Richard out of her mind. Her goal now is to try her best and win the race. As they got up, Ghazali approached them with urgency.

"One more minute left, get ready to go guys!" Ghazali told them.

They rushed to wear their helmets and gloves and got into their cars. Alice got her spirits back up and pushed Richard out of her mind. Her goal now is to try her best and win the race.

"Remember our strategy gang, Sugimoto leads and Alice follows taking his slipstream." Ghazali told over the radio.

They both agreed and began moving their cars, Ghazali held his stopwatch as he looked on as the drivers approached the exit. As soon as they exited the pit together, the stopwatch exactly hit the 3-minute mark, Ghazali managed to time their exit right and they got a great start into the second half of racing.