The Violet Meadows Loop in Shock City, for most drivers, is a challenging circuit to race on. The reason is the hairpin of turn 6 and the chicane on turns 10 and 11. These turns can catch people out, but the 45 cars that are setting fast qualfiying laps on the circuit at about 140 miles per hour on the straights. With 8 minutes left of the session, the #24 Ferrari 488 GT3 EVO of Viral Velocity was on the provisional pole with a time of 1:20.449, but was being pressured by 4 other drivers on the top five: The #1 of Rainbow Dash, the #15 of Danger Dean, the #98 of Akula and the #97 of Rusalka Swordlight. Four of the top 5 drivers were driving a Prancing Horse, with Akula being the exception with a Silver Arrow.
Viral was hoping that her would secure a pole position. But then a surprise time of 1:20.427 from the #7 McLaren 720S GT3 of Applejack pressed the undo button on her top spot. 40 seconds later, Danger responded by setting a time of 1:20.427, which was the exact same. Danger was delighted with this. Until the #13 Ferrari of Oscura Galaxia set a time of 1:20.390. But Danger would snatch the provisional pole by beating his nemesis’ time by 4 milliseconds a lap later.
The next three minutes was nothing special, apart from the occasional complaining from Oscura.
1. #15 Danger Dean, Ferrari 488 GT3 EVO, 1:20.386
2. #13 Oscura Galaxia, Ferrari 488 GT3 EVO, 1:20.390
3. #7 Applejack, McLaren 720S GT3, 1:20.427
4. #24 Viral Velocity, Ferrari 488 GT3 EVO, 1:20.449
5. #1 Rainbow Dash, Ferrari 488 GT3 EVO, 1:20.468
6. #98 Akula, Mercedes-AMG GT3, 1:20.475
7. #97 Rusalka Swordlight, Ferrari 488 GT3 EVO, 1:20.484
8. #21 Twilight Sparkle, Mercedes AMG GT3. 1:20.490
9. #14 Aria Blaze, Ferrari 488 GT3 EVO, 1:20.507
10. #75 Black Flame, Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO, 1:20.535
11. #91 Fluttershy, Bentley Continental GT3, 1:20.589
12. #25 Starlight Glimmer, Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3, 1:20.647
13. #49 Suri Polomare, Renault RS.01 GT3, 1:20.887
14. #74 Azure Flame, Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO, 1:20.889
15. #39 Hatsune Soulblitz, Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3, 1:21.072
16. #174 Cheese Sandwich, Acura NSX GT3 EVO, 1:21.090
17. #2 Lightning Dust, Ferrari 488 GT3 EVO, 1:21.098
18. #3 Spitfire, Ferrari 488 GT3 EVO, 1:21.397
19. #69 Adagio Dazzle, Renault RS.01 GT3, 1:21.499
20. #188 Azusa Nightblade, Assegai ASG4 GT3, 1:21.667
21. #6 Sunset Shimmer, Mercedes-AMG GT3, 1:21.997
22. #19 Rarity, Renault RS.01 GT3, 1:22.009
23. #40 Becky Blitz, Ferrari 488 GT3 EVO, 1:22.226
24. #12 Sparky Lionfire, Chevrolet C8.R, 1:22.358
25. #4 Midnight Skies, Ferrari 488 GT3 EVO, 1:22.465
26. #34 Sayori Astrablitz, Porsche 991 GT3 Gen.II, 1:22.698
27. #113 Lolestra Maledicta, Assegai ASG4 GT3, 1:22.889
28. #8 Rolling Thunder, BMW M6 GT3, 1:23.099
29. #20 Pinkie Pie, McLaren 720S GT3, 1:23.194
30. #11 Blazey Lionfire, Chevrolet C8.R, 1:23.338
31. #22 Sonata Dusk, Bentley Continental GT3, 1:24.006
32. #23 Fleur de Lis, Renault RS.01 GT3, 1:24.366
33. #26 Trixie Lulamoon, Bentley Continental GT3, 1:24.778
34. #35 Crimsonia Dragonsfire, Ferrari 488 GT3 EVO: 1:25.009
35. #37 Sapphiria Dragonsfire, Ferrari 488 GT3 EVO: 1:25.056
36. #18 Flash Sentry, Porsche 991 GT3 Gen.II, 1:25.227
37. #36 Azura Dragonsfire, Ferrari 488 GT3 EVO, 1:25.332
38. #73 Estrella Dragonheart, Acura NSX GT3 EVO, 1:25.397
39. #16 Inferno Tempest, Acura NSX GT3 EVO, 1:25.460
40. #17 Sandbar, Mercedes AMG GT3, 1:25.676
41. #42 Shadie Sparks, Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3, 1:25.898
42. #32 Rosalina Shadowstorm, Assegai ASG4 GT3, 1:26.459
43. #62 Terramar, Mercedes AMG GT3, 1:27.998
44. #9 Shadow Wings, Bentley Continental GT3, 1:28.689
45. #55 Mellisa Glorybringer, Lexus RC-F GT3, 1:29.789
Before the race started, Danger noticed that Crimsonia was feeling down all of sudden. He was aware that qualifying was a complete disaster for the Dragonsfire family with Crimsonia qualifying in 34th, Sapphiria in 35th and Azura in 37th as Azura told him eariler. Danger sightly puzzled as to why. Either it was that mechanical issues that plagued the three Ferraris or that Crimsonia, Azura and Sapphiria and little to no understanding of how the flow of the tracks for her Ferrari.
“What’s up Crim?” Danger asked her.
“My qualifying was literally awful, missed on the top 30 by nearly 2 seconds. I just don’t know what went so wrong on my lap.” Crimsonia explained.
Danger looked on the replay of Crimsonia fastest lap in the qualifying session with was a 1:25.009.
“Looks like you were caught out the hairpin on turn 6, Crim. Also being blocked by traffic doesn’t help.” Danger concluded. “But I wouldn’t feel bad about it, because qualifying isn’t everything, it’s how you perform in the race.”
“You know, Danger, you right.” Crimsonia said. “Getting in the 10 while down in 34th is doable, so as long I don’t mess up... unlike Oscura. But on a most positive note, I heard you’re on pole position.”
“Only just.” Danger replied. “4 milliseconds was the gap between me and Oscura. AJ is 3rd, Viral Velocity is 4th and Rainbow in 5th. Anyway, Crim, I gotta get back to my guys and apparently Viral wants to know I managed to beat Oscura.”
“Oh by the way, Danger. How long is the race?” Crimsonia then asked.
“350 miles or 97 laps.”
“OK, Danger, see ya!”
So, race day. Danger can see a clear track ahead of him, albeit there was a Aston Martin Vantage Safety Car in the way. Danger though did have to fear over the #13 of Oscura as she was on the same row as him. Also, Oscura showed a different kind of race pace to the one she had when she was in Formula Equestria. Even though she won the championship in 2013, but missed out to... Danger and Aria… multiple times.
The safety car set off and the formation lap began.
Aria, who was sitting in 9th place, was looking determined. So was the Mercedes of Akula.
Further down the pack, the McLaren 720S of Pinkie Pie was having a good time. She hoped to avoid the potential danger of turn 6, because if she screwed up, she would find out the hard way of when car and wall leads to a big ouch.
When the safety car pulled. Danger held the lead with Applejack about 10 inces away from ploughing into the Ferrari.
The 350 miles of Violet Meadows was underway.
Heading out of turn 1, all but two cars conquered the turn. The cars that didn’t were the #8 of Rolling Thunder who brushed the wall and the #188 of Azusa Nightblade who got love-tapped by the #6 of Sunset Shimmer and sunk down the order.
Meanwhile, Danger was still leading heading to turn 6 where he nearly did his best Tokyo Drift impression. While Oscura attempted to pass Danger, but Danger defended. Viral, meanwgile was on Oscura’s tail, having being given dirty air for about 4 corners, Viral passed Oscura on the exit of turn 9. Oscura didn’t take a liking to that and tried to challenge for 2nd on the next lap. While Akula caught Rainbow Dash napping on turn 5. The race was swinging in Danger’s favour until on lap 9, where a left-rear tyre burst on Starlight’s Mercedes, causing the tyre to be ripped completely and damaging Starlight’s bumper in the process.
This brought out the Safety Car and the field slowed down.
Starlight hauled her Mercedes to the pits where she was a hit by another wave of disappointment. Her tyre, albeit half of it, broke something else other than her rear bumper, her rear-left halfshaft.
This culimated into Starlight retiring the car.
The race was restarted on lap 13 and Danger lead the way to the line. Before the safety car period, Oscura took back 2nd from Viral and Akula was now in 3rd after Applejack locked up on turn 9. Rusalka Swordlight was in 4th and Rainbow was in 5th. Twilight was ‘Twilighting’ again, even though she had a good start, she began to fall down after running wide 4 times and losing places to be behind Aria Blaze. She thinks she had a loss of power on straights.
On lap 16, Oscura was about 0.5 seconds behind Danger. Danger felt a surge of excitement because of this and heading into turn 5, Oscura tried a move on ‘the British Speedfreak’ which nearly worked but Oscura would get more speed on the exit and overtook Danger on turn 6, she wasn’t aware of Danger’s counter-attack. On the approach to turn 7, Danger and Oscura banged wheels and Danger got better traction on the exit and stole the lead, which understandably, made Oscura angry.
“UGH!” Oscura groaned, furiously. “No matter what type of motorsport I do, Danger always, ALWAYS finds a way to make life difficult for me.”
With Danger now in the lead. He began to fear that Oscura would challenge again. Akula and Rusalka Swordlight however, were battling for 3rd with the Ferrari getting a tenth of a second quicker on the Mercedes’ lap times.
The restart was a disaster for Viral, after being overtaken by Oscura and getting swarmed by Rusalka, Akula and Rainbow, she was lacking in pace, but GT3 racing is a bit different to Formula 1 or even NASCAR. She was now beginning to reel in the Ferrari of Rainbow. At turn 9 or lap 18, Viral made an easy pass on Rainbow Dash.
The racing was continuing to heat up, which caused the fans be on the feet. But then on lap 29, Black Flame’s Lamborghini came over all Italian and came to the pits where the fire extniguishers were needed.
One lap later, carnage would commence as the #73 of Estrella Dragonheart spun on the entrance to turn 2 and crashed into the barrier. This brought the Safety Car out again, which was perfect timing for the leaders to have a pit stop. Eventually all the drivers pulled into pits for tyre changes and their tanks refilled. Estrella meanwhile, was alright after the impact.
On lap 36, Rusalka Swordlight would lead to single-file train of cars, Danger was now second, Twilight third, Viral fourth and Akula 5th. Oscura was swamped on pit road and found herself in 13th. The driver who has the most positions gained was the #11 Chevrolet C8.R of Blazey Lionfire who started in 30th place, she was now behind Oscura.
The race restarted and on the approach to turn 2, Danger snatched the lead and Viral passed Twilight. But further back down the order, Crimsonia passed four cars in the span of two corners to take 25th, after restarting in 29th.
With Danger maintaining the lead from Viral, Rusalka, Akula and Rainbow. Rusalka was trying every trick in the book to overtake the Speed Triumvirate member but to no avail. The rest of the field was in similar pace. Except for one driver however, Twilight wasn’t showing the eariler speed she had during qualifying. On lap 46, the worst nightmare came when heading towards the chicane her front-right wheel parted company with her Mercedes and forced her into the gravel and turn 12. This meant that as Twilight was 10th at the time of Twilight’s retirement, Oscura would become 10th.
Oscura beginning to chase the #2 Ferrari of Lightning Dust was now 9th. She knew that Lightning Dust would be an push-over, but as she was about to make a pass at turn 3 on lap 50. Lightning anticipated that Oscura would make such a move and defended her position. But Oscura would try to make the move at turn 6. But, she rode on the kerb and crashed into the left rear side of Lightning’s car. While Oscura found the wall, Lightning hauled her car into the pits. Only to find out ten seconds laters that a Safety Car was needed. Danger was getting bored of the Safety Car periods, although he found out that Oscura was the cause of it.
Danger led the field to the line with Rusalka, Viral, Akula and Aria who overtook Rainbow before Oscura Galaxia was being Oscura Galaxia.
On lap 51, Danger was getting some pressure from his former McLaren teammate when he was racing in Formula Equestria back in 2009. Rusalka knew that Danger’s Ferrari was fast, but had a nasty habit of remembering mid-race that the car was Italian, which was case with Black Flame.
Heading to turn 12 before the start-finish straight, Rusalka tried to make a pass on Danger. But the British Speedfreak swerved to cover Rusalka’s line. One corner later, Rusalka made a move again and once again, Danger though was wise to the counter attack. But because of Danger’s early swerving, Viral was catching on both Ferrari’s which was a bit alarming to Danger. It also didn’t help with the fact that Viral was gaining at least three tenths for every four corners.
Carnage would strike again on lap 68 when three cars crashed at turn 6. The cars where the #37 of Sapphiria Dragonsfire, the #17 of Sandbar and the #188 of Azusa Nightblade which brought the Safety Car out for the third time. Danger wasn’t a fan of this as he made his second pitstop. Danger found himself in second behind Akula and in front of Viral, Rainbow and Aria as Rusalka, who overtook Danger on lap 62, was in 7th behind Applejack. With Oscura out of the race. Danger wasn’t beginning to relax. With his Speed Triumvirate friends in first and third, his heart was pounding, as he didn’t want to crash into either of them.
Danger knew that if he overtook Akula and held the lead for the remainder of the race, he would win, but Akula is not an easy opponent, neither was Viral. So this meant that Danger had to play his cards very carefully and hope to force an error.
On lap 70, Danger was worn out. This didn’t help with the fact that he was four tenths slower than Akula, Viral was also hounding which wasn’t helping either. Danger attributed this to a small loss of power down the straights. But Viral was also defending from Aria.
5 laps later, drama would come to the #26 Bentley Continental of Trixie had her gearbox go on strike, this meant that Trixie was out. Rusalka meanwhile, was back in 6th place after being in Applejack’s draft for a couple of laps. Rusalka was now challenging the Element of Loyalty, who was, in her opinion, having a good race. But the 2009 Formula Equestria champion was charging down the straight towards the chicane, with Rainbow getting scared of what Rusalka might do to take the position away, 8th was Fluttershy, 9th was Azure Flame and Azura Dragonsfire was 10th.
On lap 79, Danger suddenly felt the sudden surge of speed that the Ferrari seem to have lost eariler, which Akula became aware of. With Viral a full second behind Danger, Akula could see the Ferrari trying to sneak on the entry to any corners. On lap 81, the Ferrari performed an Akula-style ‘Kamikaze’ move and both Akula and Danger sustained little to no damage. Akula thought he was the master of the ‘Kamikaze’ manuever as Danger sped away. He was also beginning to think that Danger may have learnt that manuever
Viral wasn’t doing well in terms of defending, with Aria having caught Viral going about 5 miles per hour slower on the exit of turn 7.
The race was relative quiet until lap 87 where Pinkie’s left-front tyre exploded in a similar manner to Starlight’s tyre explosion at a first point of the race. Luckily for Pinkie, her tyre exploded before she reached the pit lane entrance. Pinkie felt a sigh of relief but the pit stop meant that she found herself in 31st place.
With 10 laps to go, Danger was leading from Akula, Aria, Viral and Rainbow, but Rainbow was trying to overtake Aria on the apporach to turn 6. Aria noticed that Rainbow slightly miscalculated the turn slightly grazed the wall, her right door mirror was slightly damaged bur Rainbow knew that was gonna stop her. But her near-crash experience meant that she was now door-to-door with Rusalka. Heading to turn 8, Rusalka passed Rainbow with the #1 Ferrari nearly going towards a tank-slapper.
Danger was starting to be reeled back by Akula on turn 9. The Demon Lord was hoping to force the British Speedfreak into an error. But Danger wasn’t a push-over.
And it showed.
Akula tried to overtake Danger on the first turn lap 80, but the Ferrari defended on the exit. But Akula got better exit speed and at turn 2, Akula passed Danger. But Danger realised that Viral was a full second behind Danger, but the #24 Ferrari is trying to hold off from both Aria and Rusalka.
Akula meanwhile entered turn 6 with a six tenth gap behind. But Akula was having to deal with the #23 Renault RS.01 of Fleur de Lis and the #113 Assegai ASG4 of Lolestra Maledicta clogging up the track. Danger noticed the two back-markers slowing Akula down and hoped to use them to his advantage.
But the yellow flag was needed at turn 10 after the #69 Renault of Adagio did a pirouette and the rear of the Renault caressing the on the barriers. This didn’t bring out the Safety Car as no track-side debris was found. Adagio atrributed this to either driver error or a possible puncture.
With Danger and Akula behind traffic the #97 Ferrari of Rusalka had overtaken Aria, having Aria overtaken Rainbow at turn 5.
Danger got a bit of shock from ahead as Lolestra was sliping slightly, he hoped that he could overtake the Alliance of Extreme Darkness member, but Lolestra was nearly a lap down so Danger had it pass her immaculately. Another shock came from both Viral and Rusalka. The gap between the 3 Ferrari’s and Akula in the Mercedes was now down to 0.4 seconds per car.
Then, with Danger’s brain was in a conversation with itself, thinking over he would overtake his fellow Triumvirate member or not. Two corners later, Viral passed Danger in an attempt to shut Danger’s mind up.
Akula blasted by lapped traffic with Viral in second and Danger in third, heading towards the climax of the race. Danger was worn out, he had raced flat out for 94 laps and with Rusalka closing, he attempted to hold of her friend at turns 10 and 11. Danger did just so but he wasn’t expected the counter-attack from his former Formula Equestria teammate. But Danger had a better turn entry at turn on lap 96. With Akula now 2.7 seconds in front of Viral and 4.0 seconds in front of Danger, the race was swinging in Akula’s favour.
Akula crossed the line to win the race, with Viral coming second and Danger third after defending from Rusalka.