Roar Of The V8s

“Weather is quite volatile today, isn’t it?” Viral noted.

“That’s how it is in Australia. One moment it’s clear skies, the next they open up the floodgates, and it can just as quickly dry up. Mother Nature just doesn't like being consistent with us.”

Just as they had pulled in from practice, the rain had started falling yet again. Calling the weather was like flipping a coin. Then, just as every team was preparing to get more wet laps in, the sun came out and the track was sun dried just like that. The good news was that it gave Viral and Akula more time to set up their cars in favorable conditions, but that of course could change at any moment. Nonetheless, the pair retreated to their respective cars and waited for the all clear.

It was Akula that led Viral out of the garage this time, right behind the two Truck Assist Racing Holdens of Todd Hazelwood and Jack Le Brocq.

“There is definitely a dry line here, but turns 4, 5, and especially turn 11 are wet off the racing line.” Akula was wisely monitoring track conditions as the lead car, though Viral herself was acutely aware of them.

As Akula ran some laps, Viral did her best to keep up with him. Matching his lines as best as she could to get an idea of where to brake and get on the power. Akula did stretch away from her as they completed their first lap however, his first lap slotting 6th fastest at the time with Viral’s first lap only 15th.

Viral wanted to run more laps than she did in first practice, to get a better understanding of the track. Following Akula would help with that, just like it helped when they were testing, but being able to lap the track in clean air was even more valuable if she could do it.

After a few laps to find her way around, her confidence in the car grew ever more. So too did the track begin to dry up further and further, and while Viral was mentally mapping her way around the circuit Akula was busy seeing how far he could push it. At one point he was the fastest car on track and one of the first drivers to do a lap in the 1:34 range before Andre Heimgartner bumped him off the top spot.

“Heimgartner just went to the top, 1:34.6. 1:34.6.”

“Track is definitely getting better, could use a little more front end bite, the front is washing out at 8 and 11.”

“Copy, pit in this time and we’ll see what we can work on.”

Viral was also finding a lot of improvement herself, having found a good rhythm. She managed to climb her way up to P8 and was growing comfortable with the car. However she was still getting annoyed by turn 1, and it was where she was losing most of her time.

“Any way we can get a little more bite in turn 1, I’m having to let off the throttle mid corner to keep the car from pushing wide.”

“I think we have some options, Akula’s coming in this lap anyway so we’ll run some things with him and Chrysalis. See what they think might help.” Neon suggested.

Just as both of them were preparing to box and adjust their setups, the #4 Commodore of Jack Smith carted himself wide at turn two and had failed to back out of the wet grass on the outside of the track. This in turn red flagged the session just as Cameron Waters in the #6 Monster Energy Tickford Mustang posted a new fastest time. With the red flag stopping the clock at just under half an hour it gave them some time to discuss and adjust.

While the recovery vehicle pulled Jack Smith out of the grass, the team got to work seeing what they could adjust to help Viral and Akula find more time around the track.

When the cars were released again, Viral went out in front of Akula. Along with the adjustments to the cars, both of them out on new Hard tires onto their cars. They had been using the same set of tires they had warmed in during first practice at the very end, so they figured it was a good time to try a fresh set. They were saving their Super Soft or "Blue" tires for qualifying and the race.

Most of the other teams went on blue tires though, so both of them began to fall down the timing board. With most of the field putting on their softer rubber, both of them only did an outlap before coming back to change to the softer compound themselves. Better to conserve the hard tires they did have.

It didn't take long to put on the new tires, and they were off. Viral once again leading as they started. As they started their first flying lap, Viral pushed her car wide in turn one and stepped out with the back end. She kept it out of the grass, but cursed herself as she made way for Akula and his flying lap.

Akula then pushed up into the top 5 on his first lap, while Viral warmed up her tires to make a second attempt. Akula also did a second lap, doing a personal best in the first sector and setting a new fastest second sector before setting the fastest time of the session.

Viral's second go through turn 1 was better, and a personal best in sector one and two. She was also much braver than before in sector three and set the fastest third sector to go 4th fastest.

The pace was shoeing with the adjustments they had made, but the conditions weren't quite optimal thanks to the weather. There were still patches of wet spots across the track which was diluting the pace.

As both of them went back into the pits, Chaz Mostert found his way to the top of the leaderboard, so there was still time to find while the track was drying. As it stood though, both of them were happy with their setups.

Akula got out of his Holden to go talk with Viral, who was still sitting in her car with her helmet on.

"It's still wet between 8 and 9, and turn 11 is still pretty dangerous. I imagine it can still be faster if the track dries fully." Akula noted, Viral nodding in response.

Out on track, David Reynolds did a Speedway drift at turn 11 which caught the attention of the members of the garage watching the live feed. He went 2nd fastest behind Mostert.

"I think I might take a crack at one more good lap." Viral stated.

"Knock yourself out V, just don't park it off the track."

With 4 minutes left, Viral went out to do one more lap before the death of the session. She came out on track right behind Cam Waters who set a new fastest first sector. She watched as he nearly dumped it at the end of sector 2, but followed him as they made their way up to the line. Waters jumped up to 2nd.

He continued on, Viral tucked in behind him. She did a personal best in sector one, and Waters made way for her in turn 4 as she continued on. She made a marginal improvement on her second sector time as well, but as she went Anton De Pasquale jumped wide at turn 1 and drove all the way across the grass into turn 2.

"Anton's off at two, keep pushing to see if you can beat the flag."

With Neon's encouragement, she threw the car around turns 9 and 10. Fast through 11, and get a bit loose on the exit before powering down to the line. She improved to 7th fastest just as the red flag came out.

"We beat the flag, you're P7 now."

Her time was just behind Akula's, after Waters, Pye, and Will Brown had gone faster ahead of them. She made her leisurely drive to the pits, past the beached Pasquale, and as she entered the pits Race Control called the session.