Just like Senna

by AppleLauda99942

Rating: everyone
Tags: Original Character, Starlight Glimmer, Twilight Sparkle, Slice of Life, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Length: 1123

Twilight and Starlight are doing further research on AppleLauda's driving style. They noticed AppleLauda is doing different throttle inputs than other race drivers

Apple Lauda, Twilight Sparkle and Starlight Glimmer are in Brands Hatch because of further researches on AppleLauda's driving style.

Twilight noticed that Apple Lauda is entering the corners more aggressive than other race drivers and Starlight noticed that the engine is doing different noises like something is wrong with the car. But there's nothing wrong with the car at all. What is Apple Lauda doing behind the wheel and how is he doing that?

Published 2022-04-08 16:10:00 UTC
Last updated 2022-04-08 16:10:00 UTC

Pumping

Apple Lauda, Twilight Sparkle and Starlight Glimmer went to the Brands Hatch Grand Prix in order to do more research on Apple Lauda's driving. "alright Apple Lauda, you may still wonder why Starlight and I were thinking about your driving a lot" Twilight says.
"well yes? Why? Is something wrong with it?" Apple Lauda asks.
"no, there's nothing wrong with it" Starlight answers. "Twilight and I want to do more research about it. We want to look on your throttle inputs because they're not usual" she adds.
"all you need to do is to drive around the Brands Hatch Grand Prix Circuit like you're racing" Twilight says.
"alright, I'll go out on the track then" Apple Lauda says and gets on the track with his Dodge SRT Viper GT3-R.

As soon as Apple Lauda crosses the finish line, Starlight and Twilight could hear how Apple Lauda is stabbing the throttle in turn 1. "wait, did you hear that?" Starlight asks.
"if you mean the weird engine noises, then yes" Twilight answers.
Starlight starts to tear up. "this is like Monza in 1992. I was standing at the Parabolica and heard that someone was playing with the throttle." she says.
"I know it's hard to believe Ayrton Senna died in 1994, but hey we have Apple Lauda." Twilight says and hugs Starlight.
"Starlight, are you okay?" Apple Lauda asks.
"yeah, I'm okay. I just had a bad memory" Starlight answers.
Then, Twilight turns the radio off. She has reallised that Apple Lauda's throttle inputs are Similar to Ayrton Senna's inputs.
"Starlight, look at this... This can't be right..." Twilight says in shock.
"I can see it. Apple Lauda is stabbing the throttle upon cornering" Starlight explains.
"but why is he doing that?" Twilight asks.
"I don't know" Starlight answers.

The next day is race day and Apple Lauda starts from P2. One hour until the race.

"we heard you how you were stabbing the throttle Apple Lauda" Starlight says.
"I know... Is something wrong with it?" Apple Lauda asks.
"there's nothing wrong with it. But why are you doing this?" Twilight responds.
"well it's because of load transfer. I'm using it to rotate the car more, especially in hairpins it's really powerful" Apple Lauda explains.
"now this makes sense" Starlight says. "I bet you're going to win this race"
"I guess so... Anyways, I have to go on the track. Tell Silverstream that I'm okay" Apple Lauda waves goodbye and drives to the grid. Then the race preparations are made. Car setups will be adjusted to ensure best results and then the formation lap starts. Silverstream and her friends are watching the race in School with Rainbow Dash and the other students. "I wonder if Apple Lauda might win here" Gallus says.
"I don't know... Sure is, he didn't race on the GP circuit yet" Ocellus says.
Smolder starts laughing. "really?! Apple Lauda has developed a unique throttle technique. He will win this" the Dragon says.

"c'mon sweetie, you got this" Silverstream cheers. Then the race starts and Apple Lauda gets extremely close to the leader of the race. "WHAT THE HAY?!" Rainbow Dash says in shock. "How did he get that close?!"
"he must be stabbing the throttle otherwise it's not possible" Smolder explains. "Just like Ayrton Senna did"
"there's no way Austrian Pony drives like Brazilian racer" Yona says.
"that absolutely amazing!!! Listen how he's applying the throttle" Sandbar says as the camera switches to the onboard camera of Apple Lauda. They can clearly hear Apple Lauda stabbing the throttle as he goes through the fast right hander.
"NO WAY!!!" one of the Students shout. "HE'S SENNA!!!"
"I don't think so" Smolder interrupts. "he should win this by a decent margin"
The race is halfway done and Apple Lauda pits in lap 6. He gets an amazing pit stop and ends up in P2 after doing the undercut. Apple Lauda needs to push now if he wants to win. The race leader loses control of his car but catches it. Apple Lauda had no time to react and rear ends the leader, resulting in a 1 second penalty for causing a collision. He serves the penalty at the end of lap 10, dropping down to P2. But Apple Lauda refuses to give up and catches up to the race leader in the final lap of the race, overtaking his opponent in the last corner by using a gap that exists. Apple Lauda flashes up his headlights and crosses the finish line in 1st place. In the school of friendship, a huge amount of cheering is bursting out. Even Twilight and Starlight are cheering. Apple Lauda waves an Austrian flag during his outlap to the way to the paddock and speaks through the radio. "Yeah that wasn't even close at all. Well done everypony. We did it..." Apple Lauda said with a neutral voice. "What a Divebomb in the last corner. You're a legend Apple Lauda" Starlight says with tears in her eyes.

"Starlight, are you okay?" Twilight asks. "it's like something reminds you about Ayrton Senna"
"he's using the gap that exist... I hope he doesn't die in a crash" Starlight answers.
"I know Starlight... But racing is dangerous... Each race could be Apple Lauda's last race and I think he knows what he's doing." Twilight says. "Actually my full name is Apple Lauda da Silva" Apple Lauda says through the Radio.
"W-what?!" Twilight says in shock. "did you just say da Silva? Do you have Brazilian bias?" the unicorn adds.
"I don't have Brazilian bias but I have polish bias even though I'm an Austrian" Apple Lauda answers.
Apple Lauda, Twilight and Starlight are heading back to Ponyville. On the way home, Apple Lauda asks Twilight something. "am I just like Senna?" Twilight answers in Apple Lauda's disappointment. "I'm sorry but no... You may use the stabbing technique but the execution isn't good." Although Apple Lauda won the Equestrian GT championship with his Dodge SRT Viper GT3-R, Twilight and her friends have to face a powerful villain. It's nothing compared to those villains they have faced so far. During the celebration, the Mane 6 get attacked by this mysterious villain. Are the Mane 6 able to defeat this villain or will this villain win. Some say that his idol has driven him to success but he only got defeated once. All what we know is his name is Solar Flare.

Author's Note

Fun fact: I have polish bias irl but I'm not an Austrian. Some people think that I'm an Austrian but the truth is as you may noticed in one of my stories that I wrote something in German. This is because I'm a German irl.