Weeks had passed since Collei's exhilarating race with Ningguang. Collei arrives at the well-known Yougou restaurant by the lake, a place famous for its vibrant atmosphere and delicious food. As she stepped through the door, she was immediately greeted by the welcoming arms of Beidou, Seele, Pela, Amber, and March, each of them flashing smiles as they spotted her.
Amber rushed toward Collei with a bright grin on her face. "Collei! Good to see you again!" she exclaimed, wrapping her arms around her.
Collei smiled and returned the hug, feeling a familiar warmth. Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she chuckled softly. "Good to see you too, sunshine," she replied, her voice light with affection.
March, who had been watching the reunion with a playful smile, couldn't help but murmur under her breath, "They look cute together, you know."
Seele, standing nearby, nodded in agreement, her own smile softening. "You're right, March. They really do look cute together."
After a few more moments of laughter and greetings, the group took their seats at the table, excited for the meal to arrive. As they chatted and caught up, the conversation shifted, and Pela suddenly brought up something that had been on her mind for a while.
She pulled out her phone and began scrolling through it. "Guys," she said, looking up from her screen, "I heard something interesting from a friend of mine last night. Apparently, there's a mysterious car that's been seen driving both uphill and downhill around Yougou. My friend even managed to snap a photo, though it's not the best quality. Maybe you all can recognize it?"
Curious, the others leaned in as Pela passed her phone around. The photo was blurry, but the car had distinct features—a ducktail spoiler, steel-looking wheels, and a lack of a rear bumper, all framed by the sleek lines of a coupe body style. Despite the poor quality, something about the image seemed oddly familiar.
Beidou's eyes widened as she studied the photo. "Wait a minute..." she muttered, her voice full of recognition. "I know that paint scheme. The sky blue, dark blue, and red stripes? That's definitely Martini Livery."
Collei, still unfamiliar with the term, raised her brow. "What's Martini style?"
March leaned over to Collei's side, eager to explain. "Martini Racing," she said enthusiastically, "is the name of a team sponsored by the Martini wine brand. They've been involved in motorsports for years—racing in endurance events, rallying, and even Formula One."
As the group continued discussing the car, Pela's phone pinged with new messages. She checked it, her eyes lighting up with excitement. "Oh, hey, I got some videos from my contact! Let's take a look."
She hit play, and as the videos rolled, the group was left in awe. The car's cornering ability, both uphill and downhill, was astounding. But it was the sound that really caught everyone's attention—a high-pitched whine of a supercharger, echoing through the mountains, accompanied by massive flames bursting from the exhaust. It was a symphony of speed and power.
Beidou's jaw dropped. "Holy shit, that car's flying!" she exclaimed.
March could only stare, her jaw slack in disbelief. "That car is quick! And it sounds menacingly quick, too!"
Amber's eyes sparkled with admiration. "She's fast! And that sound... It's amazing!"
Pela closed her phone with a thoughtful frown. "Well, how can we even identify this car?"
March snapped her fingers, an idea suddenly sparking. "I know! Maybe Lyney has an idea! He's the history guru, after all!"
Pela gave a thumbs-up. "Sounds like a plan, March."
With their plan set, the group joined hands in thanks for the meal they were about to enjoy, and then dove into their breakfast with eager appetites.
The next day, the group gathered at a gas station in Yougou. Beidou took charge, her gaze determined as she approached Lyney. Pela handed him her phone, the photo and videos now clearly displayed on the screen. Lyney studied them closely, his expression unreadable at first. Then his eyes widened in disbelief.
March tilted her head slightly, puzzled by his reaction. "Lyney? Are you okay?"
Lyney rubbed his forehead as if trying to process what he was seeing. "I haven't heard about this car or its driver in years..." His voice trailed off as memories resurfaced.
Pela raised an eyebrow. "You know the driver and the car?"
Lyney nodded slowly. "Yeah, I do. I know the car. And I used to know the driver, though I've forgotten his name. But I know him."
Crossing his arms, Lyney continued, "The guy was a former rally driver in the 1980s, racing for Lancia Martini Racing. They drove Lancia 037 Rally cars back then. Those were the days of the Group B spec cars."
March's eyes lit up with recognition. "Group B? You mean those ridiculously overpowered rally machines? Like the Audi Quattro?"
Lyney grinned, nodding. "Exactly. In 1983, Lancia went up against Audi's Quattro—rear-wheel drive versus all-wheel drive. The Audi was better on tight stages, but the Lancia excelled on fast-paced ones. Lancia won the championship that year, and the driver became the first Inazuman rally driver to win a World Rally Championship. He kept racing into the '90s, then transitioned to closed-circuit racing. That's when I met him, along with Arlecchino. After retiring, he started mountain pass racing with us, using that same Lancia."
Collei, reflecting on what she had just heard, lightly rubbed her chin. "If my father was the fastest downhill..."
Beidou finished her thought, her voice carrying a knowing tone. "...Then this guy was the fastest uphill."
Lyney snapped his fingers in acknowledgment. "Exactly! The last I heard, he was training his daughter to drive just like him, to carry on his legacy. Since then, I haven't heard from him."
Seele, leaning against her Devil Z, smirked. "So, Lyney, what's the deal with the car in the photos and videos?"
Lyney took one more look at the screen before handing the phone back to Pela. "That car..." he said, his voice filled with awe, "is the 1983 championship-winning Lancia 037 Rally."
The group stood in stunned silence for a moment, the weight of what they had just learned sinking in. A rally car, once a king of the dirt tracks, was now racing on the mountain passes of Yougou.
March scratched her head, her hair getting messier with each passing second. "But... rally cars—especially ones like this—are illegal on the streets, right?"
Lyney smirked knowingly. "Not really, March. Rally cars do have license plates. After each race stage, they have to drive on public roads to get to the next stage, or to a service area for repairs and tuning."
Pela thought for a moment, then asked, "But what exactly are the specs of this Lancia, Lyney?"
Lyney was more than happy to elaborate. "Well, this Lancia is probably set up for tarmac stages. It's low to the ground with tarmac tires—most likely sport tires or even semi-slicks, since racing slicks are illegal. It's a mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive car, not like Yelan's Porsche Blackbird. The engine's a 2.1-liter Fiat Abarth twin-cam with a supercharger, producing about 325 horsepower. And with a composite body that weighs just 925 kilograms, the 037 Rally has a perfect 50/50 weight distribution. That's why it's one of the most agile cars out there."
Amber raised her hand, looking a little confused. "But why a supercharger, Lyney?"
Lyney smiled, the glint of knowledge in his eyes. "A supercharger gives you instant power when you hit the gas. Unlike a turbo, which takes time to spool up, the supercharger gives you immediate boost, which is why the Lancia has such great low-end acceleration."
The group sat in awe, fully appreciating the history and power of the Lancia 037 Rally.
Beidou, always one to think ahead, posed a thought that lingered in the air. "What if this guy challenges Collei to a race?"
Lyney shook his head, his face serious. "I don't know, Beidou. When Arlecchino raced him, the guy was the only one who could match him. Both of them were undisputed in their classes—Arlecchino in the downhill and the Lancia in the uphill. That guy was the only one who could tie Collei's father in a downhill race."
Collei's voice, quiet but thoughtful, interrupted. "But what if it's like me? You said his daughter is most likely the one driving now, and her father's retired."
Lyney nodded in agreement. "It's possible. He's gotten a lot older, after all."
That night, as the wind bit at the air and the mountain pass echoed with the distant sounds of the Lancia, the group gathered at a hairpin corner near the summit of Yougou, waiting for the legendary car.
March shivered in the cold. "When will this Lancia get here!? It's freezing!"
Seele, ever calm, patted her on the shoulder. "It'll be here soon enough. We just need to wait."
Suddenly, the distinct whine of a supercharged engine reached their ears. The Lancia appeared in a blur, four-wheel drifting around the corner with terrifying precision, its engine screaming with power as it sped past them. The sound of its supercharger reverberated throughout the pass.
Beidou wrapped her arms around herself, a shiver running down her spine. "I don't know what it is, but I feel something... strange about that car. I can't explain it, but it gives me chills."
Lyney raised an eyebrow, watching the car disappear into the distance. "I'm not sure about that feeling, Beidou. But I can tell you one thing—if this Lancia challenges Collei to a race, it'll be the closest finish Yougou's racing history has ever seen."
At Lake Yougou, the Lancia came to a smooth stop next to a red Honda NSX NA1. A young blonde woman was leaning against it. The driver of the Lancia stepped out, their gaze locking with hers.
"Hey there, Clorinde," the NSX driver said, a playful smile tugging at her lips. "How's the suspension setup treating you?"
Clorinde shut the driver's side door with a soft click, walked over to her friend's car, and leaned against it casually. "It's perfect," she replied, a satisfied glint in her eyes. "Flawless through those corners. Like butter."
She glanced over at the NSX's new body kit, her lips curving into a smile. "Gotta say, Navia, this body kit suits your NSX really well. Glad to see it got a fresh look."
Navia giggled, her hands on her hips. "Thanks! I love the new look, too. So, Clorinde, what's your plan with the new suspension setup?"
Clorinde leaned against her Lancia, her expression turning serious. "Do what my father couldn't."
Her eyes narrowed with determination. "Beat the Eight-Six."
Navia's eyes widened in shock. "Beat the Eight-Six? You realize it's beaten every single person that's challenged her, right?"
Clorinde's smirk grew as she tilted her head. "Sure, but when my father drove it back in the day, he was the only one who could keep up with that Eight-Six. And in all their downhill races, it always ended in a tie."
Navia gasped. "Your father... tied with the Eight-Six?"
Clorinde nodded solemnly. "That's what he claimed, anyway. But my father was a terrible liar. Even his friends knew that."
Navia raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "In that case, how are you planning to challenge the Eight-Six driver?"
Clorinde's smirk grew wider. "How? I'll challenge her myself, right at the gas station where she works. Her father's opponent—my father's old friend—is probably retired, so it's most likely going to be her daughter."
Clorinde took a deep breath, her gaze lifting to the sky as if sensing the impending challenge. "And when I beat her... I'll prove my father's claim true."
Navia giggled softly, her voice filled with nostalgia. "You know, this feels like those times when you were trying to shave those seconds off your lap times years ago."
Clorinde laughed too. "Yeah, feels like old times, huh?"
Navia stood up, brushing herself off. "Alright then, it's getting late. Let's head home."
Clorinde stood, pushing herself off the Lancia. "Agreed."
The two friends climbed into their respective cars. Navia's NSX roared to life with ease, while Clorinde's Lancia took a few moments before it sprang to life with a thunderous roar. The two cars drove off together, side by side, toward Yougou, where the closest race in its history was about to unfold.