Race :: Round 40 - Explosion at Lekböjen!

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The Norwegian driver, Teide Sorolla-Ledaal, shifts up and attempts to break away toward the final curve. Grinding his clutch, he sputters forward. The little Bugatti coasts out lamely onto the pine-lined straight, losing all momentum. Directly behind, the Belgian Duesenberg powers through the chicane and closes rapidly. Victor Hugo can smell the exhaust pipes of the fiery Volcán now – he looks likely to overtake for a victory! But will the Norwegian somehow hold on? This is going to be a close one!

Germany presses on staidly as Sebi Orsi's Italian Maserati leaps forward in high gear. Suddenly, the Italian's red hot nature takes hold and the Maserati burns past the German in 5th gear, carrying incredible speed. Hegkman falls back to 3rd position, as he watches the Italian's red scarf snapping in the breeze. The two cars are now in the narrowest part of the course as they approach the chicane.

Meanwhile, at Lekböjen, Vitez Rychly scrambles away from the growing pool of gasoline. Another gunshot rings out. The bullet could have easily hit him, but instead it appears that it was fired purposefully to miss. He glances up to see the bullet ricochet off the under body of his orange Bugatti, sparking brightly. In an instant, he realizes that the German is attempting to set fire to his racer! The gas ignites with a sudden whoosh and the the ice and car are aflame.... Had Rychly slipped again, he would have been in the inferno, but now the car blocks the track amidst the flames. Rychly scrambles toward the far snowbank, the smoke shielding him from the shooter's wrath. He hears another shot – suddenly his left leg gives out from under him and he falls to the ice. Looking down, he sees blood on his thigh.... Through the smoke, the German shooter took a lucky shot and somehow hit him. He turns to crawl toward the snowbank, the heat of the flames too close.

Meanwhile, back at Storkurvan, Aristide La Fontaine shifts down and yet still skids deep into the curve. The Frenchman cannot seem to time his entries into any of the curves today – perhaps it is because of the ice or perhaps the tuning of the great blue Salmson racer if off. Aristide curses – but then stops as he sees a fireball erupt directly ahead on the track. Are there any lanes open? Perhaps the rightmost side? Or perhaps through the smoke on the left? He cannot tell.... He reaches for the gear shift handle and wonders what has happened, remembering Nice. He can see nothing, but wonders – could it be Rychly's car in a wreck at the snowbanks?

Farther back, The Portuguese and British drivers cruise into the big curve with near perfection, while Finland again falls just short. Forced to the inside, he must now take the curve on the wrong racing line, though he has slight advantage on British car.