Race :: Round 42 - Belgium Advances

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Victor Hugo Stéphane shifts down hard to avoid skidding out of the final curve, showing his Belgian conservatism. The great yellow Duesenberg slides smoothly around, setting up a beautiful finish. Meanwhile, Teide Sorolla-Ledaal, in his Bugatti, struggles into the curve. The Volcán shifts down and prepares for a daring dash to catch the Belgian at the finish. It could work – but only with good luck and explosive driving. The true nature of the Volcán is about to put to test.

His red scarf snapping against the wind, Italy's Sebi Orsi glances back. The German's white Bugatti is closing fast. Unexpectedly, Orsi slams on his brakes. He skids the Maserati short within the chicane, forcing the German nearly into disaster. Hegkman dodges to the right and drive his white Bugatti through the debris that fills the track, barely holding the car in the chicane as the balding tires nearly skid out. He slams on the brakes to avoid spinning out. The Italian's move has burned the last of Hegkman's brakes – but it has also cost Orsi dearly. Both cars are now set for a final dash for third place, the German barely edging out Orsi for the run to the final curve.

At Lekböjen, beside the burning wreck of his Bugatti, Vitez Rychly struggles to pull himself off the track. He turns his head and sees the German gunman step to the edge of the track. The man raises his gun and fires. The bullet impacts the snow bank inches from Rychly's skull. The German smiles as Rychly makes a last desperate attempt to pull himself up the snowbank. He has nowhere to go. Another shot rings out – another bullet into the snowbank. From this distance, how can he miss? He must be toying with the downed Czech, as if enjoying it. In extreme pain, Rychly passes out just as one final shot is fired.

Meanwhile, coming toward the burning wreck, Aristide La Fontaine maneuvers his Salmson racer smoothly into the Lekböjen curve, cutting to the right edge of the track. Instantly, he spots a man standing beside the edge of the track – a gun raised in his hand, pointing across the track at something – or someone.... Momentarily, Aristide lifts his foot from the gas pedal, but then realizes there is no slowing down or stopping – he will have to drive past the shooter. Suddenly, to Aristide's surprise, the man crumples forward, as if shot from behind. His body falls across the snowbank at the edge of the track. What is all this?

Behind, Pedro Gomes skids out of Storkurvan and flashes past the French Salmson to take the position. He shifts up, hoping to gap the field now and take a confident lead – yet suddenly, a mess of fire and debris looms ahead – should he go left or right? He has but an instant to decide.... Farther back, the Britisher glides out of Storkurvan with the Finnish driver comfortably falling back. The cars are racing forward into what appears to be a gunfight.