Race Day – Mumbai Bay Circuit
The atmosphere was electric.
Fireworks burst above the sea-facing grandstands. Street vendors pushed carts full of samosas and lemon soda, the air thick with spice, heat, and anticipation. Over a hundred thousand fans had gathered for the 8th Grand Prix — India's pride, the Mumbai Bay GP.
Sukhman sat in the cockpit, eyes closed, absorbing every heartbeat of the track.
> This is for all of them who has faith on me. This is for Harinder.
His helmet clicked into place. The Vaayu crew gave him a thumbs-up.
The lights went out.
> "And away we go in Mumbai!"
---
The Race Unfolds
Sukhman exploded off the line, holding pole into the tight first chicane. Holtz was quick to follow, pressuring him through Sector 2.
Behind them, Jia Tan ran a clinical race — no fireworks, but faultless technique. Meanwhile, Callum Graves struggled with mid-corner grip and began dropping back as the track temperatures soared past 45°C.
> "Sukhman's managing his tires like a surgeon. He's pulling away at right times not so aggressive but effective as it need to be."
> "Taking in mind that recently his team is facing some issues, while also according to some news sources Sukhman had a fallout with his friend. It resulted him leaving Sukhman's side. If that's true then maintaining composure right now is quite commendable."
> "Yeah. I agree with you Whitney."
Lap after lap, the crowd grew louder. Every overtake he made was met with cheers. Every pit stop, a breath held. He wasn't just racing. He was representing his team... his country... his people.
Holtz attempted a last-lap lunge on Turn 18, but Sukhman defended aggressively, riding the kerb on exit.
The chequered flag waved.
Sukhman Singh has won the Mumbai Grand Prix!
---
Updated Leaderboard – After 8 GPs
Rank Driver Country GP1 GP2 GP3 GP4 GP5 GP6 GP7 GP8 Total
🥇 1️⃣ Sukhman Singh 🇮🇳 India 8 DNP 12 15 25 18 12 25 135 points
🥈 2️⃣ Callum Graves 🇬🇧 UK 25 25 18 15 15 12 10 15 135 points
🥉 3️⃣ Erik Holtz 🇩🇪 Germany 12 18 15 25 18 10 15 18 131 points
4️⃣ Jia Tan 🇨🇳 China 0 18 11 4 12 10 10 12 77 points
5️⃣ Thiago Martins 🇦🇷 Argentina 10 10 6 4 10 8 7 10 65 points
6️⃣ Diego Montoya 🇧🇷 Brazil 15 12 15 15 0 ICU ICU — 57 points
7️⃣ Alain Bellamy 🇫🇷 France 18 6 18 0 DNF DNP 10 0 52 points
8️⃣ Amelia Foster 🇬🇧 UK 6 0 6 6 DNP 5 4 5 32 points
9️⃣ Charlotte Reid† 🇦🇺 Australia 0 12 10 1 DNF — — — 23 points
🔟 Ravi Deshmukh 🇮🇳 India 0 0 0 8 DNF 4 2 1 15 points
—
Newsflash Across the Globe
> "MUMBAI GOES MAD: SUKHMAN'S HEROIC WIN AT HOME"
"SUKHMAN SINGH INCHES INTO TITLE CONTENTION – HE HAS TIED WITH CALLUM FOR FIRST SPOT"
"DIEGO STILL IN ICU – RIP JAW YET TO REBOUND"
"LEAKS SUGGEST TECH TAMPERING IN MIDFIELD – IRC REFUSES TO COMMENT"
---
IRC Whispers and Warnings
At IRC HQ in Geneva, the panel rewatched crash footage of the earlier Charlotte-Diego incident.
Someone paused on a frame.
> "Look at the moment Charlotte's steering froze. There — frame 212. See the flicker?"
"That's not telemetry lag… that's software override."
They exchanged glances.
"Get us every device connected to the HUD during that race."
---
Jia Tan's Reflection
In the quiet of her motorhome, Jia Tan reviewed his onboard camera. The crash haunted her still, even from races ago.
She had known Charlotte. She wasn't reckless.
Then her tablet pinged. A file received anonymously:
> "Something you need to see."
Inside: encrypted race data from the Monza GP… with strange telemetry discrepancies.
Jia exhaled sharply. "What the hell is this?"
---
Harinder's Shadow
Somewhere in the back alleys of Doha, Harinder was alive. Tired, dirty, unshaven — but alive.
He met with the same cloaked figure as before.
> "They're moving again," Harinder said, pointing to his notebook.
"Mumbai's clean. But the next? That's where they'll strike."
"You have to tell your team," the figure said.
"Not yet. One wrong whisper, and Vaayu folds."
"Then what now?"
"We will give them bait."
Harinder smiled. Not his usual cheeky grin — this one was colder. Calculated.