NOVPUBLuca later compared the FRC-91 to his currently registered JRX-92B using the Chassis Comparison Feature. Just as expected, the FRC-91 hit the maximum 300% in one category and that was AERODYNAMICS & CHASSIS. The other sectors weren't left hanging as most hovered well beyond 100%, with some even reaching 200%, but none other than A&C managed to hit that full 300% mark.
[POWER & PERFORMANCE:
—Ferrari (FRC-91): 243% »»»
—Ferrari (JRX-92B): 96%«««
[AERODYNAMICS & CHASSIS:
—Ferrari (FRC-91): 300% »»»
—Ferrari (JRX-92B): 160%«««
[HANDLING & DYNAMICS:
—Ferrari (FRC-91): 195% »»»
—Ferrari (JRX-92B): 130%«««
[ENDURANCE & RELIABILITY:
—Ferrari (FRC-91): 150% »»»
—Ferrari (JRX-92B): 97%«««
[TECHNOLOGICAL INTEGRATION:
—Ferrari (FRC-91): 267% »»»
—Ferrari (JRX-92B): 97%««« ]
The walloping difference between both cars was impossible to ignore, especially in Power & Performance, where Luca ultimately began to feel like this entire new era was a fudge. But in Handling & Dynamics, he found some reassurance in the narrower gap there. It gave him a silent confidence… that he could surpass the FRC's stats one day.
How possible is this going to be?
Very possible.
"As we step into the next phase of the championship," said Mr. Palmer—President of Jackson Racing—during the formal FIA press briefing, "we're making several strategic driver and chassis adjustments.
From this stage of the season onward, Marcellus will be the exclusive lead driver for the newly unveiled FRC-91, following the performance standards we've seen from both chassis and power unit so far.
Meanwhile, Luca will officially transition into Marcellus' previous car—the JRX-97, which has undergone modifications tailored to match his driving profile.
And finally, Buoso, will henceforth take full command of the JRX-92B, making it his designated chassis for the rest of the season.
These decisions were made in view of maximizing output per driver-car pairing, and we trust the performance on track will reflect that."
Luca's prayers to land the 97 had finally come to pass. It wasn't exactly how he'd initially thought it would play out, but over time, this gradually became the only outcome possible for him to pilot the 97 especially since Jackson Racing were hellbent on kissing Rodnick's ass, even during his periods of poor performance.
The crew members congratulated Luca because they understood what it meant to receive a performance raise like this. They presented one of the two 97 specimens to Luca as if it were a brand-new car, and as though Luca was its first-ever driver.
Luca couldn't directly compare the 97 and the FRC, but he still remembered the FRC's values. So he initiated the Chassis Comparison, mentally swapping out the 92B and replacing it with the FRC.
It was still the same result as the FRC dominated all fields, imbuing a sense of dread into Luca that he might have gotten this 97 a bit late. There were now much better cars in circulation, and this one wasn't as OP as it used to be anymore.
Still, as long as it was better than the 92B… Luca planned to squeeze every bit of its potential. Even Rodnick walked over to him one day and started wagging about what the JRX-97 was all about, and how much it meant to him to leave it in Luca's hands.
Eventually, their conversation took a turn from Rodnick's unreciprocated lectures.
"Miss Schafer. You know her, right?" Rodnick asked with a spark of intrigue.
Luca wasn't sure he had ever heard Isabella being referred to as Miss Schafer before, but he quickly caught on and nodded. "Yup. She's my girlfriend," he replied. "Did you meet her?"
Rodnick answered positively, recalling a short meeting that still centered around the new Ferrari engineering supplies—the FRC and the 2.0 included. Isabella had been at that meeting, as Mr. Scarnecchia used the opportunity to introduce her to Ferrari and vice versa.
"The same way I'm lecturing you right now is the same way she was reciting a sermon on how to get the best out of the car," Rodnick said with short laughs in between, as if genuinely amused by the memory.
Luca smiled. "That's cool," he voiced, leaning against something nearby, reimagining how Isabella's first most important day had unfolded. Of course, she had already narrated everything to him, and he knew Rodnick had met her, but he allowed Rodnick to speak as he pleased.
"But Luca?"
"Mm?"
"…how were you able to get your girlfriend to work in Ferrari? Why in fact? And out of all posts, she's one of the leaders of their most—our most—expensive project?"
Luca furrowed his brows in confusion. "Bro, she's the one who evolved the engine that you're set to drive. Since she's the original developer, she must know everything more than anyone," Luca said, staring straight into Rodnick's eyes. "Plus, with such inventive knowledge, she could also help create future projects."
Luca thought he had just listed some pretty solid merits, but he paused when he noticed Rodnick frowning. The eye contact held a little too long before Rodnick finally turned and strode away.
Luca was left wondering how he was supposed to survive not just the rest of this season—but the REST OF HIS CAREER—if teammate dynamics kept spiraling like this.
The whole community's just fucked.
The other day, Di Renzo made a sour remark about his lack of competition, clearly targeting Luca in his words. Same with Jimmy Damgaard in all his recent press interviews because he still wasn't over Hungary. And far off in F2, every now and then, Max Addams would find one or two things to say about Luca too.
In the midst of all this, Luca still managed to keep himself happy with life, and with the progression of his system. At least now, he could finally unregister the 92B and register the 97 to the system.
[Ding!]
[Car, chassis, and engine detected.]
[Would you like to select <JRX-97 (Tipo 052/A/C)> as your designated car?]
[Y / N]
So, this was where it all ended for Luca and the 92B, huh? This was where he and the 056 engine would finally part ways. No more of its High-speed Dominance, no more of its flawless Heat Management, and no more of its tested-and-trusted Longevity.
Luca felt bad almost as if he were abandoning a long-time friend.
But still, he selected YES.
[Successfully selected!]
[<JRX-97 (Tipo 052/A/C)> has been successfully registered as host's new car]
[Car Status has been updated!]
[Ding!]
[You have received (3) Wrench]
[You have received (+3) Site-wide Car EXP]
