Fuel & Grit – Episode 4: “Ghost Lap”

Scene 1: Welcome to Dakar

The invitation is golden: The Dakar Velocity Trials, an international showdown for rising stars in motorsport. Nia arrives in Senegal — sand, sun, and sound everywhere. Dakar’s coastal streets roar with modified cars and global talent. The world is watching.

Cam (text message):
“Don’t let the pressure change your rhythm. Race like it’s still just you and the road.”

Scene 2: The Phantom from Her Past

As Nia settles in, a shock awaits: Kimo — her former childhood mentor — is also in Dakar. Once a legend in underground African circuits, Kimo vanished years ago after a scandal involving race tampering and sabotage.

Nia (to herself):
“Kimo taught me to drift before I could even legally drive… and then disappeared.”

But now he’s coaching Team Ivory Pulse — Nia’s fiercest rivals at the Trials.

Scene 3: Night Talks and Old Truths

Nia confronts Kimo one evening on the beach.

Nia:
“You ghosted your crew. Me. My father. Everyone.”

Kimo:
“I didn’t ghost you. I protected you. If I stayed, you’d be racing in the dark like I was — desperate, dirty, and afraid to lose.”

Kimo warns her: some teams in Dakar are still rigging races, gaming the system, and betting on outcomes. He urges her to stay sharp.

Scene 4: The Ghost Lap

Race Day 1. Nia starts strong but halfway through the lap, her car jerks — misfiring. It’s sabotage. She pulls over, flames barely licking her tires.

Her team scrambles. The trial isn’t over. If they can fix it in 10 minutes, she can rejoin the "ghost lap" — an isolated run to clock her time solo.

Nia breathes deeply.
No audience. No rivals. Just her, the engine, and the memory of every street she’s ever raced.

She drives like a storm, beating 6 racers’ times — even after starting late.

Scene 5: Headlines and Warnings

News spreads: “Underdog Nia Survives Sabotage, Sets Record in Dakar Ghost Lap!”
But she knows someone out there wants her out of the game.

Kimo (in a voice note):
“The game’s bigger than speed. You’ll need eyes everywhere.”

Nia (to her mechanic):
“Double-lock the garage. We’re not just racing anymore. We’re surviving.”

End of Episode 4
Next: Nia discovers a coded map left in her car’s telemetry system — pointing to a rogue race in Cairo where reputations are made… or erased.

Next Story is "The Cairo race code" ...Coming soon