{ Fernando Horta } → Formula Duude

SHAKA (THREE TIMES FORMULADUUDE WORLD CHAMPION): This is just amazing. Unbelievable. When we switched to Prototypes and suddenly I was finishing fourth on the races, I thought it was over. Terrible races at oval tracks, a catastrophic outing at La Sarthe, a no show at Paul Ricard. All of this put some doubts in my heart and I could see the ghost of Season 03 haunting me, with Tib all over my car just waiting to smile and capitalise on my mistakes. He is a worthy champion, a worthy opponent, and beating him to reclaim my title was the goal for this season.

The turning point of the year, believe it or not, was the final laps of Indianapolis, just one week ago, when I was suffering with the car and, about to give up on the fight, had an idea that put me back into the championship, winning a race and scoring a bonus point for the first time on the second half of the season. That gave me more than a few points, I got a much needed morale boost, something I carried on for Sebring.

Qualifying was a great one, I put together a great lap and was coming half a second faster on my second attempt, but the tyres were gone and I spun. Race started with a misunderstanding as we all expected a standing start. I was caught by that and could see in my mirrors Tib and Jens having a moment. I lost a bit of concentration with that and spun twice, damaging the car and dropping back to last place. I promised to put up a fight and not settle for the position, even if 4th would secure the title regardless of Tib thanks to the Pole Position bonus point. Another mistake on lap 2 put me over 20 seconds behind Lizard on the lead. I was decided to risk it all and started putting fastest lap after fastest lap, disregarding safety and increasing the tyre temperature. By lap 12 I was only 6 seconds behind Lizard, and seeing him leaving the pits within my reach was too much for my heart, I made another mistake and dropped another 10 seconds, ending that lap 15 seconds behind. I was on a hot pursuit, put the fastest lap of the race and, when I was about to accept Lizard was going to win, he made a mistake, dropped to just under 2 seconds and another mistake moments later saw me flying through, ending the day with a hat-trick. I actually felt sorry for him, but History shows us sometimes it's just not our day. And this day was mine.

Today's achievement can't be measured in words. It's just about winning a third title, equalling the likes of MASSSSSSSSSSTER, Lauda or Stewart on smaller series, it's also the first time I could help my team winning the constructors' championship! Libra has won all of them since it was introduced in Season 02, and that's something I was missing, I can now finally celebrate with my team!

As Tib did in FD03, Drivers' and Constructors' Champion, and achieving that despite missing a race weekend. Now I need some vacations before the much awaited Season 05 starts, with new rules, new circuits, new drivers... and sporting number 1 again on my car! See you soon!