356 Cup Round 6: Italy

356 Cup – Round 6: Heartbreak at Monza

At the Temple of Speed, Shane looked every bit the picture of composure. As the lights went out he slipped into his usual rhythm—smooth inputs, tidy lines, and the kind of calm control that had already earned him three wins this season. By lap 9 he’d built a cushion, humming along like an old Swiss watch… until the watch suddenly lost a spring. Out of nowhere, his throttle turned traitor, sticking and stuttering like a bad metronome.

That was all the invitation Tiara needed. Spotting weakness, she went into full attack mode, carving into Shane’s lead lap by lap. Her 356 looked more like a ballerina on Red Bull, pirouetting through the chicanes as if to mock his mechanical woes. By lap 16 she was through, her confidence building as Shane’s frustration grew. Still, the man refused to give in—nursing the car like a wounded animal, somehow clinging to the lead as the minutes ticked away.

Then came the final twist. With just two laps to go, the throttle stuck once more, pitching Shane off in spectacular fashion. The crowd could almost hear Tiara’s laughter through the exhaust note as she swept past, leveling the lap count at 20 apiece. And so it came down to the stopwatch: Tiara’s scorching 8.398 against Shane’s valiant but slower 8.698. A photo-finish win on paper, but in reality, it was decided the moment his throttle went rogue.

For Shane, the sting was double. Not only did Tiara tie the season 3–3, but his beloved 356 now needs a fresh engine, earning him the dubious honor of starting from the pitlane in Singapore. For Tiara, it’s sweet vindication—a victory snatched from chaos and proof that sometimes, speed and a little persistence beat even the smoothest strategy.