- "Thank you for coming on such short notice. My red Ferrari was confiscated yesterday, and it sits in an impound lot in Little Haiti. It's about The car isn't important. What is important is the package I left in the glove box. The first team back here with the package will have an opportunity to work for me."
- ―Carter Verone
The Audition Race was an event used by Carter Verone to find drivers who will be able to transport drug money for him.
Background[]
Recruited by US Customs Brian O'Conner & Roman Pearce were given a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution & Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder respectively. They were sent to Carter Verone to infiltrate and get evidence of his illegal activities. When they arrived they joined some other prospectives. One of them was named Darden and Korpi, who each drove an orange 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T and a blue 1969 Yenko Camaro SYC. Four other unnamed drivers showed up on a red 2003 Saleen S281-E Mustang, a black BMW 323iS E36, a yellow Dodge Viper SRT-10, and a grey 1998 Chevrolet Corvette C5. Verone asked to have their driver's licenses which he used to get information on the prospectives. He told them to get his Ferrari 360 Spider. He said it was impounded when in reality he had parked it there on purpose.[1] He revealed that the car isn't that important, but it contained a special package left in the glove box, and whoever arrived there first will work for him.
The Race[]
Brian & Roman took off first and thus an early lead. During the race, Roman then flipped Brian in which the latter gave him a smile. While on the highway, the duo drive between two trucks with ease. One of Verone's candidates, who was driving the red Saleen S281-E Ford Mustang tries to do the same, and ends up dead due to both of the truckers preventing him from making a pass. The driver on the Corvette crashes him as well. Meanwhile, Agent Markham sees the Evo and Spyder's tracker and thinks they are trying to escape. Later on the highway, Brian decides to drive backwards. He flips off Roman and almost misses the exit as he put his Lancer Evolution back to forward as Roman joined him. Later, Darden, Korpi, and the other two prospectives exited as well. However, the BMW driver accidentally hit yellow barrels as water splashed on the other three cars. As they drive off the highway, Brian & Roman drive on either side of a guy crossing the street. Darden, Korpi, and the other drivers pass the guy as well. Brian and Roman then passed a boat yard, with Brian hitting the security sign to get through. As Brian tried to find where the impounded vehicles were, he and Roman passed through a forklift carrying a boat, nearly hitting it. After searching through, they then arrive at the "impound".
Aftermath[]
There they find the Ferrari and Roman uses part of his shirt to break the window. Brian shows him that the car was unlocked in which Brian is able to find the package located in the center compartment of the Ferrari. After finding it, Darden, Korpi, and the hired driver on the Dodge Viper arrived. As Brian revealed to Darden and Korpi that he got the package, Korpi informed Darden to not let Brian get away with the package. Unfortunately, Markham arrives and Roman shoots at him. As Darden, Korpi and the other driver fled, the duo grabs the money and returns to Verone. He agrees to let them be a part of his crew. Verone tells them he'll pay them $100,000. Roman tries tries to convince him to give $100,000 to each of them. They return to Customs and there Markham rebukes them for trying to leave, but Brian tells him that their cover was almost blown. As a result, due to their cars being bugged with tracking devices, Brian and Roman plan a pink slip race between Darden and Korpi.