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Sky visitors

Eight courses in Gumwall Grand Prix have a creature from that place's own legend. Once a minute there is a one in twelve chance it appears, circles the course for a minute or two, then flies off toward the sun and fades. Nothing to do with it but look up.

The Thunderbird, Pikes Peak

Plains and Rocky Mountain legend. Its wingbeats are thunder, its eyes lightning.

The Lindwurm, the Nordschleife

The dragon of the Nibelungenlied lived in these hills. Ours has wings; the legend's does not.

A Ryu, Suzuka

The Japanese dragon of rain and cloud. Mane, whiskers, no wings.

Bayard, Spa-Francorchamps

The magic horse of the four sons of Aymon, who carried all four at once across the Ardennes.

The Rainbow Serpent, Bathurst

Maker of rivers and waterholes across Aboriginal Australia, seen in the sky after rain.

The Boitatá, Interlagos

Brazil's fire serpent, guardian of the forest.

The Vouivre, Le Mans

France's winged serpent, a jewel set in her forehead.

A griffin, Monaco

Lion and eagle, guardian of treasure around the Mediterranean since the Greeks.

Ride a course   The sixteen courses