======Piranha====== **Piranha Advancements**6, alternatively referred to as //Piranha Development//3, //Pirhana Advancements//5 and //Pir-Hana//9, is a Brazil-based [[:anti-gravity_racing|Anti-Gravity racing]] team, present in some form or another in nearly all games in the [[:wipeout_(series)|WipEout series]] to date. First mentioned in [[wipeout_series:wipeout|WipEout]] as an airbrake system manufacturer supplying technology to AG Systems and Auricom2, Piranha made their inaugural competitive appearance in [[wipeout_series:wipeout_2097|WipEout 2097/XL]] and as a secretive Chinese-based team with a uniquely swift prototype ship which was weaponless3 until [[wipeout_series:wipeout_64|WipEout 64]][[#References / Sources|4]], before becoming a Brazilian mainstay feature to the series[[#References / Sources|5]]. Retroactive information presented in [[wipeout_series:wipeout_2048|WipEout 2048]] asserts that from the very beginning the team was initially founded in Brazil, before mysteriously pulling out of the AGRC and coming under Chinese management.9 Constantly pursuing a state of perfection in race engineering, Piranha has evolved substantially over the eras. Pir-Hana's roots are difficult to track, but rumours were that the company had links to military development or even a different sports franchise. What is known is that they're credited with inspiring the foundations of the sport, first establishing the Anti-Gravity Federation (AGF) organisation and then conjuring the idea of the 2048 Anti-Gravity Racing Championships (AGRC) to be hosted at Nova State City. This was until Pir-Hana's announcement of its sudden departure prior to the 2050 season finale,9 and AG Systems chairman Pierre Belmondo elevated the concept in their absence to become 2052's inaugural F3600 Racing League.2 With their return in 2097 under new Chinese management, very little warning was given to other teams about how dominant their ships would be, breezing past the pack with perfect control and unbeatable speed, but notably lacking weapons.3 This limitation would soon be lifted for the following seasons4, but much of that perfection would be lost when race operations transferred back to Brazil, with only the ship's agility staying largely intact during the F7200 League.5 Enjoying mixed success, they acquired Assegai prior to the announcement of the F90006 and became strong contenders for the championships in a large number of seasons, until the races stopped when the corruption of the F9000 was publicly revealed.7 Piranha were seemingly prepared for the return of AG racing, with a ship secretly developed over the decades of silence being launched with the FX300 announcement. 7 =====In WipEout HD===== ====Technical Information==== ===Standard Chassis=== * Fastest Top Speed, tied with Icaras * Tied with Triakis for lowest Thrust Acceleration, resulting in sluggish launch and poor speed recovery * Tied with Triakis for lowest Handling, with slow Turning Rate and minimal Ground Grip producing a heavy drifting feel * High Shield Capacity, offering strong durability in combat scenarios While its acceleration and cornering limitations demand skill and commitment on racing lines, its raw speed and resilience make it a formidable force in slower Speed Classes and high-speed open circuits where momentum and survivability outweigh agility. ===Fury Prototype Chassis=== * Increased Thrust Acceleration * Slight improvement to Turning Rate * Top Speed and Shield Capacity remain the same This ship's two greatest weaknesses have largely been smoothed out, refining the team's new philosophy of combat-ready high-speed juggernauts. ===== References / Sources ===== - Wipeout Original Design Document - Wipeout 1 Game and Manual - Wipeout 2097 Game and Manual - Wipeout 64 Game and Manual - Wipeout 3 Game and Manual - Wipeout Fusion Game and Website - Wipeout Pure Game and Website - Wipeout Pulse/HD Game and Website - Wipeout 2048 Game and Digital Manual