While Tom Paris and Harry Kim are performing tests on the new Delta Flyer, they encounter a mysterious pilot who challenges them to a race. The woman, Irina, later informs them of an upcoming starship race. Soon, the Starfleet officers find themselves involved in this race — an event intended as the first step towards peace between four different cultures from this area of space. But one of the racers is determined to sabotage the goodwill of the event.

Cyia Batten (Irina)
Brian George (Ambassador O'Zaal)
Robert Tyler (Joxom)
Patrick Kilpatrick (Assan)
Chris Covics (Assistant)

• The race is the first annual Antarian Trans-Stellar Rally. Even though it is a serious drain on resources, Janeway approves the race for morale reasons.
  
• Tom and Harry are testing the new Delta Flyer. However, Janeway took the new Flyer to salvage a Borg cortical node in the previous episode.
  
• B'Elanna begins to question that her relationship with Tom is going nowhere after he cancels another date to compete in the race. However, after talking to Seven, she decides to embrace his interests and replaces Harry as Tom's co-pilot.
  
• Irina sabotoges the Delta Flyer to cause a warp core breach.
  
• Tom proposes to B'Elanna. She accepts and they get married. (The wedding isn't shown on screen.)