The sun shone brightly over the academy's racetrack as the third selection race got underway. The stands were once again sparsely filled, but the energy was palpable. This time, the small crowd wasn't just composed of family members, there were returning agents and scouts, many of whom had their eyes fixed on the rising star, Henry Reeves.
Henry sat in his cockpit, the roar of engines surrounding him, as the announcer's voice crackled over the intercom.
"Welcome to the third selection race of the F1 Academy! With only 25 drivers left and 15 more cuts looming, this is where futures are made… or broken. Keep your eyes on the track because today's race is guaranteed to bring fireworks!"
System: "Henry, focus. No room for hesitation today. A good start can make all the difference."
"I know," Henry muttered, tightening his grip on the steering wheel.
As the lights went out, Henry launched off the grid with precision, his car humming as it shot forward.
By the third lap, Henry had climbed to 7th place, his quick reflexes and aggressive driving leaving several competitors in his wake. The crowd was already buzzing with excitement.
"That's Henry Calder! He's making his way through the pack like it's nothing!" an agent in the crowd remarked.
"He's a natural," another replied, scribbling notes feverishly. "But can he maintain it?"
On the track, Henry's next target was Liam Parker, who sat in 6th place. Henry grinned as he closed the gap, the tension between them palpable even from inside their helmets.
"Liam's leaving himself wide open," Henry murmured.
System: "He's too focused on defending the outside line. Show him why that's a mistake."
Henry feigned an outside move, causing Liam to swerve to block him. Then, with impeccable timing, he cut inside, diving into the corner with a precision that left Liam scrambling to recover.
"What the ?" Liam's voice crackled over the radio as Henry surged past him.
The crowd erupted in applause.
"That's the second time Henry's outsmarted Liam in a race," one scout observed. "That kid doesn't just have skill he's got a racing mind."
By the 5th lap, Henry found himself in 5th place, locking horns with a driver from France. The two traded positions through a series of tight corners, their cars mere inches apart.
"That's some aggressive driving!" the announcer exclaimed. "Neither of them is backing down!"
Henry finally gained the upper hand, edging out his rival with a daring move on a hairpin turn. His control was flawless, his rear wing just grazing the edge of the track as he powered ahead.
System: "Well done. Keep this up, and we'll be on the podium in no time."
"Let's not celebrate yet," Henry replied, his eyes fixed on the drivers ahead.
By the 8th lap, Henry had clawed his way up to 4th place. His next challenge? Sophia Chen, the icy and calculating driver who rarely made mistakes.
Sophia had noticed Henry gaining on her and adjusted her strategy accordingly, closing off any obvious overtaking opportunities.
"She's good," Henry admitted. "But everyone has a weak spot."
System: "Her exits are solid, but her mid-corner speed isn't as strong. Take advantage of that."
For two laps, Henry stalked Sophia, staying just within striking distance. He applied pressure, pushing her to take defensive lines, and finally, on the 10th lap, he saw his opening.
Coming into a sweeping left-hander, Sophia hesitated for a fraction of a second, and Henry pounced. He carried more speed into the corner, positioning his car perfectly to slip past her on the inside.
"Calder is in 3rd!" the announcer roared. "What a move! This kid is something else!"
The crowd's reaction was electric. Even the seasoned agents and scouts couldn't hide their amazement.
"I'll admit," one scout said, shaking his head. "I didn't expect him to handle Sophia like that. She's one of the smartest drivers on the grid."
With Sophia behind him, Henry's sights were set on Santiago Rojas, who occupied 2nd place. Unlike Sophia, Santiago was known for his aggressive style, and as Henry closed the gap, he braced himself for a fight.
By the 11th lap, Henry was on Santiago's tail, the two cars separated by mere tenths of a second. Santiago wasn't about to give up his position without a fight, and for an entire lap, they engaged in a fierce battle.
Henry attempted a daring overtake on the outside, only for Santiago to shut the door on him at the last second.
System: "Patience, Henry. He's trying to rattle you."
"I'm not rattled," Henry replied, his voice calm.
On the 12th lap, Henry finally made his move. He faked an inside line on a fast chicane, forcing Santiago to cover, then swung wide and carried more speed through the next corner. By the time they reached the straight, Henry was ahead.
"And Henry Calder takes 2nd place!" the announcer shouted. "This young man is unstoppable!"
The crowd was on its feet, cheering wildly.
"Look at him go!" one agent exclaimed. "He's outperforming drivers who've been karting since they were toddlers."
With Santiago behind him, Henry had only one driver left to catch: Victor Lang.
Victor, who had led the race from the start, was nearly five seconds ahead, but Henry was gaining.
System: "You've got three laps left. He's fast, but you're faster. Don't hold back."
"I won't," Henry said, his jaw set in determination.
The gap began to close, and the crowd noticed.
"Can he do it?" one scout murmured, leaning forward in his seat.
"This kid might just pull off the impossible," another replied.
On the track, Victor glanced at his mirrors and saw Henry approaching. His grip tightened on the wheel, a scowl spreading across his face.
"You're not catching me, Calder," Victor muttered.
The stage was set for an epic showdown. With three laps to go, Henry was within striking distance, and everyone spectators, agents, and competitors held their breath in anticipation.