The green flag waved as I crossed the line into Lap 11, my eyes fixed on Damon Steele's car ahead. He was jittery, his lines inconsistent, and I could sense his frustration building. Laurent's calm voice crackled in my ear.
"Stay sharp, Henry. Damon's feeling the heat, but don't rush it. He's likely to slip up again."
"Copy," I said, steadying my breathing. My tires were still in decent condition, and I had more grip than Damon, who was fighting to keep his car under control.
The system chimed in. "You're 0.3 seconds faster through Sector 2. Exploit the middle of the lap; he's terrible there."
Lap 11: Pressuring Damon
I stayed glued to Damon's gearbox, biding my time. He defended aggressively, weaving down the straight, but his overcorrection into Turn 6 caused him to miss the apex by inches.
"See that?" Laurent called. "He's leaving himself exposed."
I stayed calm, taking the tighter line and keeping the pressure on. I could feel the opening coming.
Lap 12: The Moment Arrives
Turn 8. Damon braked too late, and his car skidded across the curb, sending him wide.
"Go! Now!" Laurent shouted.
I didn't hesitate. With precise steering, I dove down the inside, my tires barely skimming the edge of the track. Damon tried to close the gap, but it was too late.
"Got him," I said, exhaling deeply as I powered ahead.
"Well done, Henry," Laurent said with pride. "Now, let's close that gap to Luca."
The system's tone was smug. "Not bad for a rookie. But don't get comfortable; Luca's in another league."
Lap 13: The Chase Begins
Luca Moretti was eight seconds ahead, his car slicing through the air like a missile. My focus shifted entirely to catching him, though I knew it wouldn't be easy.
"Gap to Luca is 7.8 seconds," Laurent informed me. "His pace is consistent, but you've got fresher tires. Let's chip away at it."
The system added, "Analyze, adapt, execute. You're not going to catch him by brute force."
I adjusted my line to find the perfect balance of speed and control. Every corner mattered now.
Lap 14: Gaining Ground
By the end of the lap, I'd shaved two-tenths off Luca's lead. It wasn't much, but it was progress.
"Keep it up, Henry," Laurent encouraged. "You're gaining slowly but surely."
I clenched my jaw. Slowly, it wasn't good enough. I needed to push harder.
Lap 15: In the Groove
The car felt like an extension of myself now. I hit every apex, my braking points were precise, and my exits were clean. The gap to Luca shrank to 6.9 seconds.
"Nice work," Laurent said. "He's not pulling away anymore."
The system's voice was sharp. "You're still too far. Push harder, but don't overheat the tires. Precision wins races, not brute force."
Lap 16: A Glimpse of Hope
I could see Luca in the distance, his red-and-white ART car darting through the turns. The sight fueled my determination.
"Gap is down to 6.2 seconds," Laurent said. "You're in the zone, Henry. Stay focused."
I nodded, though I knew the challenge ahead was steep. Luca wasn't making mistakes, and his pace was relentless.
Lap 17: Feeling the Strain
The tires were losing their edge, and I could feel the car sliding slightly through high-speed corners.
"Stay smooth," Laurent advised. "If you overwork the tires now, you have nothing left for the final laps."
The system added, "Your car's balance is still decent, but you're running out of margin. Calculate every move."
I gritted my teeth and adjusted my inputs, focusing on conserving what grip I had left.
Lap 18: Closing the Gap
The gap to Luca was now under six seconds. It wasn't enough to catch him, but it was enough to make him notice.
"He's aware of you now," Laurent said. "That's good. Keep the pressure on."
The system's tone was smug. "He's not invincible. But you'll need something special to reel him in."
Lap 19: Pushing the Limits
With two laps to go, I gave it everything I had. The car felt alive beneath me, every input translating into precision movement.
"Gap to Luca is 5.3 seconds," Laurent updated. "You're gaining, but time's running out."
The system quipped, "Well, at least you're making him sweat. That's worth something, right?"
Lap 20: The Final Push
The last lap was a blur of speed and intensity. I pushed the car to its limits; every corner was an opportunity to close the gap.
"Final sector, Henry," Laurent called. "Luca's pace is steady. Just bring it home strong."
I crossed the line 5.1 seconds behind Luca, my heart pounding. I hadn't caught him, but I'd proven something to myself and the team.
"Second place isn't bad," the system said dryly. "But you're not here to be second, are you?"
I smiled despite myself. "Not for long."
Laurent's voice was warm. "Great drive, Henry. You've come a long way, and it's only the beginning."
I sat back in the cockpit, exhausted but satisfied. This wasn't the end but the start of something greater.