The evening air buzzed with excitement as I stood near my car in the ART paddock, mentally preparing for my first-ever Formula 2 sprint race. The golden glow of the floodlights illuminated the Al Khalifa International Circuit, casting long shadows across the starting grid. The roar of the crowd was deafening, but in my helmet, it felt muted, almost distant.
As I focused on the task ahead, the system chimed in, its tone more energized than usual.
"Henry, congratulations! You've unlocked a new skill: Override. Here's how it works: Every overtake earns one point, every lap completed earns another point. Collect 50 points during a race, and you can activate Override. This will maximize all your driving stats, granting you peak performance for the remainder of the race."
I smirked. "Alright, let's see if we can hit 50 tonight. A sprint race is as good a place as any to test it out."
"Ambitious," the system replied. "Remember, the points reset if you don't reach the target, so consistency is key."
I nodded, turning my attention to Laurent, my race engineer, whose voice crackled over the radio.
"Henry, focus on the start. A clean getaway is crucial, especially from P4. Be mindful of tire management, we've got 24 laps, and it's all about maintaining pace."
Before the race, all the drivers gathered on the grid for the national anthem, a ceremonial moment that seemed to stretch endlessly. The energy was electric, with cameras panning across the field and capturing the nerves etched on every driver's face.
The commentator's voice boomed over the speakers. "And here we are, moments away from the Gulf Grand Prix sprint race! Fans, keep an eye on the front two rows, where some of the best action is sure to unfold!"
As the anthem ended, I exchanged nods with Luca, who stood nearby in his ART racing suit. "Let's give them a show tonight," he said with a grin.
"Try to keep up," I joked, earning a chuckle from him before we made our way back to the paddock.
Sliding into the cockpit, I felt the world around me narrow once more. Laurent's voice guided me through the final checks as I rolled out onto the formation lap.
"Engine mode set. Brakes and tires look good. Just focus on heating them up evenly."
I weaved side to side, feeling the tires grip the track with each turn. When we pulled back into position, the lights above the grid began their countdown sequence.
"Remember," the system chimed, "overtakes and laps equal points. Every move counts."
The five red lights illuminated one by one. My heart pounded. Then, they disappeared.
The start was chaos, as expected. The cars ahead, Liam Hargrave and Ayumu Tanaka, fought for the lead, while I focused on holding my position. Behind me, fifth-place driver Victor Leblanc attempted to challenge, but I cut him off at Turn 2, forcing him to back off.
"Good defense," Laurent said. "You're holding P4. Stay close to Luca."
"First lap complete. One point earned," the system chimed.
The first lap ended with me glued to Luca's gearbox, while Hargrave and Tanaka battled it out in front.
By Lap 3, the race began to settle into a rhythm. Tanaka had pulled ahead, while Luca started putting pressure on Hargrave. I kept my position, studying their lines and waiting for an opening.
"Pace is good, Henry," Laurent said. "Focus on clean exits. Let the leaders fight it out."
The crowd roared as Luca attempted a daring move on Hargrave at Turn 7, but the British driver shut the door.
"And Moretti is really going for it!" the commentator shouted. "This is incredible wheel-to-wheel action!"
Meanwhile, I bided my time.
"You're at five points now," the system reminded me. "Focus on opportunities to gain more."
Lap 6 presented my first real chance. As Luca and Hargrave continued their battle, they slowed each other down just enough for me to close the gap. At Turn 10, I made a late dive on Hargrave, slipping past him into third place.
"Brilliant move, Henry!" Laurent cheered. "Now stay with Luca."
"Overtake logged. Seven points total," the system updated.
The crowd erupted, and I could hear the commentators losing their minds. "Calder takes P3! What a move from the rookie! He's not holding back tonight!"
For the next few laps, I held onto third, defending against Hargrave, who was determined to reclaim the position. Each lap completed added to my tally, and by Lap 9, I was at 12 points.
By Lap 10, Tanaka still led the race, but Luca was closing in fast. I kept my focus, waiting for a mistake from either driver.
Laurent's voice came through the radio. "Henry, tire temps are looking good. Keep pushing."
The system chimed in again. "You're making good progress. Remember: Override activates at 50 points."
By Lap 14, I had closed the gap to Luca to just under a second. The crowd seemed to feel the tension, their cheers growing louder with every lap.
"Calder is inching closer to his teammate!" the commentator exclaimed. "Is the rookie setting up for a challenge on Moretti?"
The final stretch of the sprint race began, and I could feel the intensity building. Hargrave had fallen back, leaving the battle for the podium positions between the two ART cars and Tanaka.
Lap 16 brought another surge of energy as I pushed through Sector 2, setting a personal best and closing the gap to half a second. Laurent's voice urged caution.
"Henry, remember, Luca is your teammate. No unnecessary risks."
"You're at 18 points," the system informed me. "Keep it clean. Every lap counts."
By Lap 18, I was right on Luca's tail. The crowd's energy was palpable, and the commentators were in a frenzy.
"Calder is all over Moretti! The ART teammates are running nose-to-tail, and it looks like Calder might be sizing him up for a move!"
As the lap ended, I remained in third, my sights firmly set on Luca. The battle for ART supremacy was far from over.
"End of Lap 18," the system chimed. "19 points earned. Keep pushing."
With six laps to go, the stage was set for an epic finish. The sprint race had been a rollercoaster, and I was determined to make the most of every remaining second.