Untouchable - Ollie Bearman

21. - Ollie

Summer was over. After the Yacht trip, Bianca flew back to the Philippines for a week of her own. I flew back to Britain to spend time with my own family. Absolute highlight of my week at home was the hype I got when I picked my younger brother up from his school. He went back a week early, and he says I am a pretty big thing there. So, when the famous "Ollie Bearman" arrived in his silver Porsche, I attracted a lot of attention. I met all of Tom's school friends and dished out a few autographs. But it was so relaxing to finally be back in Italy, knowing that Bia will be back home that night.

Next race: Belgium.

The practices showed that the Prema drivers dominated the track. Me and Bianca were smashing a 1-2 finish every session, and when it came to Qualifying, it was no different. She started on pole, I was in second. It was cloudy and starting to rain, but the Medium tyres were the best option. Some back markers decided to risk it and put on intermediates.
This track is famously known for its difficulty when wet. Only recently did it claim another victim, an 18 year old who raced here. We spent two minutes before the race to mourn him, and another driver Anthoine, who was close to Pierre Gasly.
This year, Pierre has started a campaign to mourn the two drivers: "Race For Anthoine.". Both me and Bianca joined the cause, as well as the entire F1 grid, most of F2, some of F3 and all of the Belgian Staff.
As I climbed in my car, I started to see wet drips on my Visor. It's too late to change tyre now, but I will have to box pretty soon. My engineer added a comment.
"Hey Ollie. The rain wasn't looking too bad earlier, but is starting to pick up. We are thinking lap 5 will be when its time for inters."

Lights out and away we go.
20 sets of tyres all set into motion at once, with all of us screeching away from our grid positions. Bianca got an excellent breakaway, and so did Pourchaire, who was sitting in the 3rd spot. By turn one, it was Theo who I was fighting, with Bianca in a lead of her own. I could feel the twitchiness of the car in the wet, and one wrong move could send me off the track.
Up Eau Rouge was the hardest part, pushing the machine up the hill whilst trying to overtake any drivers in front, or behind.
Laps went by, lap 2 Pourchaire moved up to 2nd, and in lap 3, Ollie stole it back. The two boys were fighting each other in their own mini race, unaware of the other 18 cars out on track. Bianca was around 3 seconds ahead, so the 2nd was the best place on offer for the two.
Lap 5 was where it all struck. The commentators shouted: "A CAR HAS COME OFF IN EAU ROUGE!" The Italian Prema of Oliver Bearman has flipped over into the barrier after contact with Theo.
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Team: Ollie! Are you alright?
Ollie:
Team: Ollie, can you hear me?
Ollie: The.. car is on fire
Team: Can you get out?
Ollie: My seatbelt is jammed. It wont come loose. I don't think I am getting out.
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The radio switched off as multiple safety cars and ambulances piled onto the track. The Prema's rear end was engulfed in flames, roaring almost a metre high. Some drivers had gotten out of their cars to try and rescue Ollie, but the flames kept them at bay.

To the crowd and the rest of the world, Ollie was as good as gone.