Racing to Impress (Madison Beer/You)

Out On Top

"So Y/n, you and Josh are currently leading the championship, but the AMG starting...well fortunately for you, 2 row behind is still within reach of that championship, what's your approach for this race?" Amber says whilst feeding the microphone under the netting and to the bottom of my helmet

"Yeah luckily I put in a good quali run as the AMG is certainly no slouch and is definitely a threat whether they're 20 points or 5 points behind us. My job will just be pick off the McLaren and the other AMG ahead then try build a manageable gap and bring home some good points and carry that into the Endurance race later on in the day" I say into the microphone, hearing my voice echo around the track

"Thank you" Amber adds before walking away before Chris walks back over from the front of the car.

"Right, they're about to clear us all off the grid so good luck, yeah? Don't worry about the gaps we'll let you know them, you focus on the lap times and being inch perfect, I'll see you hopefully under the podium in Parc Ferme" as he pats my helmet and closes the door before sprinting to the opening in the pit wall and disappearing.

For the second time, I held down the Button to start the engine, the car shaking into life. Sounding fast. Looking mean, exactly what a championship winning car should be.

I watch the gantry light and wait for the red rights to disappear to signal the formation lap and right on queue the lights go out.

The whole formation lap I was focused on bringing the tyres into their operating window and getting a feeling of the new setup we applied which was different to that during Quali a day prior.

"Exit of T12 we need to form up, Left Column behind P1, stay close and watch the lights, Good luck buddy" Chris says Reassuringly over the radio

My eyes fixated to the gantry as the lights blinked one by one.
One-Two-Three-Four-Five red lights

As quick as the lights counted up, they disappeared. The sound of 22 GT4 cars going full throttle around me filled the cockpit as we reach the T1 braking zone, jamming on the brakes as late as possible as I manage to get level on the outside with the AMG ahead which gave me in the inside for T2

"Brilliant, one more" Chris says calmly over the radio

The McLaren, struggling with what I could only guess was tyre temperature struggled to keep grip mid corner as the driver fought the understeer, but we had clearly nailed the setup, the car felt on rails.

As we approached T9, a fast right hander up hill I was right up the bumper of the Bright Yellow Artura GT4, lifting momentarily to bridge a gap so I had time to manipulate the car into what I wanted from it and focus on Exit speed.

The McLaren still suffering with understeer had dipped a wheel in the gravel trap which hindered their top speed along the back straight. Drawing along side I could feel every slight adjustment I was doing as the side draft came into play and by the braking zone I was ahead by an arms length.
The next few corners were a blur and by the time I checked the rear facing camera again I was on the main straight about 3 car lengths ahead....in P1.

"You're doing good Y/n, let's keep it up, I'll only give you relevant information from now on, let's win this. Gap is .7"

The rest of the race I spent managing my tyres and losing track of time till the call I waited for came

"That was alright wasn't it?" Chris sarcastically says

"That's it? I didn't even see the chequered flag, that felt like 15 minutes not 30?" I respond