Engineered Hearts - Formula One

Chapter 3

"How's the car feeling Luca?" I asked over the radio, as he completed his second lap of Practice 3. 

"It's okay at the moment but I'm still having some problems with oversteering," he reported back to me. 

"I'll report it to the team Luca and get it sorted for you. We are still putting in good lap times. Your last was 1:39.394." 

This is where I have always wanted to be. Sitting on the pit wall, communicating with my driver to get the best results possible. Watching the famous Bobby Fenton being in sync with his engineer Martin Hollow and winning all of those championships as a kid inspired me to become the female Martin Hollow. And here I am, sat on the Apex pit wall, as a race engineer. Everyone told me that I would never get this far. My university professor included. But here I am, sitting in Martin's seat, hopefully helping the future Bobby Fenton. 

All the practice sessions went well, the mechanics were working hard in the garage to get Luca's car perfect for qualifying. Meanwhile, I was analysing data from practice with the other engineers, already coming up with every possible strategy for Sunday's race whilst also preparing for qualifying. Apart from the drivers, everyone was a lot older than me and more experienced which was slightly intimidating but I made sure my voice was heard. I'm not gonna sit in a corner and let others talk over me just because I am a young woman with only two years experience in Formula One under my belt. I have just as much of a right to be here as the rest of them do. And to be fair, everyone has been extremely welcoming and encouraging. I guess that's one of the reasons they're so successful. Well everyone apart from Apex's other driver Logan Kane, who'd rather assume that I slept with him than me working here. I feel sorry for any women that come into contact with that man. Every other story you see in Formula One usually has something to do with him being with a new woman. Charmer, as you can see. 

-

Luca had made it through to Q3 in qualifying. The final few minutes causing teams to rush around making sure their drivers were getting out and putting in the best laps times possible. 

"Luca you're currently P4 in the standings, we can push for P1," I tell him over the radio. 

Of course Logan was currently in P1, but I knew with an extra push Luca could beat his lap time. Everyone was completing their final laps. Logan had completed his and was currently in P1 with a time of 1:29.407, no one managing to top it in the final moments. 

"What was Logan's time?" he asked me. 

"You don't need to focus on that Luca, but you have purple sectors in section one and two. You can get to P1," I informed him. 

Luca pushed the car as much as possible, completing impressing timings round corners and down the straights. The finish line was in sight, milliseconds away from P1 and...

"YES LUCA. THAT'S P1," I shout on the radio unable to contain my excitement. 

"LET'S GO TEAM," Luca exclaimed back just as excited as I was, "Wow, incredible guys. My first pole position. Thank you Evie." 

His thankfulness made me smile. These are the moments that I signed up for when I joined the sport. After putting his car in Parc Fermé, Luca came rushing to the team to celebrate his first pole position in his career and his first of the season. 

"Thank you Evie, I think we are going to make a great team this season," he thanked with a huge smile. 

"I think you might be right there Luca," I smiled back as I hugged the Italian. 

After the rounds of congratulations, me and the other engineers headed back to the garage to make final preparations before tomorrow. No rest for the wicked! 

- 

After finalising our plans, everyone packed up and was ready to head back to the hotel, to get some well deserved rest before race day. I put my bag over my shoulder and was just about to leave before I felt a tap on my shoulder. 

"So sorry to bother you Evie," a blonde girl around my age said, "I just wanted to congratulate you on your first pole position with Luca. The both of you deserve it, I hope you can win tomorrow." 

She had kind eyes, a pretty face and I could tell she was a genuine person. I'm a very good judge of character even if I do say so myself. 

"Thank you so much. I hope we can convert pole to a win tomorrow too," I smiled at her. 

"My name is Lana, Lana Hale. I'm Marcus's daughter. I've been waiting for years for another girl my age to pop up in the team and I think my prayers have finally been answered," she joked making me laugh. 

"Nice to meet you Lana, yes it's nice to have someone my age that isn't a man," I joked back. 

"Well Evie, I can tell we are going to be good friends already, do you fancy going for dinner with me? Sahkir have some of the best restaurants I've ever been to?" 

"I'd love to." 

Who can say no to making friends? 

- 

"So, how are you finding it so far?" Lana asked as she swirled her fork around the spaghetti on her plate. 

"Amazing, surreal, I can't really put it into words to be honest," I answered. 

"I can imagine! How are the drivers?" 

"Luca is amazing, I just know we are going to work well together this season. Logan on the other hand..." 

"Let me guess, he's either assumed you've slept together or her tried to," she said making me laugh because she was spot on, from my reaction she could tell she was right, "Yeah I am not surprised, I think Logan has slept with every woman his eyes have landed on to be honest. When he saw me in the garage on his first day at Apex, he tried it on with me until he realised Marcus was my dad." 

"Yikes. Sounds like a charmer," I rolled my eyes sarcastically. 

"He's a stereotypical F1 driver, wins on the track and wins with the women." 

I nodded in agreement whilst eating a piece of the steak I ordered. 

"Are you in a relationship?" she asked me with a curious look. 

"No, I have no time for them. Especially now. Are you?" 

"I can understand that. And yes I am, Jackson O'Neil, do you know him?"

"Of course! Driver for Phoenix Racing. I can't imagine your dad being too please over that," I laughed. 

"You have no idea! He went crazy when I first told him. You'd have thought I'd have just shot grandma! He came round eventually but he still keeps an eye on him." 

"I guess he knows what drivers are like." 

"True. But it doesn't matter who I would date to be fair, my dad has always been overprotective." 

"You'll still be his little girl in his eyes so I can imagine why." 

"I suppose so," she sighed, "Anyways, what are your plans after the race tomorrow?" 

"I think that will depend on how the race goes," I chuckle. 

"That's true. Wanna swap numbers and meet up if you can after the race?" she asked. 

It will be good to make friends with someone my age around this place. 

"Of course!" 

The two of us swap numbers, finishing up in the restaurant before heading back to our hotels. 

Bring on tomorrow.