The rumble of the F4 complex was something Nico had never experienced. It wasn't the cars, their streamlined bodies glinting beneath the floodlights, or the massive, well-polished track that wound its way around the complex like a snake. It was tension—the suffocating burden of anticipation hanging in the air like an incoming storm cloud about to unleash itself. Nico leaned against the lip of the pit road, trying to calm his racing heart. This was it. F4 tryouts.
The instant things would change.
"Ready, Nico?" Vincent's voice cut through the noise, firm and encouraging. His old mentor, who now stood next to him, grinned knowingly at Nico. The lines at the corners of Vincent's eyes seemed more pronounced than Nico remembered, but his presence still had that calming influence.
"I believe so," Nico replied, though his insides were in turmoil. Karting he was a master at was small by comparison. F4 cars were giants—large, powerful, and very fast. It was a whole other ball game.
Vincent rested a hand on his shoulder. "It's not all speed here. It's race management. Don't get caught up in the moment. Focus."
Nico agreed, but the skepticism lingered. He could not escape it any longer. His whole career had been building towards this moment, and he could not go back now.
The F4 team scouts, wearing their immaculately pressed official colors, already congregated by the pit wall, talking amongst themselves. Nico could feel their eyes on him, though they had not yet looked in his direction. The F4 drivers lined up along the pit lane were already dressed in their racing attire, helmets already secured, faces unyielding. Some of them were veteran drivers, some fresh faces like Nico. But one thing is certain: they were all gifted. He could not afford to make a wrong step.
Taking one final deep breath, Nico fastened on his helmet and climbed into the F4 car—a steel and carbon fiber beast. The cockpit was tighter than he had expected, but not constrictive. The gear was all new, alien, but Vincent had shown him the basics. Nico tried to block out the tension, but it was useless. He was nervous, but he could not let it be apparent.
Concentration. Take a deep breath. Keep eyes on the track.
The engines screamed into life, and the rest of the drivers began to creep onto the track gradually. Nico fitted into place in the line, trying to relax. He felt the vibration of the other drivers' engines, the smell of gasoline and tire filling the air.
Okay, all, this is it," the official's voice crackled over the loudspeaker. "This tryout will decide who goes into the final round. Let it all out. The cream of the crop.
The track lights illuminated, flooding the asphalt below with a floodlight of light, and Nico's heart skipped. The green flashed, and the F4 cars went screaming off, their tires screeching as they hauled off the line.
Nico's fists gripped the wheel, his eyes concentrated. The car responded differently than the go-karts he was used to, but there was something exhilarating about the speed. The brute force of the engine beneath him caused his heart to thump, the scream of the tires ripping around the track vibrating through his chest.
But it was not smooth sailing initially. Nico was overcautious on the initial turns than he would have preferred and lost some ground to the other, more experienced drivers. Lukas Müller, forever arrogant and swift, muscled his way to the front. Nico could feel him waiting behind him, a sure sign of the undercurrent rivalries.
The track was fast, challenging, full of tight corners and thin straights. Nico was aware of the unfamiliarity of the F4 car as it pounded the bends. The G-forces were more severe, and the way the car reacted was completely alien to karting.
Vincent's advice echoed inside his head: Focus, Nico. Don't get caught up in the chaos. Control the race.
Nico got into the groove. Slowly, he began to reel in the other racers. His racing instincts, honed through years of karting, took hold. He began to feel more comfortable, driving the car more aggressively, attacking each turn with more confidence. But the fight was fierce, and Lukas consistently managed to get in front, never more than a handful of feet ahead.
And then, with the last lap, something snapped into place. Nico's hands gripped the wheel harder, and his gaze locked onto the track. He was no longer responding to what was happening—he was anticipating it. His cornering smoothed, his acceleration came under control.
As he exited a tight corner, he saw the gap. Lukas, so focused on holding the lead, overbraked the turn, and Nico made his move. He dove to the inside line, passing Lukas with an exact move that did not leave much margin for error. He was in the second spot now, immediately behind the leader.
It's here. I can do this.
The subsequent laps were a blur of speed and adrenaline. Nico was pushed to his limits, his sweating hands as he fought to stay even. His brain was a mix of thoughts as he fought the track, critiquing each turn, each bump. He knew that one mistake would spoil it all for him, but he was not going to quit now.
As the last lap was nearing, Nico was still in second position, but the leader, Jasper De Vries, was within reach. Nico accelerated further, his foot on the gas pedal, sliding through the curves with finesse. It was his moment.
But before he could move in, the car behind him—a much faster Lukas—started accelerating. Lukas was determined to get back in his position and push Nico aside. For a moment, Nico was afraid of losing everything.
No. Not today.
Nico shut down Lukas with a quick defensive action, and he had to back away. It was risky, but it paid off. He kept second position and ended a hair behind Jasper.
The moment he crossed the line, Nico couldn't resist letting out a deep sigh of relief. The race was everything he had imagined and more. His heart was pounding in his chest, but the sense of accomplishment at having come through the tryout without lagging behind was ecstatic.
As he rolled back into the pit lane, Vincent was waiting for him, a proud smile on his face. "Good job, Nico. You've earned your place in the final round."
But as Nico removed his helmet, his mind was already turning to the next challenge. The final round would decide everything, and he wasn't going to back down now.
The battle was far from over, and Nico had the F4 dream hanging over his head more than ever before.