Chapter 5
‘I can’t go up there, Savi!’ Her dad pulled on her arm, begging for her to let him stay down and watch her go up. ‘The podium is sacred .’
‘Dad, we are telling you that you can come with us. It’s not a big deal; you can stand off to one side with Miko’s and Kodie’s parents. You’re not going to be front and centre.’
He faltered again, looking very unsure of himself and a million miles out of his comfort zone, and Savi was starting to feel bad. ‘Sav, are you sure you want me invading your moment?’
‘Oh, Dad…’ She smiled softly and wrapped him up in her arms, ‘You’ve been an integral part of my journey so far, of course I want you on the podium with me.’
‘Come on, Mr Hart!’ Marco breezed past, clapping her dad on the shoulder as he went. ‘You can hold Savi’s helmet for her while I spray her with champers.’
‘Is it really champagne…’ he whispered to Savi, ‘or is it rosewater?’
‘We’re in Belgium, so it’s real champagne. We only have rosewater in countries where alcohol is prohibited, and it doesn’t fizz up the same so it’s nowhere near as fun.’
‘Cool…’ He nodded away, getting lost in the chaos of all the podium-winners gathering at the foot of the steps, talking animatedly and getting rowdier by the minute.
The podium trackside celebrations weren’t a patch on the party Faith and Julien threw after this very race every year, but they were cherished among the drivers.
A valued tradition. ‘You go with your team, I’ll see you up there. ’
Savi left him hovering near Marco’s cousin, only turning her back when she saw him get pulled into a conversation.
She made her way over to her teammates and finally let out a breath, her anxiety at bay so far.
The race was done and dusted, but after these celebrations they had a couple of interviews with journalists and television presenters, followed by a debrief in the team’s temporary paddock headquarters.
There was plenty of time to stress but this wasn’t it.
‘You okay?’ Kodie mouthed, as if Savi now had a flashing neon sign above her head that read ‘ Anxious. Handle with care .’ It was the primary reason she hadn’t wanted anyone knowing.
Nodding and smiling appreciatively, she found herself glued to Marco’s side again.
That was twice this week she’d relied on him for support, unbeknownst to him.
Before signing with this team, she had never once considered him as someone she could trust. He was just Marco De Luca, fellow racing driver who didn’t mind holding a conversation when they crossed paths.
Now, he was a teammate, potential friend and a safety net. ‘That was a great drive, De Luca.’
He threw an arm around her and pulled her into his side, casual intimacy feeling very normal and appropriate for their new dynamic.
She hadn’t experienced this with a male teammate before, and it made her feel strange.
What would Jesse think? ‘Thanks, Savannah. It was nice having you to challenge me out there.’
‘She didn’t just challenge you, mate,’ Brett laughed, ‘she destroyed you on that track. Never seen a rookie drive like that in their first race. Outstanding I have to say.’
Marco shrugged, ‘I was mildly distracted. You know, what with the recent heartbreak and everything. Didn’t have time to squeeze in a therapy session beforehand. But yeah, she is outstanding. If anyone was going to show me up like that, I’m glad it was her.’
He didn’t seem bothered at all, despite his teammate’s dig, but she also didn’t buy the fact he had been distracted by thoughts of Esme.
That just wasn’t the done thing. You leave your personal issues in the garage, every driver knew that.
And regardless of the unprofessional location of Marco’s meltdown at the start of the week, he didn’t strike her as the type to let his feelings control his driving.
Even so, she caught him gazing after Esme in her team uniform, capturing video content of Eden’s drivers who had earned third position.
‘Hey,’ she elbowed his side, ‘enjoy this. I know you’ve done it hundreds of times before, but you and the guys won. Our whole team won. Take your focus off Esme until you’re home safe in Monaco, or wherever it is you’re heading next. That’s when you let yourself feel it all.’
‘Same goes for you.’ He removed his arm and stretched out, gearing up to walk up the steps.
She frowned at him, tuning out the rest of the team, ‘What?’
‘I don’t know what’s up, but you look like you’re fighting one hell of an inner battle.
Your cheeks are burning up, and no matter how much you try to hide it, your breathing is off.
I can hear it, feel it, see it. The way your chest rises and falls with hesitation, how you’re gasping for breath.
Save it for later, Cowgirl. Push it all down until you’re free to let it all out. ’
Savi was still processing the way he had been able to see right through her when they got the signal to make their way to the podium, a crowd of their biggest supporters traipsing along behind them and Marco’s hand on the small of her back.
It was a small gesture which could so easily have gone unnoticed, but it grounded her.
And then when she got to the top of the steps and Marco had to leave her to go to his place on first, Kodie took over.
She, Kodie and Miko joined hands and helped each other up, pausing to smile at one another and soak it all in privately, before they turned to face their audience.
Hundreds of people, from team principals, drivers, engineers, mechanics, VIP guests, and the fans beyond the pit wall who had rushed from the grandstands to the track just to get close enough to celebrate with them.
She had experienced this before, but it was different now.
Revolution Racing were in a league of their own, and the International Endurance Championship was home to some of the best drivers in the world.
Now she was considered one of them. Podium position in her very first race.
How many people on the planet could say that?
Medals were hung around their necks, trophies handed over and hands shaken by people so high up in the motorsport industry that Savi did all she could not to hug them and thank them for letting this championship exist. It took a village, and this team was just a very small part of it, but it was hers.
Glancing to the side, she spotted her dad bursting with pride out of view of the cameras, all but crying on the shoulder of Julien’s mum who had also come alone, and looked like she’d been weeping for days.
She was proof that this feeling would never get old, for drivers or their loved ones.
And then she looked over to the podium next to theirs, watching the guys get into position for photos while her own team did the same.
Arms around shoulders, all beaming and revelling in the magic of the moment.
‘Savannah,’ Marco approached the three of them, clutching his champagne bottle with Julien and Brett in tow. ‘How do you feel?’ he shouted above the applause and excessively loud cheers from down below.
‘Like I’m in heaven!’ she laughed.
‘Probably the closest we’ll ever get,’ Miko added.
Then the spray hit. Sticky, sweet champagne that coated their racing suits, dousing them in a reminder of everything they had achieved today.
This week. In their careers thus far. Savi wanted this forever, which she knew wasn’t possible, but she’d be behind the wheel of a race car until she was old and grey and couldn’t see to drive anymore or she didn’t have the reactions necessary for a sport so elite. Revolution Racing was her world.
‘Come in!’ Jasper beckoned them into the conference room. ‘Take a seat, everyone.’
The team, engineers included, made themselves comfortable around the long, rectangular table in the middle of the room.
Her first official race debrief for the IEC.
Savi was excited even if some of the engineers looked nervous.
She supposed there was, in a sense, a lot more pressure on them.
They were the ones deploying the race strategy to the drivers in the car and taking the brunt of it when the drivers went against team orders.
Not that any of them had done that this time, but Savi had taken a risk when she’d chosen to overtake Marco in the first two hours.
‘No food this time, Jasper?’ Brett sulked.
‘Faith and Julien will have a buffet at their place later, consider me depriving you now as a favour.’ He rolled his eyes playfully. ‘How were post-race interviews?’
‘Same as always,’ Julien stated. ‘But I guess the girls might have had a different experience. Less mundane, more exciting.’
‘They just made us talk about our feelings.’ Savi scrunched her nose up. ‘Get all sentimental on camera. Would’ve been better off showing our parents crying and calling it a day.’
‘They do like to try and tug on the heartstrings,’ Jasper grimaced. ‘You’ll probably get that kind of approach to interviews all through this first season.’
‘It’s worth it,’ Kodie shrugged.
‘Let’s crack on with the debrief, then…
’ Their boss sat down at the head of the table with his notes, before tossing them to one side.
‘Who am I kidding? You guys all did a stellar job. Truly. I don’t know if I’ve ever been so relaxed during a race, but you had everything under control from the moment those lights turned green.
Your engineers were on the ball, each of you made strategic risks that paid off.
I couldn’t be prouder. To have a brand-new team of drivers in a car we’ve never raced before do so well, it’s almost unheard of.
And frankly, it’s a big screw you to anyone who thinks women don’t have a place here. ’
Savi swallowed the lump in her throat, all signs of anxiety replaced by an overwhelming sense of gratitude for her younger self, her family, Gabriel Lopez for sponsoring her, her teammates and her boss and everyone who had worked to give women opportunities like this.
Especially women from backgrounds such as hers, where you had to rely on being in the right place at the right time and the possibility that someone with the power to make dreams come true might see something in you.
‘He’s right, we’re all about making statements in this team,’ Marco added. ‘This is the biggest one of all, and it’s already paying off. Because of you.’
Jasper nodded along. ‘You each deserve all the success you have created for yourselves, and I am so glad the rest of this team made the active decision to dedicate our second car to the three of you, and the future of women in motorsport.’
‘So…’ Julien said. ‘Anything you want to tell anyone off for?’
His attention shot to Savi and Marco, who were sitting side by side. Sort of. Marco was leaning back in his chair, his foot hooked around the metal leg of her own. ‘Us?!’ he scowled.
‘Well, you two were playing a bit of a dangerous game at the start of the race but I trusted that you knew what you were doing. Trust is a big thing, and I could see you pulling back when needed, Savi. You made the move when you knew it was safe to do so, and it worked out well for you.’
‘Until I got the position back from Miko!’ Julien grinned, high-fiving a startled Miko who had been keeping to herself, mid-daydream.
Miko frowned. ‘I’m not sure that warrants a high-five on my part, but sure.’
‘Now, before we all head into Malmedy for the after party, I will issue my annual reminder that there will be a lot of people there tonight. They may be drivers like you, but that doesn’t mean they have the same standards for privacy.
Your behaviour offtrack is a reflection on the team, and if you take things too far…
Well, please don’t make the PR team have to do any damage control tomorrow morning. That’s all I ask.’
Brett let out a snort. ‘Jasper, need we remind you of your actions last year?’
‘I am well aware of what I got up to, Anderson. I could have created the biggest scandal this team has ever faced with my naked rendition of “Bohemian Rhapsody” on the balcony, but thankfully we avoided the video getting out. I have since joined you in your journey of sobriety.’
‘Speaking of,’ Brett stood up, ‘if we’re all done here, I’d like to go and wash off the champers before we head to Julien’s.
I think I’m going to have to peel my racing suit off like a second skin.
’ He shuddered. He had decided when he first made his comeback to the sport that he could handle alcohol being sprayed on the podium, but he never liked to sit covered in it longer than a few minutes if he could help it.
‘And I,’ Marco rose from his chair, ‘am calling dibs on being second in the shower.’
The two of them left, closely followed by Julien, leaving Savi and her female teammates sitting in a room with Jasper and a few engineers.
‘Jasper, can we look into getting brand deals and sponsorship from some female-led brands and businesses next season?’ Savi asked, knowing each of them had signed a two-year contract so they would be here to see it out.
Miko sat up straight, ‘Oh, please! That’s genius!’
‘Yeah, we’ve already got a partnership with Faith and Lucie’s motorsport academy, what’s a few more?’ Kodie added.
Jasper smiled knowingly at them, shuffling his stack of notes.
‘Did you really think I’d introduce this second car to the team without having such plans up my sleeve already?
I’m in talks with a few, but I’d love to get you in some meetings.
Send me a list of your own recommendations, too. We’ll discuss it.’
That was why she was here, with this team.
It wasn’t just about status and relationships and everything Revolution Racing could give her.
She wanted to give back. To all the little girls who dreamed of growing up to be just like her, and to the women who were already in this industry and tired of the sexism from the people who didn’t understand what it took to get here.
It was about progress. Making history. And while she had a long way to go, she knew her future was bright.