CHAPTER SEVENTEEN CLARKE AND CECI
Chapter Seventeen
Clarke and Ceci
Clarke
So far, so good, thought Clarke, as he took that first tight corner so close he felt like not even a feather would fit between the side of his car and the guardrail.
Race Engineer: Excellent, Clarke. Only seven laps to go. Everything’s holding up; you won’t have to pit again. You can ride this one out.
Clarke: Copy.
He’d started at seventh position, and now was at third. There was still time to overtake and jump into first or second, but at the very worst if he just held his position, he’d be up on the podium.
He’d had some bad luck during qualifying.
He’d been pissed when he heard they wouldn’t be holding a third qualifying session due to the rain and conditions on the track.
Officials considered it too dangerous. He was certain he could have improved his time and started the race in a much better position.
The only thing good about them cancelling the Q3 was that Anker fared far worse than he had. He’d started in thirteenth position.
But if ever there was a track that was made for overtaking, it was this one. Knowing Anker and how aggressive he was, Clarke doubted he was still sitting at lucky #13.
Besides, your focus is not on him. Or his team principal.
Ceci
Ceci stood, tapping her foot behind Corey, the race engineer.
Something felt different.
Her heart was racing the way it did when she’d been the one behind the wheel, putting her foot on the gas and feeling the full throttle of that powerful engine thrusting her forward.
She’d always been competitive. Her drive to win was intense.
But once she was no longer racing Formula 3, while her desire to win was potent, it was still just a desire.
When she’d been in the driver’s cockpit, it was more than that.
She needed to win. And now, in this race, even though she wasn’t behind the wheel, she felt that need again.
Anker was in seventh and Mendelsohn, his teammate, in tenth.
The cancellation of that third qualifying session had really screwed them.
That being said, this track with all its opportunities to overtake a car was tailor-made for an aggressive driver.
And no driver was more aggressive than Ian Anker.
He’d already moved up six positions. There was enough time left.
It was still possible for him to snag one of the top three spots.
She’d hate for him to be denied that, given expectations were so high this season after he won the trophy last year. They needed a good start to the season.
Race Engineer: Brilliant driving, Ian. Absolutely brilliant. Perez is just up ahead, and you know what else.
Turn twelve.
Turn twelve was a prime spot to overtake a car, but it was also a sharp left-handed turn that required a driver to brake when he was moving at more than two hundred miles per hour.
Anker: I can beat him.
Race Engineer: Okay, but you gotta tap the brakes sooner this time. We don’t want to see what happened last season.
Last season he’d crashed at turn twelve. With none other than Leo Clarke.
Don’t think of him.
She knew he was sitting at third. And tonight, they’d be going on the first of what was to be a whole series of fake dates over the span of nine months.
The prospect of him mounting the podium and possibly even winning, while she was left behind, was unbearable.
It was bad enough having to go out with the man, but under those conditions—unthinkable.
Move your fucking ass, Ian.
She tapped Corey on the shoulder. “Remind him to brake sooner this time.”
“I did.”
“Tell him again.”
Corey nodded. “He knows.”
Of course he knows. The problem is getting his body to do what his brain is telling it. He was still immature as a driver.
She held her breath as he approached the turn. Anker took it as smooth as a championship skater performs a spin on ice.
“Yes!” Ceci cried.
There were cheers all around. He was in sixth position. The podium was a definite possibility at this point.
Come on Anker, you asinine Alpha-hole. Only three cars behind Sir Stick.
Corey looked over his shoulder. “We’ve got Angelini and Taylor in our sights. He can catch them on this lap. And in the final lap, I think he can overtake Clarke on Big Red.”
Big Red was the name given to turn one. Drivers raced up a 133-foot incline from the starting grid, and when they reached the top, they had to brake quickly to make a tight left hairpin turn. It was a great opportunity to pass.
Ceci thought about it and then shook her head.
“No, if he passes Angelini and Taylor, tell him to keep on Clarke’s tail and wait for the Andretti.”
“Turn twenty?”
Ceci nodded.
“The final turn before the finish line?”
“Yes.”
“Are you sure? There are better places to overtake before then.”
“I don’t think Clarke will give him the chance. I can see the way he’s racing. He’s going to stay out of range. Anker’s best chance will be the Andretti. Just tell him that up front when he’s chasing Clarke so he doesn’t get frustrated and do something stupid.”
“Well, if you think Clarke is going to stay out of reach up until then, what makes you think he’ll give Anker a chance at the Andretti?”
“You’ll just have to trust me on this. When he has Clarke in his sights, tell him to wait until that final turn to push.”