Chapter 18 #3
Despite his calm, Erik knew what this race meant to everyone else.
He thought back to Australia when he made that deal with Ingrid, and he relaxed.
The visor went down. His head cleared. Erik had the perfect start off the line.
Antoine overtook Nico, who had locked his front tyres at the first turn.
They were going to do this as a team. Ingrid stood calmly with Jonathan as they watched the first stops.
Antoine’s stop was slightly slower than they wanted, but he still managed to keep position.
At one point, Ingrid looked over to Freja and Jacques, who were standing at the back of the garage, wishing she could hold Freja’s hand.
Ingrid had to remind herself that this wasn’t her fiancé driving but her team’s driver.
It was the final five laps, and she could hear Hannah on the radio counting down for Erik.
He told her that he’s got it from here. Bonnie did the same, and Antoine said he would follow his teammate home to victory.
The whole garage was silent for those final laps.
Julia moved over from the other side of Jonathan and took Ingrid’s hand.
Two laps to go. The TV screens showed some celebrity ready to wave the chequered flag.
It wasn’t until Erik crossed the line that Ingrid realised she had been holding her breath.
“That’s it, Erik, you’re world champion!” Hannah said over the radio.
“Woohoo, we fucking did it! Thank you, everyone! I can’t believe it! Deal done.”
“Congratulations, Erik! I always knew you would be a champion!” Jonathan added on the radio, “You’ve fought hard this year for the team and yourself. Perfect drive to win this one. I have two women here who want to speak to you.”
“Erik, my baby, congratulations! You’ve finally done it!” Freja said through tears, “I love you, and I’m so proud of you.”
“No. 7 has always been for you, Mamma. I love you, too.”
“Congratulations, Odin, I love you so much. You stuck to our deal. Don’t forget we still have another championship to win!” Ingrid said in perfect Swedish.
“Knew you could speak Swedish. Then, can we set a date?” Erik said, laughing.
“Ja. See you at the celebrations.” Ingrid signed off.
Erik got out of the car and immediately hugged Antoine. He wouldn’t have been able to do this if Antoine hadn’t had his back for the last part of the season. He knew they could win the championship together.
“Thanks, mate! This was you, too!” Erik said.
“Anything for you, mon pote!” He responded, patting him on the back, “Now go kiss that woman of yours because you know she got you here, too!”
Erik ran to the team and dove onto them. He didn’t care who he crushed in the process. Ingrid, Freja, Jacques, and Sigrid had stepped back for this part. Erik hugged his family, then hugged Ingrid tightly.
“I love you so much. I wouldn’t have been able to do this without you.”
“Yes, you would have. Now go get that helmet off so I can kiss you.”
Erik was overwhelmed on the ride to the podium.
He was so glad to be sharing this with his friends.
He knew it was a difficult moment for Nico with everything going on off track, but Nico was putting on a brave face.
At the post-race interview, Antoine was trying to chat to Nico, but Erik could sense that it wasn’t working.
“Erik, you are world champion for the first time. How does it feel after coming so close the past few years?” Jamie asked.
“I owe this to the team, everyone back at the factory and here today. They didn’t stop believing that I could do this, especially Jonny. They gave me an unstoppable car this year, and I used it. I also want to thank my family, fans, and partner who have been through so much with me.”
There were loud cheers at this point.
“I just have to say, Erik, I’ve watched you grow since your rookie days, and you’ve really matured this year both as a driver and team leader. We heard you on the radio with your partner, Ingrid, who is now an advisor at Wentworth. How much do you owe that to her?”
“She’d hate for me to single her out. This is a team sport, and she’s one of my teammates. Plus, as she would say, there’s still another championship to win.”
Jamie moved on to Antoine’s interview, and Erik went to put his arm around Nico’s shoulder.
“I know how tough this is, mate. I’ve been there three times.” He reminded him.
“I just feel like such a loser between this and Carla.”
“Don’t. Go smile for the cameras, and we’ll get through the Carla thing together.”
Nico put his media training to good use and accepted defeat as gracefully as he could. His answers were short but polite.
The Wentworth boys had Elizabeth up there with them for her final team podium. Julia made sure everyone was wearing a Champion T-shirt. Ingrid stared up at her man, tears of pride in her eyes. She knew this was just the start of many championships to come.
“Ah, Erik, why did you have to win now? We have to leave for Qatar in like five hours?” said one of the mechanics, checking his watch.
“Sorry, mate, couldn’t help it!” Erik said, drinking directly from a champagne bottle, his arm around Ingrid.
“Ja, I think you’ve had enough of that,” Ingrid said. She then whispered in his ear, “I want to be able to celebrate with you properly.”
“I wonder where we can do that,” he responded, then kissed her sloppily.
“We still have a hotel room…”
The team celebrated in the garage for about two hours before they had to ship out to Qatar.