CHAPTER 66: RACE WEEKEND | SUNDAY | DOUBLE YELLOW FLAGS

"It’s lights out and away we go! Between the two of them, it looks like Selçuk got a better start, and both of them are moving to try and cover and hinder each other. Who will be brave, and who will chicken out? BUT NO ONE LIFTS, AND OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH! SELÇUK AND JACKSON ARE OUT OF THE RACE! WOW, OH MY GOD! THE RACE HAS NOW BEEN DOUBLE YELLOW-FLAGGED.

Oh my god, that is something I wasn’t expecting at all! I’m pretty sure neither of the two in front lifted, but how come Selçuk missed Fatih when none of them pulled back? I’m surprised how he managed to collect Jackson of all people," Süleyman commentated, having gone through a roller coaster of emotions in just a single first-sector lap. His voice reflected that.

"I don’t think one of them got a better start or something like that, because I think I saw Fatih and Selçuk move nearly at the same time. We’ll have to see the replay first before we discover what went wrong or what one of them did that the other didn’t, resulting in that difference. Though it might be the difference in the power of the kart engines, since Fatih’s is most likely not homologated from the best-performing engine parts to make one engine like his previously sponsored kart. But that much difference in speed is not something that happens even if Selçuk’s engine is made from the best-performing parts of many engines. Otherwise, Fatih would have lost his competitive edge, and his slipstream tactic would have failed on its first try," Zakir responded, trying to explain how such a thing might happen. But with so many things happening on the track when there were only two of them to look at, they missed a lot of things.

"I would like to inform you that our two drivers are fine, which is good news. They have already been withdrawn from the track and their karts, and we are going to have green flags by the end of this lap. So let’s see the replay of the situation," Süleyman followed as the screen showed the two drivers crossing the track, heading to the pit lane as two marshals collected and moved their karts. Selçuk’s head was lowered, and he was walking very slowly as if he didn’t want to go to the pit lane. The image was then replaced with the replay logo, and the race start was replayed.

The replay started a few seconds before the lights went out, giving viewers ample time to prepare themselves and focus on what they deemed important.

........

The moment the lights went out, Fatih, who was now at his full strength ability-wise, immediately lifted the brakes and pushed as the tires that had been unstuck gave him a near-instant response, pushing him forward as he immediately moved to the left side to start his usual cover game with Selçuk.

However, instead of just trying to avoid him as usual, Selçuk moved toward him, showing that he was intent on being the one to cover him. Having been a bit ahead of the grid box compared to Fatih, he had a slight edge. If things went the way they were and no one compromised, they were going to take themselves out, or so it looked to the viewers.

Inside the helmet, Fatih, who was fully focused and hearing Selçuk’s kart heading in his direction, smiled as he changed nothing. But just as they would have crashed, Selçuk went past in front of him, moving to the right side just in time to collect Jackson, who was planning to benefit from the initial attack from Fatih as he always did, but this time planning to take the lead pf the race as the two fought. This sent both of them out and into the tire wall moments before Fatih, who had been pushing the accelerator at ninety percent from the start, finally pushed all the way up, allowing him to keep his lead into the first corner before he had to lift due to the race being double yellow-flagged, effectively bringing the session under conditions similar to a safety car.

.....

"Did you see what I saw?" Süleyman asked Zakir, knowing that if he had seen the same thing, Zakir would be better at explaining the technical parts to the viewers.

"Yes, I think we are talking about the same thing. Fatih was not at any point before the crash pushing at full power. He was pushing just enough to bait the aggressive Selçuk into trying to counter him, which coincided with Jackson, who was rearing to take the P2 position following Fatih’s usual style of attempting to stop Selçuk. As Jackson was pushing more than Fatih, he ended up overtaking Fatih just as Selçuk missed him, only to clip Selçuk’s rear tire and send both of them out into the tire barrier. Though bad for Jackson, it was a brilliant move from Fatih. Once again, he surprises me," Zakir said. As he explained and recounted the event for the viewers, he became more excited, realizing he was witnessing such a technical drive from such a young driver in his first year of racing.

"It seems like he deliberately and repeatedly used the slipstream from the last round in every session he was with Selçuk, which in return tricked Selçuk into believing that he was going to do it in the final race today. Even his actions showed similar behavior. Not wanting to be on the receiving end, Selçuk decided to go proactive, only to miss Fatih and be taken out by Jackson instead," Süleyman said, surprised that Fatih’s repeated use of the tactic was all but preparation for this moment, where the aggressive Selçuk couldn’t handle the pressure.

"If that’s true, then it’s a masterstroke. That move alone has guaranteed his championship so long as he finishes in the top three, because the gap will be too wide," Zakir said, remembering what Süleyman had said before the final race about the possibility of someone winning the championship in this race should certain things happen.

"But we can only be sure if he finishes on the podium. And as they come out of the final corner in a tight pack, the green flags have been waved and the race has restarted. Fatih, this time going on maximum power and having an early mover’s advantage, takes the lead as they pass through the start-finish line and barrel toward T1. With no Jackson and no Selçuk for him to keep his eyes on, he is pushing to the maximum without worry. Following the smooth line, in just three corners, he has already opened a gap of two-tenths from P2 Huzeyfa, who is currently fighting to keep the position from Ayşe, who is fighting for it tooth and nail..." Süleyman finally moved from commentating on the replay and started refocusing on the race that had restarted on the fourth lap, with Fatih continuing to keep his lead.

...

"What are you doing here?" Selçuk’s teacher asked when he found him crouching and hugging his knees behind the academy tent, not entering it when he went to check on the kart that had been delivered by the track marshals.

"I’m hiding," Selçuk said, his fear from hearing someone talk to him slightly subsiding as he returned to bury his head while still wearing his helmet, on his knees, trying to make himself as small as possible while praying for the earth to open and swallow him.

"From your father?" Adam asked, despite already knowing the answer, having seen how his father’s treatment of him changed depending on the results.

Instead of saying anything, Selçuk just nodded.

Adam, playing with his hair, took a deep breath as he contemplated what to do. Should he do what he usually did and turn a blind eye, or should he do something about it? From the look of it, today was going to be a very bad day for Selçuk, far worse than usual. Adam had seen how ambitious Selçuk’s father was, most likely living vicariously through his son. When he realized that Selçuk had a chance of winning the championship a few rounds in, he went so far as to take financial losses to break sponsorship with Fatih and ban him from using his karts, ensuring Selçuk had inferior equipment to increase his own son’s chances of winning.

Lowering his hand from his hair to pinch his eyebrows, Adam stayed like that for a moment before removing his phone from his pocket and looking for a contact before making a call.

"Hello, I hope you’re doing well," he said, starting the call after it was answered after a few rings.

"I’m doing well, and the race is still going," he answered the question from the other side. His eyes showed the last shreds of hesitation, which disappeared the moment he looked at Selçuk, who was staring at him with fear, wondering if he was talking to his father. Adam then said, "Selçuk is currently out of the race and is hiding from his father..." Adam started explaining everything he had witnessed, bringing Selçuk’s mother up to speed. For a few reasons, she had not been present since the third round, which coincided with Aslan increasing the pressure on his son. Without his mother there to shield him, Selçuk had no one to retreat to.

"No, I’m sorry as well. I’ve turned a blind eye to it and sometimes even enabled it when I thought it would make him better and increase his drive," Adam responded when he heard Selçuk’s mother becoming emotional and thanking him for informing her about the situation.

"Yes, and have a good day. Thank you," he said before lowering the phone and ending the call. He looked at Selçuk, who realized that Adam had been talking to his mother.

As Adam looked at Selçuk, he wondered if things would have escalated to this point if he had dealt with Selçuk’s arrogance earlier, perhaps during the first championship or even the previous one. But there was no going back in time, only dealing with the current situation to try and change the future. Sighing, he said, "I told your mother. She should talk to your father and be able to calm him down so you can return to the academy tent and wait there," before extending his hand.

Just as Selçuk took Adam’s hand, the speakers covering the track and grandstand echoed with Süleyman’s commentary: "And having led all the way from the restart and gaining a seven-second gap from the one behind him, FATİH YILDIRIM WINS THE BURSA AND THE FIFTH ROUND OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP, ONCE AGAIN CATAPULTING BACK INTO THE TOP OF THE TABLE! WHAT AN EXCITING RACE!"

Hearing that Fatih had won the race, Selçuk tightened his grip on Adam’s hand. Adam turned his head in the direction of the track with a bitter smile, wondering if Selçuk’s reaction was due to anger, jealousy, or fear. But that wasn’t important to him. He pulled Selçuk up and started walking with him as if he hadn’t heard the commentary.