The sound from the stands is deafening, and I glance in my rearview to see Perez pulling out of the Red Bull garage just behind me.
I close my eyes briefly.
I’m just racing myself.
It was an accident.
Stavros will come around.
The first lap around and the car feels good—heavy in the turns and fast out into the straights.
“Keep it easy, Matt,” says Archie.“We’ve got a few shots at it.Let’s let the track warm up.”
I launch down the straight, the force of the speed sending me back into the mold of my seat.The first corner comes fast—a tight right-hander.I brake hard, feeling the tires grip beautifully as I turn in, hitting the apex perfectly and powering out smoothly.
I am slightly stunned by the difference in feel.The car seems balanced, and fast.My mind is clear, fear replaced by focus.The engine roars as I push toward the Foro Sol stadium section.I love this stretch of the track; it actuallyfeelslike a sports stadium, with the towering grandstands on all sides.
I feel the crowd’s energy surging, but I stay in my zone.
I keep my foot down, the car gripping the best line.Asthe start/finish straight appears ahead, I floor it, crossing in what I can feel is a good time.
“Fast, Matt.Holding thirteenth place,” Archie’s voice crackles in my ear.“Box.”
He wants me to come into the pit lane.Relief washes over me as I slow round the circuit once more and make my way into the pit.The crew blanket my tires, and we wait to see if I need to go again.
I glance up at the screen showing Sky Sports while I wait, listening to the commentary over the radio.
“That’s Arden through Q1 and into the second round of qualifying with both cars.Noah Blacklock moving through in fourteenth and Matt Warner placing thirteenth with an aggressive drive and some serious pace in places.It’s truly a surprise achievement this late in the season for a team all but written off.Can they get through the second round of qualifying and make it into the top ten?You’d have to think that’s a hope a bit too far for the struggling team.”
I grimace.A “hope too far” that we might finish in the top ten is something I’m simply not used to hearing, but it fires me up.
I have a seven-minute wait now until the next round.Time to collect our thoughts and prepare.With just fifteen cars left, the goal now is to finish in the top ten.An impossible task for Arden three weeks ago, but is it still?A finish in the top ten would give us our first points of the season.I try to calm my nerves, but Ireallywant those points for us.
“Four minutes,” says Archie, as I crane my neck to see if I can spot Chloe.
“Keep your focus, Matt,” he says now, as if sensing my distraction.
“Good luck, my little puppy,” another voice says.Barry.Jesus Christ, who gave him access to a microphone?
This time, the car feels perfect as I navigate the first few corners, but as I approach the tight right-hander, the fucking flashes return.
Stavros.I see him, and my stomach turns.
No.Focus.
My grip tightens, and I hesitate, braking a fraction too early.The car skids slightly, but I quickly regain control, pushing past the fear and refocusing.
It was a racing accident.
He’ll come around.
My mind barely clears, but just enough for me to finish the rest of the lap.The car responds flawlessly as I power through the final corners and across the line.
My time.What is my time?Where am I placed?
Archie’s voice crackles in my ear.“You didn’t quite make it into Q3.But you got eleventh place, Matt!”
Damn it.I just missed out on getting through.Still, when we start on the grid tomorrow, I’ll be in place eleven and breathing down the neck of the top ten.I’m actually in points contention for the first time for Arden.
