Chapter 20 – Statement Victory
Saturday, May 2nd, 2009 – Apeldoorn Kart Track
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Formation
The kart sat still in the pit lane, but Alex's fingers tapped against his leg, full of nervous energy.
The first heat had surprised him. Not just the result — but how it had felt. The move, the calm, the instinct. And now… he wanted more. Needed more.
Victor crouched beside him with a bottle of water and a quiet look.
"You're starting third," he said. "New group draw. Kart 5 and kart 12 ahead of you. Same length. Eight laps."
Alex nodded.
Victor continued, "You don't need to fight them in one lap. But if you feel it — if you see it — don't wait."
Alex took a long breath.
"I want to control this one," he said. "No chasing."
Victor smiled. "Then lead."
The announcer echoed across the track:
> "Heat 2, Group B, forming up on the grid now! Kart 5 on pole, Kart 12 second, Kart 7 — Alex Vermeer — in third."
Alex wheeled out quietly. No fanfare. But this time, more eyes followed him.
A few mechanics whispered. Someone pointed.
Alex heard nothing.
Helmet on. Visor down.
Focus in.
---
🏁 Heat 2 – Race
Lap 1
The lights flashed red, then blinked out.
Alex's foot hit the throttle — not flat, not yet. Smooth. Controlled. The kart surged forward.
The roar of engines on either side closed in, but he stayed tight on kart 12's bumper. Turn 1 was coming fast.
He saw kart 12 shift left to block. That meant turn 2 would be open — if he dared.
His heartbeat pounded in his ears.
Now.
He dove inside. The move wasn't clean, not perfect. A slight touch of curb, the rear twitched, but he caught it. Kart 12 tried to shut the door too late. They went side by side into turn 2, but Alex had the line.
He squeezed ahead.
P2.
No time to breathe. Kart 5 was already a few kart lengths ahead. Alex stayed tucked in, letting the slipstream pull him forward through turn 3.
His arms trembled. Not from fear — from adrenaline.
This was only the beginning.
---
Lap 2
He focused on kart 5. The leader was fast — aggressive into corners, twitchy on exit.
Alex stayed back for now, watching. Turn 4: kart 5 took it wide. Sloppy. Turn 5: too much curb. A tiny bounce.
That's where he could strike.
Through turn 6, Alex widened his line, gave up a tenth just to carry more exit speed. Turn 7 came fast.
He hesitated for a split-second. Then went for it.
Inside line. Late braking. The kart almost locked.
But it stuck.
The nose crept alongside. Then ahead.
Kart 5 tried to cut back in turn 8 — too late.
Alex exited first.
Lead secured.
He didn't look back.
---
Lap 3
The air in front of him was open. Smooth. Almost too quiet.
Leading felt different. He was used to chasing — reacting. But now, everything depended on him.
Turn 2 came early. He braked late, but not too late. Just enough to keep the kart light on entry. Turn 3: keep it tight. No space for errors.
Behind him, he heard something — the low hum of pressure. Kart 5 hadn't disappeared.
He couldn't afford to lose focus. His eyes darted from the track to his own hands, to the edge of the next corner.
Turn 6: slightly tighter this time. Tires squealed. He corrected instantly.
The lap ended with a breath — long and steady. The lead was holding.
But it didn't feel safe.
---
Lap 4
Now he adjusted.
Turn 1: shallow entry, delayed throttle.
Turn 2: let it roll.
Turn 3: brake half a meter earlier.
Turn 4: don't overpush.
He wasn't just driving — he was managing.
The tires had warmed. The grip changed. He felt it in his fingers, in his spine. Every bump was data.
The announcer's voice echoed faintly through the wind:
> "Still leading — kart 7 controlling the pace at the front."
He blocked it out. External noise didn't matter.
What mattered was rhythm.
Through turn 6, he felt the rear bite harder. The kart was settling.
But behind him, the pressure didn't stop. A shadow lingered.
---
Lap 5
That shadow moved closer.
Through turn 1, he sensed the draft. A low rumble. Kart 5 was back within striking distance.
Alex didn't panic.
Turn 2: inside line. No room to dive.
Turn 3: brake late, but clean.
Tiny twitch in the rear — corrected without a thought.
He held the racing line through 4, knowing kart 5 couldn't overtake there. Not unless he made a mistake.
He didn't.
Out of turn 5, Alex shifted his weight slightly — a learned motion from Victor. Helped the balance. Gained a tenth.
The kart behind dropped back, just a little. He felt it.
Still too close to relax.
But no longer under threat.
---
Lap 6
His breathing slowed. The fear didn't vanish — it transformed.
Into focus. Into flow.
Every motion felt connected now. Arms, legs, eyes — working as one.
Turn 2: carry speed.
Turn 3: clip the inside.
Turn 4: get the throttle down early.
He felt fast. Not reckless. Not on the edge. Just fast.
Behind him, the gap opened — half a second, then more. Kart 5 had pushed too hard. The tires protested now.
Alex kept pushing, but cleaner. Wiser.
Turn 6 was perfect. He felt the rubber hook into the track like claws.
For the first time, he thought:
I belong here.
---
Lap 7
He didn't look back.
He didn't need to. He could feel the gap — not with his eyes, but in the quiet that followed each corner.
Each lap had sharpened him. Each corner taught him something.
Turn 1: no more hesitating. Full commitment.
Turn 2: adjust mid-turn — the kart responds instantly.
Turn 3: glide in, fire out.
He wasn't just holding the lead.
He was building it.
In turn 5, he felt the kart skip for a split-second over a bump. He didn't even blink. Just adjusted his line by instinct next corner.
Victor's voice wasn't in his ear, but Alex knew he'd be watching — arms folded, eyes scanning.
And he'd be proud.
One more lap.
---
Lap 8
Final lap.
Alex took a breath and told himself to finish strong — not cautious.
Turn 1: full throttle, no lift.
Turn 2: tuck in tight, maximize exit.
Turn 3: don't overthink it — feel it.
Turn 4: clean, smooth.
He didn't care about the gap now. He wanted the lap to feel right. He wanted them — the ones watching — to remember this.
Turn 5: calm.
Turn 6: strong exit.
Turn 7: no drama.
Turn 8: down the straight.
Checkered flag.
Over 2 seconds clear.
> "Vermeer wins Heat 2! From third to first — and never looked back!"
He didn't punch the air. He didn't scream.
He just let out a breath, slow and deep.
And smiled.
---
Paddock – 14:30
Helmet off. Face flushed. Breathing controlled. The kind of silence that followed power.
Victor walked over. "You didn't just race them," he said. "You led them."
Alex nodded. "I want to start in front tomorrow."
"You might. They base the grid on both heats. P4 and P1 — that's strong."
Alex looked to the board in the distance. "What now?"
"Now?" Victor asked. "Now we prepare."
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Evening – 19:45 | Karttent
The paddock was calm now. Long shadows stretched over the trailers and the smell of hot engines had faded.
Alex sat on a folding chair in the academy tent, his suit half-unzipped, arms resting on his knees. His kart stood nearby — clean, silent.
Victor looked over notes on his clipboard, then sat down across from him.
"Tomorrow it's one long final," he said. "Eighteen drivers. Fifteen laps. That's it. No second chances."
"I know," Alex said softly.
"There's no warm-up. Straight into formation. First corner's going to be chaos."
Alex didn't flinch.
"I want to lead from the start," he said.
Victor looked at him for a moment. "Then do what you did today. Be smart. Be clean. Be fast."
Night – 21:15 | Hotel Room
Alex lay in bed, eyes fixed on the ceiling. The room was dark. Quiet. Still.
But his mind was moving.
Corners replayed in slow motion. The way the kart had felt through turn 6. The way the engine had responded. The moment he pulled away.
He wasn't nervous.
Not anymore.
Just ready.
One final. Fifteen laps. No mistakes.
His breathing slowed.
Tomorrow was everything.