Page 38 of Racing for Redemption
Chapter 12
CR-39
William
The corridor to the main garage feels like a tunnel connecting two worlds. Nicholas trails behind me, tapping away at his phone, probably letting his socialite friends know what an awful time he’s having with the peasants, and how I’m just the poorest and saddest guy he’s ever seen.Fuck him.
The new Colton Racing car sits under bright lights. Sleek. Dangerous. Full of potential and problems in equal measure. This is not a perfect car by far. But it is a massive upgrade over last year’s.
My heart beats faster at the sight of it—this machine that will carry my dreams and nightmares for this season. My office, my weapon, my partner for twenty-three race weekends.
Blake stands beside the car, his sturdy frame almost touching the rear wing, comfortable in a way that speaks of decades spent around these machines. Johnson hovers nearby, tablet in hand,his eyes darting between us and the complex diagrams on his screen.
“Gentlemen,” Blake says, a small smile forming. “Your chariot awaits.” He couldn’t have said it in a more posh accent. I hold in a chuckle.
The CR-39 is beautiful in a functional, lethal way. Sleeker than last year’s model, with revised sidepods, and a more aggressive front wing design. The Colton Racing black gleams under the lights, red accents tracing elegant lines across the bodywork. I circle it slowly, taking in every curve and cut, the way it seems to be moving even while standing still.
“We’ve made several key improvements,” Johnson jumps in, swiping through technical readouts on his tablet. “The cooling system has been completely overhauled. Last year’s car was overheating by lap thirty on most circuits.”
Nicholas yawns, checking his watch. I fight the urge to glare at him.
“What do you think?” Johnson asks. He’s been with the team for fifteen years, through championships, and the recent struggles. And he’s actually a great guy, helping me through all the sim work I’ve been doing. As he asks me, his eyes hold a cautious hope.
“Gorgeous,” I murmur, crouching to examine the front suspension. “You’ve addressed the ride height issue from last year’s model?”
Johnson nods. “Completely redesigned. Should give you better feel through low-speed corners. And, we’ve finally solvedthe porpoising that plagued us last year. We looked like those lowrider cars.” He’s not wrong; I saw the footage from last year’s races, and oh boy, did that car bounce like crazy.
“The diffuser looks different, too,” I note, moving to the rear.
“Good eye,” Blake says, joining me. “We’ve optimized the airflow. Should translate to about two-tenths per lap on most circuits.”
Nicholas finally looks up from his phone, giving the car a cursory glance. “Nice paint job.”
Blake’s expression doesn’t change, but something flickers in his eyes. Disappointment, maybe. “It’s more than a paint job, Nicholas. It’s a complete redesign philosophy.”
“Right, right.” Nicholas waves a dismissive hand. “Very impressive. Does it go faster?”
Johnson clears his throat. “That’s the idea. We’ve found about half a second per lap in the wind tunnel compared to last year’s car.”
I run my fingers along the sidepod, feeling the smooth carbon fiber. “The cooling package looks more compact.”
“Had to be,” Johnson confirms. “We’ve shifted some weight distribution to help with the balance issues you noted in the simulator.”
Nicholas frowns. “What balance issues?”
I bite my tongue. He drove last year’s car all season, and never once mentioned the mid-corner understeer that plagued them at every technical circuit.How can you not feelsomething so fundamental?
“The tendency to wash out mid-corner under heavy load,” Johnson explains patiently. “William picked it up in his first simulation session.”
Nicholas nods like he knew all along. “Right, that. Definitely noticed it. Good catch, Will.”
Blake catches my eye, giving the smallest shake of his head.Don’t engage. Message received.
“The wheelbase is shorter, too,” I observe, moving back to the front of the car.
“Ten centimeters,” Blake confirms. “Should make it more nimble in the slower corners. Sacrifice a bit of stability, but…”
“Worth it on most circuits,” I finish. “Especially street tracks. Baku might still be tough, though.”
