Page 23 of Racing for Redemption
“Bloody hell,” one engineer whispers. “Is this for real?”
I allow myself a small smile. “Alright, Foster. That’s enough showboating. Let’s try a race simulation. Full distance, varying conditions.”
For the next two hours, we put him through his paces. Wet weather, tire management, fuel saving—he tackles eachchallenge with a focus and adaptability that’s frankly astounding. By the time we call it quits, the energy in the room is electric. He’s fucking talented. I’ll give him that.
As William climbs out of the sim rig, there’s a sheen of sweat on his brow, and a slight tremor in his hands from exertion. But his eyes are bright, alive with the thrill of the drive.
“Well?” he asks, a hint of cockiness creeping back into his voice. “Did I pass the audition?”
I fight to keep my expression neutral, but the corners of my mouth are twitching upward. “It’s a start,” I concede. “But don’t get cocky. The actual car is a different beast entirely.”
William grins, running a hand through the damp curls at the top of his head. “Can’t wait to tame it, then.”
As the engineers crowd around him, peppering him with questions and feedback, I step back, taking it all in. For the first time in months, there’s a buzz in the air, a spark of excitement that’s been sorely missing. I’ve never seen this factory so filled with life. Not since Dad’s time.
Blake sidles up to me, his voice low. “I hate to admit it, but you might be onto something here.”
I nod, watching as William engages animatedly with the engineers. “It’s early days yet, but… I think we might have found our ace.”
Blake raises an eyebrow. “Our very unpredictable, potentially volatile ace.”
I can’t help but chuckle. “True. But sometimes, you need to fight fire with fire.”
As if on cue, William looks up, catching my eye. He flashes a boyish grin, accentuating his dimples, equal parts cocky and grateful. His amber eyes shine, little crinkles forming on the side, as if he’s experienced something he immediately fell in love with.
“Alright, everyone,” I call out, clapping my hands. “Great work today. Let’s reconvene tomorrow to go over the data in detail.”
As the room clears out, William approaches, his expression softer than I’ve seen it before. “Thank you,” he says quietly. “For taking a chance on me.”
I meet his gaze, feeling the weight of our shared gamble. “Don’t make me regret it, Foster.”
He nods, a flicker of determination in his eyes. “I won’t. I promise.”
As he turns to leave, I call out, “William?”
He pauses at the door, looking back.
“Once again, welcome to Colton Racing.”
A slow smile spreads across his face, genuine and warm. “Glad to behere, boss.”
Chapter 8
The underdog story
Violet
The next few weeks pass in a blur.
William throws himself into preparations with a fervor that surprises even me. He’s in the simulator every day, poring over data with the engineers late into the night. His dedication is infectious, breathing new life into the team.
On the other end, Nicholas is still on vacation and isn’t replying to any calls or messages, despite demanding a contract extension. Our relationship with him is a bit unusual, given that he is the son of Gritt Tires' CEO. We can’t fire him without erupting the ire of his father and having them pull valuable resources from the team.
His absence tells me enough to understand his approach to this team. And now, I wish Blake could scout that kid from F3 that everyone has been murmuring about in the paddock, but has yet to be snatched by a team. If I can bring him in as our sim and reserve driver, that’d be perfect. But one thing at a time.
Today marks a milestone—William’s first real test in the car. As I stand in the pitlane of our private test track in Silverstone, the anticipation thrums through the air. The mechanics make final adjustments, their movements precise and practiced. They’ve done this time and time again, but the smiles and the bright eyes are clear as day. Last season, they were almost broken and defeated, but now… They have hope again.
And I won’t lie. My hands are sweaty with the excitement of seeing a new driver behind the wheel. We’ve been working relentlessly in improving the car with his feedback from the sim and all data from last year, but simulations are just that. Now, the real thing happens, and I’m worried the car will drag itself on track instead of improving. Damn.Please tell me I won’t need to shake anyone’s hands, because it would be awkward to bathe them in my worries.
