CHAPTER 62: RACE WEEKEND | SUNDAY | THE ART OF WAR

"Looks like you racked your brain on that one," Adam, Selçuk’s coach, said, his voice a low murmur of grudging respect. He turned to Burak, who was watching the race unfold with an impossibly wide, proud smile plastered across his face.

The smile had been there since the first corner. It had appeared the moment Fatih, faced with a charging Selçuk, had executed a strategic gambit so audacious and mature it defied his age.

"I don’t remember teaching him that," Burak said, and it was the honest truth. Their practice sessions had been focused on mastering the new kart and refining fundamentals. This level of tactical warfare was something else entirely. "He’s just talented enough to come up with it himself."

To Adam, the words sounded like pure, unadulterated bragging. He gave a curt nod and turned his attention back to the track, not wishing to continue the conversation. On the circuit, Fatih seemed intent on proving Burak’s point, not only controlling the race from the front but actively manipulating the karts behind him, ensuring Jackson remained a permanent buffer between himself and Selçuk.

...........

"Zakir, I have to ask, because I’m sure our viewers are wondering the same thing," Süleyman posed, his voice a mix of curiosity and confusion. "Why has Fatih been driving such unconventional lines for the past few laps and even in the heats against Selçuk? Compared to his qualifying pace, they are certainly not the most optimal."

"That’s because he’s not just racing his own race, Süleyman; he’s racing Jackson’s and Selçuk’s as well," Zakir replied, his tone electric with the thrill of discovery. "It’s a masterful piece of defensive driving, but it’s proactive, not reactive. On the straights, watch closely. He allows Jackson to stay tucked into his slipstream, pulling him along. But as they approach the braking zones, he subtly drifts towards Selçuk’s side of the track, momentarily giving him the slipstream."

The camera zoomed in, confirming Zakir’s analysis. Fatih’s kart would shift just enough to disrupt the air for one driver while cleaning it for another.

"By doing that," Zakir continued, "he forces Selçuk, who is already on the ragged edge, to brake a fraction earlier and adjust his line to avoid understeer. It creates a micro-concertina effect, forcing Selçuk to be more cautious than Jackson, who is then able to gain a few crucial meters on the exit of the corner. Then, on the next straight, Fatih does it all over again. He’s effectively weaponizing Jackson’s kart to keep Selçuk contained."

"He’s using another person to handle the problem for him," Süleyman mused, rephrasing his initial thought. He had been about to say Fatih was bullying Selçuk, but he caught himself. Given their history, this wasn’t bullying but a calculated, and frankly elegant, form of retribution.

"And consider this: he is executing this complex, three-kart choreography without ever looking back," Zakir added, his voice dropping with awe. "It seems our speculation from the previous rounds was correct. He must be using sound to pinpoint the other drivers’ locations. There is simply no other explanation for how he can orchestrate this entire plan without once turning his head."

"That’s a question I will be sure to ask him in the post-race interviews," Süleyman promised. "He constantly shows us something new, something we rarely, if ever, see at this level of competition. And all in his first year."

"I can’t help but wonder what he’ll show us in the future," Zakir said, his voice full of genuine optimism. "Perhaps he will be one of the few Turkish drivers to truly break out onto the international scene."

"Let’s hope so," Süleyman agreed. "A talent like this doesn’t deserve to be confined by borders. From the start of the weekend, many wondered if the incidents of the last round would force him to change his style, to drive more cautiously. But he has proven that he doesn’t need to. As he comes out of the final right-hand hairpin and enters the main straight for the last time, the checkered flag waves for him! For the second time in his short career, Fatih Yıldırım wins the Final race! That victory catapults him back to P2 in the championship, just six points behind Jackson! With only two rounds remaining, all three are still in contention! Aided by Fatih’s strategy, Jackson comes home in second, with Selçuk, having failed to mount a single successful overtake both in the heats and the final race, finishing a frustrated third! The podium is once again filled with the same three individuals who have dominated this championship!"

Süleyman’s voice was a triumphant roar as Fatih raised a single, gloved fist in celebration before beginning his cool-down lap.

"He made sure Selçuk was never close enough to be a threat," Zakir summarized, deep satisfaction in his voice. "Unlike the last round, where he simply built an insurmountable gap, this time he controlled the pace, managed the distance, and used a rival as a shield to keep his primary aggressor in check. It was a truly entertaining race, both for its on-track action and for the political subtext that raised the stakes."

"Then I’d better go prepare for the interviews," Süleyman said. A chair was heard sliding back. "After a race like that, it would be disrespectful to make our podium finishers wait."

..........

"YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Fatih shouted, a cry of pure, unadulterated joy as he ran and leaped into Burak’s outstretched arms.

Burak caught him, spinning him around in a triumphant hug as they celebrated the win. This victory was different. It was more than just points and a trophy. It was a release valve for the pressure and anger that had been simmering since the last race, the injustice, the betrayal, the weight of his mother spending her own money to defy an academy that had turned its back on them. This win was the first step in repaying her faith, the first proof that her investment would not be in vain.

"That was an incredible drive, Fatih. I was truly impressed," Burak said, setting him down, his face flushed with a smile that mirrored Fatih’s own.

After a few more moments of celebration, the professionalism returned. They went through the post-race procedures before Fatih, now out of his helmet, headed to the podium area set up on the main straight.

...........

"I’m not happy, and it is unfair for him to drive like that," Selçuk said, his answer to Süleyman’s question about the race clipped and bitter. He made no effort to hide his fury at Fatih’s tactics, which had rendered him powerless to attack both in the Qulafying heats and the final race.

Süleyman struggled to keep a neutral expression. "Unfair? Can you give a specific example of his driving that you believe was against the rules? All he did was position his kart on the track."

"His move at the start of the race and the heats," Selçuk insisted, his face a mask of indignation. "It was against the rules."

"That sounds like a matter for the stewards," Süleyman said, professionally cutting the interview short. He saw no benefit in letting a frustrated child, untrained in media relations, dig himself into a deeper hole. "Unfortunately, we are out of time. Congratulations again on your P3 finish."

He turned, his expression visibly lightening. "Jackson, welcome, and congratulations on another P2 finish. You are the only driver to be on the podium in every round so far. How was the race for you?"

"I’m very happy, and I am thankful to Fatih for his assistance today," Jackson said, his Turkish still broken but his meaning clear. He gave Fatih a small nod. "It helped me contain Selçuk. But next week, I want to compete against him, not just fight Selçuk. I am still leading the championship, and I want to win it for the second time."

"Thank you, Jackson. I look forward to that battle. Good luck," Süleyman said, shaking his hand before turning to the winner. "And ladies and gentlemen, our race winner and driver of the day, please welcome Fatih Yıldırım!"

"Thank you very much," Fatih said, shaking Süleyman’s hand as cheers erupted from the grandstand.

"Fatih, you gave us a drive that my co-commentator and I are still trying to fully comprehend. We were curious: how did you manage to distinguish between Jackson and Selçuk behind you to manipulate their slipstream and compromise their corner entry without ever looking back?"

Fatih smiled, unshackled from the need to play the naive child after the conversation with his mother. "All the karts sound the same from a distance," he answered calmly. "But up close, they all have slight, minute differences in their engine notes. I just used that information to determine where they were and what side to take."

Süleyman chuckled, shaking his head in disbelief. "So, it was true. We were just speculating, but... wow. It seems it takes more than just good eyesight to be a great driver."

The interview continued in a relaxed atmosphere, with Süleyman skillfully avoiding any mention of the sponsorship drama. Soon, it was time for the podium. Trophies were presented, and non-alcoholic champagne was sprayed. Selçuk stood stone-faced, spraying his bottle dispassionately towards the crowd. But beside him, Fatih and Jackson laughed, turning their bottles on each other, a shared moment of celebration that marked the end of another hard-fought championship round.