Chapter 14 — One Race to Earn It
Chapter 14 — One Race to Earn It
Sunday, March 30th, 2009
Morning mist clung to the low fences as Alex and his parents arrived at Kartcentrum Strijen. The sun was trying to break through, but the sky remained pale and cool. The paddock buzzed with quiet energy — not loud or chaotic, just focused. This was the third race weekend. And this time, it meant everything.
Alex walked beside his kart, helmet in hand, suit zipped up. His gloves were already on. He felt calm — not sleepy, not nervous, just... ready.
Victor was adjusting tire pressure by the trailer. He looked up. "Sleep well?"
Alex nodded. "Yeah."
Victor gave a small grin. "Good. You need eight points. But we go for ten."
Miriam and Willem stood off to the side, watching him closely. "He's different today," Miriam whispered.
Willem nodded. "He knows what's at stake."
No Leo this time. It was too far, and his dad had said no. Alex hadn't minded too much, but as he walked to the grid, he felt the absence.
---
Starting Grid:
1. Sven de Wilde
2. Lars Meijer
3. Alex Vermeer
4. Farid Amini
5. Bram Vos
The engines roared to life. The karts rolled slowly out for their formation lap. Alex sat low in the seat, watching the tires of the kart in front of him, feeling the rhythm of the circuit through the vibrations.
They reached the final corner. The grid formed. Five red lights blinked on.
His grip tightened.
The lights went out.
---
Lap 1–2
Alex launched cleanly and held P3 into Turn 1, with Farid right on his bumper. Lars immediately went on the defensive, trying to hold off both Alex and Farid. But even further up, Sven got a shaky start and had to cut across the racing line to keep Lars from diving into Turn 2.
By Turn 3, all five front runners were within two seconds of each other. Lars pressured Sven hard on the inside, forcing the leader to defend tighter than usual. Alex stayed close behind Lars, searching for any gap that might open if the two ahead made contact.
Farid wasn't giving up either. Into Turn 5, he braked deeper than anyone, trying to catch Alex off guard. Alex had to react fast to avoid being hit, managing to hold the position while losing momentum.
The top four exited Turn 6 in a perfect train — bumper to bumper.
On the back straight, Lars tried again. He pulled alongside Sven just before the braking zone for Turn 7, but Sven shut the door hard, nearly pushing Lars off the track.
Alex took advantage of the chaos to close back in, tucking right behind Lars and staying out of Farid's reach. Every corner was a battle. Every move required instinct and control.
By the end of Lap 2, the crowd was already buzzing. The front four were putting on a show.
---
Lap 3–4
Lars defended into every hairpin. Alex showed the nose a few times, trying to bait him. Meanwhile, Farid attempted a move on Alex into Turn 5 but had to back out, nearly losing control.
Victor watched from pit wall, calm but alert. Willem was holding a stopwatch, Miriam whispering, "Come on... you can find a way."
On Lap 4, Alex got a better exit from the chicane. He pulled alongside Lars into Turn 7, but Lars cut across aggressively, forcing Alex to lift. Farid nearly took advantage of the hesitation but braked too late into Turn 8 and had to run wide.
---
Lap 5–7
The battle heated up. Alex finally managed a switchback on Lars into Turn 6 and grabbed P2. Farid tried to follow through but got boxed in and had to settle for P4.
Sven was now 1.5 seconds ahead.
Lap 6. Alex leaned into every apex. He wasn't just driving — he was chasing. Like a shadow. He began cutting the gap down corner by corner. Through Turn 3, he braked late, the kart skidding slightly but holding line. At Turn 5, he took a tighter line than Sven had expected, shaving off a tenth.
In the paddock, murmurs began to rise. "Who is that kid?" one of the fathers asked.
"Number eleven," another replied. "He's fast."
Victor kept watching silently, only occasionally nodding.
Lap 7. Alex was now visibly closer. Into the hairpin, he closed to within half a second. Sven checked over his shoulder. For the first time, the leader looked rattled. His braking points grew more conservative. His exits sloppier.
Alex could smell the opportunity coming.
---
Lap 8–9
Sven started defending.
Turn 3 — blocked. Turn 6 — early brake. Alex backed off, saving his tires. He knew he'd have one shot.
Victor raised two fingers, then pointed down: "Two laps. Stay low."
Alex nodded.
Lap 9. He dived late into Turn 5.
Almost touched wheels.
Sven held.
Turn 8 — Alex tried outside.
Blocked again.
---
Final Lap
Sven weaved aggressively on the straight, nearly pushing Alex toward the edge of the track. Alex backed out just in time.
Gasps came from the crowd. Miriam clutched Willem's arm. Victor's expression darkened, but he stayed silent.
Alex reset. He regrouped.
Last chance — the final chicane. He set up wide, braked deep. The kart twitched.
Not enough.
He stayed behind.
Turn 10. Finish straight.
Alex crossed the line — second.
---
Victor was already waiting at parc fermé. Alex pulled in, heart racing.
He climbed out.
Victor walked over. "That was clean. That was pressure. That was racing."
Alex finally smiled.
The results came up on the screen:
Final Results – Top 5:
1. Sven de Wilde
2. Alex Vermeer
3. Lars Meijer
4. Farid Amini
5. Bram Vos
Willem gave him a proud thumbs up. Miriam hugged him tight.
"Twenty points before. Ten now. That's thirty," Victor said.
Alex looked at the board.
He had qualified.
He was going to the regional tournament.
---
Podium Ceremony
Later that afternoon, the podium was set near the main building. A small wooden platform with three steps stood in front of a crowd of families and racers. The checkered flag banner waved in the breeze.
Sven climbed to the top step, smiling confidently. Lars stepped up on the third place side, nodding quietly. And Alex — still sweaty, hair messy under his cap — climbed to the second step.
Applause broke out. Willem and Miriam clapped, faces glowing. A few other parents exchanged impressed looks.
Trophies were handed out, and Alex accepted his with quiet pride. He looked out across the track one last time before raising it chest-high. Not a celebration — a promise.
He was ready for the next level.