Chapter 26 – Qualification Day
Chapter 26 – Qualification Day
Date: Saturday, March 13th, 2010
Location: Lelystad – KWM Racing Academy Track
---
Opening – Home Track, New Stakes
The morning mist still lingered over the Lelystad circuit as Alex stepped out of the van. The air was cold, crisp, and humming with quiet tension. This was home turf — the same asphalt he'd driven for almost a year now — but everything about today felt different.
New age class. New kart. No restrictor.
And the fastest kids he'd ever raced against.
Victor pulled the side door open and handed Alex his helmet bag. "We're in tent three today," he said. "Right next to the timing tower."
Alex nodded and looked around. The paddock was already half-full — taller drivers, bigger karts, more crew members. No parents taping numbers on sidepods here. These kids came with tire warmers, pit boards, and full team setups.
He glanced at his kart as it rolled out of the trailer. Same chassis, but tuned for power now. The team at KWM had spent the last two weeks adjusting gearing and ride height, prepping it for real competition.
A sharp voice echoed across the paddock.
"Hey! New kid's back!"
Alex turned. It was Milan — the tall boy with the black helmet and the loud laugh — one of the academy's best. He was already in full gear, leaning casually against his kart stand.
"You ready for some real racing this time?"
Alex didn't answer right away. He didn't need to.
He just lifted his helmet, zipped up his suit, and walked toward the tent.
Victor gave a small smirk. "Well handled."
"I just want to drive," Alex muttered.
"Good," Victor said. "Because today's about pace. Not talk."
08:20
Lelystad – KWM Racing Academy Circuit
The meeting room at the back of the paddock was simple — folding chairs, a whiteboard, and a dozen young drivers still half-asleep or bouncing with nerves. Helmets sat on laps, gloves stuffed in pockets, but all eyes were slowly turning toward the man in the front of the room.
Victor.
He stood near the board, arms folded, kart track layout projected behind him.
"Alright," he began, voice steady. "This isn't just a race weekend. This is your first real test in the 8–10 category. You've had practice. You've done laps. But today, we qualify."
A murmur went through the room. One boy cracked his knuckles. Another stared wide-eyed at the projection.
Alex sat in the second row. Focused. Alert. His kart notes from the morning warmup were tucked in his notebook, just behind a small doodle of turn 5.
Victor stepped aside. "We'll talk lines in a moment. But first — let's talk setups."
He pointed to the whiteboard, where tire pressures and axle stiffness options were listed.
"You all have the same engine. The difference will come from how you and your mechanics set the kart up — and how you drive it."
He looked around the room, then continued.
"The track will warm up over the day. So if your kart was loose this morning, you might get more grip this afternoon. But if you're already sliding… don't expect it to fix itself."
He turned to Alex. "What did you feel in turn 3?"
Alex blinked. "Loose on entry. Better after a few laps."
Victor nodded. "Good. What did we adjust?"
"Rear tire pressure — down half a psi."
"Correct. And?"
"Moved the seat a bit forward."
Victor smiled faintly. "See? You're already learning. Small changes. Big impact."
Some of the other kids looked at Alex, now realizing he wasn't just quick — he understood the kart.
Victor clapped his hands once. "Alright. Mechanics are waiting outside. Go check your karts. Walk the setup with them. Don't just nod and pretend you get it — ask why. Learn."
As the group began to stand, Victor added, "And one last thing — today is not about overdriving. Let the kart come to you."
---
08:45 | KWM Garage – Alex's Pit Area
The kart stood ready, chassis glinting in the soft morning light. Number 19. New chain. New tires. Slightly lower tire pressures than yesterday.
Victor crouched next to the rear axle, double-checking the setup while Alex stood beside him, visor up.
"Seat position feels good," Victor muttered. "But keep your core tight in the long corners. Don't let the weight shift too much."
Alex nodded. "What about the front grip?"
Victor tapped the steering column. "We softened the caster angle a notch. You should feel better bite mid-corner. But don't snap at the wheel."
Alex glanced at the track, then back at the kart. "And if it understeers?"
Victor looked up. "Then you tell me. And we fix it."
Alex exhaled slowly. The briefing had helped — he felt more in control, more prepared. This wasn't just about reacting anymore.
He was learning to read the kart.
To speak its language.
And qualifying was the next conversation
09:15
Lelystad – KWM Racing Academy Circuit
The sun broke through a thin veil of clouds as the first group rolled out of the pits. Engines screamed to life — sharp, high-pitched bursts that echoed off the barriers and buildings.
Alex sat in the holding lane, helmet on, gloves tight, hands resting on the wheel of kart #19. His heartbeat was steady. Focused.
Ahead, a marshal raised the green flag.
> Qualifying – Group 2: 12 minutes.
The engine roared behind him as he pressed the starter. The kart jolted forward, and Alex joined the stream funneling toward the out-lap.
---
Out-lap
Tires still cold. Brakes not biting yet. The chassis danced slightly through the first few turns.
Alex didn't push.
He weaved gently left and right, building heat. Behind him, two drivers were already gunning for space, jostling for clean air.
He ignored them.
Turn 5 — he tapped the brakes late, just to feel the grip. Light understeer, but nothing worrying.
One more lap, then full attack.
---
Lap 1 – Push Lap
He crossed the line at full speed.
Turn 1: clean entry, clipped the apex. Turn 2: slightly wide — noted. Turn 3: corrected earlier than before. Tires responding now.
Through the long right-hander of turn 6, he kept his elbows tight, the kart stable but lively underneath him.
As he came onto the back straight, he heard nothing behind.
Clear air.
Perfect.
Turn 8 — fast chicane. He feathered the brake and turned in one motion.
Clean.
> Sector 1: Purple
Sector 2: Green
The screen near the pit lane flickered.
P1 – Alex Vermeer – 53.421
---
Lap 2
He backed off a fraction. Let the tires cool.
Another kart passed him — yellow helmet, aggressive line. Probably Daan.
Alex didn't challenge.
Instead, he created space. Waited a few corners.
Then reset.
---
Lap 3 – Final Attempt
This one mattered.
The kart felt balanced — like it wanted to be pushed. And Alex trusted it now.
Turn 1: full commitment. Perfect. Turn 2: tighter. Turn 3: no slip at all.
Every corner flowed. He hit every apex like it had been drawn for him.
The rear stepped slightly through turn 5, but he let it slide — caught it with the throttle.
Turn 6: wide entry, cut back. Power early.
> Sector 1: Purple
Sector 2: Purple
He exited the final turn, helmet low, and crossed the line flat out.
The screen updated.
P1 – Alex Vermeer – 53.021
---
End of Session
Alex slowed the kart on the cool-down lap, chest rising beneath his suit.
In the paddock, Victor watched the timing screen update. His arms remained crossed, but the corner of his mouth lifted just slightly.
One of the assistant coaches glanced over. "Did he just—?"
"Yep," Victor said. "Pole position."
---
Post-Qualifying – Pit Lane Fence, 09:30
Alex stepped out of his kart and lifted his visor. His breathing was still heavy, but his gaze was calm.
Victor was already standing at the pit wall, tablet in hand, eyes on the screen. He didn't look up right away, but his voice was clear.
"Good laps. Especially the last one."
Alex nodded. "It felt right."
Victor turned toward him. "Because you made it right. You didn't just drive fast—you built up to it. Smart."
From the side, Leo came running over—jacket half open, backpack bouncing.
"I saw it on the screen!" he shouted, panting. "Pole! You're starting first!"
Alex gave a small nod. "Yeah."
Leo grinned wide. "Man, that last lap looked like you were flying. I was jumping the whole time."
Victor shook his head. "No jumping on race day."
Leo grinned even wider. "Then I'll save it for tomorrow!"