At five in the morning, the sky over the capital was still shrouded in a hazy night, and Budapest had not yet fully awakened. Dominik's alarm clock rang on time, and he rubbed his sleepy eyes, quickly sitting up from the bed.
Today, as a special guest, Dominik Corvinus was going to the Hungaroring to participate in the Speed Festival, which was a new experience full of anticipation and challenge for him. Today, he would be driving Felipe Massa's Williams FW36 car from that year, making an appearance in front of his countrymen. This was the first time Dominik participated in a roadshow in Hungary as an event guest.
Dominik tiptoed out of the room, afraid of waking his family who were still sound asleep. Even Erzsi and László in the house had not yet woken up. Dominik walked into the kitchen himself, and soon, a tempting aroma wafted out; the sizzling of frying eggs and the scent of baking bread intertwined.
"It smells so good~"
Hearing this, Dominik stiffly turned his head.
"Your Empress, why are you up so early?" Dominik looked at his mother, Katalin, who was wearing sportswear, asking the obvious. Katalin smiled, saying nothing.
Oh no, I have to make another portion. Dominik was on the verge of tears and turned to hand the breakfast to his mother.
"Not bad, Dominikó. Be careful on the track, and come back early tonight. I've invited your Uncle Henrik's family over for dinner." Katalin's words were short but powerful.
But they made Dominik's heart clench. Uncle Henrik's family meant that their daughter, Hanna, would also be coming over. Hanna had lived in the same neighborhood as Dominik since childhood, and they had always bickered. However, during the winter break when he won the F3 runner-up and successfully advanced to F2, she expressed her affection for him. But Dominik himself had no feelings for Hanna at all.
After all, Hanna was just a younger version of Katalin. The principle was that being friends was fine, but a romantic relationship was out of the question. Moreover, Hanna is now somewhat famous in the entertainment industry, having appeared in several European TV series. Originally, given her family background, they wouldn't have looked favorably upon the industry, but they couldn't resist Hanna's temper. Her father had no choice but to fully support her.
Thinking of this... sorry, Dominik himself didn't dare to think further.
After breakfast, Dominik checked the time. He returned to his room, tidied his gear, put on his suede jacket with sponsor logos, and slightly tidied his hair. Just then, the roar of a car came from outside. Looking out the window, he saw a blue Subaru eleventh-generation Impreza WRX STI parked downstairs. Its massive rear wing stood tall—a fierce beast poised to strike.
Dominik hurried downstairs, heart full of surprise. He hadn't expected Viktor to drive such an almost insane Subaru.
Viktor smiled and opened the car door, "How about it, a surprise, right! To pick up you, my special guest, I specially brought out my precious. Get in, let's go!"
Dominik sat in the passenger seat, feeling the strong sporty atmosphere. With a roar, Viktor skillfully shifted gears and pressed the accelerator. The Subaru, like an arrow released from a bow, drove onto the road, speeding towards the Hungaroring.
Along the way, the two occasionally chatted about their expectations. Viktor introduced the Subaru's modifications with pride. Dominik listened with a smile; he never dabbled in civilian car modifications, only saying, "I didn't expect your tech-geek car to be so wild."
Outside the window, the Budapest scenery rapidly receded as the morning sun rose, spilling golden sunlight onto the road.
At the Hungaroring Speed Festival, various car world influencers and celebrity guests gathered. However, Dominik did not arrive in an official vehicle like other special guests. Instead, he slowly drove into the venue in Viktor's eleventh-generation Subaru, a car well-known among many Budapest car enthusiasts.
Without an official convoy escort, Dominik's entrance lacked grand fanfare. However, Viktor's car was simply too recognizable. Before long, sharp-eyed enthusiasts spotted Dominik.
The news spread instantly. The once spacious passage was quickly packed. People held up their phones and autograph books, and the atmosphere instantly ignited. Dominik realized that car enthusiasts around the world were equally passionate. He fulfilled their requests for autographs and photos one by one with a kind smile.
Fortunately, staff arrived and escorted Dominik backstage. Viktor watched this scene, smiling helplessly.
Backstage, Dominik's gaze was drawn to a white FW36 race car. It was the battle car once driven by the legendary Felipe Massa. Dominik was filled with excitement, gently caressing the car's body, feeling its history.
At 11 AM, Dominik sat into the FW36. The engine roared to life, cutting through the air above the track. He drove onto the circuit like an arrow. At the corners, he precisely controlled the steering wheel, tires gripping the ground tightly. Entering the straight, he slammed the accelerator, and the FW36 unleashed immense power. The engine roar—the charm of the early F1 V6 engines—echoed across the entire valley.
After one lap, Dominik drove back to the starting area. He paused briefly, then suddenly pressed the accelerator again. The race car spun rapidly in place, rear tires rubbing violently against the ground, creating one beautiful donut after another. The cheers and screams of the audience pushed the atmosphere of the Speed Festival to its climax.
After the autograph session, Dominik was taken away by the official minivan to attend the banquet. In the afternoon, he toured the exhibition areas before leaving.