On a rainy day, the warm-up and formation laps are crucial. They give most of the drivers a feel for the track's grip, allowing them to adjust their driving style accordingly.
WHIRRR~
Wu Shi gave the wheel a slight turn. The tires had significantly less grip on the slick track.
He glanced back at the pack. Through the misty spray, he could just make out their silhouettes.
The warm-up lap ended, and the formation lap began.
After finally completing a lap and reaching the main straight, he saw the race official hadn't waved the green flag.
Clearly, the formation was a failure. They would have to do another lap.
Wu Shi had no choice but to start another lap, slowing his pace to make it easier for everyone to get into formation.
Finally, as they approached the main straight again, the race official was ready with the green flag.
His eyes were glued to the official, waiting for the moment the green flag waved.
CHSHHH!
The white kart shot forward, kicking up a plume of rain and mist.
The tires clung to the rain-slicked asphalt. As they spun rapidly, the grooves channeled away some of the water, but the rest formed a thin film.
It was this film of water that drastically reduced the tires' grip.
Wu Shi could feel it all with perfect clarity.
'I need to ease off the throttle by 15%.'
SWOOSH!
The white kart continued forward, steady and stable, but a loud crash suddenly erupted from behind.
CRUNCH! SKREEECH!
Three karts had lost control, colliding with each other in the chaos before finally slamming into the tire wall.
Race Control didn't hesitate, immediately throwing the red flag.
Wu Shi saw an official waving a flag up ahead. He slowed down and looked back. Including his own, only four karts remained on the track.
Eventually, the four remaining karts returned to the pits and came to a stop.
"Is Ling Kang okay?" Wu Shi asked his mechanic as soon as he climbed out of his kart.
"He's over there," the mechanic said. "Hurt his arm. Says he's fine, but he'll definitely need an X-ray to check."
Wu Shi hurried over and saw Ling Kang's mother, her eyes red, saying something to him.
"Ling Kang, are you okay?"
"What's the big deal?!" Ling Kang waved a hand, insisting he was fine.
"You should go get it checked at the hospital," Wu Shi said. Adrenaline can make you ignore an injury. 'With an impact to the arm, a kid's bones could easily have a hairline fracture.'
"I'm fine. I'll deal with it after tomorrow's final," Ling Kang replied, not worried in the least.
"Absolutely not! You're going right now!" Ling Kang's mother insisted.
"Just go, Ling Kang. Your health is what's most important," Zeng Tianyi added, stepping forward to try and persuade him.
"I... Boss, you tell me! Should I race?!" Ling Kang asked with a pout.
"Go get it checked."
"Boss? I thought you'd tell me to keep racing!"
"Your health is your most important asset."
Wu Shi wasn't really trying to persuade him; it was just common sense. If you're injured, you go get it checked. When he talked about pushing the limits, he was referring to his driving style, not to being reckless with his life.
"Ugh, fine. If the Boss says so." Ling Kang finally gave in and followed his mother away from the track.
Just as Wu Shi and Zeng Tianyi were heading back to their karts to await the restart, a sudden announcement came over the circuit's PA system:
"Due to the weather and track conditions, today's pre-final has been canceled. The starting grid for tomorrow's final will be determined by the finishing order of the drivers who started today's race. Drivers who did not start will be gridded behind them based on their lap times from the timed practice session."
Hearing this, Wu Shi unzipped his racing suit, finally able to breathe.
"Let's get some good rest for tomorrow's race," Zeng Tianyi said, breathing a sigh of relief. After seeing that crash, he hadn't felt confident about going back out there himself.
"They might just cancel the whole thing tomorrow," Wu Shi said with a shrug.
"You think so? No way."
"See? They're already kicking up a fuss over there," Wu Shi said, pointing.
Race officials were trying their best to explain the situation to several arguing parents.
"What's that about? Are they really going to make a fuss over an on-track accident?" Zeng Tianyi asked, confused.
"Beats me." Wu Shi shook his head and stretched. "I'm heading back to the hotel for a shower. It's way too hot and stuffy."
「The next day, the rain fell even harder.」
Just as Wu Shi had predicted, the race was canceled outright for the drivers' safety. The final rankings and awards were given based on the finishing order from the aborted pre-final.
On the podium, sheltered by an awning, Wu Shi held his trophy and gave the female reporter a reluctant peace sign.
"Perfect! That's going to be a classic shot!" the reporter said cheerfully.
"Maybe it will be," Wu Shi replied with a smile.
"By the way, Wu Shi, isn't your father here today?"
"No, he's on a business trip in another province today," Wu Shi said, shaking his head.
"I have a business matter I was hoping to discuss. Would you mind passing a message to your father for me?"
"Of course."
"We'd like to propose a partnership. We want to put the Big Eye Sports Media logo on your racing suit and kart."
"Huh? Is this... a sponsorship?" Wu Shi was taken aback. 'I'm getting a sponsor already?'
"Of course," the reporter said. "I don't know much about racing, but I can tell who's fast. Your performance in the last few races has been outstanding, Wu Shi. I've already spoken with my chief editor, and he agrees that a partnership is a great idea."
"No problem," Wu Shi agreed happily. If he weren't just a kid, he would have started negotiating the details with her right then and there.
"Great! Here's my card. Make sure you call, okay?" the reporter said with a wink.
Wu Shi took it and glanced at it.
'Zhi Shiwei. What a rare surname.'
The Zhuhai Station race ended with a whimper instead of a bang thanks to the rain, and there were barely any articles written about it.
Back in Peng City, he counted the days. There was a full month until the fourth stop on the circuit: Nan'an Station.
Wu Shi gave his father Zhi Shiwei's business card and explained her proposal.
"Let's ask your Uncle Chen to go with us. He knows more about this kind of thing," Wu Zhenlin said.
Neither father nor son was one to procrastinate. They quickly made the arrangements, and three days later, they met at a Hunan restaurant.
"Mr. Wu, hello! So sorry to keep you waiting." By the time Zhi Shiwei walked in, Wu Zhenlin and Wu Shi were already seated.
"Reporter Zhi, hello. We just got here ourselves." Wu Zhenlin stepped forward to shake her hand, then looked inquisitively at the man beside her. "You must be Chief Editor Zhang?"
"Yes, hello."
"Hello! It's a pleasure." Wu Zhenlin shook his hand, then turned and said, "Please, both of you, have a seat."
"So this must be the young Wu Shi," Chief Editor Zhang said with a chuckle. "I read Shiwei's coverage. A very talented young racer indeed!"
"You're too kind. My son only started racing this year and has just gotten lucky a few times." Even in his modesty, Wu Zhenlin was highlighting the fact that for someone so new to the sport, Wu Shi's performance truly was a mark of innate talent.
They exchanged a few more pleasantries before Boss Chen cut to the chase. "Chief Editor Zhang, to be frank, we're already considering sending the kid to race karts in Europe next year."
"Oh?" Chief Editor Zhang was taken aback. As the chief editor for a sports media company's motorsport section, he knew the scene well. He couldn't help but ask, "You're not planning on having him stay in the domestic touring car series?"
"The kid prefers karting," Wu Zhenlin said with a smile.
"It seems I've underestimated the boy's ambition, then!"
Of course, Chief Editor Zhang knew that karting is the premier path to Formula 1, the pinnacle of circuit racing. To be dedicated to karting was tantamount to saying one was aiming for F1.