Page 49 of Prove Me Wrong
“Next straight you’ll get him with a slipstream.”
“Behind?”
“Stevens at point nine.”
I grit out a curse as I glide around a corner and onto the main straight. My car flies through the slipstream and I edge closer to Carmichael.
“Point four.”
Growling, I jam the brakes again for the corner, angry that I didn’t get the overtake. “Laps?”
“Six.”
“Fuel?”
“Enough. Just focus on getting third. Daniels can hold off Carmichael, but you need to overtake, Sterling.”
“Got it.”
Passing through chicanes and turns, I come back to the main straight to try another overtake. I edge closer, almost neck and neck to Carmichael when he brakes first and pulls behind me. Diving around the tight bend, I take third place.
“Yes, Sterling. Keep it up.”
“Daniels?”
“One point two. Hold off Carmichael. Five laps to go.”
I keep up with Daniels ahead of me, droplets of perspiration dripping down my skin. My throat is on fire as I try swallowing. My water ran out seven laps ago, and I can’t wait to guzzle down a litre when I’m done.
“Behind?”
“Carmichael point nine. Losing time.”
I pass over the line again, holding third position with three laps to go. Daniels is driving even more skillfully in front as I follow behind him. We come to the chicane when Lowell in first nicks the wall and spins.
Daniels pulls away first, missing his car, and I do the same. I steer towards the barrier and pull away at the last second to avoid being hit.
“Close one.”
“Daniels is first. You’re second, Sterling,” Julian says through my headset.
“Carmichael?”
There’s a beat of silence before Julian answers, “Taken out by Lowell. One point six between you and third. You’ve got a breather.”
“Thank God,” I murmur, trailing behind Daniels towards the finish line.
“Two laps,” Julian reminds me.
I downshift into the corner before accelerating up the straight.
The chicane is flooded with cars and yellow flags being waved on the side as four cars idle on the sides.
“Yellow. Drop to sixty and hold position. No overtakes.”
“Got it.” Daniels and I pass through the chaos. “Yellow finish?”
“Yeah. Too much debris on the track. Team’s won first and second. Congratulations, Sterling.”
