Page 62 of Overtake
Another DRS zone looms and Wyn closes the gap again. He’s perfectly positioned to overtake Nico and have a go at Petra. If Nico moves aside. Which he won’t.
Roxana delivers a message Nico’s rarely heard. “Permission to defend.”
Marcus has given him permission to defend his position against his own teammate. While Graham watches. While the stewards deliberate. While everything hangs in the balance.
Wyn darts right and commits too early. The move won’t work, which he’d know if he was thinking clearly. But Graham’s voice must be louder than reason because he keeps pushing as they scream down the straight toward the hairpin at turn 11.
They’re rapidly running out of braking distance, and Wyn’s not backing off because that’s failure and weakness. There’s nothing worse in Graham Pritchard’s eyes.
All of which means it’s choice time for Nico.
Let Wyn through and risk both championships. Or defend hard, risk both cars, and remind his teammate that Nico didn’t capture four championships in a row by being a doormat.
Nico dives for the turn and closes the door in Wyn’s face. Hard.
Race clean or race stupid, hermano. But make it your choice, not Graham’s.
Wyn hesitates for a fraction of a second, so brief Nico almost misses it. But it’s there, the ghost of a teammate who used to race smart.
Annnd… it’s gone.
Wyn launches his attack, but it’s messy now. He’s trying to make up for that moment of hesitation.
“Backmarkers in sector 2.” Roxana warns Nico that they’re coming up on traffic as they begin to lap slower cars on the track.
Perfect. Just what this fight needs.
Petra handles it seamlessly, threading through slower cars without losing a second.
Wyn makes a go at an impossible gap.
Professional courtesy warring with self-preservation, Nico gives him more space than he deserves, less than he wants.
“Eyes on the prize,” Roxana reports suddenly. Which is their private code for “Graham is on the pit wall.”
Wonderful. A live audience for the chaos he’s caused by unsettling his younger son.
Six laps to go. Three drivers. Two championships. One very public power struggle.
And traffic everywhere.
“Gap to Hayter four point nine,” Rox updates.
Nico won’t catch her without divine intervention. His tire management is fucked thanks to his teammate. His only consolation is that Wyn’s must be blistered too. Smart race strategy doesn’t factor into whatever’s pushing Wyn Pritchard today, and their team will pay the price as both WolfBett cars lose performance, traction, and speed.
Another DRS zone. Another attack. This time Wyn slots in beside him through turn 13, forcing them both wide, compromising their exit speed. Ahead, Petra takes advantage of their battle, extending her lead by tenths.
Wyn’s car surges forward, taking a line that can’t possibly work, especially with all the traffic in the chicane.
Choice time. Again.
Nico takes a racing line that forces his teammate to back off or hit a barrier. He leaves no middle ground and no room for Graham’s bullshit head games.
“Gap to Wyn one point one.” Roxana sounds surprised.
Through sector 2 and 3, there’s no more idiotic aggression.
Maybe it’s a little bit of the old Wyn pushing through. Or maybe it’s his fucked tires.
