9 - First Race (3)

While the two big guys were arguing which gathered by the way, on the track things were quickly coming to a turning point.

Harris managed to catch up to the second pack in 2 laps, a began to put pressure on the twelfth.

To remember there was no professional on the track only amateurs. To be a professional one need the skill but also the mindset of one. Harris had the mindset, he never bothered to drive différent type of car and only focused on the fastest way to Formula 1.

Of course Harris had the basic skill to be a racing driver and also the IQ to know what to do something or when to do it or how, not everyone want to be like a certain Russian torpedo [1].

Back on track, the twelfth, under pressure from Harris by judging his action of looking back every second began to make mistakes, take a turn too wide or too deep, missing the apex. All of it leading to the overtake by Harris but it was just the begging.

Contrary to the first pack which was relatively peaceful the second pack was one of war, contact on every corner, being overtaken to overtake at the next corner. This led to chaos. But maybe because of Harris threat, the drivers became less active and more on a defensive base. nevertheless it didn't stop Harris from his attack. At lap 5 and Harris putting pressure from lap 3, waiting for occasion to send his kart, occasion which came at the end of the lap at turn 10 with Harris getting a better exit and push throttle earlier at turn 9 he went for it at turn 10 but got blocked by a harsh defense from the kart in front and was forced to slow down but, because of the harsh defense, it led to a mistake where the kart in front had to brake much harder than normally. An opportunity came for Harris, which stayed on the racing line did a switch-back and since he was carrying more speed overtook for the eleventh place.

For the next 3 laps Harris chased down the rest of the karts, which caused quite a show for the audience and gained a few cheers espacially from his family and much more from his club mate.

"Ouah ! Harris is damn good ! Let's go" Nobu cheered

"Yes, he passed all the car like it was nothing" Monami said, a little shocked by Harris's skill.

And other reaction could be heard from the surrounding but none came from Capeta, still focused on the race while thinking 'Mmmh, he is really a good driver, maybe even better than the Japanese ace Minamoto Naomi, whose is said not to lost a single race since his start. But the way Harris-san overtook the pack was like a walk in the park, not even one driver caused him trouble and that switch back was school-like. But now it will be hard for him to catch up the last driver because of the gap and the fact that none of them are fighting and there is only 4 laps remaining even if he is faster he could only catch up around the penultimate or even last lap, fifth or forth and with a lot of chance third, is the best he can do unless he is way faster than them, well let's see, since sixth is already quite a feat to achieve with starting from last.'

The same thinking was shared with Capeta's father and Harris's two uncle and father. While the friend of Alessio [AN : Name of Harris's father since I am tired of writing "Harris's father" each time :) ] was thinking otherwise, with a sigh escaping his lips and thinking.

'That boy, he is like a genius he is way faster than any driver on the track he got a different yet same racing line, I can see he is taking a line much wider before a turn or taking a turn deeper. He is even playing with track limits. Big guts or confidence in his skill, whatever is the result at the end I am bringing him to the team, and thinking that Alessio-san was hiding this jewel damn.'

Indeed Harris had a different from the racing line usually used by the driver, in general drivers have the same pattern and same breaking point in low levels, where as Harris maximized his driving to the limit where he even rub the side of the kart with the curbs giving it a few scratches. The kart itself was hot because of the constant pushing from Harris and now or later he would need to slow down his pace unless he wants the kart to be damaged at the end.

Contrary to Capeta's and co prediction, Harris managed to catch up after 2 lap, leaving only 2 lap for him to maybe get a podium. The first pack drivers becomes restless because of the sudden appearance of Harris, everyone were satisfied with their placement except the fifth and forth but it was peaceful with the fifth unable to catch the forth enough to make a move and the same applied to the forth for the third place. With Harris catching up quickly and not wanting to lose their place, everyone began to push much harder or at least the two kart in front of Harris, the rest not expecting something with the relatively stable lead.

But alas, pushing too hard also lead to mistake with inexperienced driver and much more with their state of mind so at the penultimate lap the fifth locked up when breaking and went too deep at turn 6, winning a trip to the gravel and losing a place at the same time. At the same time Harris also became restless. He had to make a choice. Harris was already pushing to the track limits but with his self-confidence it was relatively risk free but he also could go for a dangerous move from a fan point of view but with high risk, high rewards and if he went for the move it would lead him from a position where third place was his. it was at turn 10 where as he would only release the throttle and turn, he could instead go wider at the exit of turn 9 and go full throttle at turn 10 but not without touching the grass which could help him slow down for the last turn but the risk was that he could not go wide enough or spin because of the grass.

With a sigh Harris finally made a choice and...

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AN / : A little note here to do a reminder the track is based on Kartdromo Parma a circuit in Italy I posted a link on chapter 7 author's note :)

And the system will not really be a crucial part of the story, at least I have no plan for the moment, it's just a tool for Harris to train on different type of car.