The sun was low in the sky, and the F4 track lay out before him in long shadows as Nico stepped out of his car and onto the tar. The final tryout was here—the one that would decide his fate. The air was thick with tension, and Nico could feel it running deep in his bones. This was no run-of-the-mill race; this was his ticket to the big leagues.
The other drivers were already gathered around him, checking their cars, looking at their maps. Lukas Müller stayed close to arms crossed, casting Nico a pointed look before walking away. The Dupont twins were talking quietly to each other, occasionally glancing over at Nico with what seemed to be studied interest. But it was the F4 scouts to one side whom Nico couldn't help but get fixated on—their eyes glued to each step, each lap. He knew this was the moment when everything was going to either come together or fall apart.
Vincent stood by his side, giving him a reassuring slap on the back. "You've already shown them, Nico. Now you show them you can get along under the pressure. Stay calm. You can do this."
Nico nodded, trying to push aside the jitters rising up in him. This time, there was more on the line than skill—it was about consistency, toughness of mind, and determination. The stakes had never been higher.
The F4 car was an entirely different beast from anything Nico had driven up to this point. The corners tighter, the straights longer, and the grip something his karting experience never could have prepared him for. The cars were faster and heavier, extracting more from the driver and the machinery. Nico had practiced weeks for this moment, but nothing would ever fully prepare him for the intensity of the final test.
"Drivers, to your cars!" a shout rang out, jolting Nico out of his daydreaming.
Nico approached his car, helmet resting under his arm. His hands were sweaty, and his brain was racing beyond his powers to maintain it. This was it. The last hurdle.
The cars sat on the grid, the pit crew already busy finalizing the preparations. Nico buckled into his cockpit, strapping himself in and double-checking the dashboard for the final time. The engine roared into life, vibrating in his abdomen. The pit lane lights illuminated, signaling the beginning of the warm-up laps.
Nico's fingers gripped the wheel tightly as he followed the other drivers onto the track. His heart pounded, but he forced himself to breathe. This wasn't about the race—it was about showing everyone, Vincent, and most importantly himself that he belonged here.
The warm-up laps were a mirage. Nico found the rhythm of the track, testing the limits of the vehicle, learning the turns, finding the best braking points. Everything was new—yet at the same time familiar. The adrenaline flowed, but so did the focus. Nico could not allow his nerves to get the best of him now.
After the warm-up had been done, the official waved the cars into position. Nico's eyes swept across the other drivers on the grid. Lukas had his eyes staring directly ahead, as focused as ever. The Dupont twins cast a fleeting glance in each other's direction before continuing as normal, appearing as calm as always. But Nico was aware that they were all under pressure. The final test was looming, and it would be far from a contest.
The green illuminated and the cars roared into life, speeding off around the first turn.
Nico was immediately engulfed by a ravenous pack of drivers. The initial laps were a blur of tires shrieking, engines wailing, and quick moves as Nico fought to find a spot up front. The track was unforgiving, and the cars punished their drivers in brutal style as they ate up the turns. But Nico was ready. The reflexes of his kart racing years took over, and he threaded the narrow sections with precision. He passed one driver, then a second, climbing through the pack.
But then disaster struck.
Taking a difficult left turn, Nico underestimated his braking point by a fraction of a second. His tires locked up for an instant and the car fishtailed wide. He lost valuable seconds, and the pack drove away from him. Checking in his rearview mirror, he watched Lukas and the Dupont brothers passing him, leaving him in their dust.
Nico gritted his teeth, his knuckles white as he gripped the wheel tighter. He couldn't afford to lose his focus. The race was not yet over.
He dug deep, rebooting his mindset. Every lap was a new beginning. Nico slowly drew in his competition as the race wore on, executing clever passes, not taking chances. F4 cars were unpredictable, but Nico had perfected using the volatility card. Karting had given him sharp thinking and sharp reflexes—something that served him well on the track today.
With five laps left, Nico was closing in on the first three positions. Lukas was leading, but the Dupont twins were a car's length in front of him. Nico clenched his teeth and accelerated harder, determined to make his move. He could hear the roar of the other vehicles behind him, their engines snarling as they fought for the same position.
Nico's heart thrashed as he sped for first. He took each turn more aggressively, the car yielding to his every command. The last few laps were a war of endurance—his and the car's. He wasn't racing against the other drivers any longer. He was racing against himself, against the fear that threatened to consume him, against the pressure of one mistake sending him crashing.
As the final lap approached, Nico was in third place, behind the Dupont twins. The roar of the crowd deafened him as the cars sped towards the finish line, their engines shrieking in protest. Nico focused on the road ahead. His final chance was approaching in the form of the last corner.
He dove into the turn with precision, knowing that this was his opportunity. The car held its own as he navigated the turn, bumped Alexandre Dupont on the inside. Camille Dupont was still ahead, but Nico had gained enough ground.
In the last stretch, Nico gave it everything he had left. The finish line was just ahead. He could hear the crowd roaring, the engines humming in his ears. It was all or nothing.
And then, in the last meters, Nico found the extra pace he had been looking for. One last burst and he passed the line, beating Camille Dupont into second place.
The crowd went wild and stomped their feet, and Nico's heart hammered in his chest as he let the car come to rest. He'd done it. He'd proved himself. The scouts would be watching him. He'd earned his spot.
Vincent had waited for him in the pit lane, a wide smile on his face. "You see that's the Nico I know. You did it."
Nico could hardly believe it. The final test was finished. But this was only the beginning. The road to F4 had started, and now the real adventures were about to begin.