The factory team's headquarters was intimidating in a way I hadn't expected.
Apex Racing Development occupied a massive facility outside Toronto—three buildings dedicated to karting excellence. One building housed the engineering department and fabrication shop. Another contained a full simulator setup and driver training center. The third was team operations, logistics, and meeting spaces.
Lawrence and I walked through on our first visit, meeting the team principal, a former race engineer named Robert Chen.
"Lance, welcome to Apex," Robert said, shaking my hand firmly. "We've been watching your progression. Florida was impressive."
"Thank you."
"You'll be our youngest driver, but that doesn't matter here. We judge by results, not age. Your teammate will be Marcus Whitfield, thirteen years old, two-time regional champion." He gestured to a lanky teenager working with mechanics nearby. "Marcus, come meet Lance."
Marcus Whitfield looked me over with barely concealed skepticism. "You're the eight-year-old everyone's talking about?"
"Yeah."
"Heard you got lucky in the rain in Florida."
[New Rival Identified: Marcus Whitfield]
[Age: 13, experienced, clearly threatened by your arrival]
[This will be interesting]
"Luck helps," I said neutrally, not taking the bait. "But I'll race you anytime."
"You'll get your chance. We're teammates but we're also competing for the number one driver position. Best results get priority on setup development and engineer time."
Robert intervened. "You'll both get equal support. But yes, performance matters. We're building champions here, and champions compete."
The first test session with Apex equipment revealed the difference between regional racing and factory-level preparation. The kart was immaculate, every component optimized, data acquisition systems providing detailed telemetry, two dedicated mechanics assigned just to my equipment.
"This is insane," I said to Marc, who'd come along as consulting coach. "The kart feels like it's on rails."
"Factory equipment. This is what you'll need to compete at national championships." He checked his notes. "First session is baseline testing. They want to see your natural pace, then we'll work on optimization."
I went out for ten laps, pushing progressively harder. The kart was phenomenal—responsive, balanced, fast. My Setup Intuition immediately identified a few minor adjustments, but overall it was nearly perfect out of the box.
[Baseline Lap Time: 1:08.2]
[Team Target Pace: 1:08.0]
[You're already at target pace with no optimization]
[Marcus Whitfield's Time: 1:08.5]
[You're faster than your thirteen-year-old teammate. This will cause tension.]
Marcus's expression when he saw my time was priceless—confusion mixed with frustration. "How? You're eight!"
"I've had good coaching."
"Nobody's that fast first time in new equipment."
I shrugged, not wanting to explain that supernatural skills made adaptation instant. "Can I suggest some setup changes?"
The engineering team was skeptical when I provided detailed feedback—specific spring rates, damper adjustments, wing angles. But Robert nodded for them to try it.
"Let's see if the kid knows what he's talking about."
With my Setup Intuition-guided changes, the kart transformed. Next session, I ran 1:07.8. Then 1:07.6. By the end of testing, I'd found another full second.
[Final Time: 1:06.8]
[Team Record: 1:07.2]
[You just set a new team benchmark. On your first day.]
[Marcus's best: 1:08.1]
[Gap to teammate: 1.3 seconds]
[His ego: Damaged]
Robert pulled me aside after the session. "That was exceptional. The engineers are impressed—your technical feedback was graduate-level engineering. Where did you learn vehicle dynamics?"
"Books, videos, asking questions. I like understanding how things work."
"Eight-year-olds don't usually comprehend suspension geometry and aerodynamic balance."
"I'm not a usual eight-year-old."
He laughed. "Clearly. You're our number one driver now. That comes with priority on development and strategy. Marcus won't be happy, but performance determines hierarchy here."
[Team Hierarchy: Established as #1 driver]
[This grants benefits but creates teammate rivalry]
[Marcus Whitfield will be motivated to beat you]
[Expect increased competition]
The first race of the national championship season was three weeks away. The intervening time was spent integrating into the team, learning systems, building relationships with mechanics and engineers.
Most of the team embraced having a young prodigy. A few were skeptical, waiting to see if I could perform under pressure. Everyone was professional, but there was an underlying question: could an eight-year-old really compete at this level?
Marcus remained frosty, barely speaking to me except when necessary. During one practice session, he "accidentally" blocked me on a hot lap, costing me time. Another time, he took my preferred setup without asking, claiming he needed to test something.
"Your teammate is making things difficult," Marc observed.
"He's threatened. I would be too if I was thirteen and getting beaten by someone five years younger."
"Doesn't mean you should tolerate bad behavior."
"I'll beat him on track. That's the best response."
[Marcus Whitfield Rivalry: Intensifying]
[Approach: Beat him consistently until he accepts reality]
[This is good practice for future rivalries in higher categories]
Between team commitments, I maintained my other responsibilities. School continued full-time, though teachers had begun making accommodations for racing schedule. Chef Beaumont's Tuesday sessions remained sacred—Lawrence insisted on maintaining that balance.
"You're a racing driver who cooks, not just a racing driver," he reminded me when I suggested skipping a cooking session for extra simulator time. "That identity is important."
Marcus (my friend, not my teammate) was thrilled about the factory seat. "You're like actually professional now. That's so cool!"
"Still the same me. Just racing at a higher level."
"Are you gonna forget about us regular people when you're famous?"
"Never. You're the one who keeps me normal."
"Good. Because you're still coming to my birthday party next month, right? No excuses about important races."
"I'll be there. Promise."
[Life Balance: Maintained]
[Racing is escalating but childhood aspects preserved]
[This approach is sustainable long-term]
The season opener was at a track in Pennsylvania, a technical circuit that rewarded precision over power. Perfect for my skill set.
I qualified second behind Marcus Whitfield. He'd been pushing desperately hard, taking risks I wouldn't, but he got pole position by two-tenths.
"Nice quali," I said in the paddock.
"You too. Shame about not getting pole though." His smile didn't reach his eyes.
[He's viewing this as validation. Prove him wrong in the race.]
Race day strategy was straightforward: use Race Start Mastery to challenge into turn one, use Tire Management to set up a late-race advantage, use Setup Intuition to optimize the kart for race distance.
The lights went out. My start was perfection—optimal launch, positioned perfectly alongside Marcus going into turn one. He defended the inside aggressively, too aggressively, forcing me onto the marbles. I held on, stayed close, emerged from the first lap in second.
[Lap 1: P2, gap 0.3 seconds]
[His start defense was borderline illegal]
[Don't retaliate. Race smart.]
For ten laps, we were glued together. He couldn't pull away, I couldn't find a way past. Every time I made a move, he had an answer. The engineers were radioing strategy, but this was pure racing—two drivers at similar pace, fighting for position.
Lap eleven, my Tire Management skill showed the opening. His fronts were overheating from defensive driving, losing grip. Mine were perfect, preserved through patient following.
[His tire temps: Critical]
[Your tire temps: Optimal]
[Next three laps: Your advantage window]
Lap thirteen, into the heavy braking zone at turn eight, I made my move. He defended inside, I went outside, carried more speed because my tires had grip while his were sliding. We exited side-by-side, but I had momentum. Down the straight, I completed the pass.
[Position: P1]
[Clean, decisive, unquestionable]
The remaining seven laps were about managing the gap. Marcus tried everything—pushing hard, taking risks, looking for mistakes. But my Tire Management kept my pace strong while his continued degrading. By the checkered flag, I'd pulled five seconds clear.
Victory. First race with the factory team.
[RACE COMPLETE - VICTORY]
[National Championship Win: 60 points]
[Pole Position: Bonus 10 points (for teammate battle)]
[Beat Teammate Bonus: 15 points]
[Dominant Performance: 20 points]
[TOTAL EARNED: 105 POINTS]
[CURRENT BALANCE: 370 POINTS]
Marcus was furious in the paddock afterward, barely containing his anger during the podium ceremony. He stood on the second step, jaw clenched, while I held the winner's trophy.
"Good race," I said afterward.
"Your tires didn't degrade."
"I managed them better. You were pushing too hard early."
"Because you were pressuring me!"
"That's racing. Pressure is part of it."
He walked away without responding. Robert watched the exchange with interest.
"You handled that well," Robert said. "Mature response to a teammate who's struggling with the hierarchy."
"He's faster than most drivers. Just needs to accept that today I was better."
"If you keep performing like this, he'll have to accept it every race."
[Team Dynamic: You're clearly the lead driver]
[Marcus Whitfield: Demoralized but dangerous]
[He'll come back stronger or break under pressure]
[Either way, this rivalry will define your season]
With 370 points available, I was close to affording an elite-level skill. Consistency Master at 200 points was achievable now. Or I could save for something more expensive.
[SKILLS SHOP - RECOMMENDATION]
[You're entering championship racing. Consider:]
[Consistency Master (200pts): Deliver identical laps, crucial for championships]
[Save for Overtaking Genius (250pts): Need 80 more points, possibly worth the wait]
[Save for Race Intelligence (300pts): Strategic dominance but requires patience]
"How many races this season?" I asked Lawrence that evening.
"Twelve races across six months. Two per race weekend, alternating tracks."
Twenty-four total races if we counted all opportunities. Potentially 1,000+ points if I won everything, though that was unrealistic. More likely 500-700 points across the season.
"I'm buying Consistency Master," I decided. "Championships require consistency more than occasional brilliance."
[PURCHASE CONFIRMED: CONSISTENCY MASTER (200 POINTS)]
[POINTS REMAINING: 170]
[INTEGRATING PRECISION DRIVING PROTOCOLS...]
The integration felt different from other skills. This wasn't new knowledge or enhanced perception—it was programming. Muscle memory became machine-like, lap time variance compressed to hundredths of seconds, mental discipline sharpened to deliver identical performance repeatedly.
[INTEGRATION COMPLETE]
[You can now drive with robotic precision]
[Lap time variance: +/- 0.05 seconds]
[This makes you incredibly difficult to beat over race distance]
[Opponents will find you relentless, unwavering, exhausting to race against]
The next race was the following weekend at a different circuit. During practice, the Consistency Master skill revealed its value. My lap times were: 1:12.4, 1:12.4, 1:12.3, 1:12.4, 1:12.4, 1:12.4.
The engineers noticed immediately.
"That's incredible consistency," one said, showing the data to others. "Professional drivers don't have variance that tight."
"Just focused on repeating the same inputs."
"Nobody is that precise naturally. This is... this is special."
I qualified on pole, running identical laps in the qualifying session. Marcus was third, frustrated by my metronomic pace.
The race became a demonstration of consistency's power. I led every lap, never varied more than a tenth per lap, was mathematically perfect. Marcus and others tried to pressure me, but there was nothing to capitalize on—no mistakes, no variance, no weakness.
Victory by eight seconds. Dominant. Professional.
[RACE COMPLETE - VICTORY]
[National Championship Win: 60 points]
[Led Every Lap: 20 points]
[Perfect Consistency Bonus: 25 points]
[TOTAL EARNED: 105 POINTS]
[CURRENT BALANCE: 275 POINTS]
Two wins from two races. Leading the championship by maximum points. The eight-year-old factory driver was proving the skeptics wrong with mathematical precision.
After the race, Robert made an announcement to the team: "Lance is our championship leader and will receive full support accordingly. Marcus, you'll continue to receive professional equipment and engineering, but strategy priority goes to our points leader."
Marcus's face showed he'd expected this but hated hearing it officially. The hierarchy was set. I was the number one driver. He was number two.
"This isn't over," he said to me privately. "I'll find a way to beat you."
"I hope you do. Competition makes us both better."
"Don't patronize me. You're eight years old. I shouldn't be losing to you."
"Then drive faster."
[Skills Owned: 5 total]
Tire Management Setup Intuition Wet Weather Expert Race Start Mastery Consistency Master
[Points Available: 275]
[Performance: 2 wins from 2 races]
[Championship: Leading]
[Status: Elite youth driver, factory #1, systematic progression continuing]
[The path to F1 is getting clearer with every race]
To be continued...
Author's Note: Chapter 13 shows Lance joining Apex Racing Development as their youngest factory driver. He immediately establishes dominance over thirteen-year-old teammate Marcus Whitfield, wins his first two national championship races, and purchases Consistency Master with his points. The skill makes him mechanically precise, leading to perfect performances. Rivalry with Marcus intensifies as the hierarchy becomes clear. Currently has 275 points and 5 skills owned.