The third race weekend started with Marcus Whitfield making his intentions clear.
During the Friday practice session, he deliberately blocked me on three separate flying laps. Not subtle blocking—aggressive moves that forced me onto dirty track, costing me lap time and data collection.
"Your teammate is sabotaging you," Marc said over the radio after the third incident.
"I noticed."
"Are you going to do something about it?"
"Beat him in qualifying. That's the best response."
[Marcus Whitfield: Desperate tactics emerging]
[He's losing the psychological battle]
[Maintain composure. Let him destroy himself.]
Qualifying was Saturday morning. I let Marcus go out first, set his time, then went out with Setup Intuition-optimized settings and Consistency Master delivering perfect laps.
My first lap: 1:11.8
My second lap: 1:11.8
My third lap: 1:11.7
Marcus's best: 1:12.3
Six-tenths advantage. Pole position secured.
[Qualifying: P1]
[Marcus: P3 (beaten by another driver for P2)]
[His confidence: Shattered]
In the paddock afterward, Marcus confronted me. "How are you that consistent? It's not natural."
"Practice. Focus. Better preparation."
"Nobody's lap times are identical. You're doing something."
"I'm driving well. That's what I'm doing."
"You're eight years old! This is impossible!"
Robert stepped in before things escalated. "Marcus, enough. Lance earned pole position fairly. Focus on your own performance."
But Marcus wasn't done. During the race itself, he drove recklessly.
The start was clean—I led into turn one, Marcus's competitor took second, Marcus was third. By lap five, Marcus had passed into second and was pressuring me hard.
Too hard. Divebombing into corners where there was no space, forcing wheel-to-wheel situations that risked contact, driving with desperation rather than strategy.
[Warning: Teammate driving dangerously]
[He's going to cause an incident]
[Be ready to avoid it]
Lap eight, into the hairpin, Marcus tried an impossible pass. He came in way too hot, locked his brakes, slid wide, and hit my rear wheel.
We both spun.
[INCIDENT: Contact with Marcus Whitfield]
[Both drivers spinning]
[Race compromised]
I recovered first, dropped to fifth place. Marcus recovered slower, fell to eighth. The race he'd tried to win by forcing the issue had cost both of us dearly.
I fought back through the field—my skills making overtaking clinical and precise. Passed for fourth on lap ten, third on lap twelve, second on lap fifteen.
But the leader had an eight-second gap. Even with my pace advantage, I couldn't catch him in the remaining laps.
Second place. My first non-win of the season.
[RACE COMPLETE]
[Final Position: P2]
[Points Earned: 50]
[Marcus Final Position: P6]
[He cost you both a victory]
The post-race meeting with Robert was tense. Marcus and I sat across from him, team engineers reviewing the incident footage.
"This is unacceptable," Robert said, the footage showing Marcus's desperate lunge. "You compromised both drivers' races with an ill-advised move."
"He was blocking me," Marcus protested weakly.
"The data shows Lance was maintaining consistent pace with no defensive maneuvers. You attempted a pass that was never going to work." Robert's expression was severe. "You're suspended for next weekend's races. Two races. Think about whether you want to be a team player or not."
"You can't suspend me! I'm a championship contender!"
"You were a championship contender. After today, you're thirty-five points behind Lance with six points for your finish. The championship is over for you." Robert stood. "Take the time to reset your attitude. When you return, I expect professional behavior."
Marcus stormed out. I stayed behind.
"Should I apologize?" I asked. "Try to smooth things over?"
"No. He needs to deal with this himself. You've done nothing wrong—you've just been faster. That's not your fault." Robert reviewed the standings. "You're still leading the championship by twenty-five points. This was damage limitation, not a disaster."
[Championship Standings After Race 3:]
[Lance Stroll: 215 points (1st, 1st, 2nd)]
[Next closest: 190 points]
[Marcus Whitfield: 86 points (2nd, 3rd, 6th)]
[Comfortable lead maintained despite the incident]
[Current Points Balance: 325 (275 + 50 from today)]
With Marcus suspended for the next weekend's double-header, I'd have clear track to extend the championship lead. But the incident left me thinking about competition versus cooperation, about what happens when ego meets reality.
In my previous life, I'd been Marcus—someone watching others succeed with advantages I didn't have, becoming bitter instead of improving. Now I understood both perspectives. Success bred resentment unless you handled it carefully.
"You okay?" Marc asked on the drive back.
"Yeah. Just thinking about Marcus. He's not a bad driver. Just dealing with the situation poorly."
"You're being generous. He deliberately crashed into you."
"He was desperate. I understand desperation." I watched the scenery pass. "In another life, I might have been him."
Marc gave me a curious look but didn't press the comment.
[Personal Growth: Understanding opponents' psychology]
[You're developing empathy alongside competitiveness]
[This maturity will serve you well in higher categories]
The next race weekend was at a track in Michigan, and without Marcus, the team dynamic was noticeably calmer. I qualified on pole by eight-tenths—a massive margin that showed just how much the Consistency Master and other skills had elevated my performance.
Both races that weekend were dominant victories. I led every lap of both, set fastest lap in both, and won by comfortable margins.
[Weekend Results:]
[Race 4: Victory, 60 points earned]
[Race 5: Victory, 60 points earned]
[Total: 120 points]
[Current Balance: 445 points]
[Championship Gap: Now 65 points clear]
The points balance was significant. I could now afford Race Intelligence at 300 points, which would revolutionize my strategic decision-making. Or I could save for The Killer Instinct at 350 points, though that felt premature—I didn't need ruthless competitiveness yet.
"Race Intelligence," I decided, pulling up the Skills Shop mentally. "Strategic thinking will compound with my other advantages."
[PURCHASE CONFIRMED: RACE INTELLIGENCE (300 POINTS)]
[POINTS REMAINING: 145]
[INTEGRATING ADVANCED STRATEGIC PROCESSING...]
This integration was profound. Suddenly I could process race scenarios three steps ahead. I understood fuel/tire strategies instinctively, could predict how races would develop based on minimal information, recognized optimal risk-reward decisions immediately.
It was like having a chess grandmaster's mind applied to racing.
[INTEGRATION COMPLETE]
[You now think strategically at elite level]
[This combines with your other skills to create overwhelming advantage]
[You're becoming what you claimed you could be: a complete racing driver]
Marcus returned for race six, noticeably subdued. During the drivers' briefing, he avoided eye contact. In the paddock, he worked quietly with his mechanics.
"How's your suspension treating you?" I asked, trying to open dialogue.
"Fine."
"Look, I know this season has been frustrating for you—"
"I don't need your pity." He finally looked at me. "You're faster. I get it. Just... let me deal with it my way."
"Fair enough."
[Marcus: Accepting reality but not happy about it]
[Rivalry may cool into professional competition]
[Or it might simmer and explode later]
Race six was where Race Intelligence showed its true value. During the pre-race briefing, Robert asked about strategy for a potential rain scenario.
"If it rains, switch to full wet setup on lap eight," I said immediately. "That's when track conditions will cross the threshold where slicks become slower than wets, based on radar timing and temperature trends."
The engineers looked surprised. "That's... exactly what our models predict. How did you calculate that?"
"Weather radar, track temperature data, historical grip level information. Just processed it."
"In your head? In seconds?"
"Yeah."
[Race Intelligence: Demonstrating value beyond driving]
[You're now thinking like a strategist, not just a driver]
[This will be crucial in longer races and championship battles]
The race stayed dry, but my strategic thinking showed in other ways. I managed fuel perfectly, knowing exactly when to push and when to conserve. I predicted competitors' tire strategies based on their practice pace patterns. I positioned myself optimally for a late-race challenge from a fast-closing rival.
Victory, my fifth from six races.
[RACE COMPLETE]
[Season Record: 5 wins, 1 second place]
[Championship Lead: 80 points with 6 races remaining]
[Mathematically close to securing championship]
That evening, Chloe video-called from home, excited about something other than racing.
"Lance! Guess what? I got accepted into the advanced art program at school!"
"That's amazing! Congrats, Chloe!"
"They only take ten students per grade. I had to submit a portfolio and everything." Her enthusiasm was infectious. "I'm going to be a famous artist someday, and you'll be a famous race car driver, and we'll both be successful doing what we love!"
"You're already successful. Getting into that program is huge."
"Says the eight-year-old leading a national championship." She grinned. "But seriously, thanks for always supporting my art stuff even though racing is way cooler."
"Art is just as cool. Different cool, but cool."
"You're a good brother, Lance. Don't forget that when you're famous."
After we hung up, I reflected on the balance I was trying to maintain. Racing was consuming more of my life as success escalated, but moments like celebrating Chloe's achievement reminded me why the balance mattered.
[Life Balance Check:]
[Racing: Dominant, consuming most time and energy]
[Family: Still connected, Chloe relationship strong]
[Friends: Marcus (friend) maintained, though see him less]
[Cooking: Weekly sessions continuing]
[School: Manageable with tutoring support]
[Assessment: Stretched thin but maintaining all commitments]
The season's second half saw me clinch the championship with two races remaining. Five more victories across the next four races made the title mathematically secure.
Marcus improved as the season progressed, finding peace with being second-best and focusing on his own development. Our final race together was professional—hard racing but fair, with mutual respect replacing earlier hostility.
"Good season," he said after the finale, where I won and he finished third. "You're the real deal, Lance. I was stupid to fight it."
"You pushed me to be better. That's valuable."
"Maybe. But you're heading somewhere big. Formula 1 probably." He shook my hand. "When you get there, remember you beat Marcus Whitfield in karting."
"I will. Good luck with your career."
[SEASON COMPLETE]
[Final Record: 10 wins, 2 second places from 12 races]
[Championship: WON by 95 points]
[Age: Still 8 years old]
[Total Points Earned (Season): 700+]
[Current Balance: 485 points]
The championship celebration was professional but warm. Robert praised both drivers, though everyone knew I'd been the dominant force. Media coverage increased—more articles about the eight-year-old champion, more team inquiries, more attention.
"You have options for next year," Lawrence said during the off-season planning. "Stay with Apex and defend the title, move to international competition, or start looking at the transition to cars in a few years."
"What do you recommend?"
"Honestly? One more year dominating national competition, then transition to international. Build an unassailable reputation domestically, then take on the world."
[Decision: One more year with Apex]
[Goal: Defend championship, continue earning points, prepare for international competition]
[Age next season: 9 years old]
[Skills Owned: 6 total (added Race Intelligence)]
[Points Available: 485]
[The Killer Instinct: Now affordable at 350 points]
[Next tier skills: Coming soon as you advance]
With 485 points available and a championship under my belt, I studied the Skills Shop for the next enhancement. The Killer Instinct would make me ruthlessly competitive. Or I could save for whatever elite skills might unlock after this season's success.
"What's beyond the current skill levels?" I asked the System.
[CHAMPION TIER SKILLS UNLOCKED]
[New category available after winning championship]
[Preview:]
[Adaptability Master (400pts): Instantly adapt to any car, track, or condition]
[Mental Fortress (450pts): Unbreakable focus, immune to pressure or distraction]
[Physical Peak (500pts): Optimal physical condition maintained automatically]
[Racecraft Genius (600pts): See racing like art, execute perfectly]
The progression was clear. Each success unlocked new possibilities. Each achievement opened new paths. The System was guiding me systematically toward becoming exactly what I'd claimed I could be.
An eight-year-old national champion with supernatural assistance, heading inexorably toward Formula 1.
The journey was accelerating.
To be continued...
Author's Note: Chapter 14 shows Marcus Whitfield's breaking point as rivalry intensifies, leading to a race incident and his suspension. Lance purchases Race Intelligence (300pts) and dominates the remaining season, winning the championship at age 8 with 10 wins from 12 races. Earned 700+ points total, currently has 485 points. Champion tier skills now unlocked. Next chapter will cover age 9 season defending the title and preparing for international competition.