Favorite. Chapter 19 Part Two

This novel is fictional, you should not look for intersections with historical events. This is a continuation of Nikita Savelyev’s Racing Action Movie, first published on F1News.ru…

Favorite. Chapter 19 Part Two

An early stop pushed Marcel far back and the caravan had to be pierced again. Competitors’ multicolored cars seemed to give way to him. The plate with its place was replaced almost every lap. Ninth… eighth… seventh. And finally the third. Well, he stayed with his. Most importantly, where is Powell the main contender? A few more circles and Marcel saw a painfully familiar red stern. Hey old Ronald. And ahead flashes and a green spot. Some of the companions. So Marcel’s whole sprint went nowhere before the stop. He’s in the same position. Satisfied? Proved to everyone that you are capable of overtaking?! Showing off in front of the Italian stands? Idiot! He knew that fierceness did not lead to good.

Thirty laps to the finish. A lot of time. Neville added gas. It felt like he was quickly flying the circle, but the rivals didn’t get close. Neville immediately gave another round at the limit. Nothing has changed. It seems that its competitors are also pressing with all their might.

“Keep pace,” a sign flashed in front of him. Why is this? Otherwise they continue. Neville ran another lap. The table has not changed. The team is clearly on its own.

Too bad, racers don’t have radio communication like fighter pilots, how much easier would it be. If we reject the assumption that Carragher wants Marcel to lose the race, then there can be only one explanation: his partner behaves like a “hare”, which Ronald controls. Closer to the finish, the equipment begins to tire, especially at such a difficult distance, that the engine and tires will soon take their last breath. The tactic is definitely risky. What if Ronald’s car holds up and Marcel falls behind by then? Want to catch up on the last laps in a hurry? Situation…

Marcel followed in the wake of his rivals for a while, he did not approach, but did not lag behind. A panicked thought was screwed into my head: If I finish behind Powell, I lose. During the season, Neville has not focused on a possible title – we are chasing as hard as we can, and we will count the points before the final. And here’s the final. As it turned out, he didn’t want to lose the title.

Eighteen laps to the finish. Nothing changes. Even the pilots who remained in the circle, who, no, no, yes, met on the way, disappeared somewhere. It is possible that many have already left the race.

Sixteen circles. Without changes.

On the next lap, Neville pushed. Decision is made. Why wait for favors from the team? You just have to be ahead of both pilots. He did it today and will do it again.

Ronald blocked the car in front of him and Neville couldn’t make out which of his teammates was leading. However, it’s not that important. Let it not be as easy to overtake as at the start, when the racers and their iron horses are full of power, but who said it is impossible?

Bang bang! Even with the roar of the engine, Neville heard a terrible noise. And then Carnall was enveloped in clouds of smoke, the car abruptly pulled over. Ronald hesitated before an unexpected obstacle. This is an opportunity! Neville hurried to the right into the resulting hallway. All. He’s the first. It’s somehow not even interesting.

The whole circle of Neville looked in the mirror – Ronald was left behind. Didn’t expect such a crowd?! I wonder what happened to Marcel’s partner. And with whom exactly?

Smoke appeared on a long straight, where the pilots are just beginning to slow down. The timekeepers claimed that Carnall and Monetti managed to accelerate to nearly 200 miles per hour at that point. Wow!

Despite the speed, Marcel tried to turn his head. What happened there? He didn’t like what he saw. Smoke rises to the sky. People are running around. Where’s the racer? Did he manage to get out of the car? She didn’t roll over – she certainly did. Then what’s the hassle? The triumphant mood immediately subsided.

Another circle. Now you won’t even get maximum speed in this place. There is already a huge crowd on the side of the road. Spectators are indistinguishable from employees – they don’t even have a special uniform. The cars are already extinguished, the cockpit is empty. But it would be good, there would be no such hype. WHO? Leslie or Derek, and if by number? Leslie is ninth, Derek is seventh. But the side of the car, where the numbers are painted with paint, turned black.

This is madness! People line up right at the edge of the road, cars hurtle past a few feet. Neville slowed down and didn’t forget to keep an eye on Ronald, but he fell further behind.

Each circle Marcel peered into the crowd, but he did not understand what was happening. Eventually it thinned out and people fled along the side of the road. And no one bothered to remove the smoky, smoky skeleton from the once beautiful car. So it stands – a sad monument.

Yours! Marcel got too carried away. Devices! Before he even looked, he caught the inconsistency with his bestial instincts. Fuel! The arrow is not behaving correctly. Broken gas tank? No, then he just stopped on the track. Fuel line? Probably.

Five laps to the finish. What a shame it would be to get out at such a time! Neville again passes the scene of the fire. A nasty black skeleton in place. A reminder of the imperfection of technology.

Go to the boxes? Yes, how can they help? You cannot solve the problem quickly. And he is not interested in any place other than the first. There were problems with the oil pressure. Neville sniffed. It seems, or pulls gasoline?

And then, despite the heat, he was thrown into the cold. If drops of gasoline fall from a damaged fuel line onto parts heated in the heat of the race, a fire is inevitable. His car caught fire in the last race. Only at this point was Neville already safe, and then the car turns into a torch on the way.

The first thought is to stop and immediately run away. Marcel tried to control his breathing as best he could. Take it easy. Until we burn. There are only four rounds left. We’ll make it.

Circular ahead. Not up to you at all. Fortunately, the pilot flinched at the appearance of the leader’s car in the mirrors and caused no problems. Neville even a little distracted.

Is it like the smell has gotten stronger? Probably pure pleasure. The partner’s lifeless car smokes with a slight haze. Neville can also be baked. Do not panic!

Three circles. Ronald meanwhile crawled very close. Looming at attack range. We will defend the position – at least distract from gloomy thoughts. Marcel tried to concentrate on his opponent. But writing out a quick round doesn’t work.

Two circles. Ronald senses the victim’s weakness and does not lag behind. The arrow is almost at zero. What’s faster? Will a fire break out? Or is the fuel running out to the last drop? It looks like the charred car is grinning with the mouth of the radiator. Do you want also? You won’t even be able to jump out. You will burn like a match.

Looks like Ronald is waiting for the last round. Will pop out of the airbag at the last minute and won’t let Marcel recover. Smart. The smell of gasoline is already in the nose. It is possible that the wind saves by blowing off droplets at high speed. Yet they are already on the case. Do not entertain yourself with illusions.

How many points does he win back from Ronald? The difference between first and second place is small. This is just a ghostly chance to continue the title fight for the final leg. Not anymore. But now you can get out of the race. Think championship. Life is more precious. No one will judge him. It is deadly to continue.

One and a half circle. trivia?! Maybe. Only if these are not the last circles in life.

Wow! A green car jumped out from behind Ronald and hurried to overtake. Pilot Monetti got too carried away in the chase for Neville and missed the attack. By the way, this help came in handy. Marcel couldn’t see who it was, but it was undoubtedly one of his partners. Meanwhile, they left for the final round. Throwing first place at the last minute is stupid. Moving on is scary. You can admit it to yourself.

Two and a half minutes. They follow in that order. Neville’s partner served as a reliable buffer between him and Powell. Two minutes. Never before had Marcel been so excited to finish it. On the body, heated to the extreme, the physical reaction buzzes with power and strength. One and a half minutes. Will it work or not? minute. The heart beats furiously, tearing the chest, but the arms and legs are clearly doing their job. Thirty seconds…

Neville stopped the car immediately after the black and white checkered flag was raised and the first attempt was to chase away the mob that had rushed towards him. The danger of fire and even explosion has not disappeared. This is not easy to do – the excited people did not want to reason with Marcel’s screams and gestures, but on the contrary, everyone tried to hug him or touch the car. Out! Everyone out! Carries gasoline unbearably! Did not work.

Neville’s partner climbed out of the cockpit, it was Derek. So poor Leslie was involved in the accident. The panicked thought pierced the brain: the ninth number is an inverted six. And fate likes to play complicated jokes sometimes.

Did I help you a little? Derek smiled wearily.

‘Of course…’ Neville breathed as he tried to shield the car with himself.

“They say that at Monetti everyone works for the leader”, Ronald took off his glasses and gloves irritably, “your gigantic efforts saved him.”

Derek shrugged in embarrassment.

“He will owe you the death of his life,” Ronald boiled with anger.

– Yes, I just attacked …

– Don’t whistle! Why didn’t you climb to catch up with your partner if you’re so brave! Two for one, right?! Rejoice now!

Neville’s compatriot’s claims were of little consequence. His futile efforts to keep the people safe were unsuccessful, and he waved his hand. After stopping, the case did not immediately flare up, now it is already cooling down. Will succeed.

How would you know what’s wrong with Leslie? Mr. Carragher is nowhere to be seen. And this is strange. Roger, who has recently become the team manager, pushed towards them.

– What? What happened?! Neville pounced on him.

Leslie’s engine exploded in a straight line and the pilot was doused in hot oil. He was able to get out of the car, but in a state of shock, he sped in the opposite direction of the rescuers who rushed towards him. The man suffered severe burns, now Martin is urgently looking for a plane to transport the racer to London to the best doctors.

Scoring in the overall standings showed that Neville still has a shot at the championship title. For that he must certainly win the last stage in Spain in a week.

== To be continued…