Chapter 40 - 4: ACI Karting Championship

Chapter 40: Chapter 4: ACI Karting Championship

Sid looked at Seth. He didn’t recognize the man and figured he couldn’t be from a major team. He then said, "Wu Shi, we just settled things. Mr. Raul has agreed to let you join the Laya Team as one of the four competing drivers this year."

Wu Shi froze. ’If it’s already settled, then what about these other people?’ he thought. ’Aren’t they just trying to sideline me?’

"Five hundred thousand euros," Louise said softly, running up to whisper in his ear. Her warm breath tickled him.

Wu Shi looked at Martina. Seeing her calm expression, he turned to Sid and asked, "Will the four of us be competing on equal terms?"

Sid didn’t answer.

"Hello, madam. Are you Wu Shi’s mother?" Seth had been ready to give up, but seeing Wu Shi’s question, he realized he still had a chance. He immediately turned to Martina.

"Oh? Yes, I am." Martina blinked and smiled.

"I just informed your son that if he joins our team, we will pour our resources into developing him and make him our star driver," Seth said quickly.

This time, it was Sid’s turn to be stunned. ’What’s going on?’

"Sid! That’s enough!"

Just then, Raul’s voice echoed from the top of the stairs. Leaning on his cane, he declared firmly, "We don’t need a foreign driver."

"But just now..."

"Dionysios Makos, Bokai Besler, Mizevich Makar—are any of them not good enough?" Raul retorted.

Dionysios was Laya Team’s ace in the mini category this year and a contender for the championship.

Sid, of course, knew the driver was exceptionally skilled. But he still believed that Wu Shi was the one who could truly help Laya Team win the championship. So he said it out loud:

"He can win the championship."

Raul gripped his cane with both hands, taking several deep breaths. Clearly, his stubborn financial manager had pushed him to his breaking point.

"That’s your opinion! And as you can see, the kid wants a pivotal role the moment he joins the team. Arrogant, conceited, and ignorant!"

After flinging out those words, he left on the spot.

Sid sighed.

"So, madam, shall we consider drafting a contract?" Seth, however, decided to strike while the iron was hot, hoping to seal the deal.

His team was so small that if any of the other major teams caught on, he would likely lose this opportunity.

"Alright. Let’s go take a look."

In a meeting room at the racetrack, the group took their seats.

"Sir, you’re with the Laya Team, aren’t you?" Seth couldn’t help but ask when he saw Sid had come in as well.

"I was, a moment ago. Not anymore." Sid showed them the email he had just sent to Raul—a letter of resignation. He then said, "Martina, may I participate in this discussion as an advisor?"

"Of course. I trust your professionalism."

Martina nodded. As the Laya Team’s financial manager, Sid’s competence was beyond doubt.

Just like at the Hunan restaurant back in Hua Country, the adults’ discussion left little room for Wu Shi to participate. He could only sit to the side, absentmindedly twirling a lock of Louise’s hair around his finger.

The morning passed, and the contract was finalized. It was for a one-year term, during which Wu Shi’s side would pay 300,000 euros to cover daily expenses. Any surplus at the end of the year would be refunded.

If the costs exceeded 300,000 euros, they would normally have to cover the difference. However, Seth added a clause: if Wu Shi won five championships in this year’s Italy ACI Karting Championship, the extra payment would be waived.

"Mamu, do we still have to come here every weekend now?" Louise asked on the way back.

"Yes, but if Louise has her own things to do, she doesn’t have to tag along."

"I don’t have anything else to do. I just get really bored sitting in the back seat by myself," Louise said, turning her head away.

"Ohh, so that’s how it is." With that, Martina found a place to pull over. She stopped the car and said to Wu Shi, "Little Wu Shi, why don’t you go keep your sister company in the back?"

"..."

Wu Shi reluctantly got out of the passenger seat. As he climbed into the back, he saw the little girl staring at him.

"Alright, what do you want me to play with you?"

"Let’s play cat’s cradle!"

"Fine."

...

In the days that followed, his routine was school on weekdays and heading to Salerno to practice on weekends.

「Time passed, and soon it was March 1, 2008: the start of the Italy ACI Karting Championship.」

The ACI Karting Championship consisted of seven rounds throughout the year, with multiple categories such as 60 Mini, KZ2, KF3, KF2, and KF1.

And this year’s first round was right here in Salerno.

Wu Shi arrived fairly early, but the C.D Speed Team technicians were there even earlier. Or rather, they were always at the track.

With the help of professionals, tuning the kart became a much clearer process.

Over the past few months, Wu Shi had provided feedback every time he practiced. The kart was now completely molded to his style; any other kid who tried to drive it would undoubtedly spin out from the massive oversteer.

"Hey, Wu Shi, this kart’s stability window is tiny. Are you sure you want to go out there with this setup?" Seth asked before the race, still a little worried.

"Team Principal, I haven’t had a single accident during practice," Wu Shi said.

"Alright then. I hope you get off to a victorious start. We’ve already got the champagne ready," said Seth.

"Thanks for the good wishes. I just hope the race officials have the national flag and anthem ready. I’d hate to get to the podium and find out they don’t," Wu Shi reminded him.

"Whoa! Full of confidence, aren’t you!" Seth chuckled.

After this period of testing, he still found Wu Shi’s abilities somewhat inscrutable, but there was no denying he was very fast and very consistent.

The ACI Karting Championship format was more complex than the karting races back home.

On Friday—today—there would be technical inspection, followed by a period of free practice.

Saturday would then have qualifying and consolidation heats to determine the finalists, with a repechage race for packed fields.

All in all, the entire race weekend was quite long.

"Hey, foreigner. I heard you turned down the offer to join us," a kid with a buzz cut said, walking up to him.

"Who are you?" Wu Shi asked, looking the boy up and down.

"Dionysios Makos. I’m going to use my lap time to show you that Mr. Raul was right to look down on you! You people don’t know how to race! You have no right to compete with us!"

The kid left after delivering his harsh words.

’It’s just a race. Why does everyone love to talk tough?’ Wu Shi thought, his head aching.

"Go for it. We’re behind you. He doesn’t know your lap times. If he did, he wouldn’t dare provoke you," one of the technicians said.

"Your speed is absolutely dominant. I can’t wait to see you go out there and win," said another technician.

"Go get ’em. I can’t keep up with them, but you can," a teammate chimed in.

"Of course. I’ll give it my all."

Friday passed quickly, and Saturday’s qualifying heats were uneventful.

Wu Shi controlled his pace slightly, ensuring he stayed around the 1-minute, 18-second mark, which was enough to comfortably qualify for the final.

After the two qualifying heats, 32 drivers had been selected for the final, and the battle for starting positions began.

The kid who had been talking trash, Dionysios, really did have some skill. While the rest of the field was generally lapping between 1:18 and 1:20, he laid down a 1:17.914.

That incredibly fast lap got a lot of people excited.

Immediately after, a driver named Yerkov Alexander posted a 1:18.073, putting him second overall.

The pack of drivers behind him were all separated by mere hundredths of a second.

"Why hasn’t Wu Shi set a time yet?" Seth asked, growing anxious.

"Don’t worry. He likes to set his fast lap late in the session."

Louise said, standing beside Martina. She remembered how in his first race in Hua Country, Wu Shi had casually set the fastest lap of the entire field.

"I hope he isn’t too nervous." Seth’s fingers were interlaced, a clear sign of his own anxiety.