Sukhman was racing in the Rhine Grand Prix, Germany. His hands gripping the steering wheel with firm precision. The roar of the engines filled the air, a deafening symphony of speed and power. The track stretched ahead, winding through the final sector, the grandstands flashing by in a blur. Every nerve in his body was alive with adrenaline, his pulse hammering in sync with the high-pitched whine of the turbocharged engine.
Final lap.
He was in fourth place, with a 3.673-minute advantage over the car behind him. It was a solid position, but the podium was within reach. He had pushed himself and his car to the limit, fighting tooth and nail to stay in contention. One more overtake. Just one more, and he'd be on the podium.
Up ahead, the driver in third place was aggressively defending his position. Sukhman studied his movements, analyzing every subtle shift in trajectory. His opponent was fast, but there was a problem—his tires were worn out. In the previous lap, Sukhman had noticed him struggling for grip in the corners.
Then, it happened.
The third-place driver miscalculated the final turn, carrying too much speed into the corner. His rear tires lost traction, and his car drifted wide, skidding dangerously close to the track limits.
Sukhman's instincts screamed at him—this was his chance!
With a quick flick of the wheel, he dived into the inside line, aiming to slip past before the other driver could recover. The gap was there. He had the perfect racing line. His tires gripped the asphalt as he accelerated through the turn, his heart pounding like a war drum.
But then—a flash of blue flames.
The driver ahead, in a desperate move, activated his nitro boost.
The sudden surge of speed sent his car lunging forward like a missile, his rear tires leaving streaks of rubber on the track. It happened in an instant—the two cars collided, metal slamming against metal in a brutal impact.
Sukhman barely had time to react. The force of the hit jerked his steering wheel violently. His car lurched sideways, rear tires lifting slightly off the ground. The world spun out of control.
His vision blurred as the car flipped.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
The deafening screech of tearing carbon fiber and shattering glass filled his ears. Sparks erupted as the car scraped against the asphalt. Gravity twisted and warped around him, turning the cockpit into a tumbling vortex.
Everything was chaos.
Then, suddenly—darkness.
A suffocating void swallowed everything. No sound. No movement. Just an eerie, absolute silence.
And then—
Sukhman's eyes snapped open.
His chest rose and fell rapidly, sweat trickling down his forehead. His bedsheets were tangled around him. His breath came in ragged gasps.
His mind struggled to separate dream from reality.
Then, as he slowly regained his senses, a whisper escaped his lips:
"Oh! Oh… This… was a nightmare?"
Sukhman gasped, bolting upright in his bed. His body was drenched in sweat, his heart hammering in his chest. He frantically looked around, trying to grasp reality.
"Oh! Oh. This... was a nightmare?" he muttered to himself, rubbing his temples. His breathing was still ragged, but the weight of the dream began to fade as he glanced at the clock.
6:00 AM.
He swung his legs over the bed and sat there for a moment. The dream felt so real, so intense. His subconscious was telling him something. Maybe it was fear. Maybe it was a warning. Either way, he knew what he had to do.
He had to become stronger. Smarter. Faster.
Sukhman reached for the schedule that Nandini had handed him the previous day. He could still hear her voice echoing in his mind.
"Look, Sukhman, if you want to be a better racer, more importantly, a better sportsman, then you have to be disciplined. This is your first step to that."
He clenched his fists.
"Yeah, I want to be a good racer."
With renewed determination, he grabbed his workout clothes and made his way to the gym section.
---
Sukhman's Daily Training Routine:
6:30 AM – 8:00 AM: Gym Session
Warm-up stretches
Cardio (Treadmill, cycling)
Strength training (focus on core and neck muscles for better endurance and control in races)
Reaction training (light reflex drills)
8:30 AM: Breakfast
High-protein diet (Eggs, toast, yogurt, and fruit)
Hydration focus
9:00 AM – 11:00 AM: Racing Theory & Tactics Learning
Reviewing race strategies with the team
Studying past race footages
Analyzing rival teams and their strengths/weaknesses
Learning track-specific driving techniques
11:30 AM – 1:00 PM: Drive Simulation Practice
Practicing turns, acceleration, and braking techniques
Handling wet track conditions
Improving lap times
1:30 PM: Lunch
Balanced meal with proteins, carbs, and healthy fats
2:30 PM – 4:00 PM: Circuit Practice (Kart Racing)
Physical endurance test
Navigating technical corners at high speeds
Competing against teammates for lap improvements
5:00 PM – 6:30 PM: Recovery & Feedback Session
Ice bath and stretching exercises
One-on-one discussion with the coach
Reviewing mistakes and improvements
7:00 PM: Dinner
Lean proteins and vegetables
8:00 PM – 9:30 PM: Mental Training
Visualization techniques
Learning how to maintain composure under pressure
Reviewing personal progress and setting goals
10:00 PM: Lights out & Rest
"Well this is heck of a training routine." Sukhman mumbles.
---
Training Day Begins
As Sukhman entered the gym, he saw a familiar face—Yudhvir Shikre. The team's lead driver was already breaking a sweat, working on his core training.
"Good to see you up early," Yudhvir said, giving a nod. "This is where it all starts, brother. No shortcuts."
Sukhman joined him and began his own warm-up routine. Yudhvir occasionally guided him through different exercises, emphasizing the importance of reflexes and stamina in high-speed racing.
"Neck muscles are crucial," Yudhvir explained. "In an F1 car, the G-forces are brutal. If your neck gives out, you lose control. That's why we train hard."
After an intense gym session, Sukhman moved on to the racing theory session. The team's coach and tactician, Arne Schultz, was waiting for him. Arne was a no-nonsense, grizzled old man, a former Swiss racer with decades of experience.
"Sit down, rookie," Arne said gruffly. "We're going to test your brain now."
Arne threw various racing scenarios at Sukhman, forcing him to think on his feet.
"You're in a wet track scenario. Your tires are Mediums. The driver ahead of you is struggling in corners. Do you attack now, or wait for DRS on the next straight?"
Sukhman hesitated for a moment before asking, "Sir, what is DRS?"
Arne raised an eyebrow but answered without hesitation. "DRS—Drag Reduction System. It's a system that allows you to open a flap on your rear wing in designated zones on the track. It reduces drag and gives you extra speed, but you can only use it if you're within one second of the car ahead."
Sukhman nodded, processing the information. "So… in this scenario, I should wait for DRS?"
Arne smirked. "That's right. If you attack now, you risk wheelspin and losing control. But if you wait for DRS on the straight, you'll have a cleaner, faster overtake. Good to see you're willing to learn."
Throughout the session, Arne drilled Sukhman on tire management, overtaking techniques, and defensive driving. Every answer, every hesitation, was scrutinized.
By noon, it was time for drive simulation practice. Sitting inside the simulator, Sukhman gripped the wheel as the virtual circuit loaded on the screen. He could feel the resistance, the bumps, the weight transfer. It was as close to real racing as it could get.
After lunch, the real challenge awaited—kart racing at the circuit.
As soon as Sukhman sat inside the kart, he felt the tension. The previous day's race had given him a taste, but today, he wanted to push himself further. The circuit was tight, filled with tricky corners that demanded precision.
The race began. The first few laps were rough. His acceleration was good, but at high speeds, he still struggled to control the turns efficiently. His kart slid too much in tight corners. His braking wasn't as smooth as it should have been.
"Relax, Sukhman," he muttered to himself. "Feel the track."
He started adjusting his approach. He braked earlier before turns, allowing the kart to glide smoothly instead of jerking through corners. His reflexes sharpened. He started gaining on the others.
On the final lap, he was in fourth place. A competitor ahead of him made a slight miscalculation in the hairpin turn, and Sukhman saw his opening. He maneuvered his kart perfectly, taking the inside line and pushing into third place just as they crossed the finish line.
P3.
He took off his helmet, panting. It wasn't a victory, but it was progress.
Arne walked over and patted his shoulder. "Not bad, rookie. But remember, consistency wins championships. One good lap means nothing if you can't repeat it every time."
Sukhman nodded, a determined fire burning in his eyes.
Tomorrow, he would be better.
Tomorrow, he would be faster.