Luca pounded his palm against the steering wheel repeatedly as his car rolled to a stop, his heart racing in sync with the thunderous roar of the crowd that filled the air above Bad Rauenburg, Germany.
"Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!" he shouted, his voice reverberating inside his helmet, adrenaline coursing through him as the reality of his finish sank in. The sound of his triumph echoed through the cockpit, a moment of pure, uncontainable joy.
"... what a last-second surge for the third spot on the podium! The Trampos Racing rookie just squeezes in behind Hatcherk's Aaronson and claims third, right after his teammate Hahn! Unbelievable...!"
"...the artistry is something I have never seen, Steve. I must say, I am quite surprised...!"
"...and Trampos Racing will celebrate, won't they, Jon? What a wonderful start to the season with both drivers finishing in the top 3. 18 points for Ansel Hahn and 15 points for Luca Rennick. Don't forget, folks, while the young Italian lad was on a roll, he also gathered 2 extra points for the fastest lap..."
"...so, you're telling me Trampos has 35 points now, Steve...?"
".... exactly! But let's not overlook the reigning champions. Bueseno Velocità Junior Team's Max Addams has emerged with 25 points, while his teammate, Dani Walding, finished 7th, tallying their team's score to 31. That is pretty close, though..."
"...indeed. As the falling pack now makes its way over the grid, we can call it race over for today..."
[Congratulations, host! You have made a podium!]
Luca's heart swelled with joy as he rested his helmeted head against the steering wheel, the ache in his knuckles a small price to pay for the overwhelming sense of accomplishment. His eyes caught the faint glow of his System interface, and there it was, the confirmation he had longed for.
He exhaled shakily, a rush of emotion threatening to overtake him. His breath trembled with the sheer joy of his achievement. Clenching his fists, he screamed internally, "I fucking did it!!"
**Good job, good job. You deserve a hotel room full of women. That was wonderful, you have indeed claimed a spot in this team. I'll make sure Mr. Grant sees to that**
With a surge of energy, Luca pushed himself out of the cockpit. The crowd's roar became an all-consuming wave of sound as he rose, unstrapping his helmet and stepping onto the asphalt. His gaze swept over the cool-down lane, littered with the weary, parked single-seaters of the twenty-eight other drivers who had fought tooth and nail in the race.
"WOOHH OOH! WOOH OHH! WOOOHHHH OOH!"
The atmosphere was electric, buzzing with life as the theme song for that season–"Born to Be Wild" by Steppenwolf–began playing in the background. The grandstands erupted with cheers, chants, and the waving of team flags as fans celebrated, their excitement reverberating through the crisp air.
Luca could see his fellow drivers already out of their cars, removing their helmets and revealing their faces. Some bore expressions of elation or disappointment, while others showed relief that the grueling 1 hour, 20-minute race was finally over.
In the midst of all the faces, Luca's eyes caught Ansel's. The German was waving back to the crowd, pumping his fist in celebration. He had a good reaction for someone who finished 2nd. Locking eyes with Luca in the crowd of single-seaters, the two Trampos Racing drivers walked toward each other with euphoric calm, smiles on their faces.
Dabbing another handshake, they nudged their shoulders again, unable to hear each other's words due to the ear-piercing noise from the grandstands. Luca could tell Ansel was just as happy to see him on the podium as he was to be there himself.
Luca caught the gaze of Miles staring at him, his golden helmet still in his grasp. The disdainful frown on his face was unmistakable after finishing sixth.
Serves you right, Luca sneered inwardly, but he chose not to lock gazes with him. He wanted to savor the moment of his top-three victory.
Moments later, the pit crew from various teams buzzed onto the track, attending to their respective drivers.
Luca spotted Mr. Grant in their team's garage, his proud but stern face framed by a black cap, arms folded as he stared across the asphalt where the racers stood. Mr. Moritz was already running toward them, his face beaming with excitement as his glasses nearly slipped off his nose.
Luca's mind was reeling with joy. The exhilaration felt almost surreal, like a dream he was still waking from. Fans leaned over the barriers, shouting names, waving hats and scarves—anything they could find to capture the moment. Luca noticed two kids beckoning him to come closer, but before he could respond, Moritz grabbed him, pulling him eagerly to the paddock for a congratulatory review.
Celebrations erupted immediately after the race. In motorsport, especially following a Featured Race, it was tradition to honor the top three finishers with a podium ceremony—a quick event where the drivers who had pushed their limits would bask in the glory of the crowd and the flashing lights of television cameras.
The podium was mounted at the end of the track, a towering stage adorned with team logos and shimmering sponsor banners. The massive grandstands loomed behind it, filled with thousands of fans still riding the high of the race. Luca stood off to the side, feeling the weight of the moment sink in as he waited for his name to be called.
"Third place, representing Trampos Racing—LUCA RENNICK!" the announcer's voice boomed through the loudspeakers.
The crowd responded with deafening cheers as Luca took a deep breath and climbed the steps to the podium. His heart was pounding with disbelief. This was his first podium finish, his first real moment in the spotlight. Though it was F2 and not F1, it didn't matter.
Ansel gave him a nod from the right, where he stood in second place. Luca smiled and shifted his gaze to the center of the podium, where Addams stood proudly, raising his arms in victory and waving to the crowd.
He had made it to his first podium, and the world was watching!
Champagne bottles were handed out for the celebration. The crowd swelled their roar as Addams uncorked his, the golden liquid spraying out in a joyful eruption. Luca had no idea how to uncork a bottle himself and wondered how costly they might be. He planned on saving it, but Ansel refused to let him miss out, pleading with an official to help uncork Luca's bottle.
"...and there we have it. First, Bueseno Velocità Junior Team's Max Addams, with Trampos Racing's boys, Ansel Hahn and Luca Rennick claiming second and third, respectively. What a wonderful afternoon here at the Bergwaldring Circuit..."
"...indeed. The celebrations shall continue in Bad Rauenburg, Germany. The next time we have the cars on track will be in Melbourne, Australia. This season's championship is just getting started!"