Keep Going Crazy Chapter 23

The weather was good.

Aiden was feeling the incredible Shanghai wind with his entire body.

— The start is excellent, Carter! It seems no one will be able to follow Carter’s start this year either. The reaction time is very impressive.

— I agree. I mentioned it in the pre-race interview as well. He says he trains reaction time for a very long time.

— It seems to be worth it. Oh, speaking of which, he’s putting the pressure on Jamie Hawkins!

— He started from P2, but from the very first corner, he’s clearly putting Hawkins on the back foot. Hawkins is also giving no ground and focusing all his efforts on defending his line.

— Helix’s car balance looks very good this year. You could say the team has brought the setup in properly.

His hands gripping the steering wheel felt light. He had qualified in 2nd place, but that didn’t matter. He had full confidence that he could overtake at any time.

Just before entering a sharp corner, Aiden took a deep breath. His entire body shook. But without paying it any mind, holding his breath, Aiden aimed for the inside of the corner. Several wheel-to-wheel battles with the defending Jamie had already unfolded.

Feeling the minute vibrations of the steering wheel and the thrum of the engine, Aiden heightened his focus. Braking points, precise lines, the weaknesses of Jamie ahead, the distance to Valkyrion’s driver Lucas behind him—all calculations were made in an instant. It was a calculation close to instinct.

A total of 56 laps to go. He judged that within that, he could overtake Jamie and move up.

— Meridian’s Jamie Hawkins and Helix’s Aiden Carter are putting on a very close battle!

— Both drivers seem to have no intention of yielding.

— Yielding? What an inappropriate word.

— Haha, I suppose I momentarily forgot this is Formula One.

— Hawkins and Carter, having been teammates before, know each other’s styles inside out.

— Exactly. If I defend this line, he’ll attack here; if I defend here, he’ll come in there. You could say they’re in a relationship where they can predict that much.

— How well will he nail that timing, oh! At the same time as I speak, number 14! Carter attempts an overtake at the hairpin corner!

— He succeeded with an inside line pass. It seems Carter gritted his teeth and pushed hard for this one moment.

— Oh, oh, Hawkins defends his line again! When this kind of push-and-pull race continues, it gets really exciting.

— Carter quickly pushes ahead on the straight! Wow~ This Helix car is truly incredible this year. It seems no team can keep up on the straights.

— Hawkins defended really well too, but he’s being pushed back a bit by Carter’s move. Still, there’s still a chance. It’s only a 1.2-second gap.

— Both drivers’ race management is excellent. This is why Meridian sent a love call to Jamie Hawkins. He’s a very composed driver.

— Given the characteristics of the Shanghai circuit, tire management is really important, so each team’s tire strategy is also a key spectator point to watch closely.

His vision was clear. Aiden pressed the pedal without hesitation. He felt the pressure from Jamie sticking close behind, but this pressure would disappear within 10 laps. He had that grounded confidence.

His tires scraped the asphalt. If he failed to defend his line, a counterattack would come immediately. Aiden pushed himself fiercely, and even more sharply, taking his lines.

With every corner he took, he devoted all his attention and strove to draw the perfect line.

— Pace is good. 1.5 seconds from Jamie.

Information came through the team radio. Aiden replied confidently.

“I can extend it further at the next corner.”

— How are the tires?

“Good. They’ll hold up fine.”

— Then let’s push.

“Copy.”

This year, Helix had brought an incredible car. A car that wouldn’t be overstating to call a supercar. He’d always had good chemistry with Helix, but this year it felt like even the subtle parts he’d regrettably felt last year had all been filled in.

It was like he had grown wings.

When you’re speeding past 320 km/h, there are moments you feel like you’re flying. When no other cars are in sight and only the vast track fills your vision, Aiden felt like he was flying.

At times like that, it felt as if time had stopped. All he could hear were his own breath and the engine sound. He had the illusion of racing alone across this wide circuit. It felt like a vacuum where even the G-forces couldn’t be felt. He just drove and drove.

Like a scene from a sci-fi movie, he floated slowly through the air. For this eternal instant, Aiden pressed the pedal.

— The gap is growing!

— 5.8 seconds from Jamie Hawkins! Entering lap 53. It seems no one can stop Carter now.

— An unrivaled pace! Aiden Carter seems to trust the car completely. The pit stop strategy was also excellent.

— Tire management is also superb. He completed the change with almost perfect timing.

— It seems too late for Hawkins to catch up. Aiden Carter’s concentration isn’t wavering at all! Ah~ Is this what makes a world champion’s caliber?

— The record is excellent! He achieves the fastest lap!

— 6.1 seconds from 2nd place! He’s speeding like a rocket.

— In the early stages, when he was battling Jamie Hawkins at every corner and braking point, it really made my heart pound.

— After grabbing the lead by a very small margin, he quickly widened the gap. That’s Aiden Carter’s ability. Once he pushes, he never stops.

— Final lap! Carter is still charging!

As he entered the final lap, the team radio came through to Aiden’s ears.

— Perfect. Keep the pedal down all the way.

“…Ryeoun?”

— What?

— At Aiden’s sudden question, the engineer let out a flustered sound. But Aiden didn’t mind and asked again.

“What position is Ryeoun in?”

In today’s race, Ryeoun started from P7. He was curious whether he was in the points by now. There was no one in front of him anyway, and Jamie couldn’t catch up. Right now, Ryeoun’s position was more important.

After a moment’s hesitation, the engineer replied.

— He’s currently in P6, and Lucas fell to 5th. It’s the final lap, but he’s attempting to overtake.

“Copy.”

His mouth corners curled up involuntarily. The accident-prone brat seemed like he’d bring home points today. Aiden drove on without obstruction.

— The checkered flag is in sight! Aiden, crossing the line without hesitation!!!

— He’s done it again. He takes the win at the Shanghai Grand Prix once more!

— He clinches the win with the fastest lap. It seems Helix has given Aiden Carter wings.

Aiden raised one hand and waved to the spectators. Slowly reducing speed, he savored the leisurely moment.

The moment the checkered flag came into view, having no other cars ahead was the best reward. The feeling of his constricted breath easing came before the joy of victory.

Letting out a deep breath, Aiden conveyed his feelings through the team radio.

“Perfect. Feels like I’ve been to space.”

— Haha! That was flawless, Aiden. Our ace.

Sometimes team members called Aiden the ace. It was a precious nickname he could only hear when he crossed the finish line in first place.

Laughing softly, Aiden slowly completed his cool-down lap. Cooling the tires and lowering the temperature.

Thanks to the minute differences created by the meshing of his race car and himself, he was able to hold the winner’s trophy. Aiden savored this moment fully.

Just then, with a crackling sound, the team radio came through.

— Hey, ace.

“Yeah.”

— Rey crossed in 6th. Added 8 points!

“….”

— Thought you might be curious.

“Thanks.”

Aiden reduced speed and slowly entered the pit. He stopped the car in front of the board with the number ‘1’.

Jumping out of the car, Aiden roughly tossed off his helmet. Sweat-soaked golden hair scattered in the air.

Aiden ran toward his team members and threw himself at them. The team members, laughing, gladly caught Aiden’s large frame.

“Congratulations, Aiden!”

“As expected of our ace! Great work!”

The director, Rowan, let out a groan.

“I’m old now…. Please leave me out of performances like this.”

Laughter burst out all around at that.

Camera flashes and ear-splitting cheers, and in the midst of it all, surrounded by everyone, Aiden Carter smiled so brightly that his eyes were nearly invisible.

With his teammate’s points added as well, it was a perfect Grand Prix ending.