February 19, 2015, Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
It marked the pivotal first day of testing for the Caterham team—the moment of truth when the team and its drivers would unravel the true capabilities of their car. Having skipped the initial Jerez test three weeks earlier, not due to the car's unreadiness but rather driving the 2014-spec car with minor upgrades, they had the potential for testing. However, the obstacle at that time was the absence of drivers, a hurdle now overcome.
The hour had arrived for the grand media debut—an unveiling of the car, drivers, engineers, pit crew, and the entire staff.
They had orchestrated an air of secrecy since arriving the evening before, not to conceal the car from the rest of the paddock; instead, they aimed to surprise the world with their innovative team setup.
Of course, not everything could be shrouded in secrecy, like the vibrant new paint scheme visible on transport trucks and staff clothing. Maintaining the dark green base, they introduced yellow accents all around, enhancing the color scheme's visual appeal. While pictures of the staff were being taken, there was a conspicuous absence of the drivers and Marcus.
In a luxurious room at the Hilton Hotel near the circuit, a phone alarm pierced the silence. Grumbling, a man rose from his bed, silenced the alarm, and checked the time—04:30. With 45 minutes to get to the track, he suppressed a yawn. Not wasting a moment, he took a brisk shower and stood before the mirror to shave his morning stubble. The reflection portrayed Marcus Kennedy, a young man in his prime with dark brown eyes, auburn hair, and a handsome face standing at about 5 feet 11 inches. Bags under his eyes revealed the toll of weeks spent in relentless preparation. Determination and excitement gradually etched across his face.
Ready for the day, he made his way to the track, set to officially present himself as the team owner to the world for the first time. The pressure now surpassed that of being a mere driver; every word and action would impact the team—positively or negatively. Fortunately, they had devised a plan to maximize media attention, vital for attracting new sponsors, as their current sponsorship from a small clothing brand covered only the first quarter of the season.
"Should have taken the chance to sign a full-season deal," Marcus mused while walking to the gate granting access to the track. Showing his keycard, he was waved through without much ado. "After today, we should receive a lot of calls," he concluded with a confident smile. Walking with a spring in his step that betrayed his excitement, he arrived at the team truck, where the Team Principal, the Technical Director, and his two new drivers were already waiting.
He greeted them all with a warm smile. "Manfredi, Mark, Suzie, Johnny. Did you all have a good night's sleep?"
Responses were similar, with nervousness and excitement palpable.
"I hardly had any sleep. I was far too nervous. Not being able to tell anyone wasn't really helpful, you know," Johnny replied, a hint of resentment in his voice. However, his excitement was evident. Just a few months ago, he was racing alongside Marcus on the GP2 grid; now, he stood as one of his drivers.
"It will all be worth it when the name Johnny Cecotto and F1 are called together after today. Mark my words," Manfredi replied, a smile evident in his voice.
"Just don't wreck the car, and you'll do fine."
"How was your evening, Suzie? Ready to make some headlines?" Marcus asked, focusing on the only female in the room.
"I can hardly believe it's actually happening," she replied. "I have been working for this all my life, never expecting it to actually happen. And suddenly, you pop up with an offer to drive your car. I couldn't even believe you really bought the team. Not going to complain, though. You're giving me a one-in-a-million opportunity, and for that, I'm grateful. Are you sure this media campaign is going to work, though? I would not be the first-ever female driver in F1, so I think the buzz will be minor."
"You sell yourself short, Suzie. You will be the first female driver to race in this current generation of F1. You will help us tap into a whole new demographic of viewers. Mark my word. The name Suzie Wolf will be as recognizable as the world champion Lewis Hamilton by the end of the season," Marcus asserted confidently. It was evident that this was part of his strategic plan—a female driver in the current era of F1, where gender equality is an increasingly prominent topic.
They anticipated sponsors throwing money at them. Since the car was expected to be slower, they needed commentators to have a reason to talk about them, and having Suzie in the team served as more than enough reason.
Marcus nodded approvingly at Mark Smith, his Technical Director, who had been working diligently in the past few weeks, ensuring the car's parts were race-worthy in record time. This earned Mark a thumbs up in Marcus's book.
"Ready to get this show on the road?" Marcus asked, receiving confirming nods from all. He pointed to the exit of the team vehicle.
"Let's go then. Time to shake things up again!"