Chapter 32: Gaining Ground

The weeks in the ART preseason program were flying by, and with each passing day, Henry Calder felt himself growing stronger, faster, and more skilled. The grind was relentless early mornings, long hours in the simulator, intense workouts, and endless debriefs with his team. But Henry was adjusting. The intense training, the strict schedules, the daily tasks the life of an F2 driver was no longer a foreign concept. He had settled into it, and his hard work was paying off.

The first week had been tough, but Henry had survived it. By Week 2, the adjustments had started to feel natural. He woke up earlier than he ever had back in Oklahoma, feeling the weight of the F2 career that had already started. His days were packed with training, meetings, and physical preparation. The days spent racing against his fellow ART drivers on the track were no longer as intimidating.

Henry's relationship with his personal trainer, Marcus, was evolving. The rigorous gym sessions had become part of his routine, and the improvements were noticeable. Henry had gained another pound of muscle, bringing him to a total of 3 pounds gained since he had started. His body fat percentage had dropped even further, now at 16%, and he felt stronger, quicker, and more agile. The stamina drills Marcus put him through were tough, but Henry loved the challenge.

After every workout, Henry made sure to complete his daily tasks, hand-eye coordination drills, reaction time exercises, and mental focus meditation. The rewards from the system were incremental but meaningful, with each completed task earning him valuable attribute points. Every day, he could feel himself improving: his concentration, his reflexes, and his ability to process the track faster. He was slowly becoming the driver he needed to be.

Week 3 brought even more improvements. On the track, Henry was starting to hold his own. He was no longer the driver lagging behind the pack. In fact, he found himself pushing past Matteo Ricci, the cocky Italian driver, and even Damon Steele, the arrogant British racer who had been on ART for two years. Both Matteo and Damon were skilled, but Henry was catching up, slowly closing the gap.

He had worked closely with his race engineer, Laurent, over the past few weeks, making adjustments to his car to improve its handling and responsiveness. Laurent was impressed by how quickly Henry had picked up the technical side of the car setup. Together, they made key changes to the suspension and brake balance, which helped Henry feel more comfortable pushing harder through the corners. Each change brought him closer to unlocking the full potential of the car.

On the track, Henry started to hold his ground during practice sessions. He could now maintain pace with Luca Moretti, the team's main driver who was heading to F1 next season. Luca had been supportive of Henry from the start, offering tips and advice on how to adjust to F2. Unlike Matteo and Damon, Luca was humble, focused, and dedicated to his craft. His professionalism left a lasting impression on Henry.

"I can see you're improving," Luca commented after one practice session where Henry had held his own. "You're starting to look more comfortable out there. But remember, this isn't just about pace. It's about consistency."

Henry nodded, grateful for Luca's encouragement. "I'll keep that in mind. Thanks for the advice."

By the fourth week, Henry was feeling more confident. His times on the track were consistently getting faster, and he had started to develop a rhythm. Laurent had helped him tweak the car setup further, making adjustments to the throttle mapping and the differential. The car was becoming an extension of himself, responding precisely to his inputs.

However, the challenge was far from over. The pressure to outperform the other ART drivers was increasing. Damon and Matteo were still the bullies on the team, constantly trying to assert their dominance in every practice session. Damon, in particular, enjoyed trying to get under Henry's skin.

"You think you can actually compete with us, Calder?" Damon jeered during one of the sessions. "You're just lucky to be here. Don't get too comfortable."

Henry refused to let Damon's taunts get to him. He'd heard it all before his entire life, from the kids back in Oklahoma who doubted his abilities. This wasn't new. Instead of letting the words get to him, Henry focused on his driving, using Damon's arrogance as fuel.

But Matteo was a different beast. He was a quiet kind of bully, constantly using subtle jabs to throw Henry off balance. "You're improving," Matteo admitted after a practice session, his tone cold. "But that's only because you've been following Luca's advice. Don't get too used to it. You won't get far in F2 just by copying someone else."

Henry clenched his fists but didn't respond. He had learned that the best way to silence his critics was to let his results speak for themselves. He wasn't going to let anyone drag him down. He was here to prove himself.

The hard work was paying off. By the end of Week 4, Henry had improved drastically. He was now consistently running in the top five during practice sessions, matching Luca Moretti's pace and even beating Matteo and Damon in some sessions. Henry could see the competitive fire in his teammates' eyes as they pushed harder and harder to maintain their positions.

The system rewarded his consistent effort. Each completed task whether it was in the gym, the simulator, or the car earned him attribute points that boosted his reflexes, stamina, and focus. By the end of Week 4, Henry had gained another +5 to his Driving Skill, +3 to his Stamina, and +2 to his Focus.

The time spent on the track had also allowed him to form a stronger bond with his race engineer Laurent. Laurent had been impressed by Henry's ability to adjust to the car so quickly. "You've got a natural feel for this," Laurent said during one of their debriefs. "It's rare to see someone make this many adjustments in such a short period."

Henry smiled, appreciating the compliment. "I'm just trying to learn as much as I can. The more I know, the better I'll be."

Even though the preseason was demanding, Henry had started to fall into a comfortable routine. Olivia, his personal assistant, had everything organized down to the minute, ensuring that Henry stayed on track with his commitments. Whether it was meetings with sponsors or debriefs with the team, Olivia made sure he never missed a beat.

At night, after completing his daily tasks and exercising, Henry would FaceTime his family back in Oklahoma. His dad, Luke, had been keeping in touch with some potential sponsors, and while nothing had been finalized yet, the interest was there. Henry sent back 80% of his earnings to his family, ensuring they could start living a better life with the financial support he was providing.

But racing was still his number one priority. He was in France to make his mark in F2, and so far, he was on the right track. The road ahead was long, but Henry was ready for it.

As Week 4 came to a close, Henry took a moment to reflect on how far he had come. From the nervous rookie who had barely kept up with the pack, he had become a legitimate contender. He had found his rhythm, adjusted to his team, and, most importantly, had learned that he was capable of more than he had ever thought possible.

But the real test was still ahead of him. The battle for the second seat at ART was coming, and Henry knew he had to keep pushing. His focus was sharper than ever, his body stronger, and his mind more disciplined.

Henry Calder wasn't just here to compete, he was here to win.