Regression - Second Chance At Life Chapter 315: About To Do It

Adam firmly presses the accelerator, the engine roaring to life. Even at a standstill, his heightened senses detect the subtle alterations made to the vehicle. With the signal to proceed, he shifts into drive and maneuvers the car out of the bay with precision, entering the pit lane.

"Okay, good. Let’s start slow, take your time, drive around the track with controlled speed, and get yourself familiar with it," Dante’s voice instructs him through the earpiece.

"Got it," Adam replies, complying with the directive. He takes his time, cruising the circuit at a comfortable velocity.

He accelerates slightly on the initial straight but refrains from going full throttle, as there’s no advantage to it with the new tires still cold. His plan is to complete several controlled laps before aiming for a record time.

As Adam navigates the circuit, the mental map he constructed within his mind sharpens with remarkable clarity. He visualizes the ideal entry angles, the precise speed needed to hit the apex, and the optimal exit trajectory, his mind rapidly calculating every conceivable outcome for each turn.

Dante and the assembled team, observing Adam’s performance, realize he is far from the novice they initially assumed. Having been immersed in this sport for years, they’ve witnessed the driving prowess of the elite. It’s evident to them that Adam possesses considerable experience, judging by his deft control of the car around the track.

Even without pushing the vehicle to its absolute limits, his speed is impressive, and his cornering technique is remarkably precise.

"This might not go as badly as I thought," Dante remarks, his gaze fixed on the screen displaying a bird’s-eye view of Adam’s car.

After an eight-minute drive, Adam completes his first lap, a testament to the circuit's considerable length. This track is typically used for demanding endurance races.

For shorter racing formats, such as those involving single-seater open-wheel cars, a separate, more compact track exists, inaccessible to the public and reserved solely for professional competitions.

The engineering crew emerges as Adam brings his car to a halt, allowing them to thoroughly inspect its condition. Adam, meanwhile, sits relaxed in the cockpit, drumming his fingers rhythmically on the steering wheel.

Dante, however, observes the Stratosurge with a furrowed brow. Adam’s initial lap time exceeded eight minutes. While not breaking any existing records, it was still an exceptional performance.

No amateur could achieve such a time on their debut attempt, yet Adam did. Dante had witnessed Adam’s driving firsthand: minimal wasted motion, near-flawless execution through the turns.

Having observed professionals on this very track for over a decade, Dante possesses an intimate understanding of every corner and the optimal lines for entry and exit. Comparing it to Adam’s driving, he felt as though he was watching a seasoned professional at the wheel.

"Kid, is this really your first time driving here?" Dante inquires, his conviction solidifying. There's no room for doubt that Adam is an extraordinary talent; such a performance couldn't be attributed to mere chance.

A single corner, perhaps, or even two, might be explained by luck, but flawlessly navigating three corners is nearly impossible. Adam's consistent execution indicated exceptional skill, making his overall performance truly remarkable.

In Dante’s assessment, the only logical explanation was that Adam had prior experience on this circuit.

"Yes, it’s my first time," Adam confirms.

Dante finds himself momentarily speechless.

"Okay, you can continue; the car’s in optimal condition," he says, granting Adam the signal to proceed once more.

Adam accelerates again, this time with increased speed. He surges down the straight before braking, attacking the next corner with near-perfect precision for both entry and exit.

He then guides the car through several long sweeping turns, a brief straight, a sharp hairpin, followed by another lengthy straight. Subsequently, a demanding zig-zag section follows, designed to sap a car’s momentum. Navigating it successfully requires slow speeds and absolute control, a skill Adam demonstrates with remarkable finesse.

Emerging from the zig-zag, Adam is met with another straight, which he devours, followed by a series of curves – a long bend and another sharp, snaking section.

The track continues to present its challenges, interspersed with rewarding long straights where drivers can unleash their cars' full potential.

As Adam approaches the finish line for his second lap, Dante glances at the lap timer, his eyes widening as he realizes Adam has shaved off over thirty seconds from his previous time.

The astonishment isn't limited to Dante; the other team members share his disbelief at Adam's rapidly improving performance.

On his second lap, Adam achieved a time of 7:58:29.

"How was that?" Adam inquired.

"Good," was all Dante could respond with.

Adam needed to shave off 40 seconds to break into the top ten fastest laps ever recorded on the Eylendra Apex Circuit by a commercial vehicle.

"Adam! You're so close, man, you just did a seven-minute fifty-eight-second lap; you only need to shave off another forty seconds!!" Danny exclaimed through the intercom, his excitement palpable and his belief in Adam growing.

"Got it," Adam replied.

"You can continue," Dante granted permission again. Upon hearing this, Adam smirked, detecting a hint of uncertainty in Dante’s tone.

Adam resumed driving, experiencing a significantly improved control over the car as the tires warmed up, achieving the intended grip on the track.

He accelerated, navigating corners with near-perfect precision and surging through the straightaways. Adam could feel the engine roar to life every time he unleashed its full potential.

The power generated was immense; as he sped through the straights, Adam felt his back pressed firmly against the seat due to the intense g-force.

Adam reveled in the thrill of driving faster than ever before. This was the quickest he had pushed this particular car, yet he was still holding back, hesitant to go all out without knowing the car's true limits.

At these extreme velocities, numerous forces worked against the vehicle: friction, air resistance, g-force, and many other factors. Adam possessed the sense not to push the car to its absolute threshold during his initial few attempts.

Understanding the track itself was crucial for that knowledge, and with each passing lap, he was getting closer.

Adam completed his third lap, bringing the car to a halt directly before the engineering team, who stood observing the Stratosurge with rapt attention.

Adam could discern Dante’s heavy, measured breaths through the intercom.

Dante's gaze was fixed on the lap timer. Adam had managed to shave off an additional thirty seconds from his previous lap time.

This was astonishingly good; shaving off even a second or two was considered a significant achievement, but reducing the lap time by a full thirty seconds on each successive lap was simply monstrous.

"Dude!! Just ten more seconds, ten more seconds, and we'll be in the top ten, baby!!!" Danny shouted, his excitement evident through the intercom.

"Well, let's do it then," Adam responded, a confident smile playing on his lips beneath the helmet.

Danny glanced at Dante. "Go on, give him the green signal!" he urged.

"Y-yes..." Dante stammered slightly, but then pushed through, driven by a shared desire to witness Adam's potential.

Adam could have potentially reached his limit already; as he neared the record, shaving off more time would become exponentially more difficult.

"You can continue," Dante stated.

Adam floored the accelerator, pushing the engine to its redline. The moment he released the clutch, the tires spun ferociously, initially struggling for grip, but once they caught, the car launched forward like a projectile.

Moving with unprecedented speed, Adam began to cautiously explore the car’s capabilities, driving exceptionally fast with no intention of decelerating.

Witnessing this, Dante and the team grew slightly uneasy as Adam’s entry angle appeared excessively rapid. However, they were unaware that Adam had already meticulously calculated every variable in his mind.

His perception and processing of the world surpassed that of anyone else; he instinctively knew when and how much to decelerate.

And when the moment was right, he applied the brakes, smoothly reducing speed and executing a flawless turn, attacking the apex with professional precision.

Like a seasoned veteran, Adam navigated the twists and turns with remarkable fluidity, as if he had performed the maneuver countless times. Most of his cornering and exit trajectories were perfect, and for the straight sections, all credit was due to the car and its extraordinary power output.

Adam observed the world blurring past at incredible speeds, yet his forward vision remained exceptionally clear. Not a trace of pressure or nervousness existed within him, only pure excitement as he continued to test the car's boundaries.