Apex Ch 03

AN - This chapter is going to cover Mark's final step before I start his Formula One journey from Chapter Four. It is the last chapter in this category.

Australian / British standard English. There is a good chance of reading the following: lots of profanity, characters drinking, typos, and bad grammar at times.

Proofreading and editing suggestions provided by OhDave1. Any mistakes are still mine.

Comments are appreciated as always.

Feedback by email is always welcome. Enjoy chatting with anyone who likes my work.

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One final step to conquer before the big time.

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I was on the way to Silverstone with my mother in early January. I had a meeting organised with Eddie Jordan. He was an Irishman who ran a somewhat successful Formula Two team, and Jordan had based his team right next to the circuit at Silverstone. He had called me before Christmas enquiring as to who I would be driving with next season. Admitting that I had made contact with a few teams though hadn't made up my mind, he almost insisted that I come and see him first thing in January.

I'll say one thing about Eddie. He could talk the talk. He was incredibly persuasive, showing me around his small factory. He was also rather honest in that he had already signed Jean Alesi for the upcoming season. Alesi would be entering his second season in Formula Two and was already considered one of the favourites for the title. Alesi would have sponsorship from Camel, Jordan showing me one of the Reynard's already painted yellow with the Camel name and logo prominent on the rear wing and sidepods.

"Of course, given that you will be bringing Martini sponsorship with you, your car will be painted white and will almost be a replica of the Minardi," Eddie explained.

"I'm guessing Giancarlo has been in touch with you?"

Eddie gave me a look and smirked. "He's been shopping you out to the top teams, Mark." Mum and I followed him to his office where we discussed details. We eventually came to the most important points, at least in my mind. "Jean will be our number one driver this season, Mark. I've signed him and his extensive Camel sponsorship under the agreement that he is number one though with the expectation that he will win the championship. Given that you're a rookie, the expectation from Giancarlo and your sponsor is that this is a learning year. Next season, I will write in the contract that you are guaranteed the number one driver spot."

"And Jean?" I had to ask.

"If he doesn't win the title, then Camel will withdraw some of their funding and he will likely have to find another seat on the Formula Two grid. That's just the harsh reality sometimes. Young drivers have expectations on their shoulders and are expected to deliver. And we have those same expectations. Funding a Formula Two team isn't easy. I have bills to pay, staff to pay, and my own sponsors to satisfy."

"What would be my expectations for my first season?"

"Don't crash my cars too often would be a good start. Personally, I'd like to see you challenging for the podium rather quickly, and I've seen enough of your Formula Three performances to expect you to be challenging for wins by the end of the season. Jean is a bloody quick driver, particularly over one lap, so if I were to see my two cars up the front more often than not, consider me impressed and very happy."

I turned to Mum. "I guess signing with Eddie instead of a European team would cut down on all the travel." I looked back at Eddie. "And I know you've run a successful team in both Formula Three and Formula Two in the recent past."

"Formula Two was a tough nut to crack, but once I had the right drivers in my cars, we've managed to take some wins each season. Still have not won that coveted title though. That's what I want with Jean this year."

"When would you like an answer?" Mum asked.

"Testing begins in March for the season to start at the beginning of April. I'd say no later than the end of this month so we can start to organise everything throughout February. Most of our testing will be in southern Europe as the weather is shit around here in March."

I looked at Mum first and we exchanged a knowing look before I returned my eyes to Eddie. "I reckon I can let you know within a week. Just let me look at the particulars of the contract and have a chat with Giancarlo."

We stood up and shook hands, Eddie leading us to the main door of his factory before I led Mum to our car. Holding hands as I drove us down the motorway back to London, we discussed the contract and I admitted that I was ready to sign immediately. When Mum asked why, I said that I had the sponsorship lined up, and that joining Eddie's team would be a wise decision.

"What about having Alesi as a teammate?"

"He's French-Sicilian. He's probably got the fiery Latin temperament. Blisteringly fast but capable of throwing it all away from time to time."

Mum leaned over and kissed my cheek. "Well, I think you could beat him once you have some experience, but I think Eddie is right. Use your first season as a learning experience and then dominate them the season after."

In the end, I called Eddie three days later to discuss signing the contract. After going over a few minor details, I signed everything, scanned it onto the computer and emailed it across to him. I then let Giancarlo know that I'd signed the contract. He was delighted to hear the news and promised me that I would hear from him soon about doing some in-season testing for the Formula One team. The good news is that the season wouldn't be as hectic. There is a practice and then a qualifying session on Saturday before the race on Sunday. The races were longer than a Formula Three race though shorter than a Formula One Grand Prix.

With two months until testing, it was all systems go in preparing myself for the step up in class. The cars were faster. Higher g-forces. Intense pressure. I still had to do nearly everything myself though Mum was a cheerleader. Unfortunately, Adriana had returned to Italy as she had come with me to the gym quite often to work out herself. With each passing week, I felt my body growing stronger, particularly my neck. I knew that was critical for when I joined the Formula One grid.

Formula Two isn't a spec-series. There were numerous chassis available, and more than one engine supplier. Jordan Racing used a Reynard chassis and was powered by a BMW engine. Toleman Racing constructed their own chassis. Ralt had their own team and chassis though sold it to others. Same with Lola and March in that they supplied chassis to customers and ran their own teams. AGS was a French manufacturer and ran their own team. Confusingly, there is also Martini Racing, a French concern that built neat little cars.

The series is ultra-competitive. For some, it is simply a stepping stone into the big time that is Formula One. For others, they almost know they will never make the step up and make a career of being in Formula Two. It's not as highly paid, the races are generally not broadcast live outside of the host nation, and some of the quality can be poor, but the top ten to twelve drivers are all capable of making the step should they choose or be offered a contract.

"Are you sure you want me to come, baby?" Mum asked a couple of days before we were due to fly out to Italy.

I gave her a look and she giggled. "Mum, plenty of parents are there to support their children, even those much older than me. Granted, the difference would be that I would assume that none of them are involved with their parents."

Mum got up from her armchair to snuggle against me on the couch. "I'm still sore after this afternoon, baby," she whispered, "You were a stallion. I think your cock barely went soft after climaxing in me twice."

"You're totally fucking hot, Mum. I'm a walking bloody erection when I'm around you."

"I know. It makes me feel so hot and sexy."

"You are hot and sexy."

"Candice got in touch with me earlier. She's still coming for the summer again though she's unsure about having fun this time."

"Even if she doesn't, I'm looking forward to seeing my big sister again."

Christmas had actually been fantastic even though it was only the two of us. We stuffed ourselves with food, enjoyed more than a tipple of alcohol, and as Mum took time off from work from Christmas Eve until after New Year's Day, we spent plenty of time naked and fooling around the apartment. The neighbours probably thought we were both sex addicts given we seemed to be constantly making love and fucking each other senseless.

The night before we were due to fly out to Rimini as testing would take place at Misano, Mum was eager to make love as usual. As I watched her happily bounce up and down on my cock, I ran my hands up and down her body, spending a lot of time fondling her breasts. Mum loved the attention, eventually leaning down so I could use my mouth on her nipples.

"That's it, baby," she moaned softly, "Suckle at Mummy's tits again."

I couldn't help chuckling at her comment. "You say that while you're riding my dick, Mum."

"I know. That's what makes it so hot. If only I could produce milk again..."

I met her eyes and there was the same unconditional love. "Imagine if you carried my child..." Mum stopped immediately, her eyes glistening as her lower lip trembled. I knew that I'd said the wrong thing, pulling her to my chest as I heard her sniffle a couple of times. "Sorry, Mum..."

"Don't be sorry, baby. I do think about it too. Nearly every day," she admitted, "But the dangers of doing something like that. It's why I'm so careful with my birth control."

Rolling her over onto her back, Mum wrapped her legs around me as we resumed kissing and moving together. Our mouths eventually parted as we needed to catch our breath, Mum urging and begging me to keep going. When I finally came inside her, ensuring Mum had already enjoyed more than one orgasm herself, I felt her fingers dig into my back and legs wrap tighter around me.

"Swear to God that I just felt all your cum enter my womb, baby," she moaned into my ear, "You're going to give me grandbabies, aren't you?"

"When I'm a little older," I replied.

"The day you tell me that I'll be a grandmother, I might have to tell your girlfriend or wife at the time that I really need to fuck you as a way to thank you for that."

As I gently thrust again, earning a smile, I had to ask, "Are you going to miss that feeling of me climaxing inside you?"

"I will, but making love to a woman is different to a man anyway."

"I will miss this, Mum. Being this close to you."

"I know, baby. I'll miss it too. But we'll remain as close as ever, just without the sex."

Mum was all smiles as we wandered around Gatwick Airport before our flight to Rimini. Holding my hand nearly the entire time, snuggling into my side as we strolled along, more than one person mentioned that we looked like a very happy couple even though the age difference between us was obvious.

I knew Mum would likely want to take advantage of the better weather in Italy. Unfortunately, Mum learned that although the weather would be better than what we could expect in England, most days still only reached the high teens or very low twenties Celsius. Not really warm enough for a spot of lazing about on the beach. As for me, I threw myself into testing almost immediately. I met with Eddie and the mechanics at the hotel and met with Jean Alesi over dinner that evening. He was rather young himself, exceedingly polite and almost shy in a way. He spoke English, French and Italian fluently and was rather pleased when we could speak Italian to each other.

Misano isn't a particularly old circuit, but like nearly every track in Italy, it is fast. Turns one and three require braking, with turn two a fast right-hand kink between one and three. From turn three, turns four, five and six are all left-handers and taken almost flat out with a long straight between turns six and seven, which requires some heavy braking. Turn eight is to the right and sort of a hairpin, with turns nine, ten and eleven leading back onto the front straight. A good lap time is in the region of under seventy seconds.

The first day of testing was all about learning the car. It wasn't particularly more advanced than a Formula Three car, and having tested a Formula One car, the only similarities would be the use of minor ground effects. There was no radio in Formula Two, and despite the selection of chassis and engine available, only one tyre supplier.

Alesi immediately put a marker down as he ended the first day fastest of all the drivers present. There were quite a few competitive teams and drivers, and I was barely in the top ten by the end of the first day. Back in the motorhome once the chequered flag was thrown to end the day, we pored over the data for a couple of hours before it was time to return to the hotel in Rimini.

The next two days of testing were all about getting up to speed. I did have more than one spin or 'off' though didn't put the car in the barriers and cause any damage. More damage to my pride than anything else. Alesi continued to be at or near the top of the timing sheet with other names challenging such as Brian Henton, Derek Warwick, Jean-Pierre Jarier, Roberto Moreno and Philippe Streiff. By the end of day three, I was in the top six though still trailing Alesi by a few tenths of a second.

"Don't worry about it too much, Mark," Eddie assured me in private before returning to the hotel, "We have at least two more test sessions before the first race at Hockenheim. And given that you've raced on most of these circuits before, you'll find your feet quickly enough."

"I did okay?"

He clasped my shoulder and grinned. "You did fine, Mark. The most important thing is that didn't put one of my cars in the barriers. Most team owners and managers don't mind seeing their drivers spinning off if they're going fast. And you've got plenty of speed, Mark. Once you've unlocked it, I know Jean will be looking in his mirrors."

What impressed the team was the fact that I showed up at the factory at least once a week to see how things were going. There was not as much technological development as there was in Formula One, but the chassis suppliers were all keen to make improvements within the framework of the rules. And like during my time in Formula Three, I was always eager to learn about the mechanics of the car. At the factory, I'd get stuck in with a wrench or a screwdriver, eager to learn more about the cars. I wasn't sure that I'd get the same opportunity once I was in Formula One.

The second test session was three days at Jerez in Spain, taking advantage of the bright and sunny weather. I put in plenty of laps across the three days and finished in the top six again. Alesi was still out in front though the Toleman drivers of Henton and Warwick were nipping at his heels. The third and last test before the start of the season was Thruxton in the United Kingdom. The weather was absolute garbage for two of the three days, but at least I got to learn how to handle a Formula Two car in the wet.

I didn't cover myself in glory by spinning off on my first flying lap, but at least I managed to get the car back to the pits with mud and grass stuck to the nosecone and sidepods. But I figured out how to handle the car in the rain rather quickly, using what was called a 'go-kart line' that avoided the racing line that was usually slipperier due to the oil that laid on the track. There was usually more grip on the outside of the corner.

The first race of the season saw us back at Thruxton, often stated to be the fastest race track in Britain. Many considered Silverstone faster due to the increasing speeds of the Formula One cars. Even the introduction of the Luffield Chicane had barely slowed down the speeds.

Practice and qualifying were held in dry conditions on the first weekend of April. Alesi took the expected pole position as he was now the clear favourite for the championship. The two Toleman's were behind him, powered by Hart engines. They were blisteringly quick in a straight line. The Reynard had the better aerodynamics and ground effects. A couple of March's were next on the grid. I was sixth.

I woke up in the morning of the race to be greeted by gloomy skies though everything remained dry for the time being. Making our way to the circuit, we no longer stayed in a motorhome as Eddie made sure Jean and I had decent accommodation, the rain was staying away though everyone knew that this was England. It could rain at any moment.

The first spots started to appear just as we were leaving the pitlane for our exploratory laps, checking the systems and making sure there were no last-minute issues before we headed to the grid. It was while we were sitting there for a few minutes that the heavens opened. There was soon a mad scramble to change the most basic car setting while also changing the tyres from slicks to wets.

By the time the formation lap started, the track was soaking wet, the rain looked like it had set in for the afternoon, and the spray even in sixth place was awful. I knew it was going to be a very long, wet and cold afternoon. At the green light, I could hear the sounds of all the engines around me, applying the throttle carefully as my eyes were almost on a swivel as I entered the first right turn. A shallow left turn followed before the field entered a right-left turn.

After that, it was a series of flat-out left- and right-hand sweepers with only a tight right-left-right chicane at the end of the lap just before the pitlane and front straight. In the day, it was a lot of fun to drive, and the track was known for its slipstreaming battles. In the wet, I'll admit that the track was scary. There were no gravel traps, only grass to either side of the circuit. And when it was wet, a car could keep sliding for a few seconds until it hit the tyre barrier that kept it separate from the woods that surrounded most of the circuit.

There were no pitstops in Formula Two unless a dry race turned wet or vice versa. No refuelling. Teams could work on a car in the pitlane if a driver encountered a problem though it would usually leave the driver more than a lap behind the leaders. But there was no chance of the weather clearing as the rain had clearly set in.

I had no real idea what was going on ahead of me. All I know is that I was passed by at least three drivers during the race. Trying to see the pit board wasn't particularly easy given the spray though I knew that I had fallen out of the top six by lap ten. It was the longest race that I'd ever been involved in, fifty laps at just a smidgen under one hundred and ninety kilometres.

My teammate won the race to no real surprise to anyone. I finished in eighth. At least I didn't finish a lap down though I was the last driver to take the chequered flag on the lead lap. There'd been numerous retirements from drivers spinning off or encountering technical problems.

"Not bad for a first race," my race engineer stated once I had my helmet off back in the garage.

"He's not wrong, Mark," Eddie stated as he walked over to shake my hand, "You kept it on the island, and your pace was good compared to Jean. Remember, this was your first race, he's got a year of experience. And having a wet race as your first is just mean by the weather gods."

We looked over the data and the one thing both took note of was my consistency. After the first couple of laps, every subsequent lap was within a couple of tenths of a second. I wasn't as fast as Jean and a couple of others, but the fact I could put in nearly the same lap time over and over again was something that I'd been told again and again was a good thing.