Battle in the Rain at Spa

Chapter 130 Battle in the Rain at Spa
Focus.

This was the only thought in Lu Zhizhou's mind; he was completely focused, every cell and nerve in his body was stretched to the limit.

I feel a little excited; my adrenaline is surging.

Laszów Turn 1 at Spa is a right-hand corner; in other words, the right side is the correct racing line, and pole position is also on the right. Naturally, Lu Zhizhou, who started eighth, was on the outside left, starting from the dirty side.

However, the rain battle was slightly different.

When the track is dry, the running line provides greater grip. This is a basic racing principle because cars repeatedly drive on the same running line, and the melted tire rubber provides more grip.

However, after it rains, when cold water is poured onto the tire rubber, the situation is completely different. At this time, the tire rubber cools and hardens, not only failing to provide grip but also making it easier to slip.

Therefore, the driving lanes in rainy conditions are completely different from those in dry conditions, and vehicles may even avoid driving lanes that were originally used in dry conditions.

In other words, the right lane where pole position is located is completely useless at this point, and it will not be easy for Falchero to defend against Alesi's attack at Lasos Bend.

Of course, the competition between Falchero and Alesi is temporarily irrelevant to Lu Zhizhou, but the situation in the rainy battle is chaotic, and a single move could have far-reaching consequences.

If Falchero tries to cut the outside lane to block Alesi, and Alesi then forces his way over, whether they collide is another matter, but what is certain is that their change in lane will inevitably affect the lane choices of the vehicles behind them, like dominoes, affecting all the cars behind.

Worse still, the mist kicked up by the rain tires completely obscures vision, making it impossible to make accurate judgments visually, which means that there could be danger at any location.

It's comparable to Minesweeper.

Even with a brain capacity as powerful as Lu Zhizhou's, he couldn't accurately calculate the choices and subsequent reactions of the seven drivers ahead of him within three to five seconds.

More importantly, instead of thinking about what others are doing, focus on yourself.

and so--

Concentrate fully and hold your breath.

The instant all five red lights went out, Lu Zhizhou cut directly to the left, not just the outside, but the very outside, using the track width to its limit, driving completely along the left edge of the car, leaving no space in the middle and right, and gaining a relatively clear view.

However, the speed was not pushed to the limit, and the nerves were stretched to the limit.

Sure enough, Lu Zhizhou immediately noticed his teammate Han Shilong, who was in the sixth position to start. Han Shilong was right in front of him and had also chosen the outer lane.

However, Han Shilong did not push himself completely to the outside, but rode on the outer and middle lanes, waiting for an opportunity to strike.

Spa-Francorchamps is a very old circuit, first opened in 1924. In addition, the track is built on a mountainside, so it is not wide. It is a typical two-lane track. Although it leaves some room for overtaking, the track is located on a mountain, so one side is always on the edge of a cliff.

Clearly, Lu Zhizhou hadn't forgotten this point and didn't recklessly overtake, thus avoiding the risk of rear-ending Han Shilong.

Weaving through the roaring engines and billowing mist, the race cars and drivers plunged headlong into Laszlo Corner 1 like a torrent.

Bang. Crash. Boom.

A series of sounds exploded instantly, obscuring everything in the thick fog. Rarely seen, sound triggered the warning system before sight could react.

collision!

Lu Zhizhou remained firmly on his lane, speeding along the left edge of the cliff. He could immediately see Han Shilong cutting in, blocking Lu Zhizhou's path completely.

Lu Zhizhou, who was fully focused, was prepared and used a series of skillful braking maneuvers to keep the vehicle afloat and narrowly avoid a rear-end collision.

But there was no time to catch their breath. In the rain and mist, they could vaguely see the crash site on their right. Two or three cars were crammed together, blocking the entrance to Laszlo Bend and blocking the middle of the track.

Both Han Shilong and Lu Zhizhou were forced to leave the track and go around to the grassy buffer zone outside the apex of Lasos Bend.

With hairpin bends and blocked lanes, the race car had no speed to speak of, and there was even a concern about tire wear.

Perhaps the only saving grace is that the wet grass acts as a buffer, and with the added rainwater, it probably won't damage the tires too much.

At this moment, Lu Zhizhou immediately noticed that Han Shilong had not turned the steering wheel fully back onto the track. The angle was too high, and he was slightly out of position, still on the outside of the corner exit, not fully back on the track, and the rear of the car swayed.

Without hesitation, Lu Zhizhou coordinated his throttle and steering, cutting to the right and guiding the front of his car past Han Shilong's rear, passing through the gap between Han Shilong and the crash site, cleanly and efficiently completing a reverse cut through the fog.

Leaving Lasos Bend, I floored the accelerator, the front of the car hugging the track like a carp leaping over the dragon gate, spraying water as it shot off, speeding down the downhill straight towards the valley floor at a visible speed.

Whoosh!
With a whoosh, the tires kicked up a curtain of water as car number one and car number two plunged into the downhill straight ahead. Car number two overtook car number one at a speed visible to the naked eye, emerging from the right side of car number one.

And, proceed at full speed.

Han Shilong was a beat slow to realize the danger. He had no idea where Lu Zhizhou had come from and didn't have time to check the rearview mirror, but—

Is it really okay for teammates to take advantage of loopholes like this?
Han Shilong didn't have time to complain. He floored the accelerator and kept up with Lu Zhizhou.

Unfortunately, they ultimately lost their initial advantage.

Out of the corner of Han Shilong's eye, he could catch a glimpse of that red and black afterimage dragging water mist as it soared through the air, overtaking and breaking free in one smooth motion. Like a dragon diving into the sea, it plunged into the straight road and, following the downhill waterway, charged towards the Red River Bend at the bottom of the valley in the manner of a ski jump, with waves of air and water mist surging and boiling.

However, Lu Zhizhou had no time to pay attention to Han Shilong. He instantly left the chaos and noise behind and focused intently on what was in front of him.

Red River Bend, and... Bokolać?
Wait, it's not Russell starting seventh, but Bokolać starting fourth?

So what exactly happened at Lasos Bend, who collided with whom, and what about Russell?

I don't have the energy to solve them all right now; the immediate problem is Bokolać.

During the warm-up test, we found that there was indeed water accumulation at Honghe Bend, but it wasn't as serious as we were worried about. The more immediate issue is tire grip.

On the slippery track, a slight mishap could result in performing a 360-degree Thomas Flair on the spot.

In the blink of an eye, Lu Zhizhou had caught up with Bokolaqi. The two race cars plunged into the valley one after the other. The S-shaped Red River Bend was barely visible in the mist, let alone the Kemer Straight after the Red River Bend. At this point, the exit point of Turn 4 was nowhere to be seen.

It was clear that Bokolaci was a little more cautious, easing off the accelerator and braking early, choosing a conventional line close to the apex of the right turn. However, he underestimated the lack of grip caused by the tires not being fully warmed up in the rain, and his line veered slightly towards the slippery area, preventing him from gaining speed.

Unexpectedly, Lu Zhizhou braked even earlier than Bokolaqi, using a semi-gliding motion to hug the inside of the car. He slipped past Bokolaqi's rear end like a ghost in the mist, gliding past silently and cutting into the best line for the next left turn.

Clearly, Bokolaci was unaware of the actions behind him and continued methodically towards the second left turn, his attention already focused on the crest of the fourth turn ahead, only to discover without warning:

Lu Zhizhou's race car had already quietly closed in ahead of the center line of the bend, running side by side! Not giving an inch!

Huh!
The crowd erupted. Croft exclaimed, "My God, Red River Bend, wheel to wheel!"

Full tension, ready to explode at any moment, holding your breath for a split second!
Honghe Bend can even be called the "first bend" of the entire F1 season.

The difficulty lies not only in the fact that the exit point of Turn 4 is located at the top of the hill, cutting off the view and making the Kemer Straight completely invisible; but also in the fact that it is a high-speed uphill turn at full throttle, and throttle control is crucial during the uphill process.

Rainy days make it even more difficult; a slight deviation can cause the tires to slip, which could then lead to a series of mistakes and disasters.

That's why Bokolać is extremely focused and cautious. This season, he's had terrible luck, and he has no confidence in gambling on luck.

Clearly, Bokolaci hadn't forgotten the difference between driving lanes on wet and dry roads. He consciously veered slightly towards the center, avoiding the inner dry driving lanes, and while controlling his speed on wet roads, he tried to go through at full throttle as much as possible to avoid losing time.

However, this would mean losing their defensive position and leaving them wide open.

Bokolaci never expected that Lu Zhizhou would be so audacious, disregarding the difference between dry and wet driving lines, grabbing the window, cutting into the inside line, and taking the lead over Bokolaci by grabbing the apex of Turn 3. A series of smooth maneuvers allowed the two cars to move forward side by side.

In that instant, I held my breath—

Not just the commentators, but the entire paddock seemed to be able to clearly hear the sudden gasp followed by utter silence, as all sounds vanished.

Wheel to wheel! Shoulder to shoulder!
Neither giving an inch, the two race cars engaged in a fierce, head-to-head battle in the Red River Bend, sending chills down Croft's spine and prompting him to gasp in alarm.

"This is a reckless step!"

Lu Zhizhou actually tried to overtake at the Red River Bend!
Brendel felt a lump in his throat, unable to exhale, and only one thought crossed his mind: Really? Verstappen might be reckless, but Lu Zhizhou?
On the lightning-fast, ever-changing racetrack, Lu Zhizhou remained completely focused, his mind free of distractions.

There was no time to hesitate or agonize; everything was done on instinct, with absolute composure maintained.

The slippery driving lanes, the slippery rain, and the resistance of the continuous uphill climb made Lu Zhizhou feel the trembling of the race car, like the last withered leaf of autumn, clinging tightly to the branch in the cold wind, refusing to fall, stubbornly and defiantly gritting its teeth, refusing to surrender in the waves of cold air.

The difference is negligible.

The countless nerve endings subtly sense every shift in the car's balance as it trembles, calmly and steadily maintaining its center of gravity amidst the storm.

Then, a fraction of a second ahead of Bokolaci, the engine released and refueled earlier, creating greater traction amidst the wet and flowing chaos. Emerging from the valley floor and gaining more power before climbing the hill, it used the weak grip of the wet ground to grip the ground tightly, pushing its way out from the inside, kicking up a spray of water and a blast of air, igniting the engine's roar—

Boom! Boom boom boom!

Speed, released in an instant between slipping and swaying, aggressively sticking to Bokolaci, instantly turning the tables and taking the initiative.

Two faint beams of light could be seen in the distance, flowing through the blue-gray water—

A streak of white light took a slight lead as it entered the Red River Bend, but the red and black afterimages followed closely behind. After passing the third bend, it gradually closed the gap and overtook the other side. As it continued to climb the hill, it surged forward at a speed visible to the naked eye, transforming into a streak of light and shadow, and darted toward the fourth bend as fast as lightning.

The top of the hill was almost there, but the exit point was still nowhere in sight, and the Kemer Straight was completely out of view. At the end of the hill was an endless gray sky.

boom--

A bolt of lightning tore through the sky, and crystal-clear water droplets exploded in the air. In a brief moment, the world was as bright as day, and our vision was bright again.

The roaring sound poured into Bokolaci's ears like a waterfall, and lightning pierced his heart. His hands involuntarily gripped the steering wheel tightly. Looking at the top of Turn 4, which seemed to lead to the sky like a precipice, he paused for a moment in numbness and astonishment. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see the red and black afterimage break free of its restraints and leap out to the right.

"madman!"

Bokolaci's breathing was instantly cut off.

However, Lu Zhizhou's mind was clear, calm and focused. All his attention was on hearing and touch, weakening the presence of sight. He could even clearly feel the changes in airflow. The flow of rain and breeze was guiding his direction. Every inch of his skin seemed to be able to feel the track extending beneath his feet.

Everything felt like going back to when I was five years old, running barefoot in the rain, jumping from one puddle to another, feeling the flow of air and rainwater with my body.

Instead of tensing up, she relaxed, gently and precisely controlling every detail of the manipulation.
The accelerator was still pressed, gently gliding over the Bocolazzi race car, entering a state of complete absorption, as if becoming one with the vehicle. Not only could I feel every corner of the race car, but every detail of the track was also laid out in my mind. After experiencing the ultimate speed on this track in F1, now, feeling it through the GP3 in the rain, the details became even clearer and more detailed.

Intuition seems to be able to seize those unseen and intangible opportunities, finding the turning point in a fleeting fraction of a second—

right here!

Standing at the top of the slope, it felt like standing on a small hilltop. The direction was just right, and the wind, carrying water, propelled the race car into the Kemer Straight. The violent water spray tore through the air, and that red and black afterimage was completely shaken off and sped away.

Perfectly timed and flawless, it truly transforms racing into an art form.

My heart exploded instantly!
"Unbelievable! Inconceivable! Unbelievable!"

"Lu! Zhi! Zhou!"

"God! Oh God!"

"An unparalleled overtaking maneuver! A breathtaking driving technique! A flawless control! A stunning performance comparable to riding a storm on a high-wire!"

"Lu Zhizhou demonstrated his extreme fuel control and grip judgment in the rain, smoothly and effortlessly completing an overtaking maneuver in the face of extreme conditions. The Red River Bend became his stage for performance, showcasing an absolutely high-difficulty skill! A true display of top-level driver instinct! At that moment, we seemed to see Senna reappear at Spa!"

Croft suddenly stood up, his round beer belly bumping into the desk and almost losing his balance, but he completely ignored the chaos in the live broadcast room and stared intently at the live broadcast camera.

"Even more incredible is that after the chaos at Lasos Bend, Lu Zhizhou's calm and steady driving not only got him out of trouble, but he has now entered the leading group and is currently in fourth place."

"Red River Bend, he accomplished all of this at Red River Bend, he completely conquered Red River Bend, and made Spa-Francorchamps the perfect stage for him to make his declaration!"

Croft felt a tingling sensation on his scalp. He thought Lu Zhizhou had acted recklessly, foolishly trying to create waves in the Red River Bend in the rain. But as it turned out, he was the one who had acted recklessly.

Despite the seemingly dangerous and extreme attempt, everything was under Lu Zhizhou's control. He even surpassed Bokolaci without making contact with him.

This season, everyone said that Bokolaci was the only driver outside of the ART team who could challenge Lu Zhizhou, only lacking a bit of luck. But judging from the confrontation at the Red River Bend just now, it seems that this idea was just wishful thinking on their part. Bokolaci was not even on the same level.

GP3 can no longer restrain Lu Zhizhou—

When the idea popped into his head, Croft froze on the spot, feeling as if he had discovered some incredible truth.

However, Croft doesn't need to worry about discovering aliens; he's not the only one in the paddock.

"Grass!"

Horner, who was watching the live broadcast, couldn't help but exclaim in amazement. Unlike Wolff, he was a former driver and knew racing inside and out.

At a glance, Horner could see the technical skill involved in that overtaking maneuver at the Red River Bend, which combined technical skill and courage, and more importantly, perfect execution.

That swear word was actually an expression of admiration; he hadn't expected that the stroller driver would actually overtake so successfully and so effortlessly.

An expert can see the details; Horner's heart began to pound rapidly, frantically pounding against his chest.

However, the live broadcast showed that car number two remained calm and focused, continuing its attack on the Kemmell Straight. It was then that Lu Zhizhou noticed the familiar rear of the car ahead – it was car number three, Russell!

Russell, who started in seventh place, even took the lead over Lu Zhizhou and had somehow caught up to third place, continuing his pursuit.

"Zhizhou, fourth. Repeat, fourth. Excellent performance."

"Russell is in front, and Bokolać is behind. What's the visibility like right now?"

Borrepeller remained absolutely calm, his hands clenched into fists, but his attention remained unwavering as he focused intently on the progress of the match.

There's no room for error in Spa on a rainy day.

Lu Zhizhou's voice came through the radio, "The rain has stopped in the second timing segment, the sun is out, and visibility has returned to normal. There is still water on the track, but we should be able to see the lane lines in about five to seven laps."

The Spa-Francorchamps circuit is seven kilometers long and covers a wide area. It is common for the weather to be partly sunny and partly rainy, and the track conditions are also very unpredictable.

In the first time trial, it was still raining and there was still standing water on the track; in the second time trial, the sun had come out, there was no standing water, and the track was drying.

Borrepeller offered a reminder, "Pay attention to tire condition. The current gap with Russell is 1.833 seconds."

Because GP3 does not have a mandatory pit stop for tire changes, and because it is a sprint race with only thirteen laps and a time limit of less than thirty minutes, all the riders switch to light rain tires, which can also be called semi-rain tires.

On such a track, slippage may occur in wet conditions, while tire wear needs to be considered in dry conditions. If the drainage treads on the semi-wet tires are worn down, they will become slick tires when returning from dry to wet conditions, unable to drain water. In this case, the car will slip even more, truly making it feel like walking on thin ice.

Therefore, how to switch and how to control it will be a severe test.

Borrepeller's reminder implied that they were now entering the relatively dry area of ​​the second time slot, and the sun had already risen. When Lu Zhizhou was chasing Russell, he had to consider the tire wear. Otherwise, even if he caught up with Russell, if his tires were severely worn, it would be highly likely that Russell would overtake him.

Given Russell's steady and calculated driving style, he is better able to adapt to such track conditions than Lu Zhizhou.

Lu Zhizhou did not refute, "Received. Pierre, what's the weather forecast? How long will the first phase of rain last?"

Borrepeller was checking the data when he received a new message: "Zhizhou, yellow flag, yellow flag! A car has retired at Lasos Bend and a tow truck is needed."

"Yellow flag, overtaking is not allowed, it is still raining, and DRS is not allowed."

Lu Zhizhou's light laughter came through the radio, "So this is a rain warning, telling us not to try anything, right?"

Borrepeller's lips curled into a slight smile. "This means we need to be more precise and accurate when performing our moves. The rain will continue for about ten more minutes, and we expect the second half of the race to be sunny. Let's hope the track doesn't dry out too quickly."

If the track is completely dry, the semi-wet tires will have no speed.

However, from another perspective, if the drainage treads of a semi-wet tire are completely worn down, it is actually equivalent to a slick tire, and the grip is the same as that of a dry tire.

Therefore, the key lies in how to control and drive, to master the race amidst constant changes. This is the charm of rain racing, and at the same time, it is necessary to minimize the gap between cars and truly showcase the driver's ability.

Only then did the live streamers finally have time to review the match and analyze the chaotic yet brilliant opening.

First, the two cars collided at Lasos Bend. Amid the chaos, Russell, Lu Zhizhou, and Han Shilong successfully overtook and moved up in the rankings.

However, neither of the two race cars sustained serious damage—or perhaps it hasn't been discovered yet, as they are still racing on the track.

Secondly, the cars in the lead did not retire from the race, but the collision at Lasos Bend caused a chain reaction. Instead, the cars behind were unable to see the road due to the water mist, and one car's emergency braking caused a three-car collision, resulting in severe damage and the cars being forced to retire from the race hand in hand.

Due to the chain collision, Yu Beier and others who started from the repair area also encountered obstacles and had already been left behind by the main group ahead.

but!

The security vehicle was deployed.

This completely changed the situation. With the vehicles moving at low speeds, the gaps between them all narrowed, and they followed the safety car in a row. It was foreseeable that once the race restarted, it would be another fierce battle.

It's worth noting that the race leader has changed –

Falchero was unable to stop Alesi's offensive and lost his advantage at Laszlo. Alesi overtook him from the outside, and what was initially a disadvantageous position on the dirty side turned into an advantage due to the rain. Alesi unleashed his full power, outmaneuvering Falchero and becoming the race leader.

In fact, Falchero almost crashed as well, braking just before Laszlo Bend, which was the first domino to trigger subsequent collisions.

As a result, Alessi once again led the sprint race, following his lead at Silverstone.

Last time, Alesi was unable to stop Lu Zhizhou's impact, and that collision is still being fiercely criticized by fans.

This time, Alesi tried to firmly control the rhythm of the game and pull away from the leader by a wide margin.

Unfortunately, it was a safety car.

Currently, Alesi, Falchero, Russell, Lu Zhizhou, Bokolaci, and Han Shilong are ranked in the top six, and a fierce battle is about to unfold after the safety car enters the pit.

Soon, Lu Zhizhou discovered that the sun had fully risen in the second timing segment, and the track was drying very quickly, but there was still sporadic rain and puddles in the first and the latter half of the third timing segment.

Although they followed the safety car at a low speed, the tire temperature rose rapidly in the second timing segment, potentially damaging the drainage treads.

At this point, they need to "find water," which means deviating from their lane and driving through waterlogged areas on the track to lower tire temperature and control wear. This is the real test of a driver's ability to control and maneuver their car, as the degree of tire wear can significantly influence the course of the race.

The safety car remained on the track for three laps, until the race restarted on the fifth lap.

Buzz, buzz buzz buzz.

Immediately, it can be seen that Falchero attacks Alesi and Russell attacks Falchero.

Bokolaci was also preparing to attack Lu Zhizhou, but suddenly discovered that Lu Zhizhou did not attack Russell, but instead accurately cut into the lane and blocked the driving lane.

Is this... defense??
What's going on? What is Lu Zhizhou thinking? However, the ever-changing Formula One racing doesn't give the brain any space to breathe or think. The situation on the track is like a hurricane sweeping through the entire paddock, turning it into a torrent that rushes away in a mighty torrent.

The yellow flag is lifted, the green light comes on, and the game restarts.

This is a sprint race, which originally only had thirteen laps. Now, with the safety car having wasted three laps, the space left for the drivers to compete against each other has narrowed. Therefore, as soon as the safety car returned to the pit area, these young people launched their attacks without wasting any time.

Russell was particularly outstanding.

This season, Russell never expected that his biggest rival would be Lu Zhizhou. Although he defeated Lu Zhizhou once in qualifying, he lost in both the main race and the sprint race. Even Han Shilong defeated Lu Zhizhou once in the sprint race, but Russell was unable to reverse the downward trend.

Russell's pride wouldn't allow it.

He needs to prove himself, not just as Wolff, but more importantly, as himself. He needs to give himself an explanation and go all out to win.

Rainy conditions may not be Russell's forte, but he is confident in his calculations and skills, and he believes he can turn the tide.

So, as soon as the safety car left, Russell floored the accelerator, crossed the starting line, and charged after Falchero in a grand procession.

but!

Russell glanced in the rearview mirror but didn't see Lu Zhizhou approaching quickly as he expected. He thought Lu Zhizhou would also exert all his pressure.

what happened?

Was Lu Zhizhou afraid? No, Russell didn't think so. That guy was fearless; how could he possibly choose to be conservative?

An unease gripped my heart.

So, what about Lu Zhizhou? Is he really not planning to launch an attack?

The answer is definitely no. Lu Zhizhou is preparing to launch an attack, but not now.

Rain. Tires. Cars. And the approaching Red River Bend.

With all these factors combined, Lu Zhizhou remained calm. He knew Russell's style; his driving line was watertight. Russell was definitely on guard against attacks from behind. The move he used to overtake Bokolaci at the Red River Bend might not work against Russell. He needed to plan carefully.

Furthermore, Lu Zhizhou did not forget the menacing Bokolaqi and Han Shilong behind him.

Therefore, when all the young players launched their attack after the safety car entered the maintenance area, Lu Zhizhou unexpectedly chose to... defend.

My attention was completely focused on the rearview mirror, and I immediately noticed Bokolaci's movements—

Bokola swerved and cut inside.

At Lasos Bend, everyone was eyeing the wet driving line on the outside, but Bokolaci, inspired by his overtaking maneuver at the Red River Bend on the first lap, decided to take the opposite approach and try to break through from the dry driving line on the inside.

Deep down, he might have harbored a desire to avenge his previous humiliation; he was trying to prove that what Lu Zhizhou could do, he could also do.

However, Lu Zhizhou focused completely, swerved the steering wheel in time, and blocked the lane completely. He did not lose his position, but gave way to the outer lane and advanced at full speed along the middle right lane, pushing Bokolaqi into a desperate situation.

Lu Zhizhou didn't completely cut off the overtaking space, but Bokolaqi had to stay completely close to the inside line, hold on tightly to the apex of the corner, and pray that the rear wheel traction was on and that the rear of the car wouldn't slip on the wet surface. A slight lapse in attention could result in a 360-degree spin on the spot.

In a split second, faced with the choice between the accelerator and the brake, Bocolazzi ultimately chose the latter.

In that brief moment, Lu Zhizhou had already created a slight distance, following Russell step by step into Lasos Bend and leaving Bokolaci behind.

Despite his defensive stance, Lu Zhizhou never forgot Russell, smoothly navigating through the Lasos Bend and marching majestically into the Red River Bend.

The first three cars were linked together like a snake, with Alesi, Falchero, and Russell connected. The difference between the cars was only 0.4 to 0.6 seconds. Even without DRS, in rainy conditions, any slight deviation in handling could give away a weakness.

The pressure builds up layer by layer, continuously increasing.

The relentless pursuit, navigating the Red River bend and plunging into the Kemer Straight, was breathtaking; now it was a matter of who would make the first mistake.

Falchero!

From the Kemer Straight into the Lescombe Bend, which is the transition from the first timeout to the second timeout, the surface conditions change from wet to dry.

When Falchero was exiting the S-curve, he accelerated too quickly, causing the rear wheels to lose traction and slip slightly as the grip changed from wet to dry, resulting in the car veering off the track.

In a flash, Russell floored the accelerator without hesitation, overtook Falchero on the straight, and swapped positions with him.

Falchero was startled, but remained calm and quickly cut back onto the track, trying to hold onto his line and not lose his position any further. However, before he could calm down, he was plunged into a nightmare as he saw another red and black shadow crash head-on into his right-side rearview mirror.

Russell?
A beat too slow, Falchero realized it was Lu Zhizhou. He held his breath and tried to block the lane, but found he was still too slow.

Lu Zhizhou clung tightly to the inside line, never slowing down. Seeing that Falchero on the outside line was approaching his braking limit and had to brake at the apex of the hairpin turn that followed, Lu Zhizhou delayed braking, approaching the limit, and then braked perfectly at the last second!

On the half-dry, half-wet bend, two race cars raced side by side, drawing a graceful arc and turning the romantic scene from "Mission: Impossible 2" into reality.

Falchero held his breath, turned his head to the right, and glanced at Lu Zhizhou.

But with only the back of the helmet visible, Lu Zhizhou had already gained a better exit speed from the corner. He stepped on the gas and emerged from the corner, at which point the difference in the balance of the race cars became apparent.

Under the same extreme maneuvering conditions, ART's rear end remained stable, while Campos' tires slightly locked up. This subtle difference instantly determined the winner in the high-speed race, giving Falchero no time to breathe, and Lu Zhizhou had already sped away.

Just moments ago, Falchero was chasing Alesi, trying to regain his lead in the race, but in the blink of an eye, he has slipped to fourth place.

He fell off the podium.

Falchero had no time to be upset, as the vehicles behind him were rapidly closing in.

From fourth to third, Lu Zhizhou didn't expend much effort, not only protecting the tires and controlling the rhythm, but also quietly concealing his sharpness.

This is Lu Zhizhou's strategy: create a slight gap in the second timeout, as there are many combination corners here, and avoid getting caught in Russell's dirty air; close the gap in the third timeout, which is dominated by straights and high-speed corners, patiently waiting for Russell's attack to break the balance. Regardless of whether Russell's attack succeeds or fails, a gap will inevitably appear ahead.

Two dogs fight, play off.

At that time, Lu Zhizhou will seize the opportunity and firmly control the pace of the game.

Of course, if Russell is content with second place and stops attacking Alesi, Lu Zhizhou's strategy will fail, and he will have to take the initiative.

But is Russell really second?
For four laps, Alesi relied on his aggressive and tough driving style to withstand Russell's attack for a full four laps.

However, Alessi ultimately made a mistake. The tire wear caused by continuous aggressive driving began to cause him to lose grip, and he made a mistake.

As Alesi exited Turn 15 Stabilo, he understeered slightly and widened his line noticeably. Russell seized the opportunity and overtook him before Blanchemont, giving Alesi no breathing room.

Alessi cursed, "Damn it!"

However, before he could even feel regret, a red and black blur appeared in the rearview mirror, like a ghost, relentlessly chasing after Alessi's race car.

Race car number two! Lu Zhizhou!

Alessi's heart skipped a beat. "Damn it!"

(End of this chapter)