The sun peeked through the thin, rolling clouds over the Tuscany hills, casting a golden hue across the Vaayu GP paddock. The gentle hum of engines waking up filled the air, and the smell of rubber, oil, and ambition laced every breath.
Sukhman Singh zipped up his fireproof suit and adjusted his gloves, standing just outside the Vaayu GP garage. His mind, once weighed down by doubt and second-guessing, was steadier this morning. The restless tossing of the previous night, the pointed words from Charlotte Hartley, and the biting echo of Callum's dismissal had settled into something firmer.
Focus.
It is time for FP3.
He strapped into the cockpit, the familiar sound of the safety harness clicking into place giving him a sense of control. Siddharth gave him a quick nod. Nandini offered a quiet thumbs-up.
The engine roared to life. And so did he.
---
10:00 AM - Free Practice 3 (FP3)
From the very first lap, Sukhman felt different. His turns were sharper. His throttle was more controlled. The track didn't seem like a mystery anymore, but a language he was finally beginning to understand.
"Nice and easy through Sector 1, great control," Siddharth's voice crackled in his earpiece.
Lap after lap, his times improved. He beat his own FP2 record by two whole seconds. Then another half-second. Then shaved off another tenth. The sun was climbing, and so was his rhythm.
By the end of the session, he'd clocked the 11th fastest lap overall. It wasn't headline-grabbing, but it was progress—and for Sukhman, it meant something even deeper.
When he pulled into the pit lane and climbed out of the car, Siddharth was grinning.
"If you keep this up, you might just sneak into the top 10 during qualifying. Maybe better."
Sukhman nodded, chest heaving. "Feels like I'm finally breathing again."
Nandini handed him a water bottle. "You remembered who you are."
He smiled at her words, quietly grateful.
---
2:00 PM - Qualifying Laps
The broadcast studios around the world buzzed to life. Fans were glued to their screens. Announcers were primed with notes and energy.
The qualifying session was about to begin.
The list of 20 drivers lined up on the screen:
1. Jakab Lewandowski (Euro Cars, Poland)
2. Ayanda Nkosi (Mercer Corporation, South Africa)
3. Daan Vermer (Ajex, Netherlands)
4. Ryan Brooks (Sabestapol, USA)
5. Thiago Martins (Porto Motors, Portugal)
6. Wei Zhang (Elite Corporation, China)
7. Dafydd Morgan (Welsh Tech, Wales)
8. Amelia Foster aka "Amy" (Pilot Power, England)
9. Luke Meier (Titan Electronics, Switzerland)
10. Ming Jao (Jupiter, China)
11. Omar Irani (Centaur Group, Morocco)
12. Luciana Fernandez (Barrancinha, Argentina)
13. Isabella Romano (Milan Automotive, Italy)
14. Charlotte Reid (SBA, Australia) – Currently suspended for this Grand Prix
15. Diego Montoya (Rip Jaw Racing, Argentina)
16. Aiko Fujimura (Tripple S, Japan)
17. Finn Carter (Kilbourne, New Zealand)
18. Yuki Sasakai (Quantum Racing, Japan)
19. Sukhman Singh (Vaayu GP, India)
20. Callum Graves (Red Devil Cars, England)
The lights turned green.
Engines screamed to life.
The qualifying rounds had begun.
---
Sukhman knew every lap mattered now. There was no room for hesitation. Each turn, each braking point, every corner exit was an opportunity to rise or fall. He kept his eyes ahead, steering wheel firm in his grip, mind locked in.
The first stint was clean. Good traction through the chicanes. He clocked in a mid-table lap, enough to stay in contention.
The second stint was faster.
His Vaayu GP car responded beautifully, hugging the apexes. He overtook Ming Jao by two tenths. Then chipped another tenth off Amelia's sector two.
"Good pace, great exit from Turn 11! You're in P9," Siddharth announced, adrenaline lacing his voice.
But Sukhman wasn't done.
With minutes left in the final qualifying segment, he pushed again. A burst of precision and instinct took over. He aced the double hairpin and nailed the long right-hander. As he crossed the line, the time flashed in the paddock—
P7.
A pause.
Then cheering in the Vaayu GP garage.
Sukhman Singh had qualified 7th.
---
[Live Broadcast – World Grand Prix Championship Qualifying Highlights | Anchor Desk]
[Camera fades in to a slick virtual studio, graphics shimmering behind the desk: "World GP Championship QUALIFYING – TUSCAN CIRCUIT"]
Anchor Jack Simmons, charismatic and sharp in a slate grey blazer, leans slightly over the desk, excitement radiating from his voice.
JACK:
"Ladies and gentlemen, motorsport fans from around the world—hold onto your seats because the qualifying round for the Tuscan Grand Prix has just wrapped up, and boy oh boy, what a session we witnessed today!"
[A graphic flashes across the screen: "TOP 10 QUALIFIERS – TUSCAN GP"]
JACK (continuing):
"Let's bring up the list of our final top ten qualifiers for tomorrow's big showdown!"
[Screen shows the names as Jack reads them out dramatically, one by one.]
1. Callum Graves – Red Devil Cars, England
2. Ayanda Nkosi – Mercer Corporation, South Africa
3. Finn Carter – Kilbourne, New Zealand
4. Isabella Romano – Milan Automotive, Italy
5. Luke Meier – Titan Electronics, Switzerland
6. Daan Vermer – Ajex, Netherlands
7. Sukhman Singh – Vaayu GP, India
8. Amelia Foster – Pilot Power, England
9. Thiago Martins – Porto Motors, Portugal
10. Ming Jao – Jupiter, China
JACK (leaning in, eyes gleaming):
"Now here's where things get real interesting. Out of these ten elite qualifiers, five names have managed to pull off an incredible feat—they've qualified in both the Nottingham GP and the Tuscan GP. These are the names the paddock is buzzing about:"
[Another graphic rolls up with "Back-to-Back Qualifiers" in bold letters.]
- Callum Graves
- Ayanda Nkosi
- Finn Carter
- Isabella Romano
- Sukhman Singh
JACK (grinning):
"That's right, folks. The first four? Not exactly surprising. We're talking veterans and top-tier talents—Callum, a two-time reigning champ; Ayanda, a tactical genius; Finn Carter, the wild card from down under; and Isabella, always clinical and calculated behind the wheel."
[Jack pauses for emphasis.]
JACK:
"But then there's that fifth name—Sukhman Singh. The rookie from India. The boy from Vaayu GP. A team that was written off as background noise at the start of the season. And now? This young man has made jaws drop by qualifying back-to-back in his very first two Grand Prix attempts. Seventh on the grid in a field this elite?"
[Clips roll on screen of Sukhman's clean overtakes during qualifying. Slow motion. Dust trails. Perfect line control.]
JACK:
"Sukhman's pace in FP1 and FP2 was shaky—let's not sugarcoat it. But today? He came alive in FP3, and then in the qualifiers, he carved his name into the top ten with nerves of steel and precision driving."
[Cut to a side angle as Jack leans forward, voice lowering slightly, as if sharing a secret.]
JACK:
"Mark my words—this kid's got the makings of a storybook season. There were talks, skepticism, even mockery from some corners of the pit lane after Nottingham. Some called it beginner's luck. But two straight qualifications? That's no fluke. That's intent. That's hunger."
[Cut to a split screen: one side showing Callum stepping out of his car like a seasoned titan, the other side showing Sukhman stepping out with a quiet fire in his eyes.]
JACK (smirking):
"And tomorrow, they'll be sharing the same track again. The champ and the challenger. The old guard and the new blood. One eye on the race. One eye on the future."
[Graphics fade out with the words: "Tuscan Grand Prix – Final Grid Set!"]
JACK (signing off the segment):
"That's it for now, racing fans. The engines are cooling, but the tension's only heating up. Stick around—this is the World GP Championship, and the road to glory just got a whole lot more unpredictable!"
[Fade to commercial with epic orchestral music in the background.]
The other 9 drivers did not qualify.
---
Back in the Vaayu GP garage, Siddharth hugged him, helmet and all.
"I told you! I knew it was in there!"
Nandini beamed, proud and quiet.
And for once, Sukhman allowed himself to feel it.
No Callum.
No past mistakes.
No fear.
Just the moment.
He was ready for tomorrow.