Unexpected Lap Times and the Flood of Hate Comments
Kim Jong-jin rode shotgun with Han Dae-jin even for his first session, just as expected. Han Dae-jin was breaking out in cold sweats from the tension of his debut session—not to mention Kim Jong-jin's suggestion to turn off stability control right from the start. He'd driven with it on during his battle with Yoon Ha-rin, but he'd felt it off when Kim Ji-hyun demoed, so he had a rough idea.
"Don't chicken out, you punk. N mode and no stability control? It's just a difference in power delivery."
Han Dae-jin gave Kim Jong-jin a half-believing, half-doubting look as he waited at the pit lane for the green light. He wanted to check the action cam he'd just mounted on his helmet to confirm it was recording, but the tension wrapping around him left no room for that. Before he knew it, the light flashed green. He slammed into first gear and shot out after the car ahead, clearing the pits in a flash.
Right out of the pits, at Corner 4, he let everyone pass per Kim Jong-jin's instructions before merging back onto the line. Approaching Corner 8, he braked early, then as he crested the curb during cornering, the right side lifted into the air for a split second, shoving the car toward the outer curb. Maybe he'd carried a bit too much speed—the curb sent him skimming into the runoff area, nearly in and out of the safe zone. Kim Jong-jin said nothing.
They hit the S-bends starting at Corner 10, and Han Dae-jin eased off just enough to skim the inner curb without fully mounting it, per instructions. He grazed the end of Curb 11 before diving back onto Curb 12. Then came the brutal G-force onslaught chaining into Corner 13. It was a whole different league from public roads, but the real kicker? This was just the warmup lap—real hot laps hadn't even started.
After the final downhill corner, Han Dae-jin floored it on Kim Jong-jin's command. Spotting the 50-meter board for Corner 1, he unleashed the braking technique Kim Ji-hyun had taught him: hard at first, then trail it off gradually. Kim Jong-jin seemed impressed watching it unfold, but Han Dae-jin was barely suppressing the terror of the rear end threatening to snap loose. As the car finally settled, he blasted full throttle through the high-speed line linking Corners 2 and 3.
But the moment he clipped Curb 3 by mistake, Inje Circuit punished him, hurling him toward the grass. Panicking for a split second, he exhaled in relief as the car luckily stayed on asphalt. Gasping, he eased off for Corner 4. Clearing it, he snapped back to full throttle, flicked left to switch lines, and mounted Curb 5. The rear twitched sideways; he countered with a steering input and powered up the uphill S-bends to Corners 6 and 7.
Passing Curb 7, Kim Jong-jin thumped his shoulder. "You know to brake early for 8, right?"
Han Dae-jin braked around the 100-meter marker and dove into Curb 8. Sure enough, the right side lifted, pushing him toward the safe zone again. Clear this time. The vibration from cresting the curb enveloped them both as they flowed smoothly out onto gentle Corner 9, then braked into Corner 10. The rear slid a touch; he whipped countersteer to catch it. Skimming Curb 11 right up to the pile of cones, he transitioned straight to Curb 12, then 13. And 14.
On 14, he braked lightly as instructed, rode the curb, and cleared it—but it felt a hair short. Like he hadn't carried quite enough speed. The real beast was Corner 16: left onto the gentle curb, then immediately straighten and brake. Han Dae-jin teetered on the edge of disaster but pulled it off. He crested Curb 16, turned the wheel to align—success—but braked a beat late and sailed into the runoff.
"We'll hit that again later."
Kim Jong-jin kept him going. Han Dae-jin's first lap time out of the final corner: 2:08.67.
"Not bad at all. Push harder."
Han Dae-jin charged back to Corner 1, upping the pace. A few more laps in, his best was 2:05.00. Kim Jong-jin drilled him relentlessly on Corner 16, and by the end, Han Dae-jin was drenched in sweat. Following orders, he yanked off his helmet post-lap and checked tire pressures and brakes. The PX4S tires were toast, forcing him into mandatory 18-inch downsizing. With a heavy sigh, he slumped under the shade by the Inje pit building.
Lee Hyun-woo wandered over, clapping his shoulder with a grin. "Lap times?"
"Two minutes five."
"Two-oh-five? Damn, that's solid for a newbie."
Lee Hyun-woo gawked at the photo Han Dae-jin pulled up. Kim Jong-jin, sitting nearby, snorted a laugh. "Hey, Dae-jin. All that means jack shit. Unless it's a four-something, they're all the same. Acorn-height contest."
Lee Hyun-woo smirked. "Next session, go solo. I gotta ride with Hyun-woo."
"Got it," Han Dae-jin replied, then texted his lap time pic to Kim Ji-hyun.
Han Dae-jin steeled himself for the next session. Solo this time—like climbing into a spaceship bound for Pluto alone. Kim Ji-hyun and Kim Jong-jin always warned that circuits were unpredictable, no matter what. Green light. He trailed the Jeep Wrangler ahead slowly. Monsters lurked behind: BMW Ms, Avante Ns, Porsches.
At Corner 4, he considered yielding early but waited till 5 and 6. Once clear, he hammered it. Back at Corner 1, he braked closer to the 50-meter marker. Rear twitching, he kept the steering straight and trailed the brake. Cleared 1-2-3 without clipping Curb 3 this time, accelerating to just before 4 before downshifting and braking. Hairpin assault, then downhill Curb 5. Clearing 7, a dawdling Porsche appeared ahead—way slower than expected. Han Dae-jin blew past into Corner 8.
The lift and shove at 8? He loved it. Back on track post-curb, through 9, 10... He exited the final corner hot. Lap time: 2:01.00! No time to pump his fist—he dove straight into the next lap.
Session over, Han Dae-jin burst out ecstatic, sharing the 2:01 news with Club Assa members and on Star. On-site, Lee Hyun-woo and Kim Jong-jin beamed, cheering him on.
"Bangdong makguksu on you tonight, punk!"
Han Dae-jin hesitated, then nodded. Afternoon sessions wrapped; the crew reconvened at Bangdong for dinner before heading home. Amid the praise over a good meal, Han Dae-jin glowed.
"YouTube it?" Kim Jong-jin asked.
"Obviously."
"Too many posers on YouTube who can't drive but act like pros. Some real ones slip through, though," Lee Hyun-woo said. Han Dae-jin nodded in agreement.
Finally home after the long haul, Han Dae-jin skipped rest and dove into editing. Separate circuit lap vids and vlog, up all night. Then he waited for comments.
But the next day's were pure venom.
Han Dae-jin smirked bitterly at the hate flood. Was the circuit YouTube algorithm this ruthless? Or just full of posers?
Sunday evening, Lee Hyun-woo called; Han Dae-jin bolted to Hyper Speed. Kim Jong-jin joined, treating them to dinner and praising the solid wrap-up.
"Hyun-woo, when you dropping the formal shit with this kid? You're the hyung."
They both grinned. "Dae-jin, cool if I go casual?"
"Yeah."
"Thanks for looking out, Hyun-woo hyung." Han Dae-jin bowed. Lee Hyun-woo smiled back. Their bond deepened just like that.