Six hours later, the final leg kicked off. Fortunately, Lu hit his peak on the section he had most longed to conquer — Hell's Gate.

Hell's Gate National Park earns its name from a narrow break in the cliffs. Within it lies a 10.53km stretch of track that serves as the last stage before the finish line, marked by steep slopes, blind corners and deep sand.

"Once you make it safely down the mountain, a long straight awaits," Lu said. "Then, it's all about going full throttle."

Flying at speeds up to 150km/h, with the engine's thunderous growl filling his ears, Lu said he just focused on the revs, with nothing else crossing his mind.

He was fully in the zone, drawing on every ounce of his driving skill to unleash his Honda's full potential.

As he cut the engine at the finish line, 32 years of passion, a month of relentless preparation, and four sleepless days coalesced into a simple yet meaningful result — a finisher's trophy.

In a sport where Finland's sensation Kalle Rovanpera became the youngest world champion at just 22, Lu felt no regret over his modest, late-blooming breakthrough, but only a quiet pride in staying true to his own pace.

"Motor racing requires time and experience. When everything matures, that's when you can try, and the results are reliable. Rallying is not for fun, but a real battle that requires careful planning," he said.

Will he come back again?

"Of course! Why not?" Lu responded. "I already have a plan. From May, we'll begin rebuilding the car. By next year, I'll make sure it can keep pace with the four-wheel drive ones."

Xinhua