Chapter 47: Chapter 44: Whose Home Turf Is It?
"Mr. Wang, if Chen Xiangbei drives the Ferrari 550 GT, is there a chance he could break the track record?"
Hearing Ye Yong’s sudden question, Wang Xiaol paused for a moment and then nodded with a complex expression, "Most likely, yes."
With this answer, Ye Yong didn’t hesitate for a moment and rushed out of the pit. If he didn’t seize the opportunity to recruit such a genius-level driver now, then when?
On the track, as Chen Xiangbei had just gotten out of the car, he was greeted by a bear hug from Liang Chi. This overly friendly gesture made him break out in goosebumps, and he quickly pushed Lao Deng away to keep his distance.
"Kid, you ran well, absorbed seventy percent of what I taught you."
Liang Chi was in a great mood and reverted to his usual mischievous demeanor.
Especially with Chen Xiangbei’s final lead crossing the finish line, seeing Zhang Zhicong’s astonished expression, he felt a wave of pride.
Rationality does not always equate to correctness. The fact is, this world still needs the presence of ideals, and persistence can lead to miracles!
Chen Xiangbei didn’t have the strength to joke with Liang Chi. After taking off his helmet, his cheeks were covered in beads of sweat.
To be honest, the intensity of this lap somewhat exceeded his previous expectations and also reached the current limits of his body.
For example, the helmet Chen Xiangbei was wearing, provided by the Volkswagen 222 Team, was an ordinary fiberglass helmet weighing about 2.5KG.
It seemed like just a few pounds, not too exaggerated.
In fact, under the effect of lateral G-force while cornering, the helmet’s weight could multiply several times. Imagine a ten-plus pound object frantically yanking at your head and neck; and on top of that, Chen Xiangbei had to meticulously control the car.
If it weren’t for the past one or two months of shoulder and neck muscle training, the race with Han Han wouldn’t have reached a stage where they were vying on skills alone; the helmet’s weight alone could have crushed him.
This is why, the higher the level of the driver, the higher the physical fitness requirements.
Currently, Chen Xiangbei at only 130km/h going through sharp turns had already pushed the stress limits of his body.
Whereas the F1 record at the Silverstone Circuit’s 130R turn was an astonishing 332km/h cornering speed, with an average lateral G-force as high as 5.2G.
Remember, this is just the average; the highest lateral G-force on the Suzuka Circuit has already surpassed 6.1G!
It is clear, for Chen Xiangbei to recover his peak form, or even surpass his past peak, there’s still a long way to go.
Han Han sat in the driver’s seat of the Volkswagen POLO, watched Liang Chi come running over to congratulate Chen Xiangbei, and felt an indescribable emotion inside.
As the newly crowned CCC national champion, he lost on a familiar track to a rookie high school student who had never run professionally.
Honestly, this kind of blow can easily shatter one’s mindset.
After all, Han Han had been in professional training for a whole eight years, thinking he was at the pinnacle domestically, only to turn back and find there were mountains beyond mountains.
Of course, Han Han could weave a false excuse, like he was sloppy or didn’t exert all his effort, etc.
But he didn’t want to lie to himself. At least in the latter part of the race, Han Han knew he had exerted 100% of his ability and still couldn’t stop Chen Xiangbei’s final overtake.
Taking a few deep breaths, Han Han calmed his turbulent emotions and then opened the car door to get out.
Just like the famous saying, losing the race is not losing life.
He didn’t want to be someone who couldn’t accept defeat, to win gracefully and lose openly.
After getting out of the car, Han Han came to Chen Xiangbei, congratulating him, "Xiangbei, I lost. As Mr. Liang said, you have top-tier racing talent."
Han Han had once doubted Liang Chi’s words, that Chen Xiangbei had talent surpassing Cheng Congfu.
Truth has proven, Liang Chi wasn’t exaggerating nor lying. The control Chen Xiangbei showed on the track today had fully reached the level of a genius driver.
The most significant point is, Han Han saw from the rearview mirror Chen Xiangbei’s cornering line, the kind of extreme curb line-cutting technique, which belongs to a very standard Formula racing operation.
It should be noted that ordinary touring car drivers wouldn’t take such a line. It’s not that they can’t, but the downforce of touring cars is far less than that of formula cars, and driving on the curb can easily cause wheel slips.
It’s like an ordinary person driving on a rainy day, running over the white and yellow lines painted on the road, where the grip is much less than on the asphalt surface.
Unless you are extremely familiar with the Formula racing line of this track, rubber bits shed from tires accumulate on the curb over time, creating ruts of sorts, and gradually the grip will significantly increase on this cornering line.
Touring car drivers, having not taken this line, naturally don’t know, nor dare to try.
Chen Xiangbei took this line, and whether it was with confidence or just coincidence, he succeeded; if this isn’t talent, then what is?
"Thank you, you’re quite strong too."
Chen Xiangbei complimented. This wasn’t out of humility.
His initial plan was to leave Han Han at least a second behind, but the two cars crossed the line almost neck and neck, proving Han Han, the newly minted 2008 CCC overall champion, was stronger than he had anticipated.
Of course, these words Chen Xiangbei wouldn’t say out loud; they would be too demoralizing.
Facing Chen Xiangbei’s "courtesy words," a bitter smile appeared on Han Han’s face.
He then asked, "Chen Xiangbei, I’m really curious about one thing, how did you know the Formula racing lines?"
Han Han ultimately couldn’t suppress his inner curiosity; he wanted a clear understanding of his defeat.
"I learned from playing games and watching races, just happened to succeed."
This time, Chen Xiangbei used a small excuse. The truth is he had practiced Formula training here, and his familiarity with every corner’s line on the track was probably not much less than Han Han’s.
Again, even though Chen Xiangbei has near F1-level driver skills, he is no immortal; tracks or mountain roads he’s never driven wouldn’t allow him to completely dominate a national champion often running Haizhu International Circuit using just a high school student’s body and underperforming car.
The error in thinking from both Car Elder Quan or Han Han is their assumption that being professional racers meant the track was their home ground, and it was only natural to beat a high schooler like Chen Xiangbei.
In reality, who’s home ground is this exactly...?
Learned from playing games and watching races?
Chen Xiangbei’s answer sent ripples through Han Han’s previously suppressed emotions again.
After eight years of racing on professional tracks, Han Han had never attempted the Formula racing cornering lines that Chen Xiangbei grasped easily.
Is there really such a vast gap between people?
Just when Han Han didn’t know what to say, Ye Yong, manager of the Volkswagen 222 Team, had already rushed to stand before Chen Xiangbei.
Stretching out his hand, he straightforwardly said, "Chen Xiangbei, I’m Ye Yong, manager of the Volkswagen 222 Team. I wonder if you’re interested in becoming a professional driver?"
PS: Brothers, if you have monthly tickets, please consider voting, thank you.