Chapter 48: Chapter 45: The Unshakable Formula
Under normal circumstances, to be honest, Ye Yong’s recruitment is somewhat impulsive.
After all, Chen Xiangbei defeated a driver from their own team. Recruiting an opponent in front of Han Han like this would, in a sense, embarrass him and is not conducive to team unity.
But Ye Yong and Han Han have been old friends for many years and know that he is not a petty person.
Moreover, more importantly, Han Han has decided to transition to become a rally racer after winning the CCC National Championship and will officially join the East Sea FCA Rally Racing Team next year.
With the ace driver of the Volkswagen 222 Team leaving, there is an urgent need for another driver to fill the vacancy and maintain their identity as a championship team.
Chen Xiangbei is undoubtedly the most promising driver at the moment!
But before Chen Xiangbei could answer, Zhang Zhicong came over from afar, smiled, and shook his head at Ye Yong, saying, "Manager Ye, don’t waste your effort, this kid doesn’t plan to race in touring cars."
"Then what does he plan to do, race rally?"
Ye Yong was a bit puzzled. Rally racing is quite different from touring car racing, and the talent Chen Xiangbei showed on the track might not necessarily translate to rally racing.
Sometimes choosing the wrong path can ruin a genius.
"No, Chen Xiangbei wants to race in Formula."
Formula?
Hearing this term, Ye Yong was a bit surprised.
Both touring cars and Formula belong to circuit races, and Ye Yong is naturally aware of the standards and requirements of Formula racing.
Chen Xiangbei is currently eighteen years old and a high school student. Ye Yong isn’t sure if he has had any karting training. However, at least within China, he hasn’t heard of any karting champion named Chen Xiangbei.
This means that if Chen Xiangbei wants to race in Formula, it’s equivalent to starting from scratch.
Ye Yong could barely accept him racing rally, but now going to race in Formula is indeed somewhat fanciful.
Zhang Zhicong and Liang Chi are considered veterans at Huasi Sports and surely understand the complexities; why aren’t they advising this young man?
"President Zhang, I think it might not be appropriate for Chen Xiangbei to race in Formula at this time."
Ye Yong expressed his view tactfully, and hearing this, Zhang Zhicong’s smile grew even wider.
Just a few hours ago, he had said something with a similar meaning, only to be firmly rejected by Liang Chi.
Unexpectedly, in just a few hours, Zhang Zhicong had already joined Liang Chi’s camp and believed that Chen Xiangbei should indeed race in Formula.
The reason is simple: Formula is the pinnacle of the racing industry. Why not showcase your talent recklessly and compete for the most dazzling title in the world?
As an old hand, I can be cautious; since Chen Xiangbei has a firm idea and shows potential with his extreme racing lines, don’t stand in his way.
If one is not bold in youth, then what is the point of being young?
"Manager Ye, thank you for your invitation, but my only goal is Formula."
Chen Xiangbei gave the same answer, his conviction never wavering.
Seeing this, Ye Yong felt a bit regretful but did not continue to persuade.
Every driver has their own dreams, and as long as they can look back years later without regret, there is no right or wrong!
"Alright, then I wish you success on the Formula track."
"Thank you."
As they were discussing, medical personnel helped Car Master Quan over. His face was covered in blood and grime at this moment.
His Mitsubishi EVO had been more thoroughly modified than Chen Xiangbei’s Subaru Impreza, with a racing bucket seat and a five-point seat belt, along with gravel buffer zones and tire walls saving Car Master Quan’s life.
In a sense, professional racing has indeed become safer as technology advances, with the fatality rate now relatively low.
Car Master Quan happened to hear Chen Xiangbei say his only goal was Formula, and pride and anger caused him to lose control of his emotions, retorting on the spot, "Stop dreaming, do you know how big the gap is between domestic and even the entire Asian Formula drivers and those of the world?"
Car Master Quan comes from a Hong Kong Island Formula racing background and has been exposed to karting training since childhood.
The more he progressed, meeting more drivers, the more Car Master Quan realized that his once-proud driving skills were easily surpassed even by Japanese drivers, let alone stronger European drivers.
It was from this point on that Car Master Quan’s confidence shattered, realizing that it was hard to reach those heights despite a lifetime of Formula training.
Chen Xiangbei might have some talent, but so what?
Can a high schooler be stronger than someone with years of karting practice?
Even I have no chance, so where does Chen Xiangbei get his confidence and courage to now pursue Formula racing?
Facing Car Master Quan’s doubts, Chen Xiangbei’s face showed a hint of mockery.
He stepped forward, stood upright in front of Car Master Quan, and said proudly, "Of course I know how big the gap is between domestic Formula and the world’s top level."
"But just because you can’t do it doesn’t mean I can’t."
"If you don’t even have the courage to defeat your opponents, you don’t deserve to be called a driver, just a deserter."
To be honest, there might be no one in the world who understands the gap between Chinese racing and the world’s top level in Formula better than Chen Xiangbei.
Or one might say that China is still in its karting infancy and isn’t even worthy of being called Formula.
Expanded to the whole of Asia, only Japan has barely touched the threshold of F1 by relying on its legacy as a major automotive powerhouse, yet still struggled to establish itself fully.
But does the lack of a premier automotive industry foundation mean there is absolutely no hope?
If that were the case, the world wouldn’t have produced a legendary driver like Senna!
The confidence and aura Chen Xiangbei displayed at that moment made Car Master Quan feel as if he was a completely different person, no longer resembling a high school student.
A few seconds later, he regained his composure and replied through gritted teeth, "Alright then, I’ll be watching to see how you become a Formula driver!"
With that, Car Master Quan turned and left with the track medical personnel.
As for Chen Xiangbei, he wasn’t even interested in making a bet with him; they weren’t even on the same level as drivers, and Car Master Quan was doomed to never understand what it means to have the aspirations of a great bird soaring to the skies while being a mere swallow.
Standing by the track, Cao An overheard Chen Xiangbei’s conversation and remarked in a regretful tone to Qin Lianjie, "You were right all along, knowing that our Light Point Team couldn’t afford this genius."
"But I didn’t expect Chen Xiangbei to even refuse the Volkswagen 222 Team, insisting on racing Formula. This high schooler has much bigger ambitions than we thought."
Listening to Cao An’s words, Qin Lianjie crossed his arms, deep in thought, and replied, "The signs were there long ago; Chen Xiangbei is not like other street racers. He especially likes maintaining lines during corners, a plain and unadorned technique that often doesn’t attract ordinary people."
"Think about other high schoolers at his age, who doesn’t like to make a big show with tire burns and drifting stunts?"
"Perhaps from the moment Chen Xiangbei started racing, he was already prepared to move towards a professional or Formula career. The driving habits required for cornering require years of accumulation, and he doesn’t have the flashy bad habits of many street racers."
Having reached a professional goalkeeping level, Qin Lianjie has a pretty good insight into Chen Xiangbei’s driving style.
This guy is indeed destined for professionalism!