Chapter 57: Chapter 54: Driving a Formula Car Again
"Xiang Bei, you’re going to drive the CFR2000 Formula?"
Ito Masashi asked again in a surprised tone. In all his years of driver training, he had never seen a newbie driver skip from karting straight to Formula racing.
"Yes, I want to drive the CFR2000 Formula race car."
Chen Xiangbei nodded to confirm. Since age is seen as his biggest disadvantage, he didn’t want to waste time on karting. Sometimes, it’s necessary to show one’s true "talent."
"Xiang Bei, you might not fully understand, although both Formula and karting belong to standardized vehicles, they are essentially still..."
Ito Masashi thought Chen Xiangbei might have some misconceptions about Formula racing and intended to help him understand the differences between the two seriously.
But halfway through his explanation, Chen Xiangbei shook his head and interrupted, "Ito, there’s a saying in China, which goes, ’whether it’s a mule or a horse, take it out for a ride and you’ll know.’"
"The CFR2000 Formula race car, in terms of the power-to-weight ratio, isn’t much harder to drive than a Super Kart. Considering this is a training track, with sufficient safety for solo driving, why not let me try and then conclude?"
Whether a car is fast or not doesn’t just depend on engine power but also on the overall weight of the car. The number obtained by dividing the two is called the power-to-weight ratio.
Despite the Super Kart only being equipped with a 250CC engine and less than 100 horsepower, it benefits from its total weight of around 200 kilograms, resulting in an astonishingly high power-to-weight ratio.
In comparison, the CFR2000 has a horsepower of 220 but weighs 550 kilograms, meaning the power-to-weight ratios are actually comparable.
This means someone who can drive a Super Kart can also drive the Huasi Formula car.
But the question is can the newbie Chen Xiangbei really drive a Super Kart well?
Ito Masashi had doubts about this but couldn’t outright deny Chen Xiangbei’s insistence, so he turned his eyes to Huasi President Zhang Zhicong.
After all, this is the Huasi Sports Racing Base in the East Sea, and Zhang Zhicong is the one with the decision-making power.
"Old Liang, can you directly handle a Formula car just on simulator experience?"
In response to Ito Masashi’s questioning look, Zhang Zhicong asked Liang Chi who was beside him.
"I’ve heard of precedents abroad, but I’ve never seen it myself."
Liang Chi replied, also not daring to guarantee anything.
In professional racing, there indeed have been cases of simulator players abroad turning into professional drivers.
However, most of them are GT races, and their professional-grade simulators are vastly different from home versions, meaning Chen Xiangbei’s so-called simulator experience is theoretically useless.
"So what do you say, should we let Xiangbei give it a try?"
Zhang Zhicong was uncertain since Chen Xiangbei’s request seemed somewhat outlandish.
"Give it a try; Huasi’s going bankrupt anyway, so we might as well take a gamble."
"To put it another way, would you have believed this kid could beat Han Han on the track before witnessing it?"
Those words from Liang Chi struck at Zhang Zhicong’s inner hesitance.
Indeed, having witnessed miracles happen before with Chen Xiangbei, why not believe in it once more?
After making up his mind, Zhang Zhicong leaned over and said, "Ito, start the CFR2000 warm-up and setup for practice with this car."
After speaking, Zhang Zhicong turned his gaze towards Chen Xiangbei and added, "Driving a Formula car has certain risks, and you must wear full protective gear to drive. There are racing suits and helmets in stock in the lounge; go get changed first."
If driving an entry-level kart like the KZ3, wearing just a helmet would almost be enough for Chen Xiangbei.
But for driving a standard Formula car like the CFR2000, even if practicing on a closed track, full protective measures are still necessary to ensure the driver’s safety in case of accidents.
"Xiang Bei, come with me."
At this time, Lu Xiaoman, who was standing next to him, spoke and led Chen Xiangbei to the driver’s lounge.
The lounge of an ordinary racing academy is similar to the players’ lounges seen on TV, with a shared area for everyone, lined with lockers for storing personal racing equipment.
For instance, helmets, gloves, racing suits, racing shoes, and other items.
If one reaches the level of an F1 driver, the lounge would be more like a private suite, furnished with sofas and beds to provide a comfortable environment for the driver.
In the past, the famous playboy F1 driver James Hunt had plenty of scandals with grid girls in the lounge, which later inspired a movie called "Rush."
"Xiang Bei, what’s your height and weight?"
Lu Xiaoman asked, partly to find a suitable racing suit for him and also because, as someone wearing multiple hats, she needed to know the driver’s data.
"Height 175 cm, weight 67 kg."
"Not bad, pretty standard build."
Lu Xiaoman said as she looked up and down at Chen Xiangbei, making him quite uncomfortable.
"Engineer Liang said you’re an emotionless racing machine, but I find you quite interesting."
Lu Xiaoman’s curiosity and playful attitude towards Chen Xiangbei was due to Liang Chi’s assessment of him.
[Emotionless racing machine.]
This term in any other industry might carry negative connotations, but for a driver, it’s undoubtedly the highest compliment.
Only with technical, psychological, and all-around extreme dedication can one achieve the stability and precision reminiscent of a "machine."
After saying this, Lu Xiaoman helped Chen Xiangbei find a set of racing suits from the stockroom. Since it wasn’t custom-made, it only fit decently, but it was better than nothing.
Fully geared up, Chen Xiangbei and Lu Xiaoman walked out of the hall, and by this time, the CFR2000 had completed its fluid warm-up and was being pushed by technicians to the track parking area.
Seeing Chen Xiangbei come out, Ito Masashi, holding a clipboard, said, "The Huasi base shares a track for karts and Formula cars. The total length is 3.7 kilometers, with 15 turns, 9 of which are sharp."
"The current ambient temperature is 12°C, and the ground temperature is 8°C, meaning the tire temperature rises slowly, requiring long warm-up laps. Special attention should be paid to traction changes during cornering."
Ito Masashi was introducing the track and environmental information to Chen Xiangbei without "teaching" him how to drive despite his newbie status.
The biggest difference between Formula racing and other races is that race engineers are purely there as assistants; how to drive is entirely up to the driver.
Because the higher the level of a Formula driver, particularly at the F1 level, there are only so few in the world, and they have reached a point where no one can teach them how to drive.
"Hmm, what’s the track record?"
Chen Xiangbei casually asked, as having a benchmark makes it easier to surpass.
"The track record is 1 minute 27.66 seconds set by youth team member Zhang Zhendong, the CKC annual champion of the year before last."
Zhang Zhendong?
Upon hearing this familiar name, a smile appeared on Chen Xiangbei’s lips. The future four-time CTCC champion has some recognition, and it seems his first track record to break would be his.
"Got it."
Chen Xiangbei nodded and sat in the CFR2000 cockpit, presenting himself in a half-lying position.
At this moment, Liang Chi came over and advised, "Kid, don’t be too daring. Get used to it slowly, and don’t think about the track record!"
Liang Chi had heard Chen Xiangbei ask about the track record, and knowing his nature, he wouldn’t do anything meaningless, so he must have this goal in mind.
A 1 minute 27 second track record translates to an average speed of about 150 km/h.
Even with numerous safety measures on a closed track, that kind of speed is still dangerous. Using Chen Xiangbei’s frequent warning to Fatty Wang, Liang Chi worried that this kid would risk his life and really get himself killed!