Chapter 61: Chapter 58: Where Is the Real Limit?
[Can this really be recovered?]
The same thought seemed to pop into the minds of everyone present.
To be honest, given the speed and the extent of the skid just now, there wasn’t much room to maneuver. At best, Chen Xiangbei could only try to adjust the collision direction, making the front of the car hit the tire wall, which is relatively safer.
As a result, this kid forcefully relied on counter-throttle correction to recover a formula car that had lost control.
In that moment, Liang Chi didn’t know whether to blame Chen Xiangbei for driving too aggressively, or to praise the kid for his high skills and courage.
On the track, following Chen Xiangbei’s successful car recovery, his driving operations became slightly more conservative.
The winter temperature at the East Sea is too low, causing the tires to heat up too slowly, plus there were significant adjustment issues with the CFR2000, making it indeed unsuitable for overly aggressive driving.
However, when the CFR2000 crossed the starting line with a complete lap time, everyone on the track couldn’t contain their curiosity and gathered in front of the data collection computer to see the lap time.
Immediately after, everyone’s pupils simultaneously dilated as they saw what was an impossibly fast lap time.
minute 27.32 seconds!
That’s right, Chen Xiangbei, in his first competitive lap, broke the track record of the strongest student, Zhang Zhendong, who had a record of 1 minute 27.66 seconds.
"Did Xiaodong’s track record just get broken?"
Zhang Zhicong muttered to himself. It’s important to know that he had high hopes for Zhang Zhendong, believing he would become China’s next racing prodigy.
But now, compared to Chen Xiangbei, it seemed like they weren’t even on the same level as drivers, and Zhang appeared somewhat vulnerable!
"Director Miyamoto, the track record has been broken. Should we call him back to adjust the car, or let him continue?"
Ito Masashi asked, appearing relatively calm.
Race engineers are inherently required to be calm and steady. Besides, the record set by Chinese racing talents, not to mention internationally, even before Japanese drivers, is only of moderate standing.
If we ignore Chen Xiangbei’s status as a rookie driver, breaking such a low-level track record is very normal.
"Let him run a few more laps."
Miyamoto Shigeru rejected the suggestion to call back for adjustments. From the computer driving trajectory, there were no problems with Chen Xiangbei’s cornering lines.
The sliding in the bends was more due to insufficient grip caused by tire temperature, and the low mechanical quality of the CFR2000 race car.
But now it’s neither a race nor a test, just an ordinary practice, with no requirements for lap time.
Miyamoto Shigeru wanted to take this opportunity to test the adaptation potential of the Chinese rookie with standard-regulation cars!
It’s important to know that besides F1, other events like Renault, F3, GP2, etc., use FIA-specified supplier-manufactured standard-spec race cars.
Theoretically, these cars perform identically, but practically, if you’re in a big F2 team or come from a well-known racing family, or if your dad’s financial resources are astonishing,
You can still make fine adjustments to standard-regulation cars within a limited range to suit the driver’s driving style or the track conditions, thus gaining an edge at the starting line.
Of course, for ordinary drivers without financial resources, the type of car provided by the team or the event organizer is what they have to drive, with no room for choice.
In such cases, the test is on the driver’s adaptability.
Drivers who can’t adapt to any car and track condition are destined not to go far in their career.
No one called for a stop, so naturally, Chen Xiangbei continued to speed on the track. As the laps increased, the tire temperature of the car also quickly rose to optimal conditions.
Following that, it could be said to have entered into Chen Xiangbei’s show time, breaking the 1 minute 27-second barrier by the fifth lap, with the fastest lap refreshed to 1 minute 26.92 seconds.
Then followed the sixth lap, seventh lap, eighth lap...
Almost as the lap count increased, Chen Xiangbei’s lap times improved simultaneously. By the fifteenth lap, the fastest lap had reached 1 minute 24.87 seconds, having surpassed the initial track record by nearly three seconds!
While Zhang Zhendong was only an entry-level formula driver, capable of setting a track record more due to the weak domestic formula environment, with a taste of "No great generals in Shu, and therefore Liao Hua acts as the vanguard."
But seriously speaking, Chen Xiangbei isn’t even in the same league as Liao Hua!
In his first practice, on a 3.7-kilometer short track, he improved the fastest lap by nearly three seconds.
If he becomes familiar later, it’s hard to imagine how fast he can run!
This number caused collective silence among everyone present, even the previously calm and composed Japanese technical staff now had faces full of awe.
It’s possible that even the elites from Honda Suzuka Racing School couldn’t achieve Chen Xiangbei’s speed!
"Director Miyamoto, the data shows tire wear has exceeded the critical value, should we call the car back?"
Ito Masashi reminded again. Chen Xiangbei’s challenge to the lap record, akin to what’s called full-speed push in F1, consumes tire life much faster than normal cruising.
Just like in F1, during qualifiers, a new set of tires often runs only two or three laps before needing another set for the next round.
In entry-level formula cars, because of the lighter car weight and slower speeds, tire wear is naturally lower than in F1.
However, after a dozen laps, the tire wear is also very severe, reaching the point where a call-back for adjustments is needed.
"Hold on a bit longer."
Miyamoto Shigeru still did not agree. Data monitoring showed that Chen Xiangbei’s speed hadn’t slowed down; he really wanted to see where this Chinese rookie’s limit was.
Just from this lap onwards, Chen Xiangbei’s fastest lap wasn’t refreshed again; worn-out tires made it impossible for precise lines through the bends to hit the apex, and he had to slow down to avoid skidding.
Additionally, having pushed for more than ten laps, Chen Xiangbei’s body couldn’t quite hold up.
After all, his comprehensive training for the shoulder and neck region was less than two months, while also managing his studies, unable to invest himself fully.
Maintaining an average speed of 160km/h for a long time, the lateral G-force significantly impacts the body, and under the helmet visor, Chen Xiangbei’s face was covered with dense beads of sweat.
"Call the car back."
The technical director Miyamoto Shigeru finally issued the recall order.
Hearing this sentence, Ito Masashi took out a black and white checkered flag, standing by the track, waving it.
The black and white checkered flag, in F1, symbolizes the end of the race; upon seeing it, Chen Xiangbei stepped on the brakes to slow down, gradually pulling over to the side of the track.
Liang Chi rushed over first, assisting Chen Xiangbei in unbuckling the six-point harness while he couldn’t help but "scold," "I told you kid not to be too bold, don’t think about the track record, but you didn’t listen!"
"If an accident happens and the car crashes, that’s one thing; but what if something happens to you?"
When Liang Chi said this, he really wanted to keep a stern look, but his mouth couldn’t help curving upwards slightly while speaking.
He ultimately didn’t misjudge the person. Chen Xiangbei had shown his talent in formula racing, and who knows what miracles this kid will create in the future.
Facing Liang Chi’s concerned words, Chen Xiangbei struggled to push himself out of the cockpit before asking, "Uncle Liang, how many seconds faster was I than the track record?"
What?
Liang Chi suspected for a moment that he heard wrong. This kid wasn’t asking if he broke the track record, but directly asked how many seconds faster he was.
Is he that confident that he would definitely drive faster than Zhang Zhendong?
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