Chapter 88: Chapter 81: Clash of Geniuses (5K)
"Principal Nakajima, I believe Chen Xiangbei’s skills have reached the level where there’s no need for a selection race."
Sawano Hiroyuki calmed his shaken emotions and made his suggestion to Nakajima Goro.
The Honda Racing Academy is recruiting this batch of junior trainees, mostly to participate in the Renault Winter Series, competing for that ticket to enter European Formula.
But the problem is the registration scope for this race includes the entire Asia-Pacific region. Just in Japan alone, there are several well-funded factory teams like the Toyota Racing Academy and Nissan Youth Training Plan vying for that admission ticket.
Besides, there are private teams like Aguri and Mugen with their eyes set on it.
According to the initial plan of the racing academy, there would be an internal selection race to determine the strongest driver among this batch of trainees, to represent Honda in the Renault Winter Series.
It seems now there’s no need for that, Chen Xiangbei’s raw strength is miles ahead!
"Let’s wait and see how Hoshino Yoshi performs."
Nakajima Goro didn’t immediately agree. Unlike Sawano Hiroyuki, who has a purely "guidance" role, as the principal of the Honda Racing Academy and the founder of "Nakajima Planning" racing company, he must balance more commercial and political considerations.
If allocated two slots, he would favor the stronger Chen Xiangbei.
But if there’s only one, Nakajima Goro has to weigh the pros and cons.
After Kobayashi Kamui, Japan’s racing scene needs to cultivate a new successor!
Meanwhile, Chen Xiangbei ran a few laps of Fuji Speedway and then stepped off the racing simulator.
After all, this is a racing academy, not a private F1 team simulator, each trainee’s practice time is limited.
Last in line for simulation training was Hoshino Yoshi. As the two exchanged places, their eyes met briefly, and Chen Xiangbei sensed a fighting spirit in his gaze.
Clearly, his lap time records had provoked Hoshino Yoshi’s competitive desire.
But Chen Xiangbei was indifferent; if you want a challenge, then bring it on!
The steps to the highest altar of racing, F1, are paved by stepping over one formula opponent or teammate after another, and there can only be one victor.
Hoshino Yoshi sat in the four-axis cockpit, setting his driving parameters. Chen Xiangbei glanced over, noticing the kid’s setup leaned towards oversteer, commonly known as the drift racing style, resembling rally or drift drivers.
The first map remained the familiar Suzuka Circuit, and just from his initial throttle and clutch coordination, Chen Xiangbei endorsed Mizutani Sho’s previous remarks that Hoshino Yoshi certainly is a top-tier talented driver.
The opponent’s engine RPM control was only about fifty revs different from his own, with extremely close starting power output.
On the track, Hoshino Yoshi’s racing lines were equally precise, far surpassing the previous Asia-Pacific karting champion Matsuboto Brown.
It’s important to note that a large championship title doesn’t necessarily equate to high-level winners. Not to mention the Asia-Pacific karting events, even in top-tier junior events like F2, many subpar champions still appear.
For instance, from 2019 to 2023’s five F2 champions, only McLaren Team’s Piastri could be considered a qualified genius driver, while the others, such as De Vries or Mick Schumacher, had a lot of undeserved reputation and couldn’t establish themselves in F1.
Hoshino Yoshi’s speed on the first lap soon emerged, clocking in at 2 minutes 06 seconds 011, half a second slower compared to Chen Xiangbei.
But this wasn’t Hoshino Yoshi’s limit. His second lap was pushed even more aggressively, evidently trying to challenge Chen Xiangbei’s lap time.
minutes 05 seconds 135!
Faced with this lap time, the hall erupted in astonishment.
This group of trainees never expected to witness two drivers break the Suzuka Circuit lap time record on a simulator within a single day.
When did Kobayashi Kamui’s record become such a commonplace achievement?
Quickly, Hoshino Yoshi entered the rhythm for his third lap, he was entirely committed, giving his one hundred percent in every corner, pushing to his perceived limits!
When the big screen showed 2 minutes 05 seconds 011, Hoshino Yoshi felt a breath escape him instantly, despite his all-out effort, he was still 0.1 seconds behind!
The trainees in the hall showed expressions of regret, just 0.1 seconds short, and Hoshino could have reclaimed the strongest trainee title, but now, it still belongs to a newcomer from China.
After completing this lap, Hoshino Yoshi came off the simulator directly; he didn’t continue training for Fuji Speedway.
The reason is simple, Hoshino Yoshi is unfamiliar with Fuji Speedway, and the lap times will only show a greater gap compared to Chen Xiangbei.
Moreover, next year, the Japanese F1 Grand Prix host track is confirmed to return to the Suzuka Circuit, making practice on Fuji Speedway pointless.
"Did Hoshino not surpass Chen Xiangbei even with this?"
Nakajima Goro’s face was somewhat displeased, he had hoped his idea of genius collision would ignite Hoshino Yoshi’s competitiveness and potential.
In reality, it did so, as Hoshino Yoshi exceeded his previous fastest single lap on the simulator.
But indeed, Hoshino Yoshi couldn’t outperform Chen Xiangbei, forcing Nakajima Goro to face reality.
That is Japan’s next generation of talented drivers may truly be inferior to this newcomer from China.
"Principal Nakajima, did you notice the state difference between the two?."
"Even if he surpasses, he would quickly be overtaken by Chen Xiangbei."
Sawano Hiroyuki shook his head and replied, although his professional achievements weren’t as stellar as Nakajima Goro, after retiring, he maintained a pure view of racing, observing the two trainees with an absolutely fair mindset.