Chapter 62: Chapter 59: No More Need for Evaluation Trials
"You’re less than three seconds faster than the track record."
Hearing the result from Liang Chi, Chen Xiangbei took off his helmet, revealing a somewhat pale face, with an expression that was utterly calm, without any noticeable emotional change.
"What, kid, don’t you have any reaction?"
Finally, Liang Chi couldn’t hold it in.
As an elder in his forties, he couldn’t contain the joy and excitement in his heart over Chen Xiangbei breaking the track record.
This kid acted as if it had nothing to do with him. Could it be that once he gets in the car, he abandons all human emotions?
"What reaction is needed?"
Chen Xiangbei retorted with a question.
Zhang Zhendong’s achievements in the touring car field were impressive, but in the formula field, he was not considered a notable opponent.
For Chen Xiangbei, leading by three seconds was quite normal. If the car were a bit more powerful, or if he could regain his peak strength, leading by ten or eight seconds wouldn’t be surprising.
Facing Chen Xiangbei’s retort, Liang Chi was at a loss for words.
Could this kid really think that an official track record is the same as a street record like those at Nanyun Mountain?
The Huasi Sports racing base was completed in 2005, and for three whole years, hundreds of karting drivers and entry-level formula drivers came here to train, and it also hosted three CKC events.
It’s equivalent to Chen Xiangbei using one practice to "crush" all the kart drivers in China over the past three years.
Remember, all of them!
Having achieved such an astonishing result, this kid acted so nonchalantly. Was it a matter of personality, or did he not understand the value of the track record?
Seeing the astonishment on Liang Chi’s face, Chen Xiangbei instantly realized that what seemed ordinary to him was extraordinary in the eyes of others.
To this, he could only sigh.
[Alas, I also want to be low-key, but my abilities won’t allow it...]
Fortunately, at this moment, Lu Xiaoman handed over a water bottle, interrupting their conversation.
"Xiangbei, your practice intensity is a bit too high. Drink some sports drinks to balance your electrolytes."
Although Lu Xiaoman seemed unreliable with her multiple roles, she had a solid international registered dietitian certificate, and she observed that Chen Xiangbei was showing signs of slight dehydration.
"Thank you."
Chen Xiangbei responded, took the bottle from Lu Xiaoman, drinking while habitually walking towards the analysis table.
"Ito, how was the data run?"
"Based on the data alone, one could say it is normal, or that it is not."
Ito Masashi replied very seriously.
"Where is it not normal?"
"It’s too fast!"
Without Liang Chi’s roundabout way of speaking, Ito Masashi expressed his thoughts directly. Chen Xiangbei’s speed made him seem unlike a normal human...
At this moment, technical director Miyamoto Shigeru, standing to the side, spoke up: "Xiang Bei-kun, we will analyze your racing data in detail and send it back to the headquarters of the Suzuka Racing School."
"Moreover, from my personal point of view, if you can consistently maintain this speed, there’s no need for any further trials."
According to the original plan, Chen Xiangbei had a month of karting practice time, followed by a trial conducted by Honda’s technical staff to see if he could pass the Honda Racing Academy’s assessment standards.
Now, he skipped karting and directly took on formula racing, leading the fastest lap time by nearly three seconds. Such racing skills are something that even the students at the Suzuka Racing School might not achieve.
What trial is needed; it’s as redundant as taking off your pants to fart!
"Miyamoto, by sending the racing data back to the headquarters, are you planning to directly recommend Chen Xiangbei to the Suzuka Racing School?"
Standing to the side, Zhang Zhicong realized the hidden implication and, with an excited expression, sought confirmation.
"Yes, if there’s nothing wrong with the data, the performance of the CFR2000 car may no longer be suitable for Xiang Bei-kun. He should be running in a higher level, the Renault Formula."
At the moment, Miyamoto Shigeru needed to confirm one thing through a headquarters data analysis: whether Chen Xiangbei’s current lap time was the limit of this CFR2000 car or his own limit.
If it’s the latter, then there’s nothing more to say; it needs more polishing.
If it’s the former, it means the CFR2000 is limiting Chen Xiangbei’s performance and he needs a more powerful racing car and a larger racing stage to showcase his abilities.
After all, no one present was more aware than Miyamoto Shigeru of how difficult it was for Sato Takuma at the start of his career, limited by age.
In Chen Xiangbei, he seemed to see the shadow of the once young and gifted Sato Takuma!
"Great, thank you, Miyamoto."
Zhang Zhicong expressed his gratitude, knowing that in the past three years, Huasi Sports had received very few recommendations from Miyamoto Shigeru, with none passing the Suzuka Racing School’s assessments.
It’s not just that Chen Xiangbei has no time to delay, Huasi Sports also can’t afford to delay; both are, in a sense, racing against time!
"No need to thank me, President Zhang. I’m just fulfilling my duties."
After Miyamoto Shigeru finished speaking, he bowed slightly in a gesture before turning around to pack up the control station equipment with Ito Masashi and Nakamura Takashi.
Chen Xiangbei’s physical condition required time to recover. Today’s practice effectively ends here. After all, causing tiredness from racing could result in far more severe consequences than other sports.
"Xiangbei, there’s a shower in the driver’s lounge. You should take a shower and change clothes first."
At this time, Liang Chi patted Chen Xiangbei on the shoulder, reminding him.
"Okay."
Chen Xiangbei nodded, affirming that the reason F1 racing is considered the only sport in the world where you can lose four kilograms while sitting for two hours is because the entire body’s muscles exert force during racing, along with the stifling heat from the racing suit causing excessive sweating.
The quality of a racing suit is quite similar to that of a tactical jacket, except that one focuses on fire resistance, while the other emphasizes water resistance and windproofing.
Top-notch racing suits guarantee fire resistance while also providing moisture-wicking and breathability to keep the driver relatively dry and comfortable.
It’s evident that Huasi Sports’ bulk gear only barely meets FIA recognition standards, and as for comfort, there’s no need to think about it. Right now, Chen Xiangbei is soaked in sweat and feeling sticky.
Watching Chen Xiangbei leave, Liang Chi then said to Zhang Zhicong, "Old Zhang, now do you believe it? I’ve said all along that this kid’s racing talent surpasses Cheng Congfu and is definitely the hope of Chinese racing."
At this moment, Liang Chi seemed to relish a sense of vindication; three years of Huasi Sports couldn’t compare to one Chen Xiangbei!
"I believe now."
At that moment, Zhang Zhicong had nothing more to say; the lap time had already proven everything.
It also opened Zhang Zhicong’s eyes because he’d only ever seen formula drivers transition to touring cars, never a touring car driver, or even a street racer, adapt to formula racing so quickly. Chen Xiangbei undoubtedly was the first.
Seeing Zhang Zhicong wholeheartedly convinced, a playful smile appeared on Liang Chi’s face.
Lighting up a cigarette for himself, he continued, "If Xiangbei can successfully join the Honda Suzuka Racing School, then his path in formula racing will be much easier in the future."
"To be honest, I feel like I’m dreaming."
Until that moment, Liang Chi still felt somewhat surreal.
"You old thing have really had your edges worn down by reality, yet you feel like you’re dreaming already. Do you remember when you were determined to create a Chinese F1 series and drivers?"
Zhang Zhicong laughed in response, as he and Liang Chi had once pursued many unrealistic dreams.
After saying this, Zhang Zhicong continued to ask, "By the way, what is Xiangbei’s dream?"
"Just as ambitious as we once were; he wants to become an F1 driver."
"Hahaha..."
Zhang Zhicong laughed heartily. No wonder this kid was determined to run formula races; indeed, only those with similar traits would be drawn towards common goals.