Why race if you don’t have money?

Chapter 142 The Glory of Making History (Part 2)

"Champion, Chen Xiangbei!"

"Chen Xiangbei has created a miracle: the first Chinese F3 champion in the history of the Grand Prix!"

"Chen Xiangbei defeated the previous two champions in a row, and then completely dominated last year's runner-up, Motana. His strength is just too damn strong!"

"The ruler of the Guia Circuit has finally gained a Chinese driver."

"Chen Xiangbei is awesome!"

The entire grandstand of the Guia Circuit erupted in cheers, with spectators waving their flags and applauding and cheering for Chen Xiangbei's No. 13 car.

To be honest, even though Chen Xiangbei secured pole position, many viewers still lacked absolute confidence in his ability to win the championship before the race.

On the one hand, the pole position conversion rate at the Grand Prix is ​​not high, and the frequent track accidents make pole position drivers the target of everyone's criticism. In many cases, in the fierce competition, the front row drivers become the biggest victims.

Just like during this match, Kyoto Kunimoto and Chavis, who were in the front row, collided one after another. Even Chen Xiangbei himself was in danger during the offensive and defensive battles, and almost "died together" with his opponent.

On the other hand, no matter how well Chen Xiangbei performs in Formula Renault, he is ultimately a complete newcomer in the F3 field, which is equally indisputable.

Who would have thought that such a "newcomer," despite being at a complete disadvantage in terms of strategy and resources, could still turn the tide and win the championship?

When something you never dared to imagine becomes a reality, the sense of surprise is indescribable.

"The race ended with the appearance of the checkered flag. Chen Xiangbei created a miracle for himself and for China, winning the Grand Prix F3 championship title and standing at the world's pinnacle in the same class!"

"Ladies and gentlemen, let's once again give Chen Xiangbei a round of applause and cheers to congratulate this new generation champion of the Guia Circuit!"

As Li Bing delivered his closing remarks, he felt that he couldn't find the words to describe his feelings at that moment.

He has been a motorsport commentator for almost ten years. Before coming to the Australian Grand Prix as a host, he never thought that a Chinese driver could win the championship on this track, and he couldn't even imagine that a mainland driver would appear here!
At that moment, through the track's broadcast camera, Li Bing saw that the main grandstand had become a sea of ​​red.

To be honest, most of these national flags weren't prepared for Chen Xiangbei; he doesn't have that many supporters or that much influence yet. The spare flags were for celebrating the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Macau Special Administrative Region, and were part of the official post-match celebrations.

The result was a win-win situation, arranging things for Chen Xiangbei ahead of time...

Li Bing's earlier statement proved prophetic; Chen Xiangbei indeed created his own Chinese red miracle!

Chen Xiangbei was doing a return lap on the track. He opened his helmet visor in advance, slowed down, and waved to the spectators on both sides of the track.

Looking at the sea of ​​red in the stadium, even though Chen Xiangbei didn't consider himself a sentimental person, his eyes still welled up with tears.

After all, this is the first Formula One championship title won on home soil, and also the first F3 championship title in Chinese motorsport history, as well as the most prestigious Grand Prix!
This is the first time in two lifetimes that Chen Xiangbei has experienced the glory of the red ocean, which has special commemorative significance for him.

"Chen Xiangbei~~! Chen Xiangbei~~! Chen Xiangbei~~!"

The spectators on both sides of the Guia Circuit watched Chen Xiangbei pass in front of them on the return lap.

The various cheers and praises gradually turned into a unified chant of the champion's name, a privilege reserved for the champion.

Standing in the VIP box of the racing building, Zhang Zhicong was filled with emotion as he watched the scene unfold before him. He hadn't accompanied Chen Xiangbei to Europe, so he naturally hadn't witnessed Chen Xiangbei's victory on the British circuit.

For Zhang Zhicong, this was the first time he had witnessed Chen Xiangbei's victory!
However, he needed to seize the opportunity to discuss more important matters, so he suppressed his excitement and said, "Brother Cheng Long, Chen Xiangbei's victory over the F3 champions from Japan and Italy and his winning of the Grand Prix title is enough to prove his strength and potential."

"Currently, Chen Xiangbei is basically racing at his own expense, facing a huge gap in team resources and funding. If he could have enough sponsorship, today's race might not even have any suspense, and he would have been far ahead."

"Brother, Chen Xiangbei is the strongest Formula 3 driver!"

If Zhang Zhicong's previous introduction contained some elements of boasting and exaggeration about Chen Xiangbei, then...

So now his definition can be considered truly fitting.

Just like former Red Bull number two driver Perez, even though his performance was terrible before he was "cut", he suffered countless doubts and ridicule from the outside world.

But no one brings up his title as the current "King of Street Racing".

Perez proved his ability to control a car to its limits with his Monaco Grand Prix victory.

Zhang Zhicong's claims are no longer empty words; Chen Xiangbei's championship title at the Guia Circuit also proves his status as a top F3 driver!
"Mr. Zhang, after the competition, please arrange a meeting with Xiang Bei for me."

Chen Xiangbei's performance in this match impressed Cheng Long, who has witnessed firsthand the potential of this young man.

In fact, at this moment, it wasn't just Cheng Long; Dong Licheng, standing in another VIP box, also had the idea of ​​cooperating with Chen Xiangbei.

However, compared to personal sponsors like Cheng Long, Dong Licheng, although nominally a private investor, actually has state-owned giants behind him, so there are more things to consider when investing in Chen Xiangbei.

Dong Licheng suppressed his urge to meet Chen Xiangbei and instructed his secretary, who was standing outside the door, to collect detailed information about Chen Xiangbei while weighing the impact of the sponsorship.

Of course, Chen Xiangbei was unaware of these commercial considerations of "capital" at that moment. He was more enjoying the applause and screams from the audience, basking in the glory of being the victor!

Chen Xiangbei drove the race car to the awards area, which was already filled with enthusiastic fans celebrating and reporters waiting to be interviewed.

Meanwhile, Chen Xiangbei's crew members were also among the crowd.

"Brother Bei is awesome, you're the champion!"

When Ah Yong saw Chen Xiangbei emerge from the racing car cockpit, he roared at the top of his lungs.

The Super Dream Racing team, operating under the Brawn GP name, was arguably the worst-performing team among the participants. They couldn't even gather the most basic crew members, forcing Chen Xiangbei to implement a "zero-stop" strategy.

Despite this disadvantageous situation, Chen Xiangbei still won the championship, and A Yong was extremely proud.

"No, we are the champions!"

Chen Xiangbei heard A Yong's shout and immediately replied with this.

In Formula racing, this is not just an individual victory, but also the result of the team's collaborative efforts.

"That's right, we are the champions!"

Hiroki Sawano, Sho Mizutani, Liang Chi, and others said this almost simultaneously, their eyes filled with tears of emotion.

Even Odette, who had previously dismissed Chen Xiangbei's performance in the Renault races, now wore a gratified smile.

A Chinese boy has achieved the miracle of "skipping grades"!

At this moment, Chen Xiangbei opened his arms and leaned over to hug the crew members tightly.

He carried her all the way until he stood in front of Dong Yuanxi, then stopped, his hands hovering in mid-air, unsure if their current relationship was suitable for such an intimate gesture.

Just as Chen Xiangbei was still hesitating, Dong Yuanxi rushed forward, hugged his neck, and exclaimed, "Xiangbei, you made me witness a miracle today!"

When Dong Yuanxi said those words, her heart was pounding uncontrollably; she didn't even know why she was so excited.

Could it be an impression left from childhood, Chen Xiangbei's performance on the track today, or perhaps I was infected by the atmosphere and emotions at the scene?
"Thank you."

Chen Xiangbei replied softly, and then naturally put his arm around Dong Yuanxi.

Feeling the strength of the arms around her waist, Dong Yuanxi instantly understood the reason.

That was an emotional surge from the depths of my heart!

However, the hug lasted only a few seconds before the reporters couldn't wait any longer and handed over their microphones.

"Mr. Chen Xiangbei, first of all, congratulations on winning the Grand Prix F3 championship. Do you have anything to say now?"

"Mr. Chen Xiangbei, winning the Grand Prix means you have made history for Chinese motorsports. Can you describe your feelings at this moment?"

"Driver Bei, according to the track data, this is your first time participating in an F3 race. Can you tell the audience how you managed to win the championship?"

A barrage of questions came at Chen Xiangbei, and to be honest, he didn't know which one to answer for a moment.

Just as he was hesitating, a microphone with the logo of "Asahi Shimbun" was held to his lips and asked, "Mr. Xiang Bei, your professional resume is very similar to that of Japanese driver Takuma Sato. Do you think you can replicate his miracle of entering F1?"

In response to this question, Chen Xiangbei took over the conversation and replied firmly, "I will not copy him."

what?
Reporters at the scene looked puzzled upon hearing Chen Xiangbei's answer.

Takuma Sato is hailed as a super genius in Asia, having created the miracle of starting with basic go-karting at the age of 19 and entering F1 within five years.

Doesn't Chen Xiangbei want to become an F1 driver?
"Remember this: I will not replicate anyone's miracles; I will only create my own history!"

Sato Takuma is indeed very talented, but he cannot become Chen Xiangbei's target.

The miracle Chen Xiangbei wants to achieve is to become a legend like Senna or Schumacher.

He will not be the second Asian Takuma Sato, but the world's first Chen Xiangbei!

"As expected of Chen Xiangbei, he is indeed arrogant enough to not take Sato Takuma seriously."

"Nonsense, Sato is at best a mid-tier F1 driver, Chen Xiangbei should be the strongest!"

"Go for it, Chen Xiangbei! We're waiting to see you enter F1."

"Chinese drivers are no worse than anyone else; you will be the first Chen Xiangbei!"

No one among the fans and spectators at the scene mocked Chen Xiangbei's answer.

On the contrary, they were thrilled when they heard this, which is the kind of ambition and fighting spirit a Chinese driver should have.

This scenario is not only due to the home advantage, but also because Chen Xiangbei achieved a good result.

That's how competitive sports are; as long as you achieve results, it's not just empty talk.

When your strength is so great that there's no excuse to attack or ridicule you, the feedback you receive is recognition and admiration! Not to mention the Chinese supporters present, even the Japanese reporter from Asahi Shimbun who asked the question didn't show any dissatisfaction with Chen Xiangbei's "arrogant" remarks.

The reason is simple: it took Takuma Sato three years from getting started with karting to winning the Grand Prix F3 championship.

Chen Xiangbei only took a year!
The Chinese driver has shown even more extraordinary talent than Takuma Sato, so it's normal that he doesn't want to be a "clone".

Following the post-match interviews in the celebration area, the awards ceremony took place.

Due to the 10th anniversary celebration, the award presenters were changed from FIA tournament officials to high-ranking officials from Hong Kong and Macau, as well as Tung Lap-shing, the title sponsor of the Grand Prix.

At this awards ceremony, Chen Xiangbei became the absolute protagonist, almost completely overshadowing the runner-up and third-place winner.

In competitive sports, the runner-up is the biggest loser, and the home team champion amplifies this effect.

As for the third place winner, under normal circumstances, their names wouldn't even be remembered.

However, the runner-up and third-place winner this time have truly made their mark in history.

"Mr. Australia" Modana failed to hold onto his second place in the final moments and was overtaken by Swedish driver Markus Eriksson.

Ericsson's performance in lower-level formula racing was mediocre, yet he still managed to sign with an F1 team and even served as Leclerc's teammate at Sauber.

Ericsson's seat at Sauber was taken by Kimi Räikkönen, who returned to the team in 19. Subsequently, with Räikkönen's second retirement, that seat fell to Chinese driver Zhou Guanyu.

By the way, according to the original timeline, after finishing the Grand Prix, Ericsson was supposed to be signed by Brawn GP as a test driver at the end of 09.

Chen Xiangbei has already secured the contract for the test driver.

It could be said that Ericsson, in some mysterious way, became the biggest "victim" of Chinese drivers...

Of course, at this time, Eriksson was unaware that his fate would be so tragic.

He was with Motana, looking at Chen Xiangbei standing on the highest podium with immense envy.

No driver doesn't want to be a champion.

And no driver doesn't hope to win on their home turf.

Chen Xiangbei accomplished both of these things, and his performance on the track impressed both of them.

Without jealousy and hatred, all that remains is envy.

Chen Xiangbei accepted the trophy from the leader and then the flowers from Dong Licheng.

As they shook hands, Dong Licheng leaned forward, and Chen Xiangbei assumed that the award presenter was going to say a few polite words of encouragement to him.

What he heard instead was: "Xiang Bei, I am Yuan Xi's father."

[Dong Yuanxi's father?]

Chen Xiangbei was utterly astonished. He had only learned about Dong Yuanxi's family background from Qin Lianjie. He didn't know her father Dong Licheng's name or appearance, and he certainly didn't expect him to present him with an award.

Seeing Chen Xiangbei's bewildered expression, Dong Licheng smiled knowingly and patted Chen Xiangbei's shoulder with his other hand, saying, "You ran well. Keep it up. I have high hopes for you."

"Thank you... thank you, Uncle."

Chen Xiangbei stammered a reply, feeling inexplicably guilty for some reason.

Picking up the trophy and flowers, Chen Xiangbei calmed his surprised emotions and then raised them above his head to the audience below.

Undoubtedly, this move ignited the powder keg, and thunderous applause and cheers resounded once again at the Guia Circuit.

The celebration didn't last long. As a bright national flag appeared on the LCD screen behind Chen Xiangbei, the scene instantly fell silent as everyone stood at attention.

At the same time, the track's public address system came on, playing the familiar "March of the Volunteers."

Standing on the highest podium, listening to the national anthem echoing in his ears, Chen Xiangbei was lost in thought and somewhat absent-minded.

He finally won the Grand Prix, taking the most determined step towards his F1 journey.

Next, we'll probably hear the national anthem played in the F1 paddock!

The end of the awards ceremony also meant the temporary end of the commotion.

However, Chen Xiangbei's fame in China will experience explosive growth from this moment on.

The buzz surrounding his victory in a competition held on home soil in Australia far surpasses the excitement surrounding Chen Xiangbei's performance in Formula Reynolds in Europe. Furthermore, with the CCTV interview airing, he may well become the next household name and iconic athlete in China.

Just like Yao Ming and Liu Xiang.

It's important to know that F1's influence and prestige surpass that of the NBA, not to mention less popular events like the 110-meter hurdles.

Chen Xiangbei's emergence is equivalent to achieving a "zero breakthrough" in a popular sport that is dominated by foreign teams, an achievement that Cheng Congfu and Ma Qingye could not accomplish.

The reason for using the word "maybe" is that the F3 championship is a relatively low level. If Chen Xiangbei wants to become a true sports superstar in China, he still needs an F1 championship title.

By then, he might still have a chance to surpass Yao Ming and Liu Xiang.

Back at the pit stop after changing out of his racing suit, Chen Xiangbei walked out of the drivers' lounge and saw a familiar face.

"Hey North, congratulations on becoming the Grand Prix champion."

Zhang Zhicong uttered these words with great emotion, and in a way, Chen Xiangbei fulfilled his dream of working on Formula One.

"Thank you, Uncle Zhang."

Chen Xiangbei replied with a smile, and then hugged Zhang Zhicong.

"Xiang Bei, do you have time now?"

Zhang Zhicong then asked another question.

"Have."

"Xiang Bei, do you remember I told you that I contacted several potential sponsors in Hong Kong?"

"Ah."

Chen Xiangbei nodded, recalling that he had mentioned it once before at Zhang Zhicong's house in Hong Kong Island.

At that time, Zhang Zhicong kept the other party's identity a secret.

"Today, a potential sponsor is here to watch the game; he is none other than kung fu superstar Jackie Chan."

Cheng Long?

Upon hearing this name, Chen Xiangbei was stunned.

For Chen Xiangbei, the term "familiar" is insufficient to describe his relationship with Jackie Chan; he practically grew up watching his movies.

I never expected that the sponsor Zhang Zhicong contacted would be Jackie Chan. Does this mean he's going to form a "Dragon Team" ahead of schedule?
"Brother Cheng Long is waiting for you in the VIP room upstairs. Why don't you come up with me to see him first?"

"it is good."

Without the slightest hesitation, Chen Xiangbei nodded in agreement.

Regardless of whether a sponsorship agreement can be reached, at least meeting the kung fu superstar is worthwhile.

Chen Xiangbei greeted the crew members and then followed Zhang Zhicong into the elevator inside the racing building to the VIP box upstairs.

Upon opening the door, Chen Xiangbei saw a "familiar" figure through the French windows. The man wasn't particularly tall, but he was sturdy and broad-shouldered.

However, when this person turned around, the wrinkles on his face and the white hair at his temples could not hide the marks brought by the years. He was the kung fu superstar who accompanied Chen Xiangbei throughout his adolescence - Cheng Long!
"Hi, north."

When Cheng Long saw Chen Xiangbei appear at the door, he showed no superstar airs whatsoever and warmly greeted him with a hug, just like the image he had seen on television.

"Hello, Uncle Long."

On the contrary, Chen Xiangbei appeared somewhat reserved and replied very politely, without the unrestrained and flamboyant demeanor he displayed on the track.

"Just call me Big Brother, Uncle Long sounds a bit old."

Cheng Long smiled and replied, then gestured for Chen Xiangbei to sit down on the sofa first.

There was a time when, regardless of age or seniority, everyone addressed Jackie Chan as "Big Brother."

However, as time went by, Chen Xiangbei gradually became more often referred to as "Uncle Long" on the internet, and he grew more accustomed to this title.

Since Cheng Long was unwilling to admit he was getting old, Chen Xiangbei naturally cooperated and changed his tune, saying, "Okay, big brother."

The two sat facing each other on the sofa. Cheng Long praised Xiang Bei excitedly, "Xiang Bei, your performance on the track was fantastic. You demonstrated the strength of Chinese drivers."

"I've watched the Grand Prix many times, and this time I finally witnessed a Chinese driver win the championship. The national flag and the playing of the national anthem during the award ceremony made me feel very proud and honored!"

Jackie Chan wasn't just being polite; he said these words from the bottom of his heart.

Only stars who have traveled abroad and have a deep understanding of racing can truly appreciate how rare this Formula One championship is.

The Grand Prix has a history of over fifty years, and it was only after Chen Xiangbei appeared that the event finally came to fruition!

(End of this chapter)