Why race if you don’t have money?

Chapter 173 The "Bird's Nest" in a Frenzy

carnival!

The entire Bird's Nest stadium, with its 80,000 spectators, was engulfed in a complete frenzy!

Having never won a world championship, they only managed to secure a spot in the competition thanks to their home advantage, making them arguably the worst national team in ROC history.

However, they have now managed to defeat racing powerhouses like the British team and Australia, securing a spot in Group A with two wins and will face a Group B team in the semifinals.

However, compared to Group A, which has relatively easy opponents like Australia, Group B is a true clash of the best in the motorsport world, with the German and French teams being formidable opponents.

No matter who they draw, Chen Xiangbei and Han Han's chances of winning are probably infinitely close to zero!

But that doesn't matter anymore; reaching the semi-finals has already exceeded pre-tournament expectations.

Keep in mind that the audience's initial expectation was simply to win one game!
"Teacher Sha, how long has it been since we've seen such a thrilling scene? Chen Xiangbei has truly shown domestic audiences and car enthusiasts what speed and passion are all about."

Li Bing's tone was filled with emotion as he faced the thunderous scene of 80,000 spectators.

Motorsports in China only began to have professional competitions that allowed for interaction with the outside world with the inaugural "Hong Kong-Beijing Rally" in 1985.

As for the emergence of the field of equations, it wasn't until two thousand years later.

In most cases, when domestic drivers compete against top foreign drivers, they are often completely outmatched.

For tournaments like the ROC National Cup, winning is something we don't even dare to dream of.

Chen Xiangbei not only won, but won spectacularly!
"Yes, this scene makes me feel like I'm at last year's Olympics."

"Chen Xiangbei's appearance was like fireworks piercing the night sky and igniting the entire Bird's Nest National Stadium!"

Sha Tong echoed, now completely impressed by Chen Xiangbei's performance.

This young man not only challenged the strong, but he also defeated them, leading the Chinese team into the semi-finals single-handedly.

"Teacher Li, the semi-final draw is next. Do you think we can still make a run for it?"

Sha Tong asked Li Bing a question with great expectation.

Compared to him, a CCTV reporter and host, Li Bing, as a professional racing commentator, naturally has more accurate judgment.

If I hadn't dared to imagine that the Chinese team could win...

Now, fueled by her burning passion, Sha Tong has developed an "arrogant" vision.

He wanted to witness another miracle!
"It's hard."

Li Bing was not blinded by victory. The French team had Loeb, a nine-time rally champion, and Muller, the newly crowned world champion in touring cars last year.

And despite Loeb being a rally champion, he has also participated in F1 racing trials in recent years. Chen Xiangbei cannot adopt the "cross-border" tactic he used before, using his strengths to attack Loeb's weaknesses.

The German team, needless to say, is the defending champion team for the past two years. With a legend like Schumacher on their side, they are the kind of team that no one can beat.

In addition, the format of the semi-finals has changed, and the winning condition has become the sum of the two drivers' total scores.

In other words, Chen Xiangbei and Han Han's combined lap times must be shorter than those of the German or French teams to win the final victory; they cannot rely on individual strength to "single-hand" the entire race.

The reason why the ROC National Cup has this tournament format is, to some extent, to prevent situations where teammates can carry you to victory.

After all, there are times when a top racing legend is simply unstoppable!

Hearing Li Bing's honest answer, Sha Tong's passionate emotions calmed down a bit.

He nodded and said, "It is indeed difficult, but I choose to believe in miracles."

That's right, Chen Xiangbei has created a miracle once, but who knows if it can happen a second time?

After a short halftime break, the ROC Nations Cup semi-final draw ceremony was held.

This time, Han Han, representing the Chinese team, went up on stage to draw lots. When he saw the colors of the Polish flag on the "Polish ball," his expression instantly turned serious. He had actually drawn the German team!
As the defending champions and the strongest national team with the legendary Michael Schumacher, they are basically a match for anyone who gets in their way.

Even if they could rely on their "crossover" advantage to defeat racing legend Schumacher or one of the German team's drivers by sheer luck.

You still can't beat the entire German team based on overall performance.

Because the other driver's name is Sebastian Vettel!
No other country can boast such an impressive lineup, combining a seven-time F1 champion with a four-time F1 champion.

Even the best racing team in Britain couldn't do it.

"Xiang Bei, we can't just say the result was pretty good this time."

After stepping down from the stage, Han Han said something with a wry smile.

"Why not? It's really great."

"Can they still perform well against the strongest German team?"

This time, it wasn't that Han Han was "timid before the battle"; he genuinely couldn't understand what was so good about it.

"If we draw France, does that mean we're guaranteed a win?"

Chen Xiangbei did not answer directly, but asked a question in return.

Upon hearing this question, Han Han paused for a moment, unsure how to answer.

It seems there isn't much difference; the chances of either of these teams being won are very slim for both Chen Xiangbei and myself.

"In that case, drawing the German team means at least we can compete against the racing legend."

Chen Xiangbei then gave his reasons, his tone filled with longing.

For any professional driver, Senna and Schumacher are two figures who cannot be ignored in the world of motorsport.

Senna's era was too far removed from Chen Xiangbei's past life; he had only witnessed Schumacher's Ferrari dynasty on television.

After the skiing accident, the legendary racing driver fell from grace, never to return to the track, and there was no possibility of competing against him again.

Today, Chen Xiangbei has the opportunity to take on the challenge ahead of schedule.

Regardless of winning or losing, who wouldn't want to run a race with "God"?
Sensing the fervor in Chen Xiangbei's eyes, Han Han instantly understood his meaning.

"You're right, then let's run freely!"

Only by focusing on the game without distractions can you unleash your full potential.

Chen Xiangbei had already entered this state, and now Han Han is about to cross the threshold of "enlightenment".

The crew members at the repair shop still dutifully provided a battle plan.

Based on Chen Xiangbei's previous two "head-to-head" style, Ye Yong completely abandoned the idea of ​​"Tian Ji's horse racing" and directly sent Chen Xiangbei to race against the strongest driver Schumacher, while Han Han went to compete against the runner-up driver Vettel.

Regarding the negotiations on the racing aspect, the German team only exercised the power of "BAN," while the power of "PICK" was given to the Chinese team.

Since it's a challenge against the strongest opponent, then you have to bring your strongest form to meet the challenge.

Han Han chose his most powerful Volkswagen Scirocco rally car, while Chen Xiangbei used the Solution F touring car that he had driven with Button.

In terms of the order of appearance, Han Han went first, followed by Chen Xiangbei at the end.

Watching Han Han drive the Volkswagen Scirocco onto the track, Ye Yong, standing in front of the monitor screen, couldn't help but say, "Xiang Bei, although I know you like to challenge the strong, this time we might use the Tian Ji horse racing strategy, which might have a surprising effect."

Ye Yong had actually considered an unconventional tactic: having Chen Xiangbei drive a rally car to challenge Vettel, while Han Han would drive a motorhome to try and keep up with Schumacher.

In the previous match against the Australian V8 world champion, Chen Xiangbei displayed drifting skills that were nothing short of "divine," completely on par with top WRC rally drivers.

No matter how versatile Vettel is, he can't match Chen Xiangbei's speed in rallying.

Furthermore, Schumacher had lost to touring car world champions in previous races, and his skills in driving touring cars on special surfaces were far inferior to his dominance in the Formula One world.

If Chen Xiangbei can pull away from Vettel by a sufficient margin, he might have a chance to win!
In response to Ye Yong's suggestion, Chen Xiangbei replied with a faint smile.

"Manager Ye, this is a classic case of Tian Ji's horse racing strategy."

"What do you mean?"

"Vettel is stronger than Schumacher is now."

To outsiders, Michael Schumacher remains a highly respected figure, and the defeat in the "Red vs. Blue" game does not diminish his status or achievements in the slightest.

Give him a decent racing car, and he'll still be the invincible racing king!
But Chen Xiangbei has a God's-eye view and knows very well that "gods" will eventually grow old.

When Schumacher announced his retirement in 06, he had already shown signs of decline, as he no longer possessed the absolute dominance he had during the Prancing Horse dynasty.

Moreover, three years have passed, and the training intensity and competitive status of active drivers and retired drivers are on completely different levels.

After three years of relaxation, can Schumacher still maintain his peak professional form?

Let alone racing, which is extremely dependent on physical fitness and peak performance, even in the seemingly "easy" e-sports industry, if you put a streamer who has been retired for three years against an active professional player, it will most likely result in a one-sided massacre!

In addition to his declining performance, Schumacher also suffers from serious old injuries.

In February 2009, he crashed his motorcycle at nearly 210 kilometers per hour at the Cartagena circuit in Spain. He flew into the air and landed headfirst in the gravel run-off area, losing consciousness for several minutes.

Subsequent examination revealed that Schumacher suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon and ligament on the left side of his neck, a severe injury to the seventh cervical vertebra, and a fracture at the base of his skull.

Furthermore, this cervical vertebra is a crucial position that supports the weight of the entire head!
Schumacher's comeback results have historically been less than ideal, with old injuries playing a significant role in addition to his age.

This is why Red Bull Racing has a contractual obligation to prevent Verstappen from riding a motorcycle.

With Schumacher's example as a warning, Red Bull Racing cannot afford the risk!
"Is Vettel better than Schumacher?"

Ye Yong found it somewhat unbelievable.

Although Vettel is hailed as Germany's future star and even achieved a runner-up finish in the 09 World Championships.

However, this rising German talent is far from reaching the level of his predecessor, Schumacher.

"Yes, each version has its own meta."

Chen Xiangbei nodded, confirming the answer once again.

Even after achieving the quadruple crown, Vettel's reputation in later generations still carries the nickname "Water Vettel".

He believes his four world championship titles are largely undeserved, relying solely on his car's speed!
The Red Bull team's cars were indeed fast during their reign, but that doesn't mean Vettel was slow.

Of his four world championship titles, Vettel won at least two under pressure, demonstrating that he was absolutely at the world's top level during his peak.

However, as a four-time champion, your competitors are naturally not ordinary drivers. Even with a perfect score, Vettel's performance alone wouldn't be enough, because legendary drivers of the same caliber, such as Senna, Schumacher, Alonso, and Verstappen, defeated their rivals through slower driving and other methods.

Prove that you can achieve 110%!

Coupled with Vettel's rapid decline in form, without the boost from the Red Bull Mars Rover, he has become a driver who is essentially an "old man" driving a health-preserving car, further reinforcing the stereotype of "Water Vettel".

But regardless, at this point in 09, Vettel, who was on the rise, was a world-class player!

As if to verify Chen Xiangbei's words, even though Han Han was driving his specialty rally car, he was still outpaced by Vettel at the start.

As they entered Turn 1, the difference in their handling and racing lines became visibly apparent. Vettel's cornering speed, displayed on the big screen, set a new current record!
In the face of absolute power, any struggle is futile.

Upon seeing this scene, Ye Yong, who had originally intended to say something, opened his mouth but swallowed his words.

He finally witnessed the terrifying power of Vettel at his full potential, and also the dominance of the rising world runner-up.

Honestly, Ye Yong felt that Vettel was faster than last year's champion, Button!
In the eyes of those involved in the racing industry, Han Han had no chance of winning.

But the thunderous cheers still resounded throughout the Bird's Nest National Stadium.

"Han Han, keep going! Find a way to catch up!"

"China's only double champion, you are no weakling!"

"Don't give up, we still have hope!"

"Han Han, you must always believe in yourself!"

Han Han couldn't hear these sounds during the competition, but Chen Xiangbei, who was standing in the repair station, could hear them clearly.

This is why many athletes say that the most glorious moment of their lives is when they are in their home stadium, feeling the cheers and encouragement of their compatriots.

In many cases, the spirit of fighting for one's country surpasses everything else, even more than money!
However, the cruel reality of competitive sports is that, since there is the joy of the winners, there must also be the sorrow of the losers.

The gap in strength could not be erased by cheers. When the two Volkswagen Sciroccos crossed the finish line, the time displayed on the big screen showed that Han Han was more than three seconds behind Vettel.

"Han Han, he did his best."

When faced with this result, commentator Li Bing could only express his regret with these words.

During the race, it was clear that Han Han's car scraped the edge of the tire wall several times, indicating that he was teetering on the edge of losing control.

Even so, he still couldn't defeat Vettel.

After all, this rising star from Germany is regarded by the outside world as Schumacher's successor. He has also participated in three ROC Nations Cups, completely outclassing Han Han in every aspect.

To put it bluntly, the two sides are not even in the same league.

"It's my turn."

Chen Xiangbei remained calm about the lap time difference.

Han Han performed very well. It should be noted that historically, when facing drivers of Vettel's caliber, he would have a lap time difference of at least five seconds.

A time of just over three seconds is definitely an exceptional performance.

"Go north, come on!"

"come on!"

"come on!"

The crew members at the repair shop all said these encouraging words to Chen Xiangbei.

Regardless of the final result, Chen Xiangbei and Han Han have already been victorious by reaching the top four!
Just do your best.

Chen Xiangbei smiled and waved to his team members in response to their encouragement, then "snap" off his helmet visor and parked his Solution F RV on the outer starting line.

Meanwhile, Schumacher also stopped at the starting line on the inner track.

As if sensing something, the two subconsciously looked at each other, their expressions hidden behind their black helmet visors.

But just that one glance made Chen Xiangbei's blood boil.

Shifting gears and revving the engine, accompanied by the roar of the engine, Chen Xiangbei cleared his mind of distractions and fully entered racing mode.

After the usual warm-up lap, Chen Xiangbei, who had returned to the starting line, glanced at Schumacher's car next to him through the car window, but then shifted into second gear.

In the previous two races, Chen Xiangbei's driving skills had already made him feel the limits of the ground grip.

To enhance acceleration, racing-grade vehicles often have abnormally high low-end torque; if you press the accelerator even slightly too hard when starting in first gear, the tires may spin and slip.

However, choosing to start in second gear means that your starting torque will be weaker than your competitors, which can easily lead to a situation where you lose control and accelerate even slower.

Even with torque as high as that of an F1 car, no driver would risk starting in second gear.

However, there is one exception: in wet conditions with insufficient grip, many F1 drivers will start in second gear.

The Bird's Nest track is not a wetland, but the cold tires and the road surface with insufficient grip make it possible to start in second gear!
In addition, compared to the seamless sequential gearbox of F1 racing cars, the ordinary sequential gearbox of the Solution F touring car has a power transition loss of nearly 0.1 seconds during gear shifts.

Under normal circumstances, Chen Xiangbei's chances of beating Schumacher in a track race while driving a motorhome are extremely slim.

Not to mention there was a gap of more than three seconds between the two teams.

Therefore, Chen Xiangbei's only chance is to take an unconventional approach!

The five indicator lights above the track went out, and the two race cars launched simultaneously. Judging from their starting reaction and speed alone, they were almost evenly matched.

The audience was already very surprised by this result.

After all, he's on par with racing legend Michael Schumacher!

But what happened next directly shocked the audience and drivers.

Chen Xiangbei's race car seemed to be accelerated by some mysterious force, and in the blink of an eye, he pulled ahead of Schumacher by half a car length on the short straight, and the gap between them continued to widen.

"Incredible! Chen Xiangbei took the lead over racing legend Schumacher right after the start. How did he do that?"

Li Bing stared at the screen on the track, completely stunned.

Starting a race car is not just about reaction time; it also represents the driver's ultimate control over the throttle and clutch.

Schumacher proved his absolute control with seven world championships.

Can Chen Xiangbei be faster than him?
Nobody knows why, since the Solution F touring car doesn't have as many sensors as a Formula One car.

There wasn't even any cheering at the scene, not because the audience wasn't surprised.

On the contrary, they were so surprised that they forgot to applaud and congratulate.

The host, Sha Tong, brought the microphone to her lips, intending to praise Chen Xiangbei's performance.

However, he held back the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

This is just the beginning; the real speed will be revealed on the curves. Too much praise and hype too early could be a form of overpraise.

But what happened next made Sha Tong unable to hold back any longer!
Through the first bend, the second bend, and all the way through the third bend, Chen Xiangbei did not fall behind in lap time, maintaining his lead from the start.

Although the inner and outer corners are not the same, Chen Xiangbei's ability to maintain his leading position means that his cornering speed is no slower than Schumacher's.

At the minimum speed limit, the two achieved a close match.

Who would believe that a rising Chinese driver could be on par with racing legend Michael Schumacher?

"Beautiful! Absolutely beautiful!"

"Chen Xiangbei, a driver from China, is competing against world champion Schumacher. He has shown an extremely amazing level of skill in both starting and cornering, and is still in the lead so far."

"Yes, you heard right, Chen Xiangbei is in the lead!"

Sha Tong practically screamed these words; if he hadn't witnessed it with his own eyes, he would never have believed that what he was seeing was real.

The Chinese driver's lead over Schumacher in the ROC Nations Cup is as absurd as the Chinese national football team leading the German team in the World Cup.

Even if a football is round, and a wheel is round, it is theoretically possible.

When it actually happened, the impact was simply unparalleled.

"Go Chen Xiangbei! We can win!"

"No opponent is invincible; let the world witness your strength."

"Chen Xiangbei, you've said you're a genius driver, so let's see just how genius you really are!"

"Come on, win this impossible victory!"

The audience went wild. Many of them had spent a lot of money and traveled a long distance to come, not to see the Chinese driver lose.

If there's any hope, they want to win just like Chen Xiangbei!
Engines roared across the track as Schumacher received instructions from the pit lane, learning that he was behind.

As a legendary racing champion, he possesses his own pride and would not easily lose to an "unknown junior" like Chen Xiangbei.

As the inner and outer tracks switch, the comparison of cornering times and lap times on the track monitoring equipment is in a state of frantic change of lead.

Chen Xiangbei was faster on some corners, while Schumacher was faster on others.

What's even more surprising than the outcome is how closely Chen Xiangbei and Schumacher were locked in a battle of wits!
At this moment, the two race cars arrived at the last corner. Chen Xiangbei did not choose to cut through the corner, but instead went straight into the apex of the APEX corner and slid out using an extreme drift technique.

Then, taking advantage of the fact that the Bird's Nest track has no long straights, straighten the car and step on the gas to cross the line.

The bright red number 1 minute 57.647 seconds appeared on the large screen directly above the track.

Immediately below, a lap time of 1 minute 57.771 seconds appeared.

"Won!"

A thunderous roar echoed throughout the Bird's Nest National Stadium.

This was supposed to be a match whose outcome was predetermined from the start, but unexpectedly, things changed in the end.

A rising Chinese F1 driver defeated seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher at the Bird's Nest circuit in the ROC National Cup, creating what can only be described as an impossible miracle.

Tonight, the Bird's Nest is destined to go crazy for Chen Xiangbei!
(End of this chapter)