Why race if you don’t have money?

Chapter 277 The Boundary Between Profession and Hobby
Chinese drivers involved in street brawl, suspected of racial discrimination!

"Chen Xiangbei violated numerous FIA bans; it is recommended that his super license be revoked."

Why hasn't the HRT bus driver who maliciously injured someone been severely punished? Who is protecting him/her?

Chen Xiangbei must issue a public apology, or he should be deported!

Headlines appeared on pens and keyboards, and when combined with images of a man in a suit and his bodyguard being brutally beaten by a Chinese driver, they instantly irritated the fragile self-esteem of the South Korean public.

Of course, Chen Xiangbei hadn't paid attention to these news reports yet, or rather, he didn't care at all.

Spit won't kill you. He's come all the way through the European circuits with cold stares and ridicule, and now he's become a strongman. Would Chen Xiangbei care about the barking of a bunch of nobodies?
At Seoul International Airport, Bob Bell, the technical director of the HRT team, arrived with a racing simulator, accompanied by Cheng Jian, the chief engineer dispatched by the Huali Group.

To be honest, Briatore and the Wally Group have only signed a letter of intent; the details still need to be drafted and reviewed by the legal department.

Although the Huali Group is a shareholder of the HRT fleet, being a shareholder does not always mean having direct control over management; the fleet is an independently operated department.

Just like when Wally acquired Volvo, for a long period of time in the early stages, it had little power to interfere with the Swedish headquarters, and did not even share research results and patents. It was not until later, when it established various joint research and development departments, that it was able to truly absorb and control Volvo's technology.

The reason why Huali was so eager to send engineers abroad was partly to learn from the top-level formulas as soon as possible.

On the other hand, Huali took too big a step and overreached.

So far, every move Huali Group has made has fallen into the category of "a snake swallowing an elephant," and it is extremely tight on funds and personnel.

As a Hong Kong-listed company, what does it need to do to generate buzz?

Without a doubt, acquiring F1 technology through "joint research and development" would have been a bombshell 10 years ago!

For example, if a car company announced a full-scale collaboration with the Ferrari team 25 years from now, sending an engineering team to F1 to learn and develop, its stock price would likely see several consecutive limit-up days.

After the two sides met and exchanged greetings, the team's mechanics took over the transfer of the racing simulator, while Chen Xiangbei, along with the strategy team and the engineering team, headed to the Yeongam Circuit in Jeollanam-do.

Sitting on the departing bus, Odette asked Bob Bell a question.

"Bell, what did Toyota say?"

Bob Bell did not fly directly to South Korea, but instead traveled overnight to Toyota's headquarters in Japan last Sunday, hoping to have face-to-face communication with their racing engine department to resolve the current instability of the power unit.

"Toyota apologized, but failed to offer a solution."

Upon hearing this, Chen Xiangbei's lips curled into a mocking smile.

Isn't this the typical Japanese approach of apologizing but never correcting mistakes?

Of course, from an objective point of view, everyone in the HRT team knew in their hearts that the hope of Toyota Group providing a solution was slim; otherwise, they wouldn't have dragged Ferrari's technical team into the fire in the first place.

This is similar to a company going bankrupt and withdrawing from a department. The employees there are either laid off or transferred to other departments, especially since the company doesn't plan to get involved in that business in the future.

When a customer comes to him asking him to fix a design flaw, does he think the customer can reorganize their department to handle after-sales service?

The answer is self-evident.

Not to mention that F1 cars are inherently time-sensitive; unless a team is truly short of money and technology, a new car will be launched every year.

Even if the department is restructured, by the time the problem is truly resolved, it might already be the 11th season, and all efforts will ultimately be in vain.

"Do we have a solution of our own?"

Odeto asked another question.

"Actually, as long as the power output isn't excessively pushed, the solution provided by Ferrari's technical team is already perfect."

"Of course, the engine output power must be reduced at this station."

To some extent, the underlying reason for the power unit difficulties currently faced by the HRT team is that its capabilities do not match its ambitions.

A new team entering F1 should theoretically have no problem with its performance and speed being in the middle to lower ranks. Even super teams like BMW and Mercedes should not expect to become a championship contender in their first year.

Later manufacturers like Audi and Cadillac set their goals even lower, considering it a great achievement to reach the top tier within three years.

The legend of Brawn GP is something that can only be encountered by chance and not sought after!

However, the appearance of Chen Xiangbei, coupled with the final dance of the Toyota prototype and Briatore's eagerness to prove himself, combined to make the entire HRT team extremely ambitious.

What started as a slogan has evolved into a genuine desire to compete for the championship.

Even more outrageous is that they actually did it!

In its overpowered mode, the HRT race car has become the second fastest car in the paddock. If it weren't for the shortcomings of its power unit, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that it rivals Red Bull.

Unfortunately, the hype could only last for a while. As the glamour faded, the true essence became apparent. The HRT fleet was unwilling to sit at the same level as Virgin and Lotus, so they kept looking for a way to break the deadlock.

"Then we can only urge Toyota to produce more power units."

This era did not have the strict quantity restrictions of later generations. As long as there were no last-minute replacements during Grand Prix races or frequent replacements, and the power unit was replaced every two to three races with careful planning, it was entirely possible to keep up with the limit and run the entire year.

Ultimately, the strategy behind Formula 1 racing is a mathematical problem.

With precise calculations and proper allocation, one can control the pace.

“I have already done it.”

Bell nodded. There was no need for Odette to remind him of this; as the design director, he would naturally take precautions.

After a journey of about four hours, the bus carrying all members of the HRT team arrived at the Lingyan Circuit.

Compared to the bustling atmosphere of the previous two races, the Lingyan Circuit is located in a similar area to the opening race in Bahrain, both situated in a newly developed zone. The goal is to leverage the influence of the circuit and the F1 Grand Prix to boost the local economy.

The area around the racetrack also includes planned supporting facilities such as hotels, shopping malls, and docks. However, when Chen Xiangbei and his group arrived, all they saw was a vast wasteland, and the nearest hotels were several kilometers away.

And the wasteland remains unchanged even more than a decade later. The original idea of ​​building a city around the racetrack has completely failed, and the F1 Korean Grand Prix was withdrawn from the calendar after only a few editions.

The Lingyan Circuit wasn't very lively to begin with, and with Chen Xiangbei and his team arriving on Tuesday, earlier than other F1 teams, the lone team looked even more desolate.

Those who know this are familiar with F1 circuits, but those who don't might think they've stumbled upon some remote, impoverished area.

Fortunately, Chen Xiangbei and his group weren't there for tourism, so the prosperity of the area had nothing to do with racing.

Upon arriving at the Lingyan Circuit, the team's technical and engineering teams immediately began assembling various equipment and racing simulators.

At this moment, Cheng Jian, the usually taciturn engineer from Huali, came over and stared intently at the F1 equipment assembly and various parts of the race car, his eyes filled with a look of fascination and rapture.

Seeing this, Liang Chi crossed his arms and said to Chen Xiangbei with deep emotion, "There was a time when I saw an F1 car up close and I had the same expression as him." "It's a yearning for the world's strongest racing car and an aspiration for the top automotive industry."

That's right. In 10 years, China's automobile manufacturing level could only be described as that of a large country on the international stage, not a strong one.

To put it bluntly, it still hasn't completely shaken off the shadow of being a knock-off and poorly made product.

The chassis layout, aerodynamic design, engine power, kinetic energy recovery, and other technologies in F1 are considered cutting-edge technologies by traditional car manufacturers. At that time, most car manufacturers were still at the most basic stage of civilian four-cylinder engine development.

The allure of technology always captivates engineers.

"It's a pity that our HRT team is not an engine manufacturer."

Chen Xiangbei replied with a hint of regret.

The HRT team's current R&D level has only reached the level of aerodynamic layout, and even the chassis manufacturing is still lacking, let alone the power unit.

If they could develop their own engines, it might be of great help to domestic car manufacturers.

"You have to eat one bite at a time, and walk one step at a time. How many F1 teams can produce engines naturally?"

"Thinking back to when Huasai Sports went bankrupt a few years ago, I thought Chinese motorsports was in a dark period. Who would have thought that things would take a turn for the better?"

"Kid, Uncle Liang has a different mindset now. I'm full of confidence in the future!"

Liang Chi replied with extreme firmness, "Only by experiencing darkness can one understand how much progress can be made."

Two years ago, he wouldn't have dared to imagine that a Chinese F1 champion would emerge, let alone that a Chinese automaker could enter the F1 scene.

At this rate of efficiency, engine manufacturing is not out of reach!
Just as Liang Chi and Chen Xiangbei were reminiscing, Odeto came over and told them, "Bei, the racing simulator is all set up. Do you really think practicing with this will be very effective?"

Odeto had been holding back this for two years. The simplified three-axis racing simulator wasn't very realistic, and more importantly, it lacked reference data for the Lingyan track. Chen Xiangbei didn't know how many cornering lines there were, how to take corners the fastest, let alone braking points, overtaking lines, defensive lines, and so on.

Instead of putting immense pressure on yourself by playing simulators intensely before a match, it might be more effective to relax for a couple of days and perhaps achieve a better performance.

There is an old Chinese saying: "Sharpen your spear at the last minute, even if it's not sharp, it will still shine."

"I think it's better than doing nothing at all."

Chen Xiangbei replied with a smile that he was never afraid of any pressure.

"OK, as long as you think it's okay."

Odette didn't waste any words, pointing to the drivers' lounge behind him, indicating that Chen Xiangbei could practice in simulations at any time.

Chen Xiangbei wasn't idle either; he strode over to the racing simulator.

To be honest, he had been missing it a little after not opening for almost a month or two.

In fact, many drivers have a negative or even averse attitude towards practicing with racing simulators.

It's like playing video games; you can get addicted to it and find it very fun.

But once you turn your hobby into a profession, the experience will be completely different!
A career means you can't have fun as you please. Driving simulators become mechanical repetitions. Sometimes, an unfamiliar curve requires hundreds of repetitions to achieve the best results.

Just like the famous game League of Legends in later generations, you have a lot of fun playing with your friends, and solo queue is also okay.

But if you have to practice last-hitting countless times, it will become torture!
This is why many young drivers, such as Hamilton, have revealed that they are unwilling to practice using racing simulators and need team owners to pressure or even force them to train.

However, some people have a different mindset; they don't feel tired even if they do it hundreds or thousands of times.

A prime example of this type of person is Verstappen.

Verstappen is called "the Autobot" because his only form of entertainment is racing; he enjoys simulator practice, which others avoid.

Turning a profession into a hobby is truly a blessing in life.

Chen Xiangbei is somewhat similar to Verstappen in this respect; he also doesn't practice with mechanical racing simulators and gets excited about occasional breakthroughs.

It's like defeating a boss and clearing a game.

Of course, if there is no breakthrough for a long time, he will also fall into a state of frustration.

Humans are not machines; they cannot practice abandoning their emotions.

I sat in the racing simulator and started it up, then switched to the map of Yeongam Circuit in South Korea. This circuit, which was only built in 09, had no data on any of the races, only the most basic introductory information.

The entire track is 5.621 kilometers long and was designed by Hermann, the chief track designer of German F1. The Bahrain Sakhir Circuit and the Donghai International Circuit, which Chen Xiangbei has run on, were all designed by this famous designer.

Hermann has a unique characteristic: his potential is very high, but his potential is extremely low.

Unfortunately, the Yeongam Circuit in South Korea was one of his works during a period when he was at his lowest point.

The pit lane entrance braking point on this track is located right above the driving lane, meaning that if there is a traffic jam and the car is pulling in to change tires and brake, it will pose a significant threat to vehicles driving normally behind.

And that's not all; the other tracks use either tire walls or flexible safety nets for their protective barriers.

The Lingyan Circuit has many curves on the inside, right next to the edge of the track, and is built with cement!
This design not only lacks any cushioning or elasticity, but also severely obstructs the driver's view, creating numerous blind spots in corners and producing a driving effect similar to street racing.

In addition, the Lingyan Circuit is a semi-permanent track, and it was built in a frantic rush within a year, resulting in many sections of the track having asphalt that does not meet F1 racing standards. Bumpy and uneven surfaces have become the norm, and some areas have even cracked.

All these factors combined mean that this is a rather dangerous track.

Of course, for Chen Xiangbei, who was used to being surrounded by danger, there were no special feelings anymore.

After adjusting the settings and entering the track, Chen Xiangbei ran a lap at a relatively slow speed, essentially getting familiar with the feel and layout.

But after running this lap, he had a strange sense of familiarity with the track layout, as if he had run it somewhere before.

The problem is that the Lingyan Circuit is exactly the opposite of Chen Xiangbei's career in his previous life, so it's absolutely impossible for him to have raced it, and he doesn't even have the most basic experience with racing simulators!
What's the matter?

Just as Chen Xiangbei was puzzled, something suddenly occurred to him.

That means in my past life I played a racing game called KartRider.

Isn't the layout of the map inside called "Lingyan Ring Road" exactly the same as this?

After all, it was a childhood memory from his past life, so Chen Xiangbei hadn't made any connection to it at all. Now it seems he really did run away...

(End of this chapter)