Car Racing without Money-Chapter 127 - 93: Renault European Cup Begins

For example, any car parts brand, sports brand, or go-kart endorsement would do.

Beauty and hotpot, those are way too different...

"Xiaoman, I want to know what kind of destiny led you to these two endorsements?" 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"I often visit that beauty skincare store, so it’s more like a friendly endorsement."

"As for the hotpot one, the boss thinks you look like Edison Chen. Finding a specific angle and doing a bit of Photoshop might help generate a celebrity effect and increase the store’s foot traffic."

"So I’m basically a knock-off celebrity?"

Chen Xiangbei responded with mixed emotions, never expecting one day he’d make money with this face.

Being handsome really can be profitable...

"Who cares, each is twenty thousand, together that’s forty thousand, which is better than typical car racing sponsorships!"

Lu Xiaoman seemed quite pleased, at least the funding issue for Chen Xiangbei’s European competition was solved.

"Right, Peng from Jiuli Sports learned you advanced to the European Renault race, and on top of the previous eighty thousand sponsorship, they’ve added fifty thousand to sign you as a company ambassador. The money was promptly wired over."

"Peng also asked me to relay that this is his way of paying for your dream."

Upon hearing this familiar phrase, a smile appeared on Chen Xiangbei’s face.

This is why he doesn’t view team sponsorship with a zero-sum commercial mindset.

It’s evident that Peng Sheng sees the fifty thousand as an investment in him.

It signifies not just recognition of skill but also of character.

After Lu Xiaoman concluded detailing a string of commercial collaborations, she began to rest with eyes closed.

In her words, negotiating with people is a mentally exhausting task.

After over ten hours of flight, when everyone reached London Heathrow Airport, it was already midnight.

Yet just upon entering the airport lobby, Chen Xiangbei saw two familiar faces.

Sawano Hiroyuki and Mizutani Sho had already arrived at the Super Dream Team base in the United Kingdom earlier for prep work and were there to greet them.

After exchanging greetings, Sawano Hiroyuki led Chen Xiangbei and the others to the parking lot, where a Honda Odyssey provided by the Super Dream Team was ready for commuting.

Given the late hour, Chen Xiangbei decided to first find a hotel for a night’s rest.

After days of travel, he felt more exhausted than from physical training and needed to adjust to the time zone to face the upcoming challenge at his best.

The next morning, after breakfast, they headed to Silverstone Circuit, which is a hundred kilometers from the city center of London. Formerly the headquarters of the Super Aguri Team, it is now the base of Super Dream Team located near Silverstone Circuit.

Driving on the highway, it was evident after last night’s rest, everyone’s spirits had greatly improved.

Especially Ayong and Brother Lei, who were eagerly looking out the window at the scenery, almost sticking their heads out.

"Ayong, how’s it? Fascinating?"

Observing this, Chen Xiangbei teased them, realizing later that Ayong was actually a few months younger than him.

Though with his mature appearance and burly build, he could easily pass for five years older!

"Hehe, it’s fascinating, never seen it before."

Ayong replied clumsily.

"So, have you seen the English names on the road signs?"

Chen Xiangbei asked another question in the same tone.

"Twenty miles ahead is Silverstone Circuit."

"Brother Bei, you don’t have to beat around the bush to quiz me, do you?"

Ayong reacted quickly this time, thanks to Chen Xiangbei occasionally quizzing both of them on English words to enhance memory during this period.

It’s a known fact that solely relying on textbooks for rote memorization won’t allow you to master English quickly; it needs to integrate into daily life.

While everyone chatted lightly, Sawano Hiroyuki drove the Odyssey into a roadside warehouse, once the headquarters of the Super Aguri Team in the United Kingdom.

Compared to other F1 team factory headquarters, this place’s area and building scale could only be described as pathetically small.

Super Aguri only lasted two years in the F1 paddock and didn’t have time to build a research base, let alone large investments like a wind tunnel. They barely managed a basic assembly plant.

Standing at the warehouse’s entrance was Daniel Odetto, the team leader of Super Dream Team. Behind him stood around a dozen former Super Aguri Team engineers.

Due to Renault cars being standardized race cars, involving no design research, these engineers wouldn’t be serving Chen Xiangbei. Their presence was merely a courteous welcome to the driver.

Odetto, with his head full of white hair, seemed about sixty or seventy, and greeted everyone kindly without showing the arrogance typical of many F1 paddock veterans.

Inside the warehouse, it appeared equally sparse since Super Aguri, short on funds, sold much of their equipment and had even mortgaged their cars in preparation to exit entirely.

However, against the odds, with Chen Xiangbei’s arrival and Suzuki Aguri’s determination, they still wanted one final shot!

After a brief tour, Odetto instructed Mizutani Sho to lead Liang Chi and the maintenance technicians to familiarize themselves with their roles, while Chen Xiangbei was called alone into his office, with Sawano Hiroyuki joining.

"Bei, I’ve watched your race footage and data from Suzuka Circuit; you’re indeed an excellent driver."