Car Racing without Money-Chapter 220 - 117: Test Driving the Brawn GP Car (Double Length)

So, to ensure that a racing car is competitive throughout the year, and even to build a truly "Mars Rover", requires extremely high research and development capabilities from the team, with no room for any technical route errors in the entire process.

Chen Xiangbei and Staler quickly crossed the assembly workshop and arrived in front of the finished car garage.

As the doors slowly opened, a spotlight from the ceiling shone down on a yellow-and-white formula car. It was the ultimate product left by the Honda F1 Team, the RA109 prototype car.

Of course, now it should be called the BGP001 car of the Brown Team!

The two walked up to the car, and Staler reached out, gently stroking the shell, speaking in a tone that could be described as "enchanted".

"North, this is the car that embodies the technological crystallization of four research teams. It is so elegant, captivating, and powerful!"

Staler’s actions and words, all revealed the genuine appreciation and affection that this old British man had for the BGP001 car.

Chen Xiangbei could empathize with this because the emotional yearning that a driver faces when presented with a truly powerful car is equally uncontrollable!

Actually, what Staler said was not detailed enough. This BGP001 not only brought together four top research teams but also utilized three different wind tunnels for assistance, making it a milestone in the history of F1 cars.

These three wind tunnels are respectively located at the Brown GP Research and Development Headquarters in Northampton, the Super Aguri Research and Development Headquarters near Silverstone, and the Honda Racing Headquarters in Tokyo, Japan.

As for the fourth top research team, it came from the engine supplier Mercedes!

Honda completed almost all the aerodynamics design of the RA109 prototype car, but it did not hold out until the engine was installed for real car testing.

With the complete withdrawal of the Honda Group, naturally, the Honda racing engine supply was not available, and Ross Brown had to turn his attention to other engine suppliers, and thus, Mercedes-Benz entered the picture.

Under the matchmaking of McLaren CEO Whitmarsh, the two parties reached a cooperation agreement, with Mercedes providing racing engines to the Brown GP Team. At the same time, to ensure full compatibility with the engines and gearboxes, they dispatched a research team to modify parts of the chassis design.

The birth of BGP001 was full of twists and legends. After it, it should be very difficult to see the scene of several giants jointly developing an F1 car in the entire process of formula racing history.

While Chen Xiangbei and Staler were admiring the car, a middle-aged man wearing glasses walked into the garage, and he was the current founder of the Brown GP Team, Ross Brown!

"Staler."

Ross Brown first called out to Staler. He was very grateful to this former Williams investor.

If Staler hadn’t invested forty million US dollars at a critical moment, Ross Brown would not have had the confidence to gather enough funds to complete the acquisition of the Honda F1 Team before the new season started, let alone unleash this car, a collective effort of several research teams, on the track.

Then Ross Brown waved and said, "HELLO, North."

Seeing Ross Brown appearing and greeting Chen Xiangbei proactively, the expression on Staler’s face was quite surprised.

He hadn’t informed anyone about coming to the team headquarters, let alone told Ross Brown that he was coming with Chen Xiangbei.

How did he know about it, and how did he recognize the Chinese kid?

Seeing the surprised expressions on Staler and Chen Xiangbei’s faces, Ross Brown knew what was on their minds and simply informed them proactively: "I received a call from Odetto, he said you were heading to the team headquarters."

Ross Brown did not mention that Odetto hoped he could take care of Chen Xiangbei.

The F1 paddock is actually a very small social circle. As long as you have been in it for decades, you can have connections with almost every team.

Odetto and Ross Brown had a past relationship as colleagues at Ferrari.

"Hello, Mr. Brown."

Chen Xiangbei responded, stretching out his hand respectfully.

In today’s F1 paddock, Ross Brown is not just the founder of the Brown GP Team. He is also considered the number one racing engineer in F1.

The peak five consecutive championship dynasty of Ferrari was created by the iron triangle of driver Schumacher, team manager Jean Todt, and technical director Ross Brown, marking a great era in F1!

"Brown, since Odetto called, you must have learned about North winning the linkage and breaking the track record."

"Hmm."

"So, what do you think, does North’s performance and potential convince you?"

Faced with this question from Staler, Ross Brown merely smiled and didn’t answer directly.

Avoiding the topic, in a certain sense, is also an answer.

It means that Chen Xiangbei’s performance is still not enough to impress Ross Brown.

Think about it, as the technical director who built the Ferrari dynasty, how could he be easily impressed by a linkage achievement in the junior formula of Renault?

As for the track record, Ross Brown’s belief, like Odetto’s, is that the records in the junior formula are for genius drivers to sweep away.

Take, for example, newcomers in the paddock in recent years, Vettel and Hamilton, not only have they broken many records in F1 but also easily continued to do so.

For instance, debuting on the podium in the first race, consecutive appearances on the podium for nine races in a rookie season, winning the youngest race victory, and becoming the youngest world champion, and so on.

These are what truly explosive talent drivers are like!