Car Racing without Money-Chapter 279 - 132: Nakajima Goro’s Graduation Gift
As Hoshino Yoshi stomped on the brake at the starting line, the crowd erupted in cheers and applause.
Hoshino Yoshi not only defeated Zhang Zhendong, but someone also timed his lap speed at a staggering 2 minutes and 40.337 seconds, breaking the previous underground racing lap record at the East Bay Circuit.
Zhang Zhendong followed closely back to the starting line, his face was extremely unsightly!
He never thought he would lose, let alone lose this badly. By the end, he could barely see the taillights, meaning a gap of at least over a second was widened.
Zhang Zhendong always believed that his talent was on par with Chen Xiangbei, but he was just unlucky with Huasi Sports going bankrupt and couldn’t continue on the formula racing path. Otherwise, he could have achieved results in Europe.
Now he understood why the records at the Huasi base were broken, why the Honda Suzuka Racing School sent invitations, and why Chen Xiangbei never accepted his challenge for a race.
Perhaps the truth was just as Chen Xiangbei said, it wasn’t that he was afraid, but rather that Zhang Zhendong didn’t deserve it.
At this moment, Zhang Zhendong felt that all his former arrogance had become a joke!
With this duel concluded, Chen Xiangbei said, "I have to go."
The commotion caused by Hoshino Yoshi and Zhang Zhendong was so huge that it attracted not just underground racers, but also many local residents and tourists from Australia to the sides of the East Bay Circuit to watch.
If this trend continues, it not only might appear in tomorrow’s newspaper, but there’s no problem uploading it online.
Chen Xiangbei’s intention was to familiarize himself with the track, not to complicate things at a critical moment.
"Will you come back tomorrow?"
Dong Yuanxi’s tone contained a trace of undetectable reluctance, she didn’t expect Chen Xiangbei to leave so soon.
"No, this place is not suitable for professional drivers."
Just as Chen Xiangbei finished saying this, Hoshino Yoshi drove the Honda NSX over.
"Xiangbei, get in the car."
Hoshino Yoshi, currently serving as a backup driver for the ART Team, had similar concerns as Chen Xiangbei.
After all, this was not the Japan Bayshore Line or the Capital High. Receiving too much attention as a professional driver was not a good thing.
"Goodbye, Dong Yuanxi."
Chen Xiangbei waved his hand and then opened the car door, sitting down with his usual swift actions.
"Goodbye, Chen Xiangbei."
Dong Yuanxi originally wanted to say something, but the situation made her speechless, leaving her no choice but to wave goodbye.
However, this time, Chen Xiangbei didn’t let Hoshino Yoshi hit the gas immediately. Instead, he poked his head out of the window and said, "Dong Yuanxi, I’ll bring you to our team’s P room to watch the official race."
"Okay!"
Without any hesitation, Dong Yuanxi nodded heavily in agreement.
Watching the disappearing taillights of the Honda NSX, the corners of Dong Yuanxi’s mouth unconsciously curved upwards.
"Xiangbei, is that your girlfriend?"
Hoshino Yoshi asked at this moment, though he couldn’t understand Chinese, he sensed the subtle affection in their parting.
"No."
"Shouldn’t be long till she is."
"Since when did you become so nosy?"
Chen Xiangbei replied irritably, knowing Hoshino Yoshi was a loner in Japan who generally didn’t care about things around him.
Hoshino Yoshi just smiled and didn’t say anything in response to Chen Xiangbei’s comment.
"By the way, why are you here tonight?"
"Getting familiar with the circuit."
"Are you planning on transitioning?"
"Yeah."
Hoshino Yoshi nodded. He didn’t plan to continue on the formula road.
Upon hearing this, Chen Xiangbei’s expression instantly dimmed.
There are only two reasons for a formula driver to transition: either no results or no money.
Clearly, Hoshino Yoshi was the latter.
Formula racing was indeed too financially draining. Even with a Honda scholarship, it was hard for Hoshino Yoshi to continue on this path.
In contrast, transitioning to touring cars or GT prototype racing, with his formula performance and foundation, not only would he not need to spend money, but he could quickly earn prize money and sponsorship contracts.
Just like Ma Qingye running formula events in Europe but occasionally returning home to participate in touring car races to make money.
Chen Xiangbei could understand Hoshino Yoshi, yet he felt sorry for him.
If possible, who would want to give up their dreams?
"Sorry, Xiangbei, I can’t fulfill our promise to meet at the pinnacle."
Hoshino Yoshi said this with slight sadness, remembering their promise made with clenched fists under the starry sky on Japan’s Capital High.
He persisted, yet still lost to reality.
"It’s okay, it doesn’t have to be the pinnacle of formula, touring cars or endurance races are fine too."
Chen Xiangbei smiled as he comforted him.
In a sense, transitioning is the destiny of most formula drivers, including not escaping in his past life.
And precisely because of this, it highlights the preciousness of persevering to the end.
The Honda NSX quickly arrived at the entrance of the hotel, just as Chen Xiangbei was about to say goodbye and get off, Hoshino Yoshi pulled out an envelope from the armrest box and handed it over.
Chen Xiangbei took the envelope and asked curiously, "What’s this?"
"A graduation gift from Principal Nakajima."
"What kind of graduation gift?"
Hoshino Yoshi’s answer left Chen Xiangbei in a fog, as he never expected the Honda Suzuka Racing School to offer graduation gifts.
"He knows that the Super Dream Team lacks data on the Grand Prix track. This disc contains footage of Nakajima Ikki’s pole lap at the Grand Prix, which is of high reference value."
"You’ll understand after watching it."
Nakajima Ikki, son of Nakajima Goro, represented the ART Team in the 2005 Grand Prix.
In that year, Nakajima Ikki took pole position, with another Japanese driver, Kobayashi Kamui, in second place. It was a prelude to the glorious moment of Japanese racing, with two future F1 drivers competing early on.
However, their competition became too intense, resulting in an accident in the battle for position after the start, leading both to retire.
Still, Nakajima Ikki’s pole lap footage holds high reference value, including track analysis data from the European ART Team’s strategy group, which is undoubtedly a timely help for Chen Xiangbei who is urgently lacking track familiarity!
