Car Racing without Money-Chapter 309 - 140: Standing at the Summit of Formula 3 (9K)
This delicate disturbance of the rear airflow motion is something usually seen only from top F1 or F2 drivers, and Mizutani Sho didn’t expect the first-time participant Chen Xiangbei to pull it off as well.
Just two days ago, Chen Xiangbei was still somewhat unaccustomed to this car!
"Previously, Xiangbei could only be considered an Asian genius driver. If he wins today’s race, without a doubt, he can be called a world-class genius driver."
Lu Xiaoman chimed in supportively.
The East Bay Circuit has gathered some of the world’s top F3 drivers, and Chen Xiangbei managed to contend with two former Grand Prix champions without losing ground, indicating that he has completely surpassed the level of Asian drivers.
"Sister Man, is Xiangbei really that impressive?"
Listening to the conversation between Mizutani Sho and Lu Xiaoman, Dong Yuanxi couldn’t help but ask curiously.
Although she always paid attention to Chen Xiangbei, as a high school girl, her understanding of Formula racing was still limited.
She only knew that Chen Xiangbei was impressive but had no concept of how impressive he could be.
Now Dong Yuanxi had a standard: Chen Xiangbei was considered a world-class genius driver!
"Yes, Xiangbei is impressive, far more than you imagined."
"Sister Yuanxi, he is the hope of China’s motorsport for the next ten years!"
Lu Xiaoman replied seriously.
She couldn’t foresee the history of the next twenty years, but at least in the next ten years, China couldn’t produce a stronger driver than Chen Xiangbei.
[The hope of China’s motorsport for the next ten years?]
Hearing this, Dong Yuanxi was stunned, realizing that Chen Xiangbei had already reached such a height.
Seeing Dong Yuanxi’s shocked expression, Lu Xiaoman’s lips slightly curled upward as she smiled.
"What, do you think Chen Xiangbei is outstanding?"
"He has always been outstanding."
This time, Dong Yuanxi didn’t avoid the affirmation and gave Lu Xiaoman a confident answer.
When she first met him at the street park, Dong Yuanxi felt that sense of justice from Chen Xiangbei.
To this day, Chen Xiangbei remains that passionate and hardworking youth!
On the track, Chavez was striving to catch up with Chen Xiangbei, with only one thought in his mind: to surpass this Chinese guy in front and achieve the glory of defending the title for TOM’S Team.
However, as both parties engaged in a battle of offense and defense, Chavez felt something was wrong. The car in front, Chen Xiangbei, not only disrupted the slipstream but also demonstrated precise defensive lines, leaving Chavez with no chance to overtake.
Is this really the first time this Chinese rookie is racing in the Grand Prix event?
Even Mizutani Sho found it incomprehensible, so for Chavez, it was utterly incredible.
It’s important to note that this was Chavez’s third participation in the Grand Prix, making him one of the most experienced drivers. He felt that the car ahead, Chen Xiangbei, was just as familiar with the track or defense against chasing cars as he was.
He could understand dynamic starts quickly taking out Kokumoto Keiyo, since this largely depended on personal state and timing, even top F1 drivers frequently experience "stalls" at the start.
But the levels of proficiency and experience shouldn’t exist in a rookie; how did Chen Xiangbei manage to do it?
Nobody could give Chavez an answer to this; the only thing he could do now was to closely follow the car in front and look for an opportunity.
Thus, after a few more laps, the two remained in a stalemate, and TOM’S Team engineers relayed instructions to Chavez via TR based on the car’s data.
"Chavez, the tire wear caused by pushing is significant, with only 30% life remaining, and the lap times are dropping."
"You must complete the overtake in the next lap; otherwise, you need to pit for a tire change."
As anyone who has driven a car knows, maintaining a constant speed is more fuel-efficient. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺
This logic also applies to Formula racing: in addition to saving fuel, maintaining a steady speed also extends tire life.
Constant acceleration and braking actions have accelerated the wear on the soft tires, and grip has already passed its peak and is showing a downward trend. If it weren’t for the need to conserve his tires, Chen Xiangbei could have already floored the gas pedal and left Chavez behind.
"COPY."
After giving a response, Chavez’s expression turned "grim."
At this point, even if he overtook the car, he would soon need to pit for a tire change, "returning" the position, so the impact on position improvement wasn’t significant.
However, the significance of proving himself through honor was substantial!
As the 2007 Grand Prix F3 champion, a three-time veteran of the East Bay Circuit, having a soft tire advantage yet tailing for several laps without being able to surpass a Chinese rookie, it seemed somewhat unreasonable.
Emotions gradually took control over Chavez’s reason as the two cars approached the Pengzhou Bend, a dangerous bend at East Bay Circuit well-known to many, and the most important overtaking point.
In 1990, the future F1 world champions, UK’s Hakkinen and Germany’s Schumacher, battled it out in a dramatic scene at the Pengzhou Bend.
On the last lap, Hakkinen, in the trailing position, attempted to overtake Schumacher ahead on the inside line at Pengzhou Bend.
Faced with the imminent victory, Schumacher displayed exceptional tenacity and also forced his way into the inside line, refusing to yield.
As a result, Hakkinen’s left front wheel hit Schumacher’s rear, crashing into the wall and retiring, while Schumacher, with a damaged car, crossed the line to win. He was also the last future F1 world champion to win the Grand Prix F3!
Chavez wanted to emulate Hakkinen’s move back then, forcefully overtaking Chen Xiangbei on the inside at Pengzhou Bend.
However, Chen Xiangbei wouldn’t risk a crash and retirement by forcefully changing lanes to block Chavez; this British driver wasn’t worth the "mutual destruction."
