Car Racing without Money-Chapter 396 - 163: That Man Has Returned (10K)
"Additionally, Xiangbei, if you really plan to join the HRT Team, even if the TF110 is a car that doesn’t lose to the Honda RA109, you still have to consider the issue of subsequent upgrades."
"The National Cup brings you not only glory but also sponsorship at the national hero level."
Lu Xiaoman knows Chen Xiangbei very well. Beneath his calm and indifferent appearance lies the ambition of a high-stakes gambler.
From the very beginning of his cooperation model with the Super Dream Team, he has been aiming for independence and a voice in the team, unwilling to position himself as a weak driver.
Now there is an opportunity to invest in the HRT Team, and there is also a potential Mars Rover right in front of him.
Would Chen Xiangbei accept the situation of starting high but falling low?
The answer is obvious!
Even the Brown GP Team, with the strong Honda background, couldn’t keep up with competitors’ upgrades mid-season despite Mercedes’ investment and technical support.
The HRT Team really has nothing. It’s purely a weakling that entered the F1 Paddock under the FIA President Max Mosley’s expansion plan by forcibly lifting an F3 team.
Over a full-year schedule, an F1 car needs at least two to three major upgrades and four or five minor upgrades, all of which require countless engineers and wind tunnels to generate upgrade data.
To put it simply, it requires burning money.
Having become a national hero, Chen Xiangbei’s sponsorship in the future will not be limited to private enterprises. Genuine state-owned giants will step in and join this pinnacle of automotive technology competition.
"I understand."
"Reply to Huali Automobile and Jiuli Sports, I will participate in the ROC National Cup."
Chen Xiangbei nodded; in fact, without so many benefits entangled, he would still choose to participate even just for honor.
As long as there is a suitable opportunity, he would still choose to go.
The reason is simple: a driver also has the identity of an athlete.
No athlete would want to miss the chance to witness a crowd of over a hundred thousand cheering and the raising of that red flag in their country’s home venue.
Just like Yao Ming entered the highest basketball hall, the NBA, he would still accept the national team’s call and participate in the 08 Olympics.
The opportunity to gain national honor in the Bird’s Nest home venue only exists once in history.
Chen Xiangbei doesn’t want to miss it.
"OK, I’ll go respond now."
Lu Xiaoman nodded and turned to leave the training room.
The next morning, Chen Xiangbei held an internal meeting and informed the core members of the team about his latest sponsorship and participation in the ROC National Cup.
In response, Odetto and others had no objections; on the contrary, they were very supportive of Chen Xiangbei’s decision.
Drivers often pursue not only money and commercial value but also a sense of honor.
The reason is simple: money can’t buy life, but a sense of honor can!
The moment you risk your life, the source of motivation is definitely a champion’s heart.
Just like Nakajima being called a Japanese hero and Senna being seen as a Brazilian hero.
Although the sponsorship matter was settled, such enormous funds would take some time to be in place.
Chen Xiangbei has stayed in Belgium for half a month, and he needs to return to the Blackley Factory Headquarters in the United Kingdom to continue his simulator training and undertake some new parts testing tasks for the team.
Not just for test drivers like Chen Xiangbei, even full-time F1 drivers mostly rely on simulator training in most cases, as it’s impossible to have real cars for testing.
After all, the cost of F1 cars test runs is too exaggerated; the few million Chen Xiangbei just spent covered almost two thousand kilometers.
Totaling up the overall cost, it’s nearly ten thousand per kilometer.
Upon returning to the Brown GP Team Headquarters in the UK, it was already September.
However, this return was somewhat unusual, with Ross Brown and Staler appearing at the gate of the Blackley Factory.
They didn’t come to welcome Chen Xiangbei and others; instead, they had solemn expressions on their faces.
"Odetto, Bei, we need to discuss something important with you now."
Ross Brown was the first to speak.
"Alright, let’s go inside and talk."
Odetto nodded; in fact, a sense of foreboding had arisen in his heart when he saw Ross Brown and Staler.
The crew members returned to the dormitory first, and Chen Xiangbei and Odetto went to the headquarters office.
As soon as they entered, Ross Brown said with a guilty expression, "Bei, I need to apologize to you."
"What’s exactly happened?"
Chen Xiangbei was completely bewildered, feeling a bit mystified.
"The Brown GP Team might not be able to offer you a full-time driver seat."
Upon hearing this sudden news, Chen Xiangbei and Odetto exchanged a glance, both with complex expressions.
No wonder Ross Brown and Staler appeared at the factory gate; indeed, something major had occurred.
"Bei, the board of directors has already passed the resolution; Mercedes and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority will fully acquire the shares of the Brown GP Team."
Staler explained, completing the detail that three days ago, the Brown GP Team had finished changing ownership and only awaited a time to announce externally.
Henceforth, the F1 Paddock would no longer have the Brown GP, to be replaced by Mercedes-Benz.
"You agreed?"
Odetto calmly asked back.
Although Ross Brown and Staler’s shares were diluted, they still had over twenty percent of the voting rights together.
If they were resolutely opposed, they had the power to convene a shareholder meeting, which could slow down Mercedes and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority’s acquisition.
