Car Racing without Money-Chapter 416 - 169: Underestimating the Strength of F1 Drivers
As for the members of Han Han’s team, regardless of age, they were almost unable to hide their excitement and thrill.
On one hand, they had witnessed Chen Xiangbei, China’s first official F1 driver, who has now become an idol and legend in the racing world!
Who would have thought that nineteen-year-old Chen Xiangbei, with such a meteoric rise, would step into the pinnacle of the racing temple and become one of the "gods."
On the other hand, they were also about to see another group of racing gods!
After about an hour’s drive, the event support vehicle stopped in front of the Bird’s Nest stadium.
Upon getting off the car, Chen Xiangbei looked at this iconic building, briefly dazed with a sense of déjà vu. But he quickly regained his composure, following the staff with Han Han into the backstage passage, heading to the Bird’s Nest news conference room.
The closer they got to that bright entrance, the more Chen Xiangbei felt his heart pounding heavily, as if he wasn’t as calm and composed as he had imagined.
Han Han beside him unconsciously clenched his fist, as this race meant to him.
Perhaps in this lifetime, this would be the only chance to face off against the gods!
Walking out from the backstage passage to the press seats, the photographers’ flashes went off wildly, engulfing the entire news conference room in white light.
"Chen Xiangbei, the Chinese racing god!"
"Go, Chen Xiangbei, conquer the Bird’s Nest track!"
"Racing god Xiangbei, you must win the championship!"
"Chen Xiangbei, show our Chinese speed!"
Compared to the fans at the airport making wild guesses, today the reporters and fans at the scene.
They finally got to see Chen Xiangbei, the first official F1 driver in China’s history.
In the face of the frenzy from the reporters and fans, Chen Xiangbei smiled and waved at them, but his gaze was drawn to the group of racers who had already arrived at the press seats.
Hamilton, Coulthard, Vettel, and others, Chen Xiangbei had met at the Spa Circuit, so they didn’t seem too mysterious in comparison.
Three people truly caught Chen Xiangbei’s attention, and the first one to enter his view was Sebastian Leib from the French team!
If the debate about the greatest of all time in F1 still exists, with Senna, Schumacher, Hamilton, Verstappen, etc., each era has its strongest idol in the hearts of fans.
Then in the WRC rally field, there is almost no debate.
This French racer has become the most shining star in the rally field, even a sovereign king, achieving an unprecedented nine championships, dominating an entire era!
With 79 career stage wins and 924 race section victories, his achievements have elevated the rally record to an unparalleled level, perhaps never to be matched.
Besides Leib, there was another nine-time champion at the scene, the strongest racer in WEC Le Mans history from the Nordic Combination Team - Tom Kristensen!
The WEC Endurance Race is a very unique event, with its Le Mans races being even more popular and valuable than the main event.
Whoever is the King of Le Mans is the King of Endurance.
And Kristensen is not only the King of Le Mans, but he is also the most dominant driver in the ROC National Cup, having won the title of the strongest "King of Kings" several times, defeating opponents including the likes of Schumacher and Hamilton.
Even in the main events of the National Cup, Kristensen once won the 2005 championship single-handedly.
If it weren’t for the extraordinarily strong combination of peak German duo Schumacher and Vettel, he might still rule the ROC National Cup.
However, Chen Xiangbei’s gaze didn’t linger on them for long, and instead, it locked on a particular man.
The active racers in the ROC National Cup typically wear their team’s racing suits. This racer didn’t even have an active racer identity currently, not wearing the iconic red Ferrari suit, but a plain white ROC team uniform.
Yet, as soon as this man appeared, no one in the racing world could ignore him; he is the King of Cars, Schumacher!
Schumacher’s historical achievements need no elaboration. If F1 is the pinnacle of motorsport, then he has already sat on its throne.
Whether you’re a WRC nine-time champion or a WEC Le Mans nine-time champion.
As long as Schumacher appears, his god-like status in the racing world is undisputable.
Chen Xiangbei had heard this name countless times in his two lifetimes. Unfortunately, when he participated in F2 events in Europe in his past life, Schumacher was already lying on his sickbed after a skiing accident, unable to meet this legendary King of Cars face to face.
Chen Xiangbei had imagined meeting Schumacher many times in this lifetime, but never had he thought their first meeting would be as opponents.
Han Han’s state was almost the same as Chen Xiangbei; the group of "gods" on the press seats had left him a bit overwhelmed, standing in place dazed.
Fortunately, Chen Xiangbei had seen major stages before and lightly nudged Han Han’s shoulder, whispering, "Let’s go up."
With Chen Xiangbei’s reminder, Han Han finally snapped back to "reality," taking a deep breath and following Chen Xiangbei to the center of the press seats.
In terms of achievements and status, it’s not just Han Han, even Chen Xiangbei didn’t qualify to sit at this table, let alone stand in the spotlight.
But as the home racers, Chen Xiangbei and Han Han represented China, and they had to become the center of attention!
Once all the racers were present, the upcoming news conference appeared much more formal and dull.
The reason was simple; not only were there racers, but also leaders from the Chinese Automobile Federation and the National Sports Commission, so it was impossible to let loose like abroad with bold statements seeking publicity.
After the leaders’ speeches and scheduled interviews, the next step was the draw ceremony.
Eight teams would be divided into two groups and go through a single-elimination system to determine the final champion.
As the host nation, with Chen Xiangbei being the first driver of the team, it was only right for him to be the first to draw lots.
The draw box contained balls with participating national flags, and whichever one was picked indicated the opposing national team.
Chen Xiangbei reached into the box and took out a ball, the Union Jack on it was prominent, along with the letter "ONE."
Undoubtedly, Chen Xiangbei drew the United Kingdom team.
His opponent was the newly crowned world champion of the year, Jenson Button!
