Chapter 108: Chapter 87: Asia’s True Genius
"Don’t worry, Turn 1 ends with a large asphalt buffer zone. As long as you can force Chen Xiangbei to slow down or go off the track with you, you can drive back afterwards."
After saying this, the race engineer turned to Mukai Takuma and said, "Mukai, you must seize the opportunity created by Yamamoto and run to the leading position at the fastest speed."
"If Chen Xiangbei catches up first, you block him. If Yamamoto catches up first, you two switch positions."
Since the team’s two drivers start in the front row, naturally they should leverage the ’two against one’ advantage, which is a common tactic in formula racing.
But having Yamamoto push the opponent off the track could be considered borderline illegal. Nevertheless, it’s often difficult to judge during the race, and penalties are extremely rare.
After all, as a driver, challenging the limits with late braking and not stopping in time, isn’t that quite normal?
"Okay, I understand."
Mukai Takuma nodded in agreement. He himself is the team’s number two driver and might benefit from this situation; naturally, he has no reason to refuse.
Only Yamamoto Naoki showed an expression of hesitation. His emotions wanted to openly defeat Chen Xiangbei, but reason told him this was the most effective method.
The half-hour break quickly passed, and the drivers returned to the Renault race cars’ cockpits. This schedule arrangement is much like an F1 sprint race weekend, where the qualifying and the race are held consecutively.
In the main race, there is no scene of queuing in the pit lane, as all twenty-seven Renault cars are parked on the starting grid according to their qualifying ranks.
Every car is surrounded by team members, and Mizutani Sho is monitoring the tire temperature and pressure, as well as the temperature of various fluids with instruments.
Beside him, a team of mechanics is on standby with tire racks and repair stations, prepared to change or repair anything unusual with core speed on track, showcasing the true capability and essence of a racing team.
Fuji TV’s two race commentators, during the interval before the start of the race, chatted about the background information of Chen Xiangbei.
"Tanaka, in qualifying, the driver from China, Chen Xiangbei, performed exceptionally well, not only grabbing pole position but also breaking Kobayashi’s record at the Suzuka Circuit."
"Chen Xiangbei is not only a Renault rookie, but he is also a karting rookie, with a career record of only having won the CKC national championship, prior data completely blank."
Sitting in the stands, Qin Lianjie heard this sentence and asked Liang Chi in surprise, "Uncle Liang, was Xiangbei the CKC national champion?"
Qin Lianjie watched Chen Xiangbei go to East Sea for training, a total period of less than a month. Huadai has never held a CKC event, where did this championship title come from?
Upon hearing Qin Lianjie’s inquiry, Liang Chi, rarely showing a blush, quickly changed the subject, "The resume was casually written, didn’t expect the Japanese to believe it."
"Can this be written casually?"
"If the championship can be issued casually, why not write it!"
Facing Qin Lianjie’s relentless questioning, Liang Chi simply adopted the attitude of an old rogue; among their own people, there’s no need to pretend anything.
Damn...
Qin Lianjie instantly understood how Chen Xiangbei got his championship title and could only say that the old man knew how to play.
While Liang Chi and Qin Lianjie were chatting, the race commentary continued discussing Chen Xiangbei.
"In the same year, after receiving kart training, Xiangbei won the CKC championship and participated in the Renault Formula by year’s end. If development continues at this pace, Chen Xiangbei has a chance to catch up with Sato’s speed!"
Nakajima Hideyuki commented in admiration, referring to Sato as Sato Takuma.
Sato Takuma achieved the Suzuki Cup national championship less than a year after starting karting, and became the Japanese F3 champion the following year before going to Europe.
If all goes well for Chen Xiangbei, theoretically he will also participate in the F3 event in the third year. If exceptionally talented, there might even be a chance to enter F3 by the second half of 2009.
Breaking Kobayashi Kamui’s record is still acceptable, but if Chen Xiangbei possesses Sato Takuma’s talent, it would be staggering to the Japanese.
Knowing Sato Takuma is hailed in the Japanese racing world as a once-in-a-century talent monster!
If families have money and start karting ten years early, there might be a chance to compete for the F1 championship.
The race commentary’s discussion guided the conversation of the on-site audience, but most people didn’t believe or didn’t want to admit that Chen Xiangbei’s talent could exceed that of Japanese F1 driver Sato Takuma.
"Sato entered F1 in less than five years, the Chinese Kid entering GP2 in five years would be good enough."
"Why compare with Sato, just for a Renault pole position?"
"Genius isn’t a wholesale item, talk again when Chen Xiangbei becomes F3 champion."
Listening to the many audience members taunting from the stands, Qin Qiuyu, who understood Japanese, couldn’t help but pout.
"Brother, why do they say that? Chen Xiangbei is clearly amazing!"
Upon hearing his sister’s words, Qin Lianjie nonchalantly advised, "It’s normal. If someone said a Japanese could hurdle faster than Liu Xiang, you wouldn’t be happy hearing it, either."
"Also, Chen Xiangbei is a few months older than you, so be courteous and call him Xiangbei Brother next time."
Listening to Qin Lianjie’s usual nagging, Qin Qiuyu immediately turned her head away, ignoring him.
At that moment, the whistle from the Japan Automobile Federation staff sounded on the track, indicating the race was about to start, and unrelated personnel had to leave the track quickly.
Sawano Hiroyuki led the team back to the P room, and seeing him maintain a serious demeanor, Mizutani Sho encouraged him: "Director Sawano, with Xiangbei starting from the front row and having the outside entry advantage, I believe leading the race is nothing to worry about."