Chen Xiangbei was speechless about Liang Chi's bizarre logic and had no interest in getting involved with his "romantic entanglement" with the technician No. 38 from the opposite bathing center.
So he opened up directly and said, "Uncle Liang, did you hear anything about the professional racing side?"
"Asked around, still looking for avenues, but it's quite difficult."
Liang Chi didn't conceal anything, at eighteen, he had yet to be exposed to karting training, and China isn't like Japan, which has a foundation in formula racing as an old stronghold of the automotive industry, making it very difficult to replicate an opportunity similar to Sato Takuma's.
"I understand."
Chen Xiangbei nodded. Truthfully, without the driver identity from his past life, purely as an event organizer or team manager, he wouldn't want a completely inexperienced new recruit from China either.
"But Uncle Liang, as long as I can get a chance to test drive, I can prove myself."
Chen Xiangbei said these words with an exceptionally firm tone. Now, he was not lacking anything except for an opportunity to showcase his skills!
"But formula racing is completely different from mountain road racing, even if you have unparalleled talent, it's still very hard to get a hang of and show yourself."
Liang Chi doesn't want to crush Chen Xiangbei's confidence. He knows precisely what absolute self-assurance signifies for a driver, especially for young people whose minds are not yet fully mature.
He too recognizes the talent that Chen Xiangbei has shown, not losing to those professional drivers he had encountered before. But formula racing is a very special existence that fundamentally differs from ordinary mountain road and track racing.
Without any exposure to karting, this fact alone has barred him from entry, and Liang Chi doesn't know how to convince others to secure a training opportunity.
Looking at the usually irreverent Liang Chi saying such cautious words, Chen Xiangbei knew that it must be very difficult for him.
After pondering for a while, he spoke, "Uncle Liang, I don't know who you asked, but the best way to convince someone is to let him witness the prowess firsthand."
"If I can outrun Han Han, would it be persuasive enough?"
Outrun Han Han?
Upon hearing Chen Xiangbei's words, Liang Chi set down the repair tools he was holding and looked at him surprised.
"How do you plan on racing Han Han?"
Liang Chi asked back, as the youthful thinking tends to be abrupt.
"Han Han will be coming to our school next month for a lecture. Uncle Liang, you could set up a chance for me to race him at Haizhu International Racing Circuit."
"You used to be a racing engineer at Huasi Sports, and Huasi had hosted CCC events. You should be quite familiar with the Volkswagen 222 Team and Han Han."
Earlier when Fatty Wang and Glasses Zhou at school egged him on, Chen Xiangbei already had the thought of racing Han Han, thinking about Liang Chi's past employment at Huasi Sports, maybe he could help broker something.
Now it looks like it might work out beneficially from both angles.
Listening to Chen Xiangbei's explanation, a contemplative look appeared on Liang Chi's face.
Indeed, mere words don't count for much; to garner full-fledged support from an old friend, he must also let him witness the talent and strength that Chen Xiangbei has displayed.
Without a doubt, Han Han is currently the most talked-about and widely recognized capable driver, if Chen Xiangbei could beat him on the track, many things wouldn't need much further explanation.
But there's a very legitimate question facing Liang Chi, and he asked bluntly.
"Can you really beat Han Han?"
"Yes."
Without a hint of hesitation, Chen Xiangbei gave his answer.
Liang Chi expressed doubt. Knowing Han Han had just clinched the national championship in the 1600CC group track race this year, within the same level strength, he's at least among the top, besides those few top masters who competed abroad in formula racing, probably not many opponents in the country.
Chen Xiangbei might have some skill, but claiming to beat Han Han, is it not a bit too boastful?
"Young man, better beat Qin Lianjie first before talking big."
After pondering for a moment, Liang Chi ultimately couldn't bring himself to believe Chen Xiangbei could outrun Han Han, after all, a high schooler racing against a national champion, isn't this storytelling at its finest?
"Alright, if I beat Qin Lianjie, how about then you contact Han Han, Uncle Liang?"
"Okay."
This time Liang Chi agreed, having long paid attention to Qin Lianjie, this young man's driving skills on Nanyun Mountain Road had reached a professional goalkeeper's level.
If Chen Xiangbei could outrun him, maybe he really could take on Han Han.
"It's settled then!"
Getting Liang Chi's promise, Chen Xiangbei immediately got up to head home.
Seeing that Chen Xiangbei was about to leave, Liang Chi quickly shouted, "It's still early, how about staying and giving a helping hand?"
"Is there overtime pay?"
"Get lost, not counting the interest on fixing the car is kind enough, still thinking about overtime pay."
"Then forget it, I have other things to do at home."
"What's up?"
"Body training!"
Leaving these words behind, Chen Xiangbei started to run back home.
By high school standards, Chen Xiangbei's current physical fitness is already quite good.
With a height of 175 centimeters which isn't considered short in Yuedong Province, a weight of 67 kilograms within standard range, and low body fat that shows clear muscle definition.
On physical education classes, various running exercises, sit-ups, and other training, Chen Xiangbei always scores excellent grades, he is also one of the main class representatives for school sports events annually.
But for a driver, especially one aiming for the pinnacle of F1, it's far from enough.
Chen Xiangbei currently lacks not conventional strength or endurance training, after all, he hasn't participated in top-tier professional events where the stress doesn't meet exceedingly high intensity standards yet.
The first thing he needs to do is quickly enhance the shoulder and neck muscle strength!
Many have experienced the rear push sensation brought by vehicle acceleration and the inertial plunge caused by abrupt braking.
Yet few have experienced the lateral acceleration from cornering at over hundreds of kilometers per hour.
While sitting in a race car, the body can rely on the seatbelt or bucket seat for fixation, but the neck can't be fixed, let alone with a racing helmet on the driver's head.
Every race car during acceleration or cornering, depending on speed, often generates high lateral G-force akin to having tens of kilograms pulling at the head.
If the neck isn't robust enough to fend off the G-force, at the least it will affect cerebral blood supply causing black vision, leading to unconsciousness.
In more severe cases, lateral acceleration or centrifugal force can directly twist the neck!
Ordinary people may struggle to understand why driving could require such high physical fitness or even risk a neck injury.
Well, let's put it in more relatable terms, describing the intensity of an F1 race.
F1 is the only sport in the world that can make you lose four kilograms while sitting within two hours at the extreme!
Regarding shoulder muscle strength training, it's relatively easier to comprehend; the steering stability and precise turning of the car requires powerful shoulder joint strength to maintain.
On usual roads, steering might shake a couple of times at low speeds, but setting it on the track, even a slight steering angle difference during a corner could result in drastically different line outcomes.
An originally passable corner might turn into an uncontrollable crash against the barrier.
Additionally, the arms also suffer from the race car's G-force impacts and are one of the driver's most injury-prone areas every year, shoulder joint dislocations or muscle tears are not uncommon among drivers.
Normally, adolescent physical training rarely includes shoulder-neck muscle exercises. To race Han Han at Haizhu International Circuit, in a near-standard track race, would inevitably involve high-speed cornering close to two hundred kilometers per hour.
Chen Xiangbei's current physical fitness, let alone reaching past life's F1 standards, even ordinary professional drivers have a significant gap from him.
He must focus on targeted training soon, otherwise, the notable driving skills he possesses won't shine out either.
PS: Thanks to brothers for the rewards and votes. Keep reading for two days, and tomorrow there'll be more updates!