Car Racing without Money

Chapter 691 - 276: The Boundary Between Profession and Passion

"Chinese Driver Street Altercation, Allegedly Involved in Racial Discrimination!""Chen Xiangbei Violates Numerous FIA Prohibitions, Suggests Revocation of Super Driver’s License."

"Why Wasn’t HRT Team Severely Punished for Malicious Harm, Who is the Protector Behind Them?"

"Chen Xiangbei Must Apologize Publicly, or Should Be Expelled!"

These headlines emerge on the tip of the pen and the keyboard, paired with the footage of a Chinese driver violently attacking a man in a suit and his bodyguards, which instantly provoked the fragile self-esteem of the South Korean public.

Of course, Chen Xiangbei hasn’t paid attention to this news for now, or perhaps he simply doesn’t care.

The verbal accusations can’t harm anyone; he has walked through the European tracks enduring cold stares and ridicule and has now become a strong contender. Would Chen Xiangbei even care about the barking of a bunch of nobodies?

At Seoul International Airport, HRT Team’s Technical Director Bob Bell has arrived carrying a racing simulator, accompanied by Huali Group’s Chief Engineer Cheng Jian.

The agreement between Briatore and Huali Group is merely an intention contract, and various details still need to be drafted and reviewed by the legal department.

Although Huali Group is a shareholder in HRT Team, shareholders don’t always mean they have direct management control over independently operated team departments.

It’s similar to Huali’s acquisition of Volvo, where for a long period initially, they had no interference rights over the Swedish headquarters, and even research results and patents weren’t shared, until forming various joint R&D departments later, which eventually absorbed and controlled Volvo’s technology.

The urgency with which Huali dispatched engineers is not only to get early contact with top-tier formula insights.

Another reason is that Huali has taken too big a step, stretching themselves thin.

Thus far, every move by Huali Group belongs to the category of "the snake swallowing the elephant," with extreme pressure on funds and personnel.

As a Hong Kong Island-listed company, it must do something to build momentum!

Without a doubt, "joint research" to acquire F1 technology would be a bombshell in 10 years!

Just as if a car company in 2025 announced its full cooperation with Ferrari Team, with engineers sent to learn F1 R&D, its stock would undoubtedly hit several trading limits.

After greetings upon meeting, the team’s technician group took over the transport of the racing simulator. Chen Xiangbei proceeded with the strategy group and engineer team to Lingyan Circuit located in Jeollanam-do.

Sitting on the departing bus, Odetto asked Bob Bell a question.

"Bell, what did Toyota Group say?"

Bob Bell didn’t fly directly to South Korea but instead went overnight last Sunday to Toyota’s headquarters in Japan, hoping to discuss face-to-face with their motorsports engine department to resolve the current power unit instability factors.

"Toyota expressed apologies but couldn’t provide a solution."

Upon hearing this, Chen Xiangbei’s lips curled into a mocking smile.

Isn’t this typical of the Japanese style of apologies without possibility of corrections?

Indeed, standing from an objective standpoint, everyone at HRT Team understood that the hope for a solution from Toyota Group was slim, otherwise, they wouldn’t have involved Ferrari’s technical team in the rescue in the first place.

It’s like a company shutting down a department, workers either get laid off or transferred to other departments, especially since this company doesn’t plan to involve in such business anymore.

If a customer approaches for a design defect, would they reorganize a department for after-sales?

The answer is self-evident.

Let alone the temporal nature of F1 cars; unless the team lacks funds and technology, a new car would be launched every year.

Even if the department reorganized, by the time a solution is reached, it might already be the new season, resulting in futile efforts.

"Do we have our own solution then?"

Odetto asked again.

"Actually, as long as we don’t excessively squeeze for extra power, Ferrari’s technical team’s solution is almost perfect."

"Of course, in this race, the engine output must be reduced."

To a certain extent, the current power unit difficulties faced by HRT Team stem from their ambition surpassing their strength.

As a newcomer to F1, theoretically, their results and speed being in the mid-to-lower tier is no problem; even superpowers like BMW and Mercedes, entering the first year, can’t expect to be championship contenders.

Later teams like Audi and Cadillac set lower goals, aiming to enter the upper echelon within three years was considered good.

The myth of Brawn GP is a rare chance not to be sought after!

Yet Chen Xiangbei’s emergence, coupled with Toyota’s prototype car’s last dance, and Briatore’s pressing desire to prove himself, collectively made the entire HRT Team’s ambition skyrocket.

What started as a slogan turned into a genuine aspiration to compete for the championship.

More surprisingly, they actually accomplished it!

Under the hyper-power mode, HRT Racing Car has become the second fastest car in the paddock, without the power unit flaws, it wouldn’t be excessive to say it rivals Red Bull.

Unfortunately, adrenaline lasts only a moment; once prosperity fades, the essence shows. HRT Team is not content with sitting at the kids’ table with Virgin and Lotus, seeking a breakthrough plan constantly.

"Then we can only urge Toyota Group to produce more power units."

This era doesn’t have the strict quantity restriction regulations of later years. As long as there isn’t an emergency race swap or high-frequency replacement, carefully calculating to change a power unit every two to three races would run the whole year within limits.