Odetto explained calmly to Mizutani Sho. He had worked at the Super Aguri Team for two years and knew that many Japanese engineers subconsciously believed that track records set by famous drivers were almost unbreakable.
They have this perception because Asian drivers are often weaker, and indeed, lap tis set by historic drivers like Senna and Schumacher belong to a realm that is out of reach.
But in Europe, no track record is unbreakable!
After warning Mizutani Sho, Odetto pressed the communication button on his headset.
"Bei, your fastest lap has been refreshed by two drivers, and Carlin Team’s Magnussen is also on his flying lap."
"If you don’t want to be left far behind, then run even faster!"
Even faster?
When Odetto issued such a team order at a critical mont, Sawano Hiroyuki and Mizutani Sho looked at each other in surprise.
Going any faster might lead to a tire blowout and crash off the track!
"Received."
Chen Xiangbei had no doubts about Odetto’s team order, or rather, he had anticipated this all along.
He knew very well that he had locked the tires on the previous lap, and the lap ti was not perfect—Magnussen would definitely surpass him.
If Magnussen couldn’t even beat the flawed flying lap, then he wouldn’t deserve the phrase "high start, confused running," but rather "low start, not running"!
Chen Xiangbei just hadn’t expected that Magnussen hadn’t even surpassed him before two other drivers refreshed the lap tis. These two are, without surprise, the future FE world champions.
Although FE is not comparable to F1, it’s ultimately stronger than a re F2 driver, so it’s no surprise they can achieve the fastest lap.
Releasing the voice communication button on the steering wheel, Chen Xiangbei focused all his attention on the track, seemingly slowing down the entire spatial speed in his eyes as the well-practiced racing lines erged in his mind.
This ti, Chen Xiangbei didn’t go through those familiar racing lines like muscle mory but instead followed Odetto’s request to be more aggressive, squeezing every bit of space and curb on the track.
The single lap of a qualifying session, in the end, cos down to which driver has better details and which driver drives to the utmost limit.
Even just a lead of a few kiloters per hour will beco the pole position at the end!
Entering the T18 corner, Chen Xiangbei ca onto the long straight of the starting line. The circuit broadcaster had already focused the cara on his number 13 Renault car, and many people were curious whether this Chinese newcor could achieve the fastest lap ti and lead the standings.
At the mont of crossing the line, the large screen instantly displayed the lap ti.
minute 57 seconds 613!
Chen Xiangbei improved by 0.25 seconds compared to his previous flying lap.
"Did I see that right? Driver Bei is at the top of the lap tis again?"
"FUCK, how did this Chinese Kid manage to improve by such an exaggerated 0.25 seconds?"
"I watched his flying lap closely, on the previous lap Driver Bei had a locking error, this lap he drove perfectly, so a significant improvent was not unexpected."
"Can this Chinese newcor really take pole position?"
A spectator raised the question on everyone’s mind; Chen Xiangbei’s lap ti has reached the level of pole positions in the history of Renault European Cup unless soone runs a miraculous lap to surpass it.
Vergne and Costa were on their second flying lap and would have to return to the pit without an opportunity. No other drivers currently showed the potential to challenge, except for Magnussen who still had a chance to surpass.
"Jas, Carlin Team’s Magnussen has a very fast flying lap too. Do you think he can surpass Bei?"
Mike, seeing the situation, actively asked his partner Jas.
"Emotionally, I think it’s possible. Rationally, it’s very difficult."
Jas gave an ambiguous answer.
Chen Xiangbei’s fastest lap ti is only 0.15 seconds slower than Schumacher’s pole record. If the weather and track conditions were better, he might have broken the record and made history.
If Magnussen were to run even faster, it equates to breaking the pole record—a nearly impossible feat.
But as a European comntator, Jas similarly hopes to see a European pole and eventual winner in this race.
At the sa ti, judging from Magnussen’s karting record, he possesses the potential of a super genius driver who might just create a miracle.
However, Jas’ expectations were quickly shattered, as right after he responded, Magnussen completed his flying lap.
minute 57 seconds 677!
With a slight gap of 0.06 seconds, he couldn’t surpass Chen Xiangbei’s previous flying lap and had to settle for second place.
"No way, even Magnussen couldn’t beat the Chinese newcor?"
"Does this an Driver Bei is really going to take the pole position of the first round?"
"There are still three minutes left in the qualifying session, maybe another fastest lap will appear."
"Impossible, no other driver has the capability to refresh the fastest lap."
The audience buzzed with discussions. They had initially thought this race would be like previous European Renault Cups, where the champion beca a prey chased by known drivers from big teams.
But unexpectedly, a wild card appeared, an unknown Chinese driver overwheld the others!
"Team, what’s my lap ti, what’s my ranking?"
At the mont Magnussen crossed the line, he asked the team engineer.
The genius driver’s intuition told him that Chen Xiangbei’s flying lap speed was fast and might beco a threat to him.
"1 minute 57 seconds 677, ranked second."
"Is the fastest lap by a Chinese driver?"
"Yes."
Hearing the team engineer’s answer, Magnussen’s mouth dropped wide open, montarily at a loss for words.
Sure enough, his intuition wasn’t wrong.
"Can I push for another lap?"
"No, there’s not enough fuel, bring the car into the pits."
Just like Chen Xiangbei, Carlin Team only prepared enough fuel for Magnussen to run two flying laps.
"Received."
Magnussen replied in a low tone. He had already regarded the Renault European Cup first round pole position as within his grasp, but he couldn’t run faster than a Chinese newcor.
Not only did Magnussen fail to run faster, precisely speaking, nobody else did.
When the countdown to the qualifying session on the large screen hit zero, the lap ti of 1 minute 57 seconds 613 still proudly sat at the top.
The pole position of the Renault European Cup at Silverstone Circuit was born, and he was the Chinese driver, Chen Xiangbei!
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