Amazing long-distance lap stability is a must-have standard for a top driver, representing that each lap’s racing line and control are almost identical.
Chen Xiangbei’s simulator control has reached a level that Sawano Hiroyuki finds impeccable.
The only concern he has is about real-life racing on the track.
The result of being outside the top fifteen in practice session one makes it hard to determine how much the engine factor contributes; sotis it’s better to expect the minimum standard instead of being disappointed by the highest standard.
Though it’s already May, the coastal nights in South Korea still carry a hint of chilliness.
Mizutani Sho rubbed his sowhat stiff shoulders, then raised his hand to glance at the watch, with the hands pointing to eleven in the evening.
Ending practice session two at four in the afternoon ans Chen Xiangbei has been sitting in front of the racing simulator for seven hours!
Just as Sawano Hiroyuki and Mizutani Sho hesitated whether to discuss Chen Xiangbei’s simulator training, the door to the driver’s rest room was pushed open from outside, and Odetto walked in.
"North, have you forgotten there are two races tomorrow?"
Many things are about avoiding excess; Odetto had planned to sleep at the hotel but realized Chen Xiangbei and others hadn’t returned from the track, instantly aware they were still engaging in simulator training.
Effort is comndable, but obsession is problematic.
Especially since the racing simulator cannot reach the hundred percent tactile sensation of a real track; fostering muscle mory in such a manner might cause major issues, like the extre control of fully opening DRS through a corner in the future.
Certainly, Chen Xiangbei isn’t at that point, but it still affects his car feeling.
This explains why veteran drivers like Alonso rarely use racing simulators.
On one hand, it’s due to unfamiliarity.
On the other hand, it’s the fear of simulators negatively impacting their performance.
Upon hearing Odetto’s voice, Chen Xiangbei finally paused the simulator and took off his headset.
"I didn’t realize ti passed so quickly."
Chen Xiangbei replied with a smile.
Indeed, wearing headphones and imrsively using the simulator feels similar to gaming, and one tends not to notice the passing of ti.
"Let’s head back."
Odetto didn’t say much, uttering this phrase before leaving the driver’s rest room.
Chen Xiangbei also stood up from the cockpit and followed out of the rest room, leaving the "aftermath" tasks to Sawano Hiroyuki and Mizutani Sho, who still needed to gather so critical data from the simulator.
The track isn’t far from the hotel, yet due to the developnt area, the night could be described as deserted.
Walking along the spacious coastal highway, Odetto hesitated for a mont but still asked, "Aren’t you a bit too tense? I feel your focus on this race even surpasses that of the East Sea Grand Prix."
"No."
Chen Xiangbei shook his head.
"Then why didn’t you act this way at East Sea Circuit?"
"Because I’m confident at East Sea International Circuit, not at this one."
With Odetto, Chen Xiangbei could express his inner thoughts without reservation, unlike facing the outside world where he must show a strong front.
Chen Xiangbei clearly understands his strengths; aside from his sense and talent this lifeti, his rapid progress largely relies on a god-like perspective and his past life experiences.
In the eyes of outsiders, he’s a genius who directly jumped to F1 after a few junior formula events and two F3 races.
In fact, Chen Xiangbei is a standard F2 driver who had reached nearly half-step F1!
Regarding the ho East Sea Circuit, to say it without exaggeration, Chen Xiangbei could run it with his eyes closed. The entire layout, corners, terrain, surface conditions, etc., are already deeply engraved in his mory.
But Lingyan Circuit isn’t the sa.
He knows nothing about Lingyan Circuit, and even the team’s assistance is limited.
Simply put, even on a completely new track, top teams can preemptively arrange engineers to survey and feed the original data into the central computer to simulate ideal laps and find the optimal solutions for every corner.
HRT Team currently can’t do these things!
The old saying holds: the difference between major teams and smaller ones is not just about funding, but also overall lag.
The only thing Chen Xiangbei can do is familiarize himself through countless practice sessions.
No other way.
"Your desire for the Lingyan Circuit isn’t just about championship aspiration; there’s another competitive urge."
"Yes, I don’t want to lose."
"Why?"
"So no one dares blatantly insult my country and compatriots in the paddock."
Perhaps due to East Asian cultural roots, compared to tracks in Europe or Australia, where insults like ’FUCK’ or ’Chinese jerk’ don’t really affect Chen Xiangbei.
But so terms heard within the South Korean paddocks, Chen Xiangbei finds unacceptable.
Due to his identity as a driver and public figure, Chen Xiangbei cannot retaliate like a street quarrel.
What he can do is respond with results, humiliate with championships!
In contrast, Odetto, being European, couldn’t understand why Chen Xiangbei was so angry, leading to this dialogue.
But hearing Chen Xiangbei, Odetto vaguely understood.
He didn’t ask further, lightly patting Chen Xiangbei’s shoulder at the hotel entrance, saying to rest well before turning away.
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