Why race if you don’t have money?

Chapter 81 Beginner Hexagonal Warrior

Not to mention Hiroki Sawano who was full of questions, even the racing students present couldn't help but whisper when they saw Chen Xiangbei hesitating to find the setting options.

"Can Chen Xiangbei actually drive a simulator?"

"China probably doesn't have this kind of advanced simulator. He probably hasn't even seen one, let alone operated one."

"He must have never seen it before. It's obvious that he's not very skilled."

"If he hadn't used a simulator, why would he be so familiar with the Suzuka Circuit? Did he look at it on a map?"

I don’t know who came up with this question, but it instantly confused all the students present.

There are only two ways to improve your track proficiency: either actual driving training or simulator training.

If Chen Xiangbei came to the Suzuka Circuit frequently, he would have been recruited into the racing academy long ago with such a lap time, and the simulator would have been the only option left for him.

If you have never driven such a high-realism, cutting-edge simulator, can you achieve this effect by relying on maps or computer toys?
No one answered this question. Reason thinks it is impossible, but such a "monster" appears in reality!
However, with the adjustments made by Chen Xiangbei, Hiroki Sawano and Satoru Nakajima, two former top Formula One drivers, overturned their previous doubts and subconsciously showed shock on their faces.

Because the racing parameters set by Chen Xiangbei are basically the same as the ideal lap parameters of the track simulated by the computer!
Normally, the parameters of cutting-edge simulator racing cars are determined by the team's engineers, who create a 60% scale model and place it in a wind tunnel for testing.

Then data is collected through various sensors, and the various parameters are packaged into a virtual model of the racing car and placed into the central computer of the racing simulator. In this way, a virtual racing car with exactly the same parameters appears on the screen.

Often before the driver's formal simulation training, the engineer will let the car run autonomously in the simulator and run an ideal lap with absolute speed as the target lap time.

Normally, the driver's speed will be much slower than the ideal lap time. At this time, the engineer has to make corrections to the driver's control and tuning parameters through parameter comparison, striving to achieve an effect that is as close to the ideal lap time as possible.

Drivers, engineers, and simulators work together to form a closed-loop tuning system. This is the help that racing simulators bring to R&D and driver practice.

Now, the racing parameters set by Chen Xiangbei himself have already come close to the data simulated by the computer without even running the car or comparing the parameters with the racing engineers.

It seems that Miyamoto Shio's information was correct, and Chen Xiangbei had indeed practiced in the simulator for a long time!

Chen Xiangbei, who was in the four-axis cockpit, naturally didn't know about the exclamations of Hiroki Sawano and Satoru Nakajima. He was more grateful for the Renault Formula Junior car. The performance had remained basically the same over the past decade, and many of the parameters of later generations could be used.

Unlike F1, the number of engine cylinders has evolved from V10 to V8 and then to V6 hybrid.

In terms of aerodynamics, it has transformed from an aerodynamic vehicle to a ground effect vehicle.

With major changes every few years, it is impossible for Chen Xiangbei to remember all the parameters, so it is not so convenient to adjust them.

Fortunately, Chen Xiangbei's professional English is very good, and the basic setting logic of the simulator is similar. He finally fumbled to enter the racing parameters, and then pressed the start button to conduct his first simulator test run.

Since the simulator can only achieve instantaneous changes and cannot fully simulate the continuous G-force pressure brought by high-speed corners, it can be said that Chen Xiangbei's shortcomings have been temporarily made up for, and he can better exert his strength.

However, due to the low realism of the simulator and the abrupt experience brought by the four-axis, these factors will also affect his driving operation.

The Renault virtual race car sped across the giant screen, and everyone in the hall couldn't take their eyes off it. Even without the stopwatch's timing display, everyone could sense the astonishing speed and the extreme, smooth trajectory.

"I have a feeling that the Chinese rookie will be able to break the track record in this lap."

"I don't think so. 2 minutes and 05 seconds should still be a bit difficult."

"If he broke the track record on the simulator, can Chen Xiangbei break it in a real-world race on dry land?"

"Even if he can't do it right now, it's only a matter of time based on the speed he was going yesterday!"

The students present were all amazed. No matter how stereotyped and prejudiced the eyes were, they could not stop the overwhelming shock brought by the strength.

It was not unjust for Matsumoto Brown to leave. This Chinese guy might really be the strongest rookie in the history of the academy!
就在众人议论纷纷之中，虚拟雷诺赛车冲过起跑线，大屏幕上显示出2分05秒683的圈速，距离现实小林可梦伟的赛道记录2分05秒641还差点。

This lap time can be said to have not been broken, or it can be said to have been broken, similar to "as if broken".

The reason is very simple. The start of simulator racing is similar to that in reality. The first lap must be the slowest because you cannot accelerate in advance.

Chen Xiangbei's lap time was only one hundredth of a second away from the record. Even if his track-tracking technique did not improve in the second lap, as long as he relied on the acceleration at the start, he would definitely be able to break Kamui Kobayashi's real track record.

too strong!
"Zawano, Hoshino Yoshi's hidden record of 2 minutes 05 seconds 122 seems to be unable to stop the attack of the Chinese newcomer."

Nakajima Satoru saw Chen Xiangbei's speed in the first lap and whispered something to Hiroki Sawano beside him.

"Can't stop it."

Hiroki Sawano gave the answer directly.

Although Chen Xiangbei was quite unskilled in setting the parameters, it was clear that he was simply unfamiliar with the simulator, not that he had never used it before. Proficiency can be gained over time.

Hiroki Sawano couldn't imagine what kind of lap time Chen Xiangbei would be able to achieve after training at the Honda Racing Academy for several months and becoming thoroughly familiar with the simulator.

"It's a good thing that Chen Xiangbei was able to surpass Hoshino Yoshi's hidden lap time. It will put pressure on him to practice racing even harder."

Nakajima Satoru brought Hoshino Yoshi today, partly because he wanted to see the collision between geniuses.

On the other hand, I hope Chen Xiangbei can put pressure on Hoshino Yoshi so that this guy can focus more on the track.

After all, no matter how talented Chen Xiangbei is, he is a Chinese after all, and Hoshino Yoshi is a talented Japanese boy.

Under the same conditions, Nakajima Satoru would choose Hoshino Yoshi without hesitation.

Just like the Japanese F1 teams, whether it is Honda or Toyota, they all try their best to recommend Japanese drivers to get seats.

In order to create an all-Japanese team, the Super Aguri team even pushed a genius like Ide Yuji into F1 and was unwilling to leave the seat for others.

Household registration has always been a factor that cannot be ignored in the F1 paddock, not only for Japan, but also for European and American countries. There has never been absolute fairness in this world!

"It's a pity that Hoshino Yoshi's family conditions have hindered his development."

When he said this, Hiroki Sawano sighed.

Under normal circumstances, many Formula One drivers say that their families have no money. That is only compared to the top wealthy people. For the middle class, playing Formula One is indeed equivalent to being poor.

But Hoshino Yoshi's family conditions can really be described as poor in Japan. He has to rely on part-time jobs to earn his daily living expenses. He is a replica of Sato Takuma.

What makes him even worse off than Sato Takuma is that he has a mother with a chronic illness at home who requires high medical expenses, which ultimately prevents Hoshino Yoshi from devoting himself to Formula One racing.

"I've applied for the Honda Scholarship for Yoshi Hoshino. Let's see if I can help him through this difficult time."

Nakajima Satoru also knew about Hoshino Yoshi's family situation, and he was already trying to find ways to help.

While the two were discussing, Chen Xiangbei's second lap speed, 2 minutes 04 seconds, appeared on the big screen.

"Wow~~~!"

There was an uproar in the hall. Although this was the extreme lap time achieved on the simulator, it was amazing enough to break Kamui Kobayashi's track record and run it under 2 minutes and 04 seconds.

"Si Guoyi, this should be the strongest student in recent years, right?"

"That should be it. It's a pity that Sato-kun and Kobayashi-kun are from different eras. Otherwise, I'd really like to see their simulated maximum lap times."

"Xingye Yi feels that he can't outrun Chen Xiangbei."

"We'll soon know whether we can make it through."

Faced with Chen Xiangbei's simulated lap time, Hoshino Yoshi, who had remained calm before, finally showed a look of shock on his face.

He was the only one who knew the significance of running under 2 minutes and 04 seconds. He had been running for over a month at the racing academy but still hadn't crossed that threshold.

Moreover, compared to Chen Xiangbei, Hoshino Yoshi had one more year of experience in F4 racing, yet he was easily overtaken by the newcomer in just two laps.

Is this the real gifted monster?
Soon Chen Xiangbei reached the third lap on the track. The speed of this lap was not so exaggerated, only reaching 2 minutes 04 seconds 991.

The similarity of racing car parameters does not mean that they are exactly the same. Chen Xiangbei needs to provide feedback and settings to the engineers before a qualitative improvement can be achieved again.

After finishing this lap, Chen Xiangbei changed the map to Fuji Speedway.

To be honest, he had practiced at Fuji Speedway in his previous life, but not as many times as other tracks on the calendar.

The reason is very simple. The Fuji Speedway served as a substitute and only hosted the two F07 Japanese Grand Prix in 08 and 1. In the next ten years, it returned to its spare tire status, and the Suzuka Circuit became the absolute protagonist.

Human energy is limited. Even monster drivers like Hamilton and Verstappen have their own advantages and disadvantages on tracks. It is impossible to take every track into account to the extreme.

Chen Xiangbei naturally prioritizes practicing on regular tracks, and only when he has more free time will he run on unpopular tracks like Fuji on the simulator.

However, even so, Chen Xiangbei's lap time was still very good. It's just that the Fuji Speedway has never hosted the Formula One race, and the students present lacked a direct comparison of the lap time, so the shock it brought was far less than the previous Suzuka lap time.

But in the eyes of professional drivers like Hiroki Sawano and Satoru Nakajima, they are very aware of the value of lap times at the Fuji Circuit. The two looked at each other and saw surprise in each other's eyes.

At the same time, one thing was also confirmed, that is, Chen Xiangbei has no shortcomings on the track, and his performance in the rain has proved his strength. If the street race is the same, he will truly be an entry-level hexagonal warrior!
(End of this chapter)