Why race if you don’t have money?

Chapter 93: The New Mewtwo Team

Ever since Chen Xiangbei proposed the negotiation condition of racing at his own expense, Qin Lianjie has been thinking about the cost issue.

He knew this guy's character very well. When he encountered difficulties, he would often choose to handle them by himself and would not easily tell others about it to trouble them.

However, the cost of traveling to Europe to compete at one's own expense is definitely not a small amount.

Even if Chen Xiangbei doesn't have to worry about the team's salaries and the technical support costs provided by ARTA, he still cannot afford the competition expenses alone.

Qin Lianjie did the math for a race of Renault's caliber: car rental costs, tire and fluid wear and tear, travel expenses, parts costs, and finally, registration fees and insurance.

The cost of each race will not be less than 100,000!

Moreover, this is just a race. The Formula Renault European Cup has at least eight to ten races, which means Chen Xiangbei needs to prepare millions of dollars.

Furthermore, this only counts normal racing expenses, not damage from crashes or accidents. A Renault 2.0 Formula One car costs over $, and if Chen Xiangbei damaged one, he'd probably have to sell his house in Guangzhou or Shenzhen.

Qin Lianjie only knows Ma Qingye, who races in F3 in Spain at his own expense. Although he was born in Donghai and his family is quite well-off, he still cannot afford the expenses of the Formula One race and has to return to China from time to time to drive a touring car to make money.

Qin Lianjie estimated that Chen Xiangbei's current assets were at most a few hundred thousand yuan, and he might not be able to last even for half a year.

"Let's talk about it after we get back home and see if we can get two sponsors."

Chen Xiangbei did not feel any great sense of crisis regarding funding issues. Half a year was enough time to accomplish many things.

In a sense, what Chen Xiangbei needs more now is fame, or perhaps winning a significant championship, so that he can get the attention of sponsors in China.

In most cases, this world, including China, only champions matter. Without championship results, only those who make it to the F1 paddock, like Zhou Guanyu, will have some social influence.

Otherwise, even if he could reach GP2 (F2), or reach the level of Ma Qingye and Ye Yifei in later generations, he would still be lukewarm in the country as a whole.

To describe it in one word, it is called not "breaking the circle".

"Okay, I'll sponsor one."

"Your reputation as a Goldman Sachs Asia Pacific investor probably doesn't look down on my small temple."

Chen Xiangbei laughed and said self-deprecatingly that sponsorship from a top investment bank like Goldman Sachs Asia Pacific is just like giving money away by finding a name.

"Who said I'd hire Goldman Sachs Asia Pacific? Do you really think I'm just a freeloader?"

Qin Lianjie replied with disdain, then said, "I own a modified parts store in Hong Kong Island. It's okay to sponsor an advertisement on the racing suit to raise some international awareness."

"Damn, so you and Cao An formed a team just to provide one-stop car sales and modification services?"

As expected of someone who comes from an investment banking family, Qin Lianjie has quite a good sense for economics.

Hearing Chen Xiangbei's words, Qin Lianjie's face flushed as he explained, "I didn't have this idea at first. I just wanted to make it easier to modify the Civic Type-R. Later, as the team expanded and more people came to modify, the shop gradually expanded."

"Don't talk about these nonsense, just ask yourself whether you want to sponsor or not."

"Okay, how much sponsorship fee are you planning to pay?"

Chen Xiangbei has never been a pretentious person. Since Qin Lianjie is willing to help when he has financial difficulties, he will not refuse.

In addition, Chen Xiangbei firmly believes that he will be able to repay this help many times over in the future!
"Five hundred thousand, maybe. If I don't ask my family for it, I don't have much liquid funds on hand."

"It's so rich."

Chen Xiangbei couldn't help but sigh. Qin Lianjie's limited concept was really far from his own understanding of the number...

At dawn, the two drove back to Suzuka City. Hearing the sound of the door lock, Liang Chi got up sleepily and asked, "How was the talk?"

"It's done. The ARTA team has agreed to enter the EuroFormula in a cooperative model."

"Uncle Liang, ask the members of the East China Sea Competition to see if they have any requests or opinions, such as regarding salary and benefits."

After hearing Chen Xiangbei's words, Liang Chi stood there in a daze, and then began to rub his face violently.

"I'm not dreaming, am I? Can Suzuki Aguri be convinced by you?"

Liang Chi really couldn't believe it. Both Aguri Suzuki and the ARTA team could be regarded as TO-level existences in the Japanese racing world.

Under normal circumstances, Chen Xiangbei is not even qualified to talk!

"Well, Director Sawano helped out in the end. He will be my competition engineer in the future."

If Liang Chi had doubts from the beginning, then Chen Xiangbei's answer now made him feel even more like he was dreaming.

As the director of the Honda Racing Academy, Hiroki Sawano will serve as the race engineer for a Renault-level driver?
"Uncle Liang, the deal has indeed been concluded. The contract will probably be signed soon. You can call and ask the members of the Donghai Huasai team."

Qin Lianjie next to him helped to confirm it, saying that miracles often happen in this way.

"What are you asking? They didn't leave even when Donghai Huasai closed down. Now they can go to Europe to participate in Formula One races. This is also the dream of maintenance technicians!"

Liang Chi replied excitedly that it was not only drivers like Chen Xiangbei who wanted to go abroad to challenge the highest level of the world formula.

The same goes for the racing team members!

"Uncle Liang, don't get excited. I'll do as you say."

Sensing that Liang Chi was somewhat "out of control", Chen Xiangbei hurriedly comforted him.

In the following time, Chen Xiangbei discussed the content of the "negotiation" with Liang Chi in detail.

From Chen Xiangbei's perspective, the whole process was, in a sense, a matter of luck. But from Suzuki Aguri's perspective, it was more of a mutually beneficial situation.

He needs a talented driver to maintain the Super Aguri team's "legacy" in the European Formula One field and wait for an opportunity to make a comeback!

When it was almost dawn, Chen Xiangbei called Lu Xiaoman, who was far away in the East China Sea, and talked to her alone about his future career plans to see if she was willing to join the competition team.

After all, Lu Xiaoman is different from the two maintenance technicians Feng Yong and Zhao Lei. If her family elders did not have a personal relationship with Zhang Zhicong, there would be no need for her to work in the racing industry given her family conditions.

According to normal cooperation terms, although Chen Xiangbei does not have to pay the team's salary, he still has to pay for living expenses and travel expenses.

At this time, the advantage of Lu Xiaoman holding multiple positions is highlighted. One person can do the work of three people, and the "cost-effectiveness" is very high!
Lu Xiaoman was even more surprised than Liang Chi about Chen Xiangbei's invitation. She had never expected that this little guy could form a team to participate in the competition in Europe.

Without much hesitation, Lu Xiaoman agreed. In her words, she simply wanted to witness how far Chen Xiangbei could go in the field of equations.

After finishing all these, Chen Xiangbei took the bus to Honda Racing Academy for training. This is what Hiroki Sawano admires about him. No matter what situation or changes occur, this guy will never slack off or stop!

Two days later, Aguri Suzuki arrived at the Honda Racing Academy with a formal contract that included not only the standard driver contract terms but also the team member appointments.

For an entry-level Formula One team like Renault, the number of crew members required is far less exaggerated than that of an F1 racing team.

Liang Chi is the chief technician, Feng Yong and Zhao Lei join the crew, and there are five other Japanese maintenance technicians.

They are not serving Chen Xiangbei full-time, but Suzuki Aguri thought that since they have decided to maintain the foundation of the European team, it would be better to support another Japanese driver to drive for Renault.

This driver is Takatoshi Kobayashi, who is currently undergoing karting training in Europe.

Takatoshi Kobayashi is not a member of the ARTA team's training system. He was originally sent to Europe by Honda's youth driver training program.

However, in 08, the Honda Group announced its withdrawal from F1, and simultaneously withdrew from all levels of European Formula One teams, leaving Kobayashi Takatoshi without a backer.

It just so happened that Aguri Suzuki decided to return, and the two sides hit it off and transferred Kobayashi Takatoshi to the ARTA team. At the same time, the Honda Group announced that it would provide technical support, which was equivalent to a win-win situation.

Lu Xiaoman serves as Chen Xiangbei's nutritionist and trainer. She no longer has the identity of a doctor, but she has gained an agent.

After becoming a professional racer, if Chen Xiangbei had to handle many trivial matters by himself, it would be a waste of time and affect his training. He must have an agent to handle it full-time.

For example, when it comes to negotiating cooperation and signing contracts, drivers usually leave it to their agents and don’t run around themselves.

In addition, it is impossible for Chen Xiangbei to fly back and forth from Europe to handle domestic sponsorship contracts. There are not many people around him who can be used, so he can only rely on Lu Xiaoman to take over temporarily.

In addition, Hiroki Sawano will serve as his race engineer. In addition, there is an unexpected surprise, that is, Sho Mizutani has decided to follow Director Sawano and move to the ARTA team as a data analyst and electronic engineer.

Finally, the position of team leader was handed over to Daniele Odetto, the former team leader of Super Aguri. He was the director of the Ferrari team as early as the 1970s and had rich connections and experience in the paddock.

Chen Xiangbei quickly glanced over the terms of the contract and found that all the conditions he proposed were met. Suzuki Aguri did show great sincerity.

Without any hesitation, Chen Xiangbei signed his name directly on the contract.

"Xiangbei, welcome to officially join the Mewtwo team!"

Aguri Suzuki stood up and congratulated Chen Xiangbei.

"The ARTA team?" Chen Xiangbei looked puzzled. The full name of the ARTA team was actually quite unfashionable. It was named after a Japanese automotive market service company and its phonetic translation was "Autobacs".

Even if we don't transliterate the full name, it should be called the "Alta" team according to the abbreviation. What the hell is this Mewtwo?

Seeing the confusion on Chen Xiangbei's face, Suzuki Aguri smiled and explained, "Super Aguri is a thing of the past. The ARTA team does not fully sponsor the overseas formula. I decided to name the new team Mewtwo."

"It's called Super Dream in English, which means super dream!"

After hearing Suzuki Aguri's explanation, Chen Xiangbei was confused. Is this old man associated with the word "super"?

The team was previously called Super Aguri, but now it is simply called Super Dream.

But then again, the full name "Mega Dream" is a bit tacky, but the abbreviation "Mega Dream" is not bad.

At this moment, Nakajima Satoru, who was accompanying him, spoke up, "Xiangbei, the Renault European Cup schedule is close to the F1 calendar, and the start date is also set for March. You currently have more than a month to prepare."

“Although you are no longer a student at the Honda Racing Academy, as a member of the Honda team, the academy can still provide you with training support.”

The training conditions of the ARTA team are not bad, but compared with the Honda Racing Academy which owns the Suzuka Circuit, they are nothing compared to it.

Seriously speaking, whether Chen Xiangbei, a member of the Pan-Honda camp, wants to receive training support from the Honda Racing Academy is actually questionable and depends entirely on whether the principal allows it.

Nakajima Satoru had a good impression of Chen Xiangbei. Since Hiroki Sawano and Sho Mizutani had followed him, he also hoped that this Chinese boy could achieve good results.

"Thank you, Principal Nakajima, but I have to go back to my country to take care of some business first."

Chen Xiangbei originally took a month off to go to Donghai for training, but now things have developed far beyond expectations.

He had to go back to China to explain the situation to his mother, and also deal with the issue of student status so that he could be directly registered at Suzuka International University.

"Well, from now on you will be a real professional driver."

Nakajima Satoru replied with a smile, Chen Xiangbei really needs to be prepared for the change of identity.

After finishing all this, Chen Xiangbei left the academy and returned to Suzuka Apartment. Liang Chi and Qin Lianjie had already packed their things, and the three of them immediately went to Nagoya Central Airport to return home.

After almost two hours of flight, Chen Xiangbei and his two companions landed at Donghai International Airport. As they dragged their luggage into the airport lobby, they saw Zhang Zhicong and Lu Xiaoman waiting to greet them from afar.

Sister Xiaoman is still charming and attractive, but Zhang Zhicong's temples are already full of white hair.

You know, it has only been two months since Chen Xiangbei left Donghai, but Zhang Zhicong seems to have aged more than ten years. It seems that the period of Huasai's bankruptcy and liquidation has dealt a huge blow to him.

"Sister Xiaoman, Uncle Zhang..."

When Chen Xiangbei called out "Uncle Zhang", he felt mixed emotions.

"Xiangbei, you did a good job and didn't disappoint Uncle Zhang."

Zhang Zhicong didn't notice the change in Chen Xiangbei's tone, and his face was full of smiles at the moment.

Although his own Huasai Sports failed, at least in the final stage, Zhang Zhicong saw the birth of another hope.

Chinese Formula One racing will never stop for itself and will always keep moving forward!
"Let me see, the little guy has become a professional driver!"

Lu Xiaoman also had a smile on her face and opened her arms to give Chen Xiangbei a warm hug.

Beneath her cynical appearance, Lu Xiaoman is well aware of what this achievement means. Chen Xiangbei is creating the history of Chinese Formula One.

After greeting each other, they drove to their hotel. However, Chen Xiangbei hesitated in the car before saying, "Uncle Zhang, how about we go to the Huasai base?"

"There's nothing much to see. The lease expired and they've moved out. I guess they're being demolished now."

"I still want to go and see it. If I don't go now and wait for Huasai to be demolished, it will be gone forever."

Chen Xiangbei now somewhat understands Liang Chi's feelings towards Huasai.

To be fair, the China Competition is not perfect. Instead, it has many shortcomings that are doomed to fail.

But it once carried the original dream, and Chen Xiangbei wanted to see it one last time before it was demolished.

"Lao Zhang, go take a look."

Liang Chi replied in the same low voice. He had the same idea as Chen Xiangbei and wanted to see it one last time before it was demolished.

"Then go ahead."

Zhang Zhicong did not refuse again and turned the car around and sped towards the Huasai base.

Half an hour later, Chen Xiangbei and others arrived at the former gate location. A construction cordon had been set up here. From a distance, construction vehicles could be seen inside, dismantling the main building of Huasai Sports.

As for the track where Chen Xiangbei ran, it was already cluttered with all kinds of construction waste.

“Is the demolition going so fast?”

Chen Xiangbei sighed. The contract had only expired in less than half a month, and he had originally wanted to take a photo as a souvenir.

"That's great, it proves that the Donghai economic development is quite fast."

Zhang Zhicong made a self-deprecating remark in a humorous way, but deep down he also hoped that the Huasai Base could be preserved for a while longer.

"Uncle Zhang, where's the CFR2000 race car?"

"Except for the prototype car you drove, I had someone ship it to Hong Kong Island in a container. The other six have all been disassembled."

After hearing this answer, Chen Xiangbei felt a little complicated. At least he still had his prototype car, but CFR2000 had completely become history.

"Uncle Zhang, what about you? What are you going to do next?"

Liang Chi had previously told Chen Xiangbei that Zhang Zhicong did not plan to get involved in the racing field again and was preparing to return to Hong Kong Island to continue serving as his manager.

To be honest, when Chen Xiangbei was discussing the contract with Aguri Suzuki, he had thought about giving the position of team manager to Zhang Zhicong.

In terms of ability and professionalism, he is very suitable for the position of team manager.

However, it was obvious that Suzuki Aguri would not compromise on this important position. After thinking it over again and again, Chen Xiangbei decided to be realistic and quit while he could get a satisfactory bargain.

"Go back to Hong Kong Island and I'll cheer you on TV from now on."

When saying this, Zhang Zhicong breathed a sigh of relief, which was a relief for him in a sense.

Huasai Sports has long been unable to sustain itself, and the pressure on Zhang Zhicong in the past two years has been too much.

"Lao Zhang, we have argued for so long, and now you are free."

Liang Chi replied with mixed feelings. After Huasai went bankrupt, he actually understood Zhang Zhicong in the past.

If he had not gritted his teeth and insisted on seeking sponsorship, he might not have waited for Chen Xiangbei to appear, and would have seen the scene today a year or two ago.

"Are you really free?"

Zhang Zhicong smiled bitterly and shook his head. If he had a choice, he would rather be Liang Chi.

While he was facing despair, Liang Chi was welcoming hope!

"Let's go. The more you look at it, the sadder it gets. We must always look forward."

Lu Xiaoman interrupted the sighs of the two middle-aged men. What happened in the past was in the past, and what was more important was the future.

At this moment, Chen Xiangbei seemed to have thought of something, and took out the Renault Tour Championship trophy from the backpack behind him and handed it to Zhang Zhicong.

"Uncle Zhang, I didn't bring any gifts this time, so I'll give this to you."

"This is the starting point of my journey to Europe. When I reach the top, I will give you a trophy!"

Zhang Zhicong looked at the Renault Tour trophy in his hand, and he instantly understood what Chen Xiangbei meant.

This guy wants to say that his efforts over the years have not been in vain, and Chinese racing drivers are still taking off on the Formula One track.

"Okay, I'll wait for your apex trophy."

Zhang Zhicong choked up as he said this, tears faintly visible in his eyes.

(End of this chapter)