Speed ​​God

Chapter 66 Stepping onto the Track
Finally, it's GP3's turn to appear!

Lu Zhizhou stood up, his custom-made racing suit already on. Holding his helmet, he took a deep breath. The air was filled with the mixed smell of high-octane gasoline and tire rubber, yet it felt strangely familiar, causing his blood to boil uncontrollably.

Opening my eyes, I could see all eyes in the P room fixed on me—

Is it really okay for a complete novice with no experience in go-karting or Formula racing?

Lu Zhizhou's eyes were clear and his face was serious. "Don't fall in love with me, you will get hurt."

One sentence instantly broke the silence. No one expected such a response, and the room erupted in laughter and吐槽 (tu cao, a Chinese internet slang term for sarcastic or critical comments), creating a lively and chaotic scene.

Amidst laughter, Lu Zhizhou put on his helmet, fastened his HANS protective gear, climbed into the vehicle, and began adjusting his position to get ready.

"Radio check. Ready?"

Pierre Borrepeller, the race engineer from Lu Zhizhou, let out a silent sigh of relief through his headphones. His voice was slightly tense. Although the rookie was standing on the track, all the responsibility fell on his shoulders, and the pressure was immense!

Once inside the cockpit, all of Lu Zhizhou's other emotions vanished, and he became completely immersed in his own world, responding in a deep voice, "Received. Loud and clear."

In the world of Formula racing, drivers are never lone heroes; it is undoubtedly a team sport.

Even in the resource-constrained GP3 racing scene, each driver has their own complete team, working together as a group, including technical engineers and race engineers.

GP3 is a standard-issue car, with the same engine, chassis, and tires, ensuring consistent racing performance and a seemingly "fair start." However, once on the track, the differences become immediately apparent.

why?
Even if the parts are the same, the adjustments can be different.

On the surface, all GP3 race cars look like twins, exactly the same; but their true personalities can be quite different, some are cheerful and lively, others are dull and rigid.

Engineers are the key to determining the nature of a race car.

Before the race, technical engineers adjust the car's parameters, much like a tuner, to fine-tune the driving feel best suited to the driver, configuring the car according to the driver's individual characteristics.

The race engineer is the driver's "eyes and ears" and "brain" in the race. He is responsible for overall strategy, timing, race situation analysis, and prediction of opponents' dynamics. He needs to control the pace of the race and seize every opportunity window. He also needs to understand the driver, not only the changes in throttle and brake data, but also the driver's habits, personality, and even emotional changes.

In a race, drivers cannot see the overall track view, only what is in front of and behind them; while race engineers can see all the data and the entire track, but cannot feel when the tires slip, whether the braking point is off, or what changes occur in the car as it progresses in the race.

The two are like adventurers, each holding half of a treasure map; only by cooperating can they find the treasure.

A single lapse in rhythm, a delay in information, or a breakdown in communication could cost them the entire game.

This is precisely what Borrepeller is most worried about. As a rookie, there are already many things to pay attention to. As a result, Lu Zhizhou and he did not go through the off-season to hone their cooperation. The two of them lacked understanding of each other and were only slightly better than strangers, but they had to cooperate from now on.

With a soft exhale, Borrepell regained his composure.

Since everything was starting from scratch, he tried to be as detailed and comprehensive as possible, and carefully considered the balance during the adjustment process.

"In practice, we don't need to worry about lap times. We should start by getting to know the car and the track."

"We've set out six laps of fixed schedules: two laps for warm-up, two laps for simulating race pace, and two laps for cool-down. You decide where to start." Detailed, precise, and providing a step-by-step introduction without being overly restrictive.

After a pause, Borrepeller continued to explain, "We call this rhythmic segment a 'quantity,' which starts with changing a tire and ends at the next pit stop for another tire change. Each quantity is a window for collecting data."

GP3 free practice sessions last only 45 minutes. Generally, drivers may use two different sets of tires and run two separate sessions to test the condition of the tires and the car.

Now, Borrepeller is leading Lu Zhizhou step by step into the real world of Formula racing.

"Received." Lu Zhizhou's response was concise and clear. He had already left the pit lane, passed through the maintenance area, and was preparing to go onto the track.

Borrepell paused. Lu Zhizhou's response was indeed too simple, which was unsettling. Did he not have any questions at all? He then added.

"Remember to pay close attention to the temperature rise of the left front tire, as well as the braking points at Turn 3 and Turn 13. If you experience understeer or soft braking, remember to turn the button marked on the lower right of the steering wheel."

On the racing car's steering wheel, there is a button that drivers can press to record whenever they notice anything unusual about the car. After practice sessions, the drivers can then use the data to communicate with the drivers, gain a detailed understanding of the car's condition, and make adjustments and settings accordingly.

Borrepeller wasn't sure if he was being too detailed, like a mother bird.

Just then, Lu Zhizhou's voice came through the earpiece, "Received. I will focus on load transfer and rear wing stability."

Borrepeller's eyes lit up slightly. The exchange of just two sentences was clean, concise, direct, and efficient, and one could immediately sense Lu Zhizhou's style.

The wheels rolled over the red and white exit line of the pit lane, the suspension bounced slightly, and the familiar yet unfamiliar track instantly unfolded before my eyes. The breeze that rushed towards me carried sunshine, seawater and laughter, and the colorful and vibrant hues surged and turbulent on both sides of my vision like a rushing river.

There was no tension, no elation, and no excitement.

Instead, a sense of familiarity seeped into his blood. He had spent the entire day sitting in front of the screen, repeatedly interacting with this track. Although this was Lu Zhizhou's first time actually stepping onto the track, the memories deeply imprinted in his mind unfolded like a scroll painting.

Lu Zhizhou didn't immediately exert his strength. He knew that many eyes were watching him, and he also knew that his competitors were observing him, but these battles of egos were of no value to him. He had his own rhythm and plan, and he would not disrupt his entire strategy for the sake of a moment of pride.

During the first lap, Lu Zhizhou kept the accelerator off for almost the entire time, using the steering wheel to slightly adjust the cornering angle, carefully feeling the road surface undulations and the distribution of grip.

On the track, the difference between the driving lines and the non-driving lines is clearly visible. Layers of residual tire rubber clearly depict the driving lines. If the race car accurately presses on them, it can easily gain more grip and reduce tire wear.

The problem is that everyone knows the racing line, and blindly following it without thinking about it means not truly understanding the track. Once you enter the actual competition, many unexpected things can happen in a fraction of a second.

Therefore, Lu Zhizhou observed, scanned, and experienced, completing the analysis of each bend in his own style, as if he were strolling leisurely.

This scene was witnessed by Russell.

He was still in the pit lane, not in a hurry to get on the track. Seeing this on the TV screen, his delicate eyebrows furrowed, and he was filled with question marks.

What is that guy doing, learning to walk like a baby?
Does he really know nothing about Formula One racing?
They made a fool of themselves as soon as they appeared, completely disgracing ART.

　This is the third update today. The new book launch period is almost over, the final sprint! Please hang in there a little longer. I earnestly request your strong support, thank you everyone!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)