Car Racing without Money-Chapter 432 - 174: F1 Winter Training Team Assembly (Part 2)

Chapter 432: Chapter 174: F1 Winter Training Team Assembly (Part 2)

The first impression it gives is ’orderly’, as the diverse ’work uniforms’ once belonging to various teams have now been replaced with the unified HRT team attire.

And the equipment acquired from Toyota’s Cologne R&D base is mostly installed and calibrated now, unlike the previously empty halls of the tech center.

Most importantly, the research and development work has entered the right track. Chen Xiangbei saw all kinds of components filling the shelves, with various CNC machines and 3D printing stations in operation.

’Xiangbei, how is it going? Is the progress fast?’

’Mm.’

’I have to admit, Briatore really is very capable.’

Lu Xiaoman said helplessly.

Initially, her impression of Hua Bu wasn’t good; full of hot air and a carefree demeanor, completely different from China’s traditional image of ’steady and reliable’, he just didn’t seem like a person who gets things done.

Facts prove that people cannot be judged by appearances...

Lip service aside, Hua Bu works with an outstanding decisiveness, completely lacking the Italian tendency for procrastination and laziness.

Moreover, Briatore is extremely tough, whether it’s the former Super Aguri staff or people from the Campos Team.

Whoever lags behind or does not comply, he kicks them out without mercy.

After a round of rectification, coupled with Hua Bu’s formidable reputation, HRT Team’s spirit has undergone a transformation.

Where there are people, there is a community; without Briatore’s moves, what seemed to be assembling forces from ’Toyota’, Renault, and Campos, actually harbored lurking divisions.

This kind of hidden problem couldn’t be solved by Chen Xiangbei, nor by Odetto, not even by Kalanbant.

Only an old rogue is suitable for doing ’dirty work’.

Hearing Lu Xiaoman’s helpless sigh, Chen Xiangbei smiles.

If Hua Bu didn’t have this capability, he wouldn’t have sought him to serve as the team manager.

Through the corridor of the R&D department, Chen Xiangbei arrives at the ’garage’ where cars are assembled and parked; it’s already crowded with engineers and maintenance technicians, all of them conducting subsystem debugging on the TF110.

With less than a week to go before the winter test, this car is already in its final stage of tuning.

Before Chen Xiangbei left, the TF110 was still in the original carbon fiber color; now it’s painted in HRT team’s black-orange tone, reminiscent of a blend of later generation Mercedes and McLaren’s main colors.

Seeing Chen Xiangbei arrive, Hua Bu beams with a smile and enthusiastically welcomes him: ’Bei, welcome back.’

Then, very naturally, Hua Bu puts his arm around Chen Xiangbei’s shoulder, drawing him towards the TF110, and says: ’Bei, look here, this is possibly one of the strongest cars at the start of the new season.’ 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

’Do you want it to evolve into a championship contender?’

’Manager, just say whatever you have in mind.’

Regarding Hua Bu’s overwhelming enthusiasm, Chen Xiangbei knows very well.

’TF110 is just an aerodynamic tunnel short of contending for the championship, how much sponsorship did you secure on this trip back home?’

Just as expected...

No wonder on the way back, Sister Xiaoman was particularly reminding him.

Looks like Hua Bu had been talking a lot about the wind tunnel lately; the team members are prepared and expected this.

’Fourteen million US dollars, for purchasing the side box advertisement placement on the cars.’

’Only fourteen million US dollars?’

Hearing this figure, Briatore is greatly disappointed and immediately lets go of the shoulder he was holding.

Just like Russia’s first F1 driver Petrov, who aside from securing twenty million US dollars in sponsorship, also has tens of millions in advertising sponsorship from Lada Automobile, Russian banks, Vyborg Shipyard, and others.

Though Chen Xiangbei initially also had sponsorship from Huali Automobile, Jiuli Sports, and others, it was more for acquiring team shares; it was essentially investments and transactions, fundamentally different from merely handing out money.

Fourteen million US dollars may seem like a lot, but for building a wind tunnel, it falls far short!

Know that in 2004, Williams Team’s budget for building a full-scale wind tunnel was as high as 45 million US dollars, leading Sir Williams to sell his private jet later to cover the shortfall.

For aircraft, wind tunnels belong to the higher the wind speed the better, such as domestic wind tunnel clusters later capable of reaching dozens of times the speed of sound.

F1 cars don’t need such high wind speeds, but there is a significant space requirement; ideally, they fit a complete car model into a full-scale wind tunnel!

Currently, most F1 team’s wind tunnels can only conduct 50-60% proportion model wind tunnel tests, and the data derived needs to be scaled up for realism, not completely equivalent to the car’s aerodynamic performance.

In contrast, if a 1:1 scale is achieved, it will get tremendous advantages in simulation.

Simultaneously, the team can further progress by placing two scaled car models in sequence in the wind tunnel; this tests the air flow condition during slipstreaming.

Clearly, a small wind tunnel can’t achieve this, and Briatore’s goal is to hit the target at once!

’Manager, the circumstances differ, fourteen million US dollars is a lot.’

Chen Xiangbei replies with a complex tone; this old rogue’s change of attitude is really swift, indeed caring more for money than people.

In China, racing sports are considered niche, the public can’t grasp the advertising benefits and returns brought by sponsorship; huge investments need to consider public opinion and pressure from doubts.

Especially since Chen Xiangbei hasn’t yet made a name running in F1, there’s still much uncertainty involved.