Car Racing without Money-Chapter 468 - 186: The Next Superstar Driver (10K)

Chapter 468: Chapter 186: The Next Superstar Driver (10K)

"Chen Xiangbei, go for it, you’re the pride of Chinese racing!"

"Xiangbei, I’m your loyal fan, aim for points in the first race!"

"Winter testing rookie champion, Xiangbei, you’ll definitely become the next racing superstar!"

"Go for it, once a driver Xiangbei, now China’s racing hero Xiangbei!"

The cheers and shouts filled the airport arrival hall, and various posters and HRT Team merchandise were pushed forward, hoping Chen Xiangbei would sign them.

Throughout the winter break spanning over two months, compared to other teams, HRT hasn’t completely shut down or stagnated.

Boss Kalanbant and Chinese shareholders decided to use almost all the proceeds from Nike and Intel sponsorships, spending heavily to retain most of the research staff at headquarters to assemble the wind tunnel.

Meanwhile, Briatore, that old Italian rascal, plays hard and parties hard.

With Chen Xiangbei and part team revenue-sharing, he actively facilitated the authorization and production of HRT Team merchandise during the winter break, including but not limited to clothing, helmets, racing models, etc.

Moreover, Briatore is open to all advertisers. Chen Xiangbei thought becoming an F1 Driver would mean upgrading the class of advertising on the race car and suit by three to five levels.

The deals Lu Xiaoman pulled in before, such as hotpot restaurants and beauty parlors, were expected to be absent from the racing suit as contracts expired.

But unexpectedly, Briatore went even further!

Fine with fertilizer factories and agricultural companies, but he didn’t even spare adult products and gambling websites.

It’s practically like Sauber in later years, hungry and indiscriminate without Aldo sponsorship.

The originally aesthetically pleasing black-orange HRT Racing Car is now covered with all sorts of colorful brand logos, resembling street pole ads.

For this, Hua Bu has his philosophy, which is, missing out on money is for fools.

Blank space on the race car and suit is wasted space, better to maximize its value and make money; it’s all about short-term contracts of one year.

As long as HRT Team can deliver results this year, the team’s sponsors will significantly upgrade next year.

Of course, continuing to advertise is doable, but it’ll cost more money!

Although Briatore’s approach is unseemly, everything fears comparison.

Compared to the fellow "new teams" announced to join F1 last year, Lotus and Virgin haven’t even solved the basic issue of racing parts suppliers, let alone commercial operations and wind tunnel construction.

Lotus is negotiating with Red Bull, discussing using Red Bull’s gearbox and hydraulic systems next season to improve competitiveness.

Virgin is similarly collaborating with McLaren, planning to utilize McLaren’s wind tunnel in Woking in the 11th season and hire a batch of McLaren engineers to help build their team.

This means that both teams won’t have their research fully operational and achieve their goals until next year.

In contrast, Briatore’s profit-driven nature, coupled with his iron-fisted management, made HRT Team quickly catch up with the mainstream and gain profitability and competitiveness!

To be honest, seeing HRT Team’s bold transformations, Chen Xiangbei felt his twenty percent agent commission was well spent.

After all, the value of a driver is often built on the team’s performance.

A team with no achievements reduces a driver’s worth to nothing.

Even in the past decade, few people remember who the drivers were for the Lotus and Virgin Teams in the 10th season.

...

"Thank you, thank you all for your support."

Faced with the thronging fans, Chen Xiangbei could only continually nod his head while still signing autographs.

Until the crew felt there wasn’t enough time to board, did they "rescue" him from the crowd.

Sitting on the bus heading to the circuit, Hua Bu asked with a full smile, "Xiangbei, how does it feel to be a star?"

"Not quite used to it."

Chen Xiangbei frankly replied.

Upon hearing this answer, Briatore smirked and said, "Xiangbei, you still have the traditional reservedness of Chinese people inside you, you’ve got to try to open up a bit."

"Remember, get used to being a star and an idol!"

Nowadays, in the network age, the time when good wine doesn’t fear a deep alley has passed.

Popularity represents commercial value, and Hua Bu hopes Chen Xiangbei always stays at the center of attention!

Chen Xiangbei only chuckled at this without saying much; he had some experiences from the future and wouldn’t be easily fooled. Hua Bu, that old rascal, has tasted the sweetness of being an agent and is trying every way to exploit fandom economics and extract residual profits.

After more than half an hour on the bus, everyone arrived at Bahrain’s Sakhir Circuit.

The Bahrain Grand Prix held its first race in 2004, joining the F1 calendar the same year as the Chinese Grand Prix, making it a fairly "young" circuit without rich historical ties or legendary races.

Under normal circumstances, it’s just a no-name junior type.

But, Bahrain is rich!

Sakhir Circuit seized the headline role from Australia’s Albert Park Circuit as the opening race in the second year of joining the F1 calendar.

In the world of F1, except for special circuits like Monaco with added historical glow, the opening and closing races have the most influence and viewership.

Bahrain snatched the opening role; why didn’t it take the closing? 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

That’s because another even wealthier Middle Eastern tycoon took the F1 closing race...