CHAPTER 120: CHAPTER 91: PROMISE TO MEET AT THE SUMMIT (PART 2)

In the future, if we want to regroup, the cost and price to pay might be ten times what’s required today!

Suzuki Aguri wants to maintain a small team to keep the foundation, but now the most talented young drivers in Japan have basically been recruited by other teams, leaving only potential that can be seen at a glance.

He originally wanted to send Hoshino Yoshi to Europe to maintain the racing team, and even took him as a disciple to cultivate him vigorously.

But the problem is that this guy is dragged down by his family background, with a solitary and arrogant personality unwilling to accept much help, always wanting to solve difficulties on his own, which affects his career development.

Now the appearance of Chen Xiangbei gives Suzuki Aguri a replacement choice.

After all, Hoshino Yoshi was defeated by him, and the racing data from Nakajima Goro indicates that he doesn’t lose to Kobayashi Kamui at all, with a great chance of smoothly reaching GP2 (F2).

The only regret is that Chen Xiangbei is not Japanese.

But the failure of Super Aguri has also taught Suzuki Aguri a lesson.

That only the successful have the right to choose, while the losers are eliminated.

To cultivate a development plan for Japanese drivers, the premise is to stand firm and succeed in the F1 paddock.

Otherwise, if there isn’t an F1 team, how can you slowly cultivate seats for Japanese drivers?

"Thank you, Senior Suzuki, I will work hard!"

Chen Xiangbei stood up and shook hands, unable to hide the excitement in his voice.

Most of the time, he remains indifferent to breakthroughs and achievements, having come close to or even accomplished them in his past life.

Standing on the shoulders of "himself," success is only natural.

But this matter was something Chen Xiangbei in his past life could not even dare to imagine!

In the era of Liberty Media’s F1, only super factory teams had the right to compete. Drivers’ capital has gradually become unplayable.

Only during the 08 financial crisis was there a final chance for a weak entry.

Just like how Wall Street chose to swallow Volvo at that time!

"Work hard, from the bottom to the top!"

Suzuki Aguri patted Chen Xiangbei on the shoulder and then called Tsuchiya Keiichi to leave.

The two of them once raced on the Bayshore and Capital High lines, a public secret in the Japanese racing scene.

Or to put it more bluntly, among Japanese professional drivers, those who haven’t raced in underground events are rare enough to count on fingers, even to the point of not hiding it.

The technical adviser and supervisor of the "Initial D" manga is Tsuchiya Keiichi himself, who once joked in an interview that it’s an "autobiography."

But now that he’s older, except for special occasions, he generally won’t actively participate in Capital High races anymore. Just like the glorious era of Japanese cars in the 90s has passed, this generation of drivers is also aging.

The two of them walked out of the tatami room, and the drivers present bowed respectfully, watching until the Honda NSX drove away.

Sawano Hiroyuki drove off with Suzuki Aguri. Forming a team to participate in the Renault events in Europe isn’t something that can be casually accomplished.

It requires a detailed plan and complete contract details, which both parties need to slowly negotiate.

In Sawano Hiroyuki’s eyes, Chen Xiangbei, at his age, clearly doesn’t have the ability and experience to accomplish this. Since he chose to be his race engineer, they have in a sense become a community of interests.

In addition, Sawano Hiroyuki’s years of acquaintance with Suzuki Aguri and others make many commercial negotiations easier.

Just as Chen Xiangbei was preparing to chat with Hoshino Yoshi for a bit during the meeting time, a Capital High driver came over, nodded, and asked, "Hey, buddy, interested in a race?"

Capital High and Bayshore underground racers have always gone with the flow. After all, street racing is often about "random challenges," so why not race two laps with this unfamiliar guy in front of them for fun.

To be honest, many onsite were curious about Chen Xiangbei’s identity. Anyone who could have a meeting with a big shot like Suzuki couldn’t be a nobody.

That’s why some were keen to test Chen Xiangbei’s "skills."

Hearing this sentence was like a reverse replica of the scene when Hashimoto Ichiro challenged Hoshino Yoshi at the Suzuka Circuit.

This time, before Chen Xiangbei could react much, Hoshino Yoshi surprisingly laughed.

"Hoshino-kun, what’s up?"

This driver was puzzled; why did Hoshino suddenly laugh?

"Taro, have you watched the recent Suzuka Circuit winter tour race?"

"No, I haven’t."

This driver named Taro casually replied.

Japan’s racing system is very complete, and events like Renault Formula have a habitual atmosphere advantage at the Suzuka Circuit, with nearly ten thousand attending live, but it doesn’t mean this kind of race has significant influence.

The grand majority of underground drivers, when paying attention to races, focus on at least Japanese F3 or GT300 levels, and really haven’t heard much about Renault.

"Xiangbei-kun, he is the Renault Tour Champion."

"Just a Renault Tour Champion?"

Taro’s expression was somewhat peculiar, and many drivers nearby also inadvertently showed a hint of disdain after hearing Hoshino Yoshi’s introduction.

Capital High, unlike other underground races, has no shortage of professional drivers.

There are countless drivers of Le Mans P3, Super Formula, Super GT, and German DTM levels, with several former F1 levels present.

Or to be more precise, at least half of the F1 drivers in Japan have had experiences racing on Bayshore and Capital High, a public secret in the 90s, which only became restrained after the 2000s.