Car Racing without Money

Chapter 850 - 349: Top-tier Cross-border Showdown in Racing Circles (Part 2)

If the feedback on the previous car adjustments was still within Anderson’s understanding,then this talk of cross-tyre configuration completely exceeded his comprehension.

The reason is simple; this tyre configuration for WRC only appeared in 2018 and 2019, and Chen Xiangbei mentioning it now meant it was eight or nine years ahead of its time!

It must be noted that in traditional understanding of this era, no matter how you match tyre types with soft and hard compounds, the four tyres would only be changed to the same type.

It’s like in F1, where no one changes the front wheels to soft tyres while changing the rear wheels to hard tyres.

However, compared to Formula One’s paved surfaces, the tyre configuration scheme for rally races has become more complex due to increasingly complicated road surface environments, making a single tyre type inadequate.

Taking the Monte Carlo track as an example, one moment it’s dry asphalt, the next it’s muddy and wet, and further up it turns into snow and ice.

In such track conditions, no tyre type is suitable. If one opts for frequent tyre changes, rallying does not have the brief three-second pit stops that F1 does, which greatly impacts race timing.

Thus, some forward-thinking drivers in later generations simply replace two or three tyres, such as pairing studded tyres with ultrasoft tyres. On icy roads, studded tyres bite into the surface, and once the studs wear out on asphalt, ultrasoft tyres provide superior grip.

This scheme is referred to as cross-tyre configuration.

"Xiangbei, tyres can be configured like this?"

Anderson asked incredulously.

"Of course, it saves tyre changing time."

"But the problem is that different tyre configurations bring varying torque and grip distribution across the four tyres, making handling astonishingly difficult!"

"Yes, your mechanics need to balance the torque distribution as much as possible. As for the grip, I can manage it."

Chen Xiangbei replied calmly.

"Xiangbei, this is too risky, too dangerous!"

Emily also advised against it, as the cross-tyre configuration plan was unheard of, and Chen Xiangbei’s participation in WRC seemed more like a performance rather than a mission to win a championship or take extreme risks.

"It’s fine, don’t worry."

For those who haven’t encountered it, it might be very dangerous; Chen Xiangbei often drove like this in his past life and was already accustomed to it.

Facing Chen Xiangbei’s persistent determination, Anderson could only skeptically coordinate the technician team for adjustments.

Partially, his willingness to execute came from Chen Xiangbei’s standing and strength as an F1 driver, being among the top-tier drivers without a doubt.

Additionally, the feedback Chen Xiangbei provided was highly professional, clearly indicating his deep understanding of rally racing, certainly not someone unexplored in the field.

Yet Anderson didn’t know where Chen Xiangbei had driven a rally car before.

The overnight car adjustments proceeded just like this; for the WRC Monte Carlo station, the team was almost in a state of day-night reversal, and Chen Xiangbei naturally was too.

During the adjustment process, Anderson ultimately couldn’t suppress his curiosity and asked, "Xiangbei, did you participate in professional rally racing before?"

"No."

Chen Xiangbei casually denied it.

"Impossible."

Anderson replied decisively.

"Why impossible?"

Hearing this remark, Chen Xiangbei interestingly asked back.

"Skill can exist, talent can exist, but instinct cannot be changed."

"Xiangbei, today during the reconnaissance, you never evaded oncoming traffic."

Anderson pointed out a crucial aspect, which is the driver’s "instinct."

In Initial D, there was such a scene where Fujimura Bunta told Fujiwara Takumi: "Professional drivers instinctively leave a little space during right turns."

The principle of this remark is that Japan drives on the left, unlike China driving on the right, so their right lane is actually a reverse lane.

Driving in the reverse lane naturally poses certain dangers, and professional Formula drivers consistently operating in closed track environments do not face situations of overtaking against traffic.

However, outside of track environments, professional drivers, restricted by daily driving habits, instinctively worry about sudden cars coming from opposite lanes, leaving some buffer to ensure safety.

Chen Xiangbei had none of this; this was not characteristic of a Formula driver but of a rally driver trained professionally!

Listening to Anderson’s reasoning, Chen Xiangbei paused for a moment. Honestly, he hadn’t expected Anderson to observe so keenly.

"I competed on the streets before."

Upon hearing this answer, Anderson showed a look of sudden realization.

Indeed, drivers long active in street racing would subconsciously overcome this issue during prolonged competitions.

"But street experience cannot directly apply to rally racing. I hope you’ll reconsider the cross-tyre configuration plan."

"Thank you, I’ve thought it through."

Chen Xiangbei resolutely replied; generally speaking, his past life rally prowess was about evenly matched with Raikkonen, placing him in the middle tier overall.

Now, having been reborn and without much racing, it’s almost impossible to beat a Raikkonen who ran the entire season, let alone step forward to defeat Ogier, Leb, and those god-like rally drivers.

Given this, Chen Xiangbei could only take a bold move and leverage his ’god’s eye view’ advantage.