China's first Chinese-language professional racing driver documentary film "Chinese Driver Zhou Guanyu" will be released nationwide on April 19, as China's first F1 driver, Zhou Guanyu is the idol and role model of countless Chinese racing teenagers.
In Jiading, there is such a pair of "fairy" racing father and son - son Zhu Yile is only nine years old, will train every week on the same track where Zhou Guanyu grew up, and has participated in many national karting championships and achieved good results; father Zhu Zhenyu is a member of SAIC Volkswagen 333 team, has won CRC (China Automobile Rally Championship), TCR China (TCR International Automobile China Series), CTCC (China Touring Car Championship), Huaxia Cup and many other major honors, will participate in the F4 group of this F1 China Station Mat. What is the indissoluble bond between father and son and racing cars? With the roar in the ears, the story of the inheritance of blood and dreams slowly unfolds......
"It's a hot-blooded father,
It's a race car driver, it's an investor."
When I first saw Zhu Zhenyu, a pair of bright eyes under the refreshing broken hair showed the agility and calmness of a racing driver. Recalling his connection with racing, he laughs and says that he seems to have been "born for cars" and has been fascinated by cars since he was a child.
Zhu Zhenyu won the 2016 CTCC Shanghai Station Championship
The story with SAIC Volkswagen 333 Team starts with the "encounter" of Zhu Zhenyu's two hobbies in football, football and racing. In 2000, when he was about to enter university, he happened to see the recruitment information of SAIC Volkswagen 333 team at the Shenhua race site, and since then "he has entered the racing car like the sea". CRC, TCR China, CTCC, Huaxia Cup, Touring Car Race, Rally, GT...... In the past ten years in the automotive industry, his innate talent and unremitting hard training have won him countless honors and trophies, and he has almost won the CTCC sub-championship for five consecutive years.
In 2019, Zhu Zhenyu, who was honored with honors, gradually faded out of the arena and returned to his family. He founded the Chaos Tiancheng Racing Club to train more enthusiastic drivers to fight for honor, and set up his own garage to organize the team's backbone engineers to provide maintenance and upgrades for luxury cars and racing cars. "Whether it's a club or a garage, making money is not the first purpose, but realizing the value and meaning of life with people who have the same passion is the most important thing. Zhu Zhenyu said.
Zhu Zhenyu's garage
What really slowed down this indomitable beast was the thrilling Longyou Rally in 2003. "I drove the winding track, and when I turned, the wheel slipped and one wheel got stuck on the edge of the cliff. When I got out of the car, I almost flipped over. At that time, I immediately panicked, if something happens to me, what should I do with the two children?" Zhu Zhenyu said, turned his head to look at his son Zhu Yile beside him, and stretched out his little thumb to hook his son's little thumb, which is a "little habit" for father and son to comfort each other and express love. Sure enough, no matter how fearless a hero is, once he has a child, he has weaknesses and ties.
Zhu Zhenyu's F4 car
And this year's F4 will be a new challenge for Zhu Zhenyu. "He's going to step on the F4 track sooner or later, so I'll give him a 'ride' first. The old father said lightly.
"It's a boy chasing the wind,
It's a Rubik's Cube player, it's a star of the future."
"Start, corner, drift, flick...... engine roars, turbo gasps, and the sound rolls. Every weekend at the Streamer Kart Club, Zhu Yile enjoys the speed and passion on the track.
Zhu Yile participated in the competition
The tiger father has no dogs, with the influence and guidance of his father, coupled with the driving comprehension far beyond his peers, Zhu Yile truly "won at the starting line". As soon as he stepped on the gas pedal at the age of four, he started his path as a "genius driver" with accelerated speed. "2023 CKC Card League Super League Handan Station Rising Star Group Runner-up, Beijing Station Top Five, 2023 CKC China Karting Championship Finals Zhuzhou Station Rising Star Group Annual Top Five ......" This year, he also participated in the shooting of the advertising film between the Ambrosia brand and F1 driver Zhou Guanyu, playing the role of "teenager Zhou Guanyu", and the distance with his idol is "one step closer".
Recalling the shooting scene, Zhu Yile said that there were a lot of staff on site, and he didn't talk to Brother Guanyu, but he was very excited. "He's my role model, now I'm driving a kart to build a foundation, and when I grow up, I'm driving F4, F3, F2...... It would be best if I could drive F1!" Zhu Yile said shyly.
Zhu Yile participated in the competition (No. 39)
Years of racing training have honed Zhu Yile's strong pressure resistance and reaction speed. "Racing is an extreme sport, and it's more like a magnifying glass, which magnifies his personality infinitely. While he was driving, I found that the biggest shining point in him was his stable personality. Zhu Zhenyu said that his son's Zhuzhou race last year was transferred from the ideal fourth place to the seventh place, and he gritted his teeth all the way to the third place, and the whole process was extremely calm. "You know, when the opponent is chasing after you, it's easy for the racer to miss the brake point or make all kinds of mistakes, and my heart is going to jump out, but he bites three laps and carries it down. The stinky boy is stronger than I was back then. Zhu Zhenyu said proudly.
The first view of Zhu Yile's driving
The development of a calm, calm and focused character that does not match his age also affects Zhu Yile's daily learning and hobbies. In addition to completing his homework efficiently, he also enjoys the Rubik's Cube and chess. Zhu Yile said that the essence of twisting the Rubik's Cube, playing chess and driving a racing car is the same, and it is necessary to clarify ideas, make judgments, and achieve goals in the shortest possible time. Overcoming difficulties and surpassing oneself is not only the core of motorsport, but also the power that motivates him to grow.
Father-son inheritance
Embrace the "Flying Life" 2.0
In the fast-paced and thrilling extreme sports, the warmth of father and son is particularly touching. Zhu Zhenyu recalled that when his son first came into contact with go-karting, his son drove in front and himself in the back, dragging his son's car with a tow rope, which not only allowed him to "practice his driving sense", but also feared that he would "rush out". And now, he only needs to accompany him silently on the sidelines of the field, and sometimes use the walkie-talkie to remind his son to make technical adjustments. As both racing drivers, this father-son warmth has a tacit understanding and understanding.
"Their generation is very happy to be able to train in the system-regulated karting from an early age, which is essential to become a professional driver in F2 or even F1. Zhu Zhenyu said frankly that almost all the drivers of the "post-70s" and "post-80s" generation are "halfway home", but in recent years, with the continuous progress of China's racing industry, more and more young drivers have better equipment resources and development space. "Looking at my son, it's like seeing a 2.0 'upgraded' version of myself. Driving is not only a technique, but also an art. Their generation will definitely surpass us far and have a broader future. Zhu Zhenyu said firmly.
Written by Liu Ruihan
Cinematographer: Fu Tianhao
Editor: Zhuo Mingxia