【My Formula E·Beijing review】THANK YOU @sambirdracing @VirginRacingFE <3
1500km,12 hours non sleep on the train,finally I touched down in Beijing.The city which I was in 7 years ago,the great capital of our country,the place I will meet someone after 21112 hours waiting.
Virgin and I made an appointment at 10:45 a.m,we met in front of the Beijing performance and arts centre.Then my friends and I were taken into the paddock,hanged our flags behind the pit waiting for someone to come out.
There was TV filming&interviewing us (that's SKY omg!!),we talked a lot,I told them how we love the one who's called Sam Bird.Virgin girls gave us some nice cards and posters as gifts.We were over the moon.
Then the man wearing a pair of purple sunglasses came out with big smiles on his face. "SO COOL!!" that were the first two words came into my mind.We hugged and greeted,I sent him my gifts which I've prepared for 21112 hours.A lovely panda doll,a box of 100 paper stars,a hand-made mini Sam Bird (from my friend Joy) and as promised,the heartshape Fanbook.
Some nice talks about my shoes,my Ipad mini cover and my big bird flag.We took a group photo together.Later,some Mercedes F1 guys messaged me they said they saw me on TV talking to Sam Bird.That was a little bit strange but really exciting.LOL
Watched the shakedown that afternoon.A funny thing was,my friend Lareina waved a Brazilian flag for Bruno Senna,then Nelson Piquet Jr's car stopped in front of us,he waved a hello...
We went to the hotel waiting for Sam to be back.There I was lucky enough to meet lots of nice guys especially Bruno Senna, Fabio Leimer and Sato Takuma.
They were going to attend a dinner party that evening,so everyone's wearing suits and ties (girls wearing dress),as if they were going to be at a show.
Walked towards Sam and we hugged a good evening.You know the feeling when i saw such a handsome man just stand in front of me (though every other guy looked handsome too that evening..).I joked:Sam you are the most handsome one in the history!!
【Then it came to the race day,September 13th】
Got up before 5:00 a.m then off the hotel (in a very high speed) waiting for Sam to come out.I've done such things quite a lot of times when I was in Shanghai watching F1 race,so it wasn't hard at all.
Waved good morning to Fabio Leimer,spoke Japanese again with Sato Takuma,then Sam and his teammate Jaime Alguersuari appeared.Sam and I hugged again,then I saw Jaime just standing there with a very jealous face....Oh Jaime,good morning and good luck to you too!!You are such a nice guy (Jaime's so happy to hear that).
FP1 started from 8:15 a.m but at that time we were not allowed to go in because the security guards said 9:00 a.m was the proper time the leaders told them,they should obey the rule.We were helpless.
FP1 was nearly over when we sitted down on grandstand.Sam got P3 that's not bad.FP2 was a disaster as Sam's only P19,then the Quali was P12,felt heartbroken but couldn't help do anything.The only thing I could do was believe in Bird,believe in Virgin,prayed for a better result in the race.
We hanged the flags on the grandstand,we saw him came out from the pit,we shouted:Sam！！He waved hello to us,we hoped he'd felt our love and support.Whatever the result is,we never give up！！
Later I was told I appeared on TV again,errrrr with my flags.I've been regarded as a flag seller no less than once,did we look alike??!!
After the Quali,my friends and I rushed to the Drivers' Autograph Session.The que was separated into two parts,one for PART A,one for PART B.10 drivers would be at A,another 10 would be at B.That means,if people wanna got signs from A,it's almost impossible for them to get B's.
THANK GOD!!Sam's at A and me too!!
I walked towards him directly,shaked hands with him and asked for a sign on the card,then we took a...selfie together.Have to admit,it's the most funny selfie I've ever taken in my life.
Only 30 mins for the session.Waved goodluck&keep pushing in the race to Sam,then we went back to the grandstand.
The 1st ever FE race began at 4:00 p.m with Nico Prost started from the pole.The 5 red lights went off,all the 20 cars were just as the arrow that left the spring.
It was very hard to control the car for 25 laps on such a track,so sorry to see Bruno Senna and some other guys retired from the race.I didn't know when Sam climbed onto P7 from P12.After the car changed,he was P6.The battle between Karun and Sam was great to watch.Karun overtook Sam then Sam gain the position back.
The most scaring thing came just in the final lap.The P2 Nick Heidfeld's catching the leader Nico Prost with a gap less than 0.5s.Nico defended,then they crashed.Nick's car "flied" then dropped onto the ground.Thanks god,nothing wrong with the German.It made all of us at ease.Especially my friend Joy,she's such a crazy Nick fan.
So the P3 Lucas di Grassi became the 1st ever winner in FE history.Sam was the 4th to cross the finish line.
I was about to pack all my flags and put them into my bag then my friend shouted:Oh my god!!Look!!Sam!!!Sam's on the podium!!
Where?Where?Where?!!!!Oh my god!!The British flag raised up,Sam jumped onto the podium again with big smiles on his face,I can't believe!!I can't believe it was true!!!The happiness just came without any notice,Sam got the 1st ever podium in FE history.
Went to the paddock after the race.The Virgin boys were still working hard.The podium car looked so beautiful.
Had a nice talk with the team.Then they told me they followed me on Twitter and they saw me on screen today.Oh how amazing that was!!Received a signed cap then I was lucky enough to take a photo with my dreaming Sam Bird helmet and even got a chance to sit in the car!!!
Sam finished the meeting and came out (again with big smiles on his face).We hugged (again).
He said:Wait a moment Nicole....then he run into the pit&took out his trophy.I put my British around Sam's neck.We walked towards the podium car and took a photo together.I asked Sam why the trophy was so heavy,Sam didn't believe that and never admit (but for me it was really..heavy,I think I shall go and do some exercise to strength my body lol.)
After that the team took group and everyone looks so happy there!!Big smiles on my face too,especially after I saw the champagne...
【It was September 15th,time to say goodbye】
BA38 that's Sam's flight.
Went to the airport as promised,when I arrived there,it was only 7:00 a.m.Have picked up some drivers in the airport before during F1&WEC race weeks,but never said goodbye to anyone in the airport.So it was my first time.Nervous,excited and a little sad.
Virgin arrived around 8:00 a.m.
The last hug with Sam before he left sent.Had some short talks and the girls asked me if I would go back home today as well.Yes.
Will you still spend a very long time on the train?Ah actually no,this time it'll only take less than 6 hours on the fastest train then less than 2 hours on the slowest train.Will be at home around 0:00 a.m next day.
We wished good luck to each other and made an appointment to meet again in the future.Then I followed them went into the entrance with tears in my eyes.
Three Days just like a wind came and went away
All what happend just like a dream
But now I have to wake up
Over 21112 hours' waiting
Hard work paid off,finally.
Thank you Virgin,thank you Sam
Thank you my life giving me such a great chance to meet someone
Thank you my life writing a story without saying goodbye.
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