Original subtitles

THIS IS A WORK OF FICTION.

PLEASE DRIVE SAFE AND FOLLOW THE RULES.

I'm so happy.

This is no excuse for me.

When someone's car is in front of me,

how could I let them gradually pull away?

If there's a car ahead racing, I should go after it.

That's instinct.

My body and mind are boiling.

The view is completely different from before.

This is a realm I've never experienced before.

I can't stop...

How can I stop something so fun?

So fast.

It understeers one moment, and oversteers the next.

I've never had the front wheels wear so much in an uphill race.

He must be the same as me.

Damn.

As long as there is a full-throttle section longer than 3 seconds,

I can close the distance between us slightly.

Even if it's only shortened by 0.1 seconds.

I have to keep closing the gap.

I can't let him pull away anymore.

After this corner,

there's a section where I can go full-throttle for about 4 seconds.

I'm going to catch up there.

I'll catch up to you.

Am I cornering too fast?

No... I can make the turn.

Just let the tail slide and perform a four-wheel drift.

if I don't catch up, I'll be left behind.

I have to accelerate to catch up...

Miss Mako, Miss Sayuki.

I have to leave.

Where are you going?

The best part is coming up.

Why don't you stay and watch the downhill race with us?

No... I...

I really have to go.

Miss Mako, please watch carefully here.

I might... be able to beat Takumi Fujiwara.

What does he mean?

Shinji, he...

He and Takumi both drive the 86.

And his car is a TRUENO.

Is Takumi's opponent today...

Shinji?

(Initial D Final Stage)

To surpass the miraculous speed of Eiji Kubo's modified car.

This tells us... that humans have unlimited potential.

The difference between a winner and a loser is just a fine line.

The goddess of victory on mountain roads smile at Keisuke tonight.

Perhaps it was Keisuke's pure passion for mountain roads

that slightly surpassed Go Hojo's "passion".

(Episode 1: Natural)

Brother...

Did you talk to Keisuke Takahashi?

No.

But I feel that he and I

had a fierce conversation in the race.

And we did that without words.

I believe he should have the same feeling.

I lose this race.

Though I hate to lose, I also feel very relieved.

I saw scenes that I've never seen before.

Really?

In that case,

there's still a lot that you can accomplish in the future.

This must be the best performance you can give at the moment.

You did well.

Ouch...

You got the final show.

It's all on you now...

The fastest downhill specialist in North Kanto.

I often wonder,

are you being too cool?

Keisuke...

It's just my nature.

You're finally here, Shinji.

I was really worried.

What made you change your mind?

I changed my mind after watching Mr. Hojo's race.

I want to become a hero.

I want to race.

Please let me.

I like your expression.

Then go.

There is no one else besides you.

The only person who can break their undefeated record

is you.

No.

You don't need to worry about it.

Just race in the way you like.

Enjoy the fun of driving.

The stage for today's race is definitely the best.

You will definitely benefit a lot from it.

Yes.

I suggest you lead first.

Shinji's speed is indeed amazing,

but the opponent definitely has more experience.

Tactics are there to eliminate all uncertainties.

Shinji's ability can only be unleashed when he leads first.

There is no other way except to finish it in the first run.

I have no objection.

Shinji's expression is great now.

When he focuses, no one can beat him.

Is he the driver of the "Sidewinder" 86?

He looks so young.

He should be younger than Fujiwara.

What?

There has never been a driver

younger than Fujiwara, right?

Why is he driving an 86?

"Project D" must also be shocked.

This is the first road race

of the gifted boy from Kanagawa.

Brother.

Um.

This last battle might also be the toughest.

I am Takumi Fujiwara.

I'm Shinji Inui.

Nice to meet you.

Nice to meet you too.

As expected, the opponent chose to lead first.

The first round would be critical.

You have to see him as your strongest opponent.

Even if the tires are completely worn out, you have to keep up.

He is difficult to deal with.

I understand.

I will give it my all.

Race starts!

Five seconds to go.

The race is about to start.

It's starting!

The downhill ace Takumi Fujiwara of "Project D"

strikes!

-Four. -Calm down, Itsuki.

Having said that,

I'm also extremely nervous.

I'm the same, actually.

Of course you are.

After all, Takumi represents our Gunma.

Should call him pride, I think.

Our pride.

Yes, you're right.

Takumi is our pride.

You have to win.

Three.

Two.

One.

GO!

Do you think those two 86s...

their bodies look a bit different?

Especially their rear ends.

Yeah.

86 has two types, TRUENO and LEVIN.

And it can be further divided into two-door and three-door versions.

Project D's car which features a hatchback design

is the three-door type.

And the other design is the two-door type.

I see.

The 86 is a quite popular model in racing.

Both two-door and three-door versions have their specialties.

In racetracks, the aerodynamically superior three-door version is usually the mainstream.

While in rally races and Gymkhana,

the stiffer-bodied two-door version is more popular.

So, you're saying...

For today's road race,

the Sidewinder's two-door 86 might have an advantage?

You can put it that way.

Huh?

(Initial D Final Stage)

(Initial D Final Stage)

Heck...

Why did it break?

I've been using this ever since I bought the 86.

A bad omen.

Might as well throw it away.

So fast.

I think I won't practice today.

Why?

I can't seem to concentrate.

On a day like this, it's pointless however I swing.

Mika.

This will just make me lose my touch.

I will go home to read, let's not practice today.

Because today...

Is there something else today?

No, nothing.

I'll just skip it today.

Takumi...

I will be waiting for your message.

I was worried about how we should take on the race.

He came in time after all.

You only realize he's just a kid at the critical moment.

I really don't know how to apologize to you.

You don't need to apologize.

After all, he showed up at the starting line in the end.

As soon as he gripped the steering wheel, Shinji became a different person.

Is that so?

That would be good.

I keep having this bad feeling.

I'm worried that kid will do something foolish.

Don't worry about that.

Although he is the youngest driver of the "Sidewinder",

his experience far exceeds anyone else's.

Didn't you say the same thing before?

Ye... Yes.

He's been to this road countless times.

Starting from primary school,

that would make it around 12 years.

I work in Hakone hot spring town on the other side of the mountain,

so we have to walk on this mountain road every day.

I would always give Shinji a ride...

It's quite normal for Shinji to be familiar with this road.

I see.

Although the child has an excellent memory,

he doesn't study hard, so he's just average at school.

But his IQ is so high that his elementary school teacher can't believe it.

Perhaps his spatial cognition ability is especially strong.

When did Shinji start driving?

Um...

I shouldn't say this openly,

but probably in his senior years of elementary school.

Are you serious?

That child started driving because he is very considerate.

We support each other.

It is really hard for me to make money to support our family.

I often dozed off while driving, he has seen all that.

It scared me when I first found out how good he can drive.

I still remember it to this day.

I drive during the day when the traffic is heavy.

I only let him drive at night.

I see.

That's why Shinji is so good at downhill.

After hearing that, I finally understand why he is so fast.

He thinks of driving as a game. He learned to drive while playing.

His unparalleled skills can only be learned through repeated practice.

It's simply an art.

Why is he so fast?

I think it's correct to say that he's like playing a game.

The child always seems happy when he grips the steering wheel.

That car was my late husband's favorite.

My husband was a rally driver when he was alive,

so I know a bit about driving skills.

But I didn't teach Shinji anything.

Nor did I give him any advice.

That child's driving style was self-taught.

There is no theory to support it.

A natural...

So this is his natural talent, right?

I've seen him drive for so many years, so I understand very well.

The origin of that child's style is no-braking driving.

No braking?

Try your best to avoid stepping on the brakes.

For that child, it must be like a game.

From the basics of driving skills, this might seem ridiculous.

But the child is not driving for speed.

He hardly ever steps on the gas.

Because it's downhill, he just goes by inertia.

Focus on steering control, and find the easiest route to corner.

Whenever that child holds the steering wheel,

I would unintentionally fall asleep on the passenger seat.

Mom... We're home.

We are home now.

Did you sleep well?

I drove very carefully because I didn't want to disturb you.

I succeeded again today.

He is a very considerate child.

Mr. Hojo discovered him a year ago.

Although he is now learning some driving skills and related theories,

the habit he learned from no-braking driving hasn't changed at all.

I guess if he drives on other mountain roads, he would just be an ordinary driver.

He just memorized all the turns on this mountain road.

He remembered all the limits of speed for that car on this road with his body.

That's how he conquered one corner after another.

Knowing all the limits

is the biggest difference between him and other drivers.

In this case, there's even less to worry about.

Shinji just needs to show his true colors.

We don't need to give him any special instructions.

To be fast in a downhill race,

the engine power is not the key.

As long as you use the slope of the downhill,

a car with 100 horsepower can achieve an acceleration of 150 horsepower.

Although if the opponent has 200 horsepower, he can achieve 300 horsepower,

this stuff is useless on the downhill of the mountain roads.

The most important thing is the balance of the car weight and the chassis setup.

Takumi is undefeated in Akina because he makes up for the weak horsepower with advantages.

He has all the advantages that can turn the tide...

My EG6 and Takeshi's R32, and the Takahashi brothers,

who were then hailed as the fastest in Gunma,

all lost to his advantages.

But this time it is a bit different.

The advantages that Fujiwara had then

probably all belong to the opponent this time.

I didn't expect this final race to be a battle between 86s.

It's really ironic.

You can't be sure.

That kid of the "Sidewinder" does have a remarkable aura,

but you can't ignore the experience and progress Fujiwara made either.

And he has an inexplicable quality.

Even if he's in a desperate situation, he can break through with a miraculous explosiveness.

He has this quality.

The legend of Takumi Fujiwara

will not end.

Why?

Only after three big turns,

I was left behind by a distance.

We both drove an 86. Why did this happen?

I can't catch up with him at the corner.

This has never happened before...