Original subtitles

THIS IS A WORK OF FICTION.

PLEASE DRIVE SAFE AND FOLLOW THE RULES.

(Initial D Final Stage)

Takumi's last opponent is an 86.

I never thought of that...

Yes, although one is a two-door and the other is a three-door,

both cars are TRUENO.

And also,

I feel that...

this race is a bit different from the previous one with that LEVIN in Akina.

I have this feeling too.

I feel like something surprising might happen.

Look... I have goosebumps all over.

I'm shaking all over too.

Can goosebumps be contagious?

Why?

Only after three big turns,

I've been 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...

(Episode 2: The Strongest Enemy)

Shinji's capability is really on par with Takumi.

I'm shocked.

That kind of good boy would explode at some point.

Right... He's just like Takumi.

Both of them drive an 86.

Their driving styles are the same type.

I can't imagine it at all.

I wonder what the result of this race will be.

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 do my best.

I'm already doing my best.

But I still can't catch up with him.

The gap between us is slowly widening.

Do you see it?

Yeah.

Fujiwara's 86 has an advantage on the straights.

He's catching up.

His engine is quite special to begin with.

Ryosuke has tuned it to be even more outstanding this year.

As for the leading 86,

his driving style seems monotonous.

It seems to lack a bit of shock.

It's a style of driving that has no advantages other than being smooth.

But he is the one the utilitarian Kubo specially chose for this race.

He must be the toughest opponent for the "Project D".

The "D" in "Project D" only has meaning

when Keisuke and Fujiwara

are in the team.

For this race,

what I want is not just the result.

You just fight as you want.

Fujiwara...

He is the best and strongest opponent prepared for you

to move on to the next stage.

I will explain to you, Seiji,

why the TRUENO is the toughest opponent for "Project D".

Okay.

When we drive the LAN EVO on mountain roads,

the most ideal condition is basically the WRC racers' driving style.

Make a large drift angle at the entrance of the corner,

and then drift around the corner.

This way of cornering is the most reasonable in rally races,

and also the safest.

As long as you control the steering wheel well,

you only need to step on the gas and corner, right?

Is this the safest way?

But maintaining a safe distance means some kind of "loss".

Racers on closed racetracks would not use this method.

To speed up, they fully utilize the grip and maximize the tire performance.

But on mountain roads where the road conditions ahead are unclear,

I believe the rally race method is more advantageous.

The fastest drivers on mountain roads almost all use this method.

Fujiwara is no exception.

He will even actively let the car slide.

However,

the 86 of "Sidewinder" is not the case.

Wait a moment, Kyoichi.

It's starting to get a bit complicated.

He's still not bright enough to understand what I said?

What I'm saying now are just hypothetical.

On complex mountain roads where the road conditions ahead are unknown,

if there is a driver who can see the entire route like on a racetrack...

If there is a driver who knows the road unusually well,

then the drift driving of the fastest in North Kanto, Fujiwara,

would be inferior to the ordinary grip driving.

Do you understand now?

This is a structural problem.

Really?

Damn it!

But still,

I don't understand a thing.

His entering and exiting aren't very fast,

but his overall speed is amazing.

Just a little... even though just a little,

he keeps increasing the gap between us in the corners.

The bends on the mountain road are almost all blind turns where the exits can't be seen.

No matter how experienced a driver is, they will instinctively leave a safety buffer.

This is not a matter of skill level.

But Shinji didn't show any hesitation.

As if the exits of these blind curves

are crystal clear in his eyes.

Why is it?

Perhaps it's because...

He often sits in my passenger seat.

He has always been observing the road from the opposite direction, hasn't he?

No matter when, he is always interested in the view on the road shoulder.

He's been observing it for the past 12 years...

Even though it can't be seen in the pitch-black night,

he can see it during the day.

He sits in the passenger seat where he doesn't have to drive,

that's why he can gather so much information.

He can distinguish the different slopes at the entrances and exits of turns,

the slight differences in the radius of bends,

the tiny cracks in the asphalt road,

the flow of rain on rainy days,

the accumulation of mud and sediment,

and also the position of the gutter blocked by roadside weeds at this time,

as long as he remembers it when it's visible in the winter.

So, he can see all of it...

I see.

The child memorized the route from the opposite direction.

He memorized the exits of all bends first.

Memorize all the bends...

from the opposite direction?

Even if I could catch up with him on a longer straight road,

the last part of this road has no straight roads, but a bunch of big curves.

I certainly won't be able to catch up with him there.

What should I do?

This isn't good.

No.

Not good at all.

(Initial D Final Stage)

(Initial D Final Stage)

This sight is really magical.

For such an important final showdown,

it turned out to be 86 versus 86.

Daiki, what do you think?

Fujiwara has the upper hand in braking techniques.

The timing of his braking is very clever.

His heel-and-toe movements and engine braking are all of a professional level.

Compared to him, the initial braking movement of the 86 in front

is very crude.

The heel-and-toe movement isn't very good either.

However...

His timing of releasing brakes is frighteningly precise.

He must be very familiar with this mountain road.

You really excel in analysis, Daiki.

Your perspective is certainly unique.

As I see it,

Fujiwara's racing skills have improved a lot,

but now he can only chase desperately.

Chase desperately?

The speed of this race is just so extreme.

Even though both sides are equally fast, Fujiwara is having a harder time.

He is sprinting very hard,

but the car in front of him is running with ease.

That kind of running will consume much less of the car and the tires.

The lack of unnecessary movements is quite surprising.

This is completely different from the driving style of Todo School.

For the "Project D", the current situation is not looking good.

If this continues,

Fujiwara's tires will give out first.

His braking on straights is still immature.

This is just like me last year.

But... why can't I catch up with him?

Once we enter the continuous bends, it's hard for me to catch up.

What is different between us?

Is it due to the different capabilities of the 86?

But it's impossible.

This car was modified by Ryosuke and Matsumoto, the strongest duo.

In that case...

Are my skills inferior to his?

If I let him pull away further in the next hairpin turn,

the situation will become even worse.

Why...

Why...

I can't believe it...

What is he thinking...

I want to see it...

I saw the 86 growing a pair of wings at that time.

I want to see those wings again,

the pair of wings that are breathtakingly cool.

If I'm in front, I won't be able to see them.

Let me see them again.

Kobayakawa, did you see it?

Uh... He yielded the way.

What a foolish act.

Does he not understand the rules of this race?

What did you say?

He turned on the hazard lights and let himself be overtaken?

Is this true?

The timing staff nearby just saw it.

They couldn't figure out what was going on either.

My prediction really came true.

Then why did I choose to lead first?

I don't understand.

Did he not understand the rules from the beginning?

I... I'm sorry.

They switched positions.

If Shinji can't overtake, it's all over.

No.

We lost.

If we lose two must-win races in a row,

I won't be able to hold my ground in the racing world.

He's really interesting. Well done.

Mr. Hojo?

For real?

No way.

I heard that the 86 of "Sidewinder" gave out his position.

What's happening?

Wait, what's going on?

I don't know either.

What's with this?

What is that kid thinking?

That kid told me he wants to be a hero.

After watching Mr. Hojo's race,

I changed my mind.

I want to be 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.

If he loses, he won't become a hero.

He's not unaware of the rules.

He definitely wants to win.

That is to say, he did that foolish thing because he has the confidence to overtake again.

Facing the fastest and invincible downhill expert in North Kanto,

no driver has dared to be this disrespectful.

Now it's all messed up.

Nobody knows what will happen from now.

I suppose the "Project D" is in turmoil right now as well.

Whether it's Ryosuke or us,

we are merely spectators at this point.

What's going on?

Aren't we in a race?

What are you thinking?

Brother.

If it were you in the race, what would you do?

Keisuke?

What else can I do?

My head would probably be in a mess.

I've never been let through in a race before.

This is a tremendous disgrace.

It could considerably damage morale.

It would take quite a bit of time to recover.

I suppose so.

Who could have expected something like this?

But... this situation isn't bad for us.

If everything had gone as planned,

our chances of winning this race would've been extremely low.

So we need an opportunity to change the course of the race.

The race is already out of control.

But...

I think this fits the final race of the "Project D".

The actors are already in place.

There's no need for such a third-rate script anymore.

The two of them are going to put on the best performance.

Senior Iketani, Senior Kenji,

what will happen next?

How would I know?

That's right.

We can only trust Takumi now,

our downhill ace.