This is Ogata.
What's with the slide just now?
What's wrong, Kanata?
Is there a problem with the balance of the car?
No problem. I just made a slight adjustment.
Honda and Alfa are battling fiercely before me,
but I can drive in the best line because there's no one behind me.
Perhaps I will join that battle
sooner than we thought.
He wants to join the battle of the cars ahead.
Is he serious about that?
With such a huge performance gap between them…
(MF GHOST)
(Turn05: Teamwork) The chaos at the beginning has ended.
(Turn05: Teamwork) The ranking of racers has now stabilized.
All 15 cars have climbed up the slope of sector 1 at full speed.
Aiba is rushing right from the start?
But if he is too eager,
a single mistake could lead to defeat.
This is MFG.
It's my third year participating.
Finally I feel confident to win.
To win MFG, experience is everything.
What's going on, Daigo? You aren't picking up speed!
What else can it be?
I just didn't floor the gas pedal.
If only I could have bigger tires…
This darn grip-to-weight ratio!
I spent so much to get this fast car.
So let me hit the gas as hard as I can!
To put it simply,
grip-to-weight ratio equalization
can be interpreted as equalizing cornering speed.
No restriction on the car model or exhaust volume, but only the grip-to-weight ratio.
I still remember how shocked I was when I heard this rule.
Yes, as it is too simple,
I still don't see the real intention behind it.
But the same cornering speed
makes one think that
a high-horsepower car
P15, CAR 86, KANATA KATAGIRI a high-horsepower car
P15, CAR 86, KANATA KATAGIRI will have an advantage on straights.
Will have an advantage on straight roads.
Is that why they put so much effort into increasing the horsepower?
Right.
That's why top-tier European sports cars now monopolize the top spots.
Some say it's a rule set up by the rich.
But I think a turning point has emerged this year.
You mean…
Michael Beckenbauer joined midway last year, which marked a turning point.
He brought in the idea of valuing balance over horsepower.
The newcomer Kanata Katagiri obviously is the same.
However, the horsepower of his car is just too weak.
In terms of overall balance, it's not worth any praise.
Sorry.
I already knew this.
The regulations set by Ryo Takahashi
include a clever setting for tire endurance too.
This also gives all participants
the possibility of beating better cars and overturning the situation.
I have to admire his genius.
Well…
Kogashiwa is truly very experienced in the racing world.
He got the point.
Ryosuke once said that MFG is the evolved version of Project D.
It's also the answer to the fastest road theory.
But I don't think anyone can solve
this difficult equation from Ryosuke.
The leading group will soon pass the rest house.
Aiba's Car No.9 is rapidly approaching Sakamoto's car No.5.
This will be an exciting battle that can't be missed!
Damn it.
I will not lose to a European car.
Show him your Yamato soul, GT-R!
Aiba.
Overtaking in such a dangerous section could cost your life.
An engine with large exhaust volume and a computer-controlled 4WD
enable the car to accelerate on all corners and straights.
Car performance is everything in MFG.
The cars are now moving from sector 1 to sector 2.
The track also changed from a steep climb to a downhill.
How will the ranking change after this horsepower section?
14 cars have past the rest house.
Slightly behind, the last-place car 86 is also coming.
All cars have entered sector 2 now.
This is Ogata.
The oil temperature and pressure are normal.
The speed of fuel consumption is also normal.
Any questions?
Mr. Ogata, please tell me how far I am from the car before me.
I can't see it at all.
Before you, let me see… It's car No.18, Alfa Romeo.
About 6.8 seconds away.
Got it, I'll catch up.
But still,
a gap of 6.8 seconds is quite big.
This is Kakeru.
What are you doing, Nozomi?
Overtake that Honda and catch up.
This guy is more difficult than I thought.
It corners very fast as a FWD car.
Help me, brother.
What do I do with you?
Let's use that move when the time comes.
Prepare the number 3 formation.
Got it.
I'm counting on you, brother.
I caught up.
FK8's stability for downhill is even better than yours.
The Lotus Exige isn't that great.
I'll overtake you.
How naive. You are giving me so much space on the outside.
Watch this!
Now! Cut in, Nozomi!
I'm leaving!
Is she kidding me?
She gave me so much space on the outside just to lure me in?
Maezono, be careful, a car is coming from behind!
You're late! The Alfa has already passed!
No!
Can you do your job?
You should have told me earlier the 86 is coming!
I did tell you!
It's too late when he's alongside me!
I can only pay attention to the cars in front!
But wasn't the car 86 way behind?
As soon as the downhill section started, it caught up.
What magic did he use?
The 86 is right behind us, brother.
Kanata is coming.
Damn it.
I have no chance of beating him in a skill section.
We have to shake him off!
Understood.
This is getting fun.
No, it's not fun at all!
(MF GHOST)
The ranking has changed.
Please.
Okay.
Senior Kyoko, can I ask you a question?
Sure, anything.
This is your first time in a racing event, right?
It's about that thing.
Why do they have to change those boards manually?
MFG has so much high-tech equipment…
Good for you to notice that.
You'll see in a moment.
Stop.
Don't film my butt from below, Mr. Uehara.
I'm very self-conscious about my butt.
Seriously?
Fan service is also an important job.
The Angel Shots are very popular. They can bring high ratings.
Be prepared, Ren.
I didn't even know…
Next is question time.
Moe, who is your favorite racer?
It's difficult to answer.
All racers are excellent,
but they all seem so unreachable.
They're not the people I can get close to.
So, I have 15 favorite racers.
I'll be really happy if they can safely reach the finish line.
That's an awesome answer.
Moe is so cute!
And that is Moe, the voted number one Angel!
She's playing cute.
You'd definitely be number one in a vote for the worst personality too.
I thought we just need to sing and dance.
Being an Angel isn't easy.
It's the lakeside.
We'll have to start climbing again soon.
If I want to shake the car 86 off there, I need to build a sufficient lead.
Otherwise, once we enter sector 3, that guy will speed up to catch up.
The two leading cars have passed Otorii!
Beckenbauer is getting close!
He's tailing closely behind Ishigami!
Ishigami seems to be struggling.
Looks like he doesn't have any energy left.
As the two-time champion in a row,
he probably wants to become a wall blocking these emerging forces.
This is humiliation.
My CARERRA GT3
is being tailgated by his ordinary CAYMAN.
It's irritating me.
Am I overthinking because he is from the Porsche Academy?
Why do I feel like being looked down upon?
Are you qualified to drive that car?
Ishigami?
The 991 GT3 is the strongest model among all the rear-engine Porsches.
Do you really know how to drive that car?
As someone from a small countryside in Asia,
are you qualified to drive the great car made by the Germans?
Let me see.
Okay, this is a battle for third place.
This should be the most eye-catching battle now.
Shun Aiba's car keeps swaying sideways, trying to disturb Sakamoto's car No.5.
Out of my way, you dark lord of the dark force!
Are you a fool?
Pay some attention to your tires.
I'm the one who can't stand being tailgated by you.
The No. 7 Angle's kiss is mine!
What's wrong?
I suddenly felt a chill…
Surprisingly, car No.2 Akabane made a move!
He passed car No.11 Natsume's BMW and moved to ninth place.
His performance was not ideal in the preliminaries due to a turbo fault.
But Akabane is not a racer who would settle for such a place.
He ranked second last season.
He is a top-tier racer.
With one place up, Akabane now has the Lamborghini in his sights.
You finally came, Kaito Akabane.
I expect you to show up now.
You relaxed a bit since you have a turbo?
It seems your horse badge is depraved.
This 5.2 liter naturally aspirated V10 engine is laughing at you from behind me.
I don't really have any preference for Ferrari.
It just does a good job as a racing tool.
So I chose it.
But somehow,
the sight of that Aventador badge irritates me particularly.
The king of supercars now can only be this Lamborghini.
I don't care about Grand Prix traditions!
It's like someone is whispering in my ear,
telling me to surpass him,
and not to get splashed by the dust of that car.
The leading car is about to pass the highest point of Line 1!
Two Porsches have entered sector 3!
Next up in third place is car No.5, fourth place is car No.9.
Fifth place car No.7, sixth place car No.6.
Seventh place car No.8, eighth place car No.3.
Ninth place is car No.2.
Tenth place car No.11, eleventh place car No.10.
That's where the Yajikita Siblings are.
In twelfth place is car No.16, thirteenth place car No.18.
A bit behind…
It's quite surprising.
Car 86 actually moved to fourteenth place!
Not far behind him, Civic follows closely!
All 15 cars have entered sector 3!
Honestly, the performance of car 86 surprised me.
It's reckless enough to challenge these cars with an 86.
Kanata is not in the last place at this point.
That's already a miracle!
I caught up to him at the ideal place.
This is the best position,
before The Kamaboko Straight.
He is even faster than Beckenbauer. Is this a joke?
Why can an antique 86 run so fast?
If he does it by using some special tricks,
then I must find it out and copy it.
As long as I know the tricks,
I also have the chance to transform!
His cornering is very fast.
No, this is impossible.
We drive the same type of cars.
When I step on the gas, my car must be faster.
Even if they're both 2.0-liter engines,
the gap between natural aspiration and turbo is quite obvious.
From braking to cornering, I got left behind by him.
His minimum speed is fast too.
I can't let him get away. Give me more time.
Give me time to step on the gas, and give me a straight!
No… He's pulling away.
He's getting away.
What is happening?
I just can't understand.
It's hard to believe we're under the same physical laws.
Oh, there's an accident!
Natsume's BMW in tenth place has slowed down!
That's lucky.
More bonus without doing anything.
Brother, I saw a red car for a moment in the rearview mirror.
Damn, he caught up already?
The lead we worked so hard for has been used up.
What now? Should we use the blocking formation?
No, don't block him.
It will slow us down.
We can't get pulled away by the cars ahead any further.
If we don't give him any chance,
he can't overtake on such a narrow track however good he is.
Don't deviate from the best line!
That's what I want.
I want to compete with Kanata!
You won't stand a chance if you do.
The battling cars No.3 and No.2 disappeared into the fog.
The Grim Reaper of Ghost Town swallowed all the cars.
Even for me, this section is very difficult.
Right.
Because the picture sent back by the drone is blurred,
even we can't grasp all the situations.
The Yajikita Siblings and car 86 are fighting and driving into the fog.
Then I'll use this opportunity
to tell the fans
the information of Kanata Katagiri that I've gathered.
His real name is Kanata Rivington.
The surname "Katagiri" should come from his Japanese father.
He was born in Cambridge, UK.
He was trained at the prestigious Royal Donington Racing School,
in short, RDRS.
He began karting at four and participated in British Kart Championships at seven.
In the next two years, he won six well-known championships.
He participated in the F4 Championship at ten.
Also he won the championship in two years.
Please wait a second.
That is an incredible experience.
Seriously?
That kid…
Basically, the positions we are in are not the same.
I thought Shun was bluffing.
Trainees of a racing school
have an examination like the graduation examination in Japan.
It is said that Katagiri passed every subject with the highest scores,
and graduated as the top student.
I heard that his total points broke the school's highest record.
Whether on the actual track or simulator tests, he achieved excellent results with his talent.
The people at RDRS told me all these excitedly on the phone.
Because he is such an outstanding talent,
he received numerous offers from manufacturers before graduation.
Yet, he turned down all of them,
and returned to his hometown.
It should be about that time,
Catherine's condition suddenly deteriorated.
Yeah.
He's a really good kid…
Alright, like I said, I have prepared another surprise.
That is, in Donington Racing School,
there is a Japanese lecturer,
and his name
is Takumi Fujiwara.
(Next Episode: Turn 06)
The Tragic Rallyist.