With the top three screwing up, I'm in a podium place after barely any effort.
I couldn't have asked for a better chance.
And I ain't complaining about getting to stare at the ample rear of a glamour babe.
This race has only just begun. Better to conserve my tires for now.
Shun here. You reading me, booth?
Where's Kanata right now? Over.
Katagiri Kanata rejoined the race in ninth.
Since then, he's passed two cars and is up to seventh.
For real?
Seventh place puts him two cars behind me.
I never would've guessed he'd be that close.
Forget about the 86. Focus on your own race!
What's this thing you have with Katagiri Kanata? Over!
What do you want from me? He's my boy.
And I know he's coming. I can tell.
I've never had a chance to battle him before.
But this time? It's on.
MF Ghost
Let's see. The thing I remember from summer break...
The Midair Feint
By the way, Marie-san...
You previously said you were going to diet over summer break, right?
Uh, w-well, that kinda turned out, um...
I forgot all about it, meow.
"Meow"?
Whatever. Go back to your seat.
Uehara-san, that's so mean.
I think he must be into me.
But I'm sorry. You're just not my type.
Sawatari, I've always had a high opinion of you.
But that doesn't mean I'm gonna just roll over in this race.
Let's give the fans a feast for the eyes.
Dogfights make races really shine, after all.
Having to overtake a Porsche isn't gonna be easy.
Its traction and braking mean I can't dive-bomb it.
But it has a weakness...
...that MFG exposes.
The 86 and the 12 are closing the gap to the 1 car in front of them!
Last year's champ will have to find a way to fend off the strongest train.
Let's watch!
And here comes Katagiri Kanata.
Out of all the drivers, you might be the most unpleasant to deal with.
At Peninsula, you smoked me with bizarre tricks that only work on public roads,
but this course requires a more orthodox racing technique.
You won't be able to pass my GT3.
This is where you lose.
Catching is one thing. Passing is quite another.
How are you going to handle this, Katagiri?
And as if trying to cast off the specter of the first lap,
Sawatari Koki goes on the attack!
Crazy bastard.
Didn't you screw up at this exact point on the first lap?
I don't make the same mistake twice.
I'm too smart for that.
The 8 car loses traction!
It avoided spinning out, but it clearly lost a lot of speed!
That was a surprise.
The Hydro Trap is wide at entry, and it curves around to the right...
...so you generally get people entering it on the left side.
But Sawatari angled himself to enter it on the right side,
and was able to get a good exit angle by making contact with the 8 car.
Was the contact accidental?
I seriously doubt it.
Since the Hydro Trap limits the driver's ability to steer,
he had to have gone in intending to trade paint.
He took advantage of how rear-heavy Porsches are.
Since the Gs are centered on the rear, they tend to rotate, like a spinning top.
And he did that after spinning out by being too aggressive there before.
What's going on in Sawatari's head?
Because he found the edge of adhesion the first time,
he can probably go right up to it with confidence now.
I get the feeling none of the others can match the 4 in the Hydro Trap now.
The leading group is entering the mountainous Sector 2!
And this 15-car field is gradually starting to spread out.
This driver has plenty of speed, but not enough experience.
It's crystal-clear he's lost all of his composure.
The damage to his tires will be like body blows in boxing,
gradually making him unable to fight.
Silly boy.
I must say, though, this MFG series...
Experiencing it firsthand, I can tell it has more depth than it seems.
No matter how skilled an athlete you are,
there are certain fundamentals that form the foundation of each sport.
Just like how Premier League stars dribble and pass to work on ball control,
there are certain fundamentals for racing drivers that can't be ignored.
And MFG is intentionally built around them.
These heavy chassis with so little downforce.
The poor acceleration. The slippery tires.
Each one of these factors demands fundamental skills from the driver.
And it all harks back to some kind of primordial enjoyment.
I think I understand why Fujiwara-sensei
sent Kanata to Japan to get him out of his slump now.
A car with such good brakes will make challenging it at the entry of a corner tough.
I'd rather not use up my tires just yet.
But MFG has its own way of doing these things.
Check out the air Emma Greene is getting!
She traces a beautiful parabola, as if enjoying the act of jumping itself!
I can't help regretting that this race is a one-off affair for her.
She already has me, Tanaka Yoji, wrapped around her little finger.
Now we turn to the group fighting over sixth as they head for the jump!
It's last year's champion versus the strongest train!
I'm going through. Let's see if you can keep up.
I don't have much choice.
Are you kidding me? You're making your move here?
You two have gotta be crazy.
You're off-balance. Do you really want to try this?
Wow! And the 86 attacks around the outside!
What just happened at the Jumping Spot?
The strongest train is bearing down on the 1 car!
Damn. So that's your play? But I'm not letting you all through!
Last year's champion drops back two places!
It looked like they got entangled mid-jump.
What happened there, Sudo-san?
The kind of thing that makes a commentator want to cry.
On the first lap, I said how you don't want to tilt too much in mid-air.
But Katagiri Kanata opted to do just that.
He intentionally aimed to land off-balance.
then used the momentum to execute a high-speed drift that took him to the edge.
It's a type of feint rally drivers like to use when they have low mu.
And he executed that in midair?
It's not the kind of thing most drivers would think to do.
And it left someone as talented as Ishigami-kun utterly helpless.
Once the opening was made, the strongest train was free to do as they pleased.
I'd say the 18 wasn't able to stick with them
because she didn't hit the jump at the same speed as the other two.
And frankly, asking that of anyone is absurd.
These two drivers are just built different.
I was giving everything I had to keep up with them,
but it looks like this is as far as I go.
It would've been nice to keep watching Kanata's driving.
You'd better win, Kanata.
Because I'm practically in love with you.
The 86 climbs to sixth.
And the 12 is now in seventh!
It's starting to look plausible now, folks!
These two might be back in contention for the win!
I wasn't sure whether or not to comment on it before,
but they're coming back at an uncanny pace.
Given the race is only on its second lap, they've got every chance.
They do?
Should the commentators really be saying that kinda thing?
I've been trying my hardest not to even think it.
Kanata and Beckenbauer might actually do it.
I mean, how many times have they done the impossible before?
I've lost count.
And now, a question for Moe-chan.
Since we've gone through the whole lineup, time for a more personal question.
What kind of person would you like to marry?
Gosh!
She's gonna give a calculated answer.
You're pushing your tires too hard, Sena! This is only the second lap! Over!
I know.
I know that, but I'm not about to let some chick look down on me.
She's gotta be pushing her tires just as hard.
The 885 is pushing on aggressively!
This rookie is going hard!
That's no good. He doesn't know how best to use his tires.
No way he holds out until the last lap.
The blonde behind him knows her stuff.
She's matching his pace, but putting less stress on her tires.
Can't we do something? Like call his booth to pass along a message?
They're bound to already be doing just that.
But if telling him was enough, we wouldn't be in this spot.
Boss, that seems kinda cold.
The kid's lucky.
He's tasting the pressure of leading in his second race.
That's not an experience just anyone gets, and it's invaluable.
We'll let this run its course.
And that blonde will likely turn up the heat.
I had no idea you were such a sadist, boss.
Yeah, you did.
MF Ghost.
We cut to the Jumping Spot!
Sawatari in the 4 has Sakamoto in the 5 in his crosshairs!
Sawatari?
The kid's a freak. How'd he get this far up that fast?
I'm in Audi's flagship model here.
I can't let myself get gobbled up by some puny Alpine.
Honestly. What are you doing slumming it this far back, Sakamoto-san?
I remember you and I butting heads a fair bit last season.
But this year, you're like chicken scratch.
That number 5 on your car has gotta be ashamed.
The trick for handling roads so torn up you never know when you'll hit a bump...
is being ready to gather it up again at all times.
Whoa! And the 4 pulls ahead of the 5!
It happened in an instant.
There seemed to be contact there. What happened, Sudo-san?
Colliding with another car and dumping them off the road
is, of course, against the rules.
But the MFG steering committee allows the kind of slight contact
that only throws the other car a little off-balance.
The Audi RE has high-powered 4WD.
And to tap into that kind of power when cornering,
it often tends to slow everything down.
And that was just the weakness Sawatari-kun knew to attack.
You try to look all gangster with the hood and sunglasses,
but I know deep down, you're a shy little sweetheart.
And I know that, underneath those shades...
you've got gorgeous eyes, Sakamoto-san.
The 86? I've been waiting for you, Katagiri Kanata.
The higher the speed of a course, the more important cornering tech becomes.
Screw trying to squeeze out tenths in tight corners.
Instead, the two of us will do some real life-and-death, high-speed battling.
'Gida-san, you're gonna wanna be careful here.
The 12 has a lot of power,
and it's been pushing the 86 along this whole time.
Well, that's the last thing I was expecting.
But I've got 500 horsepower. A Cayman GT4 doesn't scare me.
I'm ready to demolish the two foreigners who sit at the top of MFG.
Here's where I show off the pride and power of Japanese drivers.
Me, Yanagida Takuya!
They're approaching the final turn
as the lead group plunges into the beachside Sector 1!
And for as much activity as we've had in this race,
it's only now hitting the midway point.
In the lead, it's Moroboshi in the 885. Second is Greene in the 624.
The rookie duo is steadily ticking down the laps.
Akaba in the 2 is in third. Aiba in the 9 is in fourth.
These two drivers who specialize in high-speed courses are looking good.
It almost seems like the top group has stabilized and gone into cruise mode.
That's just how it looks on the surface.
Rest assured, we're looking at some high-level mind games.
Now, the battle for fifth, which looks the most contentious so far.
The strongest train is bearing down on Yanagida in the 6 car!
Katagiri in the 86 is in sixth.
Beckenbauer in the 12 is seventh.
This pair have steadily climbed the field,
but the higher they go, the more difficult that gets.
In eighth, Ishigami in the 1. Ninth is Kitahara in the 18.
In tenth, it's Maezono in the 13.
In 11th, it's Oishi in the 3.
And behind him comes Sawatari in the 4!
Sawatari's performance here is frankly remarkable.
The strongest train is also steadily climbing,
but their use of a slipstream makes their roles clear.
Meanwhile, the 4 is going it alone,
putting a lot of strain on both car and tires.
The blue bullet is demonstrating the skills that earned him pole position!
In 13th, it's Sakamoto in the 5. Taylor in the 8 is 14th.
And back in 15th, it's Yashio in the 16.
These 15 drivers who fiercely contested qualifying continue to battle!
Well, marriage is more the starting line than the finish line, y'know?
What kind of person I want to marry?
So I think you're bound to go through more trials once you're married
I've never even considered it before.
than while dating.
What should I say when it's my turn?
What would it be like if I married Kanata?
No way. I can't imagine something that sexy.
This isn't good. I need to stop thinking of everything in terms of Kanata.
It's like he's taken over my brain.
What's made her turn so red? Has she got a fever or something?
The strongest train is showing no deference,
despite facing off against a 500 horsepower BMW.
Do slipstreams usually offer these kinds of benefits?
It's part of it, but it's not the only reason their top speed is increasing.
The 86 and the 12 tend to exit corners at remarkable speeds.
We have two drivers with deep insight into how to shave off time on road courses,
and by working together, these effects are multiplied.
This is it. Go.
Around the outside? I wasn't expecting that.
But that's not enough to scare me.
Even if we go side-by-side,
you can't pass me unless you can corner better than me.
It doesn't matter how tight your line is. You can't shake me.
Neither driver gives an inch!
The new and old cornering wizards are in a battle of wills!
I can see why the 6 car, that BMW, has managed to make it this far.
He's able to fight Katagiri on even terms while side-by-side around corners.
And the help my tow is providing is only keeping them parallel.
But it seems the two of us still have a better grasp of the situation.
And they enter the Hydro Trap parallel!
This situation reeks of danger!
Damn it.
He blocked off the inside, which is the easier path.
Was he planning this all along?
The rear of both cars look unsteady!
And the 6 car drops back two places!
Sudo-san, please can you explain what just happened?
Because I have no idea what I saw.
There are things I have doubts about myself,
but I'll explain what I did understand.
First, the best way to enter the Hydro Trap
is not unlike how you should land when jumping.
You run the risk of your tires not gripping the road.
I see. That much I understand.
Because of that, on contact, you'll want to avoid touching
the steering wheel in order to avoid any lateral Gs.
But the 86 and 6 cars still had Gs pulling on them.
Their rears started to slide, and they both had oversteer.
But when they were back on dry road, they quickly regained grip.
Katagiri was able to correct his position and regain control in an instant,
while Yanagida ended up struggling a bit.
The difference was clear in their difference in acceleration.
But, Sudo-san...
What made them turn the steering wheel at the entrance to the Hydro Trap?
That's the part I'm having trouble understanding.
If you'll let me indulge in a bit of speculation...
It could've been some fine-tuning to their steering, in order to avoid contact.
I feel like not trading paint...
is a point of pride between both Katagiri-kun and Yanagida-kun.
And if they share that sense of aesthetics...
...it makes that exchange more moving.
Because it was the embodiment of MFG's desire for fair fights.
Compared to how the other two in the big three,
Beckenbauer and Sawatari, had no hesitation making contact with each other,
Katagiri Kanata's style might be the exact opposite.
You're right. I don't believe I've seen him make contact once since his debut.
I'd say it's the influence of his mentor, Fujiwara Takumi, shining through.
He didn't enjoy that sort of thing, either.
Seeing how that influence runs so deep in the middle of a race like this
speaks to the strength of the Gunma Connection.
I hate to admit it, but there's no comparison to that group.
The head of Team Emperor has really softened in his old age.
And it's not just Sudo. Ikeda, Akiyama, Kogashira...
They all agreed with Ryosuke's ideals and helped him form MFG's framework.
He's always had a knack for getting people to follow him.
At the end of the day, everyone ends up liking the guy.
And despite the fact that I thought I was his number one fan,
he gets married without so much as a hint?
That sucks.
I might not like Beckenbauer,
but Katagiri Kanata, you're amazing.
A red car? It's Kanata.
Oh, here we go. It's on now!
The moment I've been waiting for.
This isn't about win or lose.
Just getting to hash it out with you
is awesome enough to get my blood boiling.
What is this? There's so little I grasp about him.
His reaction time is so good that even I'll admit it.
It's like he acts without thinking.
He's executing these overtakes on something closer to reflex.
I've never seen a driver like him.
Does he really feel no hesitation in exposing his hand?
That goes beyond being simple-minded. Are you genuinely stupid?
They're already right behind the 9!
It's the Kamikaze Outlaw versus the strongest train.
And you can already see the sparks start to fly...
as they roar into the mountainous Sector 2!
Don't leave any openings, Shun!
The 86 and the 12 have managed to climb this high by working together.
When they make a move, they'll do it at the same time! Over!
I don't know if I really follow, but copy. Over.
I just gotta stop Kanata from getting ahead.
He's the only one I'm fighting here.
Next time, Turn 37: The Lead Group Splits.