Chapter 026

X-treme Control (限界コントロール, Genkai Kontorōru, "Precise Control") is the twenty-sixth chapter of Initial D.

Plot
Nakazato feels humiliated having to play defensively against the Eight-Six. He decides to stop staying exclusively in the inside, instead choosing to move to block Takumi. Takumi moves to take the outside, but moves back to the inside when Nakazato reacts. Takumi rides on the gutter, overtaking Nakazato as they exit the corner. Nakazato goes to accelerate out of the corner, intent on taking the lead back, but loses grip and spins out, colliding with the guardrail. Ryosuke is able to narrowly dodge the now stationary GT-R, and rides off into the distance. Nakazato steps out of the car and examines the damage done to his GT-R. He comes to terms with his loss, and decides to polish his skills and have a rematch with the Eight-Six.

Ryosuke and Keisuke talk about what they had just witnessed. Keisuke says that the Eight-Six's braking is its strength, and that it must have great ABS. Ryosuke reminds him that the Eight-Six is so old that it doesn't have ABS, so the strength must lie in the pedal control of the driver. The two head home, with Ryosuke rethinking how he's going to face Takumi.

At the top of the mountain, the Iketani, Kenji and Itsuki celebrate Takumi's victory.

At the tofu store, Bunta notices Takumi staring at the Eight-Six. Takumi goes to say something, but chooses to go to sleep instead.

Japan

 * January 29th 1996 (Weekly Young Magazine, 1996 Volume 6)
 * May 8th 1996 (Tankōbon, Volume 03)

Chinese

 * March 1st 1998 (Tankōbon, Volume 03, Sharp Point Press)

English

 * October 22nd 2002 (Tankōbon, Volume 03, Tokyopop)
 * April 17th 2019 (Digital re-release, Volume 03, Kodansha USA)

French

 * May 28th 2009 (Tankōbon, Volume 03, Kazé)

Italian

 * March 28th 2023 (Tankōbon 2-in-1, Volume 02, J-Pop)

Polish

 * April 2023 (Tankōbon 2-in-1, Volume 02, J. P. Fantastica)

Characters (in order of appearance)

 * Takeshi Nakazato
 * Keisuke Takahashi
 * Ryosuke Takahashi
 * Takumi Fujiwara
 * Koichiro Iketani
 * Kenji
 * Itsuki Takeuchi
 * Bunta Fujiwara

Cars (in order of appearance)

 * Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec II (BNR32)
 * Toyota Sprinter Trueno GT-APEX (AE86)
 * Mazda SAVANNA RX-7 Infini III (FC3S)