Initial D to the Next Stage - The Way to Project D

Initial D to the Next Stage - The Way to Project D (頭文字D to the Next Stage プロジェクトDへ向けて Inisharu D to the Next Stage purojekuto D e mukete) is a behind-the-scenes "making of" special for Initial D Fourth Stage, released direct to DVD and VHS in 2004.

Contents
The majority of the special is a recap of the events of First Stage, Second Stage and Third Stage, interspersed with brand new footage of Itsuki and Takumi in the Fourth Stage style. The battles with Kenta Nakamura and Kai Kogashiwa are both unshown.

The final segment is dedicated to the production of Fourth Stage, and is introduced by Keiichi Tsuchiya. One part shows how Tsuchiya and the Hot Version team assisted in recording car audio. There is also an interview with m.o.v.e.

Release
The Way to Project D was released on DVD and VHS tape in 2004. The special was later featured in the Initial D Fourth Stage DVD Box in 2009, the Initial D Premium Blu-ray Box Pit 2 in 2014, and the Initial D Memorial Blu-ray Collection Vol. 2 in 2019.