Gutter Techniques

The Gutter Techniques are Takumi Fujiwara's specialty. Other characters, especially Project D's opponents, use this technique as well.

Entry Gutter Run
First Used: Takumi Fujiwara vs Keisuke Takahashi Second Used: Takumi Fujiwara vs Takeshi Nakazato Third Used: Takumi Fujiwara in the Eight-Five (Impromptu) Fourth Used: Takumi Fujiwara vs Shingo Shoji Fifth Used: Takumi Fujiwara vs Ryosuke Takahashi Sixth Used: Takumi Fujiwara vs Seiji Iwaki Seventh Used: Takumi Fujiwara vs Tomoyuki Tachi Eighth Used: Takumi Fujiwara vs the Two Guys From Tokyo

This is the technique Takumi is most famous for and has been used multiple times when racing on Akina. It's an entry-oriented method that doesn't let the driver understeer at the entrance. The inner tires are dropped into the gutter to withstand the centrifugal force of the turn. It allows the car to turn beyond the grip of its tires.

Exit Gutter Run
First Used: Takumi Fujiwara vs Ryosuke Takahashi Second Used: Takumi Fujiwara vs Seiji Iwaki Third Used: Takumi Fujiwara vs Bunta Fujiwara (Impromptu)

This is the same technique as above except it's the exit-oriented method. The timing to drop in the tires and release them is different. Instead of using the gutter when entering the turn, it's used when exiting. This technique is better than the one above, and Takumi uses it to turn the battle around when he's desperate. This version is rarely used. It was used once against Ryosuke (in First Stage) and again against Seiji. Bunta also uses this technique in his impromptu race against Takumi.

Reverse Gutter Run
First Used: Keisuke Takahashi vs Takeshi Nakazato

This one is tried by Keisuke in his battle with Nakazato. In the final corner of Myogi uphill, he comes side by side with Nakazato from the outside, and when they both approach the corner Keisuke puts the edge of his rear wheels on top of a side walk, giving him the opposing force to the wheels which prevents him from crashing towards the outside.

Without Gutter
First Used: Takumi Fujiwara vs Kai Kogashiwa Second used: Takumi Fujiwara vs Dr. Toshiya Joshima

In Third Stage, Takumi used the height difference between the pavement and the ground to turn. It's basically the same technique as the first two above except without the gutter. The tires are dropped off of the road, and they hook onto the side of the road. This was used in the race against Kai at Irohazaka. The similar technique was used when Takumi tries to keep up with and overtake Dr. Joshima during his battle with the Purple Shadow in the Project D arc.

Wheel Lifting/Weight Shifting
First Used: Takumi Fujiwara vs Toru Suetsugu Second Used: Keisuke Takahashi vs Kozo Hoshino Third Used: Takumi Fujiwara vs Kai Kogashiwa (Rematch)

This technique was used multiple times. On the Seven Star Leaf's home course, there were deep gutters that were left uncovered. The first two techniques would not work here. The gutter depth is bigger than the tires. Instead, this technique is the total opposite of those two. It requires shifting the weight to the rear tires, taking as much weight off of the inner front tire as possible. It allows the car to float the inner tire above the gutter while taking the corner at full speeds. This technique was first used against Toru and was also used against Keisuke and Takumi by Purple Shadow's Kozo and Toshiya. The technique was once again used by Takumi when he battled against Kai in Fifth Stage when he came across some uncovered gutters while staying in lead in the battle.