Chapter 023

Hot On The Tail Of The GT-R (GT-Rを追いつめろ!!, GT-R wo Oitsumero!!, "Catch up with the GT-R!") is the twenty-third chapter of Initial D.

Plot
The three cars go through a corner, and Nakazato is happy to finally have the real battle he was looking for. Ryosuke comments on Nakazato's skill, much to Keisuke' s annoyance, though he reminds him that the real battle hasn't begun, as the steeper and windier second half of the course is where the Eight-Six shines. Nakazato thinks to himself that a car built for circuit racing is also the best on the mountains, he gloats, challenging Takumi to catch up with his GT-R badge.

At the top of the mountain, Itsuki thinks Takumi is so cool for being able to go up against the Takahashis and Nakazato at the same time. Meanwhile Kenji is sad because Takumi was able to overtake him even on the uphill. Iketani tries to cheer him up, reminding him that Takumi's been driving for even longer than they have. Kenji wonders how Takumi would fare on a course other than Akina.

Takumi notices that the Eight-Six isn't sliding as much as usual when he accelerates, and realises that that must be why Bunta had taken the car. He likes the change, noting that he can go all out without losing control. Keisuke is amazed by Takumi's skill, and watches Takumi perform a gutter run, something he didn't think he'd witness again after his loss. He realises that Ryosuke isn't speaking, as he's having to give his full attention to keeping up with the two racers. Nakazato is shocked to see Takumi gaining on him.

Japan

 * January 1st 1996 (Weekly Young Magazine, 1996 Volume 1)
 * 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
 * Itsuki Takeuchi
 * Koichiro Iketani
 * Kenji
 * Takumi Fujiwara

Cars (in order of appearance)

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