Both cars were side by side down the straight. Matching gear shifts were amplified with simultaneous shrieks from the wastegates. As they neared the first corner, Nakazato had the inside line and started to pull ahead of Kaiyin.

"Heh, all talk." He downshifted into third, tracing the line, and accelerating after the apex. He cleared the corner quickly and on the exact line that he wanted. "Ha! I'm on tonight," he exclaimed. The second corner came in a hear-beat and a flame out of the back of his exhaust signaled his entry. The turbo spool signaled his exit as the GT-R shot around the corner. He checked his mirror to see how far behind the VW was. "He's probably already g…"

Kaiyin grinned as he was still inches off of Nakazato's bumper. "This should prove to be a fun night," he said as he threw the car into fourth and continued to stay behind the GT-R. Although not an easy match, Nakazato was making Kaiyin work to keep pace.

The cars continued on down the run, matching entry and exit speed. Neither car gained or lost ground as each corner flew by. The galleries were certainly enjoying the race, crying out for more, cheering the drivers to push harder.

"Damn! He's a better driver than I thought. He knows the perfect line for gripping," Nakazato said to himself. He laid into the accelerator more and more after each turn trying to increase his pace. No matter what I do, he is staying with me. Then an idea came to him. The five hairpins are coming up. With his bigger turbo, he'll have more lag allowing me to pull ahead through the successive corners. "I can win this!"

The first of the five hairpins came up and Nakazato let off the gas, throwing a flame out the back. He got on the breaks and pointed the nose to the apex and put the accelerator to the floor. His GT-R rocketed forward. I knew it! My exit speed is faster than his because I don't have as much lag. However, he noticed headlights coming up on his right. It can't be!

Kaiyin had watched Nakazato's movements at the entrance of the first hairpin, a lefthander. When Nakazato braked, Kaiyin kept accelerating. When the corner came, he braked hard, making a four-two shift, and threw his R32 sideways. He kept the gas to the floor as he held the outside line inches from the guardrail and Nakazato's bumper.

At the exit, he had an open lane ahead of him and began to pull around Nakazato. "No you don't," Nakazato said as he closed the inside line. He braked, harder than normal as his entrance was too tight, holding the inside.

Kaiyin moved outside again, throwing the car sideways and bringing it around. Three more left. He was able to pull along side Nakazato again on the short straight. Nakazato kept holding the inside, even if it meant his entrance needed to be slower.

There's no way he can pass on the outside. He couldn't possibly hold the line if he went too fast. Nakazato kept to his plan. They came to the third hairpin and he once again held the inside and watched as Kaiyin stuck to the outside.

Kaiyin noticed that Nakazato's overall speed throughout the corner had dropped. There's a slight chance. I just need to time it right. As they were approaching the entrance to the fourth hairpin, Kaiyin quickly pressed a switch, adjusting the settings on his Haldex system.

The fourth hairpin came up and Nakazato slowed down. However, Kaiyin kept the same pace. A look of concern showed upon Nakazato. What? Is he planning to kill himself! Nakazato stuck to his plan of attack, and held the inside line. With his slower entrance, Kaiyin's R32 nosed out Nakazato's as they turned in. Kaiyin's car shot sideways, holding it's line, slowly drifting inwards.

"No way! He can't possibly hold that line" Nakazato shouted. He kept pressing on, his foot gradually pressing down further on the accelerator.

Kaiyin held his car with zero-counter steer, his foot firmly planted to the floor. His front bumper was inches from Nakazato's, and his rear was inches from the guardrail. Just a little more. At the exit, he put the clutch to the floor, slamming the car into third. It lurched forward as it straightened out and he had passed Nakazato.

Nakazato watched the black R32 pull in front of him and disappear around the fifth hairpin, putting more and more distance between the two. How…how did he pass me? "That was impossible, how could he pull that off?" The race had been settled and Nakazato had been beaten.

As Kaiyin crossed the finish line, he gave a sigh of relief. "Lucky," he said under his breath. He came to a stop and looked over at Nakazato who pulled up next to him. They both got out of their cars and Kaiyin extended his hand out to Nakazato's. "You're a very good racer. Much more than I expected," Kaiyin said with a smile.

Nakazato was somewhat surprised at the other's humble demeanor. I was the one who underestimated my opponent. They shook hands and parted. "We'll have to race again sometime," Nakazato said as he got back into his car. Kaiyin nodded in reply and headed back up the mountain.

The news had just reached the top. The radio crackled, "It's the Volkswagen! Nakazato lost!" Everyone was a bit shocked. "To think a complete outsider could beat Nakazato," someone commented. Soon, Kaiyin appeared back at the top and picked up Shun. He glanced over at Ryosuke and the others before turning around and heading back.

"We'll have to keep our eyes on them," Ryosuke said as he watched the black R32 disappear around the first corner and head back down the mountain.