Haruka has had his fair share of struggles on the track, but now he returns for a race on two legs. Yes, you read it right! Episode 5 of Overtake! covers a slice of life of being a race driver. Haruka and Komaki Motors set out to join a marathon race, with the finish line at the Fuji Speedway.

This episode is one of the calm parts of the anime, far from the heavy tone of the previous episode. The drivers decide to join a city marathon event sponsored by the Fuji Speedway. The on-foot event itself resembles more of a slice of life anime.

There is a fair share of goofy comedy, mostly with Kotaro as the butt of the joke. But, there are also some sneak peaks on why the characters in Overtake! the way they are.

A Goofy Marathon And Grandma’s Instinct

The marathon is organized by the Oyama Town Committee. Interestingly, town-organized marathons are a common festive in Japan. Some of these marathons can be such a big event like the Tokyo Marathon, which has its own foundation. Gotta love Japan and their efforts to promote a healthy life.

The drivers in Overtake! are invited to join the Oyama marathon. Not only that, team members are also welcomed in the event. Mr. Komaki was ecstatic to join, if only he didn’t turn up with a sprained ankle. So, Kotaro has to step up in his father’s place.

Kotaro must have felt a bit miserable in this marathon. First of all, he can barely keep up with the rest. He stumbles and trips over pebbles on the road. On top of that, Mr. Kotaro, his dad, makes his debut as a marathon commentator. If being out of breath is not enough, well how about a good old condescending dad’s humor to motivate you. Poor guy, feels bad man.

The one time Kotaro finally has a chance to take a break is when he spots a resting post. He probably expects some cold water or a Japanese version of Gatorade. But no, remember that this marathon is organized by the town committee. So, all the drinks are hot tea, and all the food are homemade meals. Although, it is very sweet of these grandma and grandpa, they are not something you want to consume during a heavy exercise.

True To Life, Drivers Have To Be Physically Fit

Unlike Kotaro, the three main drivers in Overtake! are physically supreme. Haruka is a newspaper delivery boy on his side-hustle. So, he is used to pedaling a bike for a long distance. Toshiki was in a moving company once, while Satsuki is solely fueled by his enthusiasm.

In real life, a formula driver must be in peak physical condition. At the first glance, racing inside a million dollars car might not seems exhausting. After all, you only need to steer that wheel and hit the gas and brake pedals at the right time, right? That couldn’t be farther than the truth. Formula racing is one of, if not the most, physically demanding sport.

Building the ultimate physical form for a formula driver can be tricky. On one hand they must maintain enough muscle mass to sustain G-force tolerance. Mind you, F1 cars can go more than 200 mph, and the G-force can go up to 6G in certain turns.

On the other hand, they have to stay lean because their bodyweight affect the total weight with their car, and being too heavy is a disadvantage in any race. To put it into a better perspective, take the words of Alpine’s driver, Pierre Gasly, on how he prepares his physique as an F1 racer.

A Nod To James Hunt And Niki Lauda

When the three drivers are running together, Satsuki mentions his inspiration in formula racing, James Hunt. To him, James Hunt is the reason he keeps his upbeat and cheerful personality. The reasoning behind it specifically is James Hunt’s win in 1976 German Grand Prix. Hunt was chased by his rival, Niki Lauda. However, the combination of bad weather, intense competition, and the sub-par safety measures in the 70s caused Niki Lauda to suffer a horrific crash.

Satsuki believes that Hunt was favored by the goddess of fortune. He believes Hunt’s positive attitude brings a good luck. And, luck is a part of strength in racing too. That’s why in every scene that Satsuki is in, he always seems to keep up a fun personality.

That being said, it feels like a bit of foreshadowing of what could happen in the future. Usually, a cheerful character in anime won’t always stay that way. Or, there could be an underlying reason that makes Satsuki always put on a smile. So far, his character hasn’t got a deep backstory in the anime.

Like A Marathon, Ovetake! Is In For The Long Haul

Although Overtake! is a racing anime, it doesn’t leave its story and characters behind. The team behind this anime seems to fully understand that the action can’t constantly be the main point. The plot, backstory and character development are equally important. And, Overtake! seems to grasp a perfect balance between these elements.

The hype behind this anime might also come from Japan’s F1 racer, Yuki Tsunoda. The young talent is now driving for the AlphaTauri team, the same team he debuted in F1 racing back in 2021. Tsunoda had an amazing record before he joined F1. In 2020, he finished third in the Formula 2 championship, taking three wins, four pole positions, and four podiums.

In the 2023, Yuki Tsunoda is the only Japanese F1 driver. Although his ranking is not looking so great (he ranks 16th by the time this post is written), there is no doubt that the young Tsunoda has the potential, skills, and time to be a top driver. It wouldn’t be a surprise that the story of Overtake! is partly inspired by Tsunoda’s journey in formula racing. After all, both Haruka and Tsunoda are perfect candidates for an underdog story.