After two consecutive episodes without high velocity actions. Finally, the anime Overtake! once again delivers an adrenaline pumping F4 race.

Before that, in this episode, both Koya and Haruka get a character development. To say that this anime is realistic is spot on, including in the way people deals with past trauma. There are no exaggerated shonen protagonist moments here. It feels like everyone would react the same way if they went through what Koya and Haruka do.

Aside from that, It seems like the way Satsuki Harunaga talks about Niki Lauda’s incident in the 5th episode is a foreshadowing. What happens to him in this episode is an expected possibility for anyone in motorsport. But, it can’t be dismissed as a usual thing, and it shouldn’t be. First, let’s talk about the race, at the Suzuka circuit this time.

The Race At Suzuka Circuit

The race begins with a preliminary round at Suzuka circuit. Haruka has outdone himself with a new performance record. The Belsorisso duo is also fired up and ready to take on any challenge.

However, no matter how much calculation a team can do, no matter how enthusiastic a driver can be, eventually, mother nature has the final say. The unpredictable weather is impending the race. And it turns for worse.

The Horror Of A Race, The Unpredictable Sky

Now, into the technical and strategic talks in motorsport. In any race, weather condition is a factor that is an absolute must to keep an eye on. Formula racing is not a stranger to how nature works either. In fact, weather forecasting is one of their core factor in determining strategies and safety measures for races, especially when heavy rain pours down.

The issue that comes down with rain is that the track will be a whole lot harder to navigate. There is decreased grip, so cars have to use wet or rain-purposed tires. Also, the biggest problem of them all is visibility problem. The spray from the car ahead can effectively blinds the drivers behind.

This is exactly what happens in Overtake! episode 6. The teams are betting on the unpredictable rain. Initially, both Belsorisso and Komaki Motors were sure the rain would eventually stop. So, they put on slick tires to anticipate a drying track. Although the rain subsides for a moment, it quickly turns back to raining buckets even more from before.

Retiring Is A Wise Decision

Aware of the condition of the track, Haruka is contemplating whether or not to continue the race. He is at his peak condition it seems, and it feels like a waste to throw a good opportunity. Even with his slick tires, the other cars is having the same problems with the rain. So, his chance to score big points isn’t completely gone.

However, Haruka quickly gets a reality check. The rain is pouring heavy and the track is wetter than a car wash on a busy day. His car suddenly skids and he drops behind on the process. Luckily, Haruka decides to retire out of the race.

What happened to Haruka could be worse considering how his father died. When it is raining on a race, how the car behaves is also affected. So, the car performance spikes down while the safety concern spikes up. Sometimes, it is best to play it safe rather than risking it all for one single race.

The Worst Happens, A T-Bone Crash

Even though Haruka is out of the race, the Belsorisso drivers are still eager to put out their best. Both of them are using slick tires, which is a bit questionable considering they can go with a different strategy. Later on, what Koya and Komaki Motors feared happens to Satsuki. In an attempt to take a corner while overtaking a car, he crashes into another car.

As if one crash is not enough, another car hits him right from the middle of his side, possibly due to low visibility. Any motorsport fan and racer wouldn’t even wish their enemy getting T-boned like this. However, safety measures does increase the car and the driver’s survivability.

A T-bone crash is always a nightmare to witness, such as the crash involving Formula E racer, Sam Bird, earlier this July. Getting hit by a car running at a high speed, perpendicular on top of that, is a gamble on life. Even more so, F4 cars don’t have the halo which is mandatory in F1.

Important Character Developments In Episode 6

As exciting and stressful the race is, Overtake! doesn’t forget about the character’s stories. How Haruka deals with retiring out of the race can be either a callback to a real event in the mid-70s, or a foreshadowing on what future episode will reveal.

Also, there is a neat inclusion of Koya’s past this time. It seems like the anime is further and further revealing how harsh his trauma is. The scene where he gets a flashback might be the most chilling scene so far. It is so messed up it might be comparable to seeing a psychological horror.

A Healthy Rivalry In Belsorisso’s Garage

Belsorriso has two drivers, Satsuki Harunaga as their first driver and Toshiki Tokumaru as their second driver. Having two drivers at the same team is part of common strategies in racing, especially to achieve the constructor championship title. If something happens to the first driver, the team will still have the second.

However, sometimes the title second driver can incite a drama within a team. A first driver is the one who usually gets priority from his team. So, it is rather expected from Toshiki as the second driver to be riled up and having a big ambition.

However, it seems like the two are on a good term. Toshiki understands his role, but without leaving his own aspiration to outperform Satsuki. It’s nice to see a friendship where they don’t abandon a sense of competition. These two reminds of the rivalry between Gun Koma and Hideyoshi Hijiri in Bari Bari Densetsu.

It Is Good To Know Haruka Goes For The Long Run

Haruka and Koya initially argued on what tires to use considering the weather. Koya insisted Haruka should go with wet tires, while Haruka has his eyes on the slicks. In racing, the tire compound is also a matter of winning or losing, and sometimes a matter of life and death.

It is good to see Haruka eventually takes a sensible action by retiring from the race. The anime doesn’t shy away from real dangers that drivers face in every race by showing Satsuki’s accident. It was a relief seeing Satsuki regains consciousness. His accident could’ve turned way worse like the crash that unfortunately happened to a young talented racer, Dilano van’t Hoff.

Formula racing and heavy rain have a plethora of history. From stories about winning in extreme weather, to tragic accidents that people wish never happened. However, the level-headedness of drivers who recognizes the danger is also worthy of praise. Take Niki Lauda in 1976, for example. It takes another kind of bravery to give up a championship title and knowing when danger is imminent.

Koya’s Trauma Is Messed Up And Incredibly Harrowing!

Speaking of bravery, what Koya had gone through would be too daunting for people to be functional. In this episode, Koya watches the race as a part of his job of being a photographer. He watches and takes photos from the press exclusive area.

He is there the moment Satsuki’s crash happens. Seeing Satsuki’s terrified eyes reminds him of what he saw years ago. Koya’s past trauma involves witnessing victims of a tsunami, which is horrible on its own. Even more so, from the flashback that is shown, Koya saw a little girl who was probably about to get wiped by the waves. And as a photographer, he had to take photos of her.

Journalists are in a risk of being exposed by traumatic events as part of the job. This topic is widely studied, such as in the case of journalists who covered Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, and those who reported on Haiti earthquake in 2010. UNESCO recognizes this issue and doesn’t downplay it even for a bit.

So, Koya’s problem is a bleak and a very real one, almost unimaginable unless you experience it yourself. The horror of witnessing someone’s death in such a horrible way must be incomparable. Let alone, in a tsunami, who knows how many other people that Koya witnessed dying but are not mentioned in the anime.

Aside from the realism in F4 racing, Overtake! unexpectedly brings awareness to dangerous professions, which also involves traumatic events. Koya’s flashback scene is extremely harrowing, perhaps even more so than some horror stories. As an audience, the scene is enough to send shivers. Tp think that the feeling coming from watching Koya’s flashback is only a fraction of how he actually feels is a scary thought by itself.