Chasing Initial D: My First Day on Mt. Akina with Drivers Lounge
Updated: Oct 10
There are bucket-list drives, and then there is Mount Haruna. Day 1 of the Drivers Lounge Gunma Tour put me on the same damp, technical hairpins where Initial D was born, the real-life Mt. Akina, with three very different JDM machines to take up the mountain.
A 33-Year Dream
Driving these passes in cars that were bred for these exact roads felt like a 33-year dream finally coming true. It's a long way from my first Civic DX!
The Lineup
Mazda RX-7 FD3S: a reinforced, race-spec rotary. When the sequential twin turbos kick in, it feels like a fighter jet launching up the touge.
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI: pure rally pedigree. The mechanical AWD grip kept it glued to the tarmac, even in the wet Gunma weather.
Suzuki Alto Works: the biggest surprise of the trip. Tuned by Monster Sport to 100 hp, this little kei car is unbelievably nimble through the tightest corners.
Three Cars, One Mountain
What made the day special was feeling how differently a rotary, a rally-bred AWD sedan and a featherweight kei car attack the same set of hairpins. Each one rewarded a completely different driving style.
Final Thoughts
If you've ever watched Initial D and wondered what Akina is really like, it's even better in person. Huge thanks to the Drivers Lounge team for making the whole day happen.
Which one would you take up Mt. Akina: the FD, the Evo VI or the Alto Works? Let me know in the comments!
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