Takumi works part-time at a gas station with Itsuki, along with Iketani, who is a member of the local racing team, the Akina Speed Stars. In the first few episodes, both Itsuki and Iketani think that Takumi is totally ignorant about cars and racing, judging by Takumi's statements on his lack of interest on the subject.

The only one who suspects that Takumi has a great deal of knowledge on cars and racing techniques is the owner of the gas station, Yuuichi, as seen in the episode where Takumi discusses the drifting technique with Iketani and Itsuki. In fact, Takumi has far more experience with downhill racing than Iketani and Itsuki, as Takumi has been driving his father's AE86 Trueno since 5 years ago (in his first year of junior high school), delivering tofu to a hotel at 4 a.m. every day.

Takumi's father, Bunta Fujiwara, is in fact the original legendary driver of an AE86 who holds the record of the fastest time of downhill racing at Akina. Bunta has a unique way of training his son to drive; every morning when Takumi has to go on his tofu delivery route, Bunta will give Takumi a cup of water. The cup of water is placed in the drink holder; Takumi must not spill even a drop of it while he is driving.

Takumi's driving technique is regarded among the best in Akina; the very fact that he has managed to win races against more powerful cars with his AE86 Trueno is testament to his driving skills.

Officially, Takumi is part of no team, but later, Takumi joins Project D, a team aimmed at capturing all the time records in Japan.

Bunta has a unique way of training his son to drive; every morning when Takumi has to go on his tofu delivery route, Bunta will give Takumi a cup of water. The cup of water is placed in the drink holder; Takumi must not spill even a drop of it while he is driving

Since later in the series, Takumi has been using the Trueno more than Bunta has, he gets a new car, an Subaru Impreza WRX Type R Version V. To test his new car, Bunta drove it down Akina, and raced his son who just finished doing his deliveries.

Teams

Iketani Kouichirou

One of Takumi's friends, Iketani works at a local gas station with both Takumi and Itsuki. Itsuki admires him, as Iketani is leader of the local racing team, the Akina Speed Stars. Iketani drives a Nissan S13 Silvia. At first, Iketani thinks that the Speed Stars are the best drivers in Akina but later his boss Yuuichi tells Iketani of the mysterious driver of an AE 86 who was the fastest driver in his time, and that he suspects that the driver is the owner of the local tofu shop.

He is an average racer at best, but he is decently skill enough to be leader of the Speedstars.

Itsuki is Takumi's best friend; he provides the comic relief in the series but quite loud and obnoxious. Itsuki works part-time at a gas station with Takumi and Iketani; Itsuki plans to use the money he earns to buy an AE86 but was tricked into buying a low powered AE85 Levin. With a car, he is a self proclaimed member of the Akina Speedstars.

A member of the Akagi Speed Stars and Iketani's best friend, Kenji drives a Nissan 180 SX. He hangs out at the gas station where Iketani, Takumi and Itsuki from time to time, usually discussing cars and driving techniques with Iketani and Yuuichi. He has respect and admiration for Iketani and Takumi; Iketani since he's the leader of the Speed Stars and Takumi for his driving skills.

Kenji seems to be a decent enough driver; when Iketani wasn't able to race against Keisuke due to his accident and the Speed Stars weren't sure if the AE86 driver was going to show up, it was Kenji who was chosen to race against Keisuke.

Ryosuke Takahashi

One of the more highly skilled drivers in the series; he and his younger brother Keisuke have been featured in racing magazines and is regarded highly by other drivers. Ryousuke drives a Mazda FC3S RX-7 and has never been defeated in a race before until he met Takumi Fujiwara. Ryosuke is very serious about racing; he pores over technical data just like any professional driver and he's one of the few drivers who are just as good at mechanics as well as driving skills.

His only rivial would be Sudou Kyouchi, since they had an arguement about racing theories a long itme ago. Currently, he is studing medicine, and planning to become a doctor. He has only one year of racing left, he estimates, and assembles a new team aimmed to capture all of the records in Japan.

Keisuke is the number two driver of the Red Suns. Keisuke drives a Mazda FD3S RX-7 and is a skilled driver, second only to his brother. Keisuke is a rather hot-headed young man and does not like losing. he joins his brother's new team and has a rivalary with Takumi.

One of the youngest members of the Akagi Red Suns, Kenta absolutely adores Keisuke Takahashi and is always eager to prove himself to Keisuke. Kenta specializes in rain conditions.

Takeshi Nazakazto

Takeshi Nakazato of the Myogi NightKids, who is also known as the Black Lightning, first makes his appearance at the race in Akina where Keisuke Takahashi of the Red Suns is to race against Takumi. Surprised that Takumi, Takeshi decides that he's going to be the one to challenge the 'Akina downhill specialist', and that the Red Suns are next on his list.

He is skilled but his downfall is his throttle control. He is very good at acceleration and is known for his grip drving philosophy. Even since he was beaten by a White Skyline, he has always thought grip driving techniques are faster than the weak drifting techniques.

A member of the Night Kids, Shingo drives a red Civic EG-6. Shingo is a dangerous driver; not because of his driving skills, but because he races dangerously - Shingo will nudge his rival's car in order to make him lose control, or that he will challenge another driver to a 'gum tape death match'-each driver is to have his right hand taped to the steering wheel for the duration of the race. He also has been seen undermining Takeshi's leadership.

Mako Satou and Sayuki

Hailing from Usui, Mako Satou is the driver of the Usui combination; Sayuki is her co-driver/navigator (just like in the WRC). Driving a blue Nissan SilEighty, the duo are the fastest in their hometown and first make their appearance in Akina at Keisuke and Takumi's race.

Sayuki is a cheerful girl and she's always looking for good loooking guys like the Takahashi brothers. As navigator, she gives out instructions to Mako when they're racing (when to brake, what drifting technique to use etc.).

Seiji Iwaki

The Number two driver in the Lancer Evolution-only Emperor team, Seiji Iwaki drives the Lancer Evolution IV. Seiji is a driver with good racing skills, but he is rather arrogant and overconfident. He has won many races driving for Emperor against other teams, including against Takeshi Nakazato of the Night Kids.

After defeating various teams in Gunma, the Emperor team then set their sights on the Akina Speed Stars, aiming to beat the infamous AE86 Trueno. Seiji volunteered to race for the Emperor team in his Evo IV against Takumi's AE86.

From Nikko, Tochigi and rated as one of the best drivers in the series, Kyouchi Sudou is the team leader and driving ace of the Lancer Evolution-only Emperor team, driving a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution III.

An old acquaintance of Ryousuke Takahashi of the Akagi Red Suns, Kyouichi is much like Ryousuke - he is a calm and composed driver, compared to his teammate Seiji. Eager to show Ryousuke that he and his team are the best, Kyouichi and the Emperor team goes on to beat various teams, including the Night Kids. He is also a graduate of the racing school, the Toudou Juku.

Tooru Suetsugu

Driving a red MX-5 Roadster, Tooru is the downhill racer for the S.S.R team. Tooru is also the only driver in the series who actually has a decent relationship; he has a girlfriend called Nao. Nao cares for him very much and she doesn't really approve of him racing. Especially when he's practically broke almost all of the time and borrows money from her often.

From the Tochigi Prefecture, the S.S.R team is the first team to race against Ryousuke's Project D. Tooru is slated to race against Takumi.

Atsuou is the hillclimb racer and the leader of the Tochigi-based S.S.R team. He seems to be a decent enough driver. His car is powered up to 400 hp.

From the Tochigi Prefecture, the S.S.R team is the first team to race against Ryousuke's Project D. Tooru is slated to race against Takumi, while Atsuou is to race against Keisuke.

Daiki Ninomiya

The ace and current student of Toudou-Juku, Daiki is one of better drivers of the series. Driving a yellow Civic EK-9 Type R, Daiki races against Takumi of Project D in a downhill battle. The area of skill he excels in is Braking.

Another driver and current student of Toudou-Juku, Sakai is one of Daiki's friends and drives an Integra Type R. Sakai races against Keisuke of Project D in a hillclimb battle. He uses two techniques to race, first, using high speeds to enter a corner to get the other person to do the same, but Sakai can somehow fix his speed during the turn. The other trick is using fake brake lights. His face tenses up when he is racing to make him look like he is smiling, hence his nickname, Smily Sakai.

Toudou Racing School could not live with their team being completely annihilated by outsiders, so they invited Tachi, a graduate of the school who is now a professional racer, to have a rematch against Project D on Happogahara. Tachi took Ninomiya's EK9 and beat Takumi's downhill record in one try, without pushing the car to the limit. Tachi agreed to use the school's top car, the Demonstration EK9, at Happogahara, which is a course that consists of both downhill and hill climb sections. Tachi tuned the Civic the best he could to be able to compete with the FD3S on the straights, but surprisingly, Ryosuke decided to send out the AE86.