Following from the last season of the IGPX (international grand prix) racing circuit - in which two teams of three mechs race to the finish line, but can and inevitably do fall back on combat - the winning team, rookies Team Satomi, are enjoying their new-found fame.

After triumphing against Team Velshtein in the championships of the last season, Takashi (the hero and forward during Team Satomi’s races), Liz (a self-motivated martial arts fan, as well as the team’s defender) and Amy (the mild-mannered mid-fielder) appear and feel at the top of their game. Even the previously unknown Team White Snow, who become Satomi’s most prominent rivals, appear to be fans of the current champions.

It soon comes to light that tensions exist within the team, however, as Liz begins questioning whether they won through skill or sheer luck, with her own simulations producing uninspiring results. By the end of their first race in the new season, Team Satomi only just manages to save face by winning against a supposedly inferior team, but even this leaves there mechs and pride badly damaged, with pressure mounting against them.

Struggling to repair the mechs and their spirits in time for the next race against the two-faced Team White Snow, their efforts amount to little when their rivals, having spied on Satomi’s training sessions, not only undermine their tactics, but rely on illegal technology to win the race. Seizing control of Satomi’s mechs, and injuring Amy, Team White Snow then feign concern for her in front of the press, to the anger of Liz and Takashi.

With the rifts that marred the last two races now apparently gone, Team Satomi are then ailed by the need for a third pilot. Fortunately, Team Satomi’s coach, and former champion Andrei (‘The Rocket’) fills this position. Unfortunately, he’s out of practise, more than fills the uniform, and is soon uncovered as the legendary ex-pilot, bringing down the weight of great expectations on his shoulders. The next will rest on how well Andrei can fill in for Amy against last years runner-ups, Team Velshtein.

IGPX still reminds me of watching Beyblade, with its fictional sport that has taken the world by storm, similar characters and the same kind of philosophy on life (be ambitious, but not selfish, work hard and show good sportsmanship). If that’s your kind of anime, then IGPX is a slightly more grown up version of the same kind of story. Not original, but you’ll probably enjoy following the characters, who have a greater personal dimension in this volume than the last. The animation remains consistently good, like the voice acting and pacing, but the characters and the sport are what will ultimately test your relationship with the series.

In Summary

There’s little to complain about really. Like enjoying fictional sports? Like watching the ups and downs of a fairly rounded cast of characters? Like your main character’s opponents strangely evil? Then this could be the series for you.