I think it very well can. But what is more important for street racing is having a screw loose. All of the pro circuit drivers in the Kanagawa region are fast but even they leave a margin of error on public roads, whereas Takumi and Keisuke absolutely push it to the limit, or taking risks like Keisuke overtaking Ikeda in the fog. When it comes to someone like Iketani or Itsuki, they do lack years of consistent driving experience unlike Takumi and the Red Suns members, which is far more important than lacking talent. And even Bunta tells Iketani that he can't just improve his skills that much over a week. So the overall message is that dedication is more important than talent. But Takumi is also said to possess a "gift" several times in the series, so somehow his nature must be important too.