With the checkered flag on the horizon and a bitter rival in close pursuit, a brash driver puts the pedal to the metal as they seek ultimate glory. The best racing anime are absolute thrill rides defined by breathtaking action, larger-than-life characters, and cool cars. While not producing all that many series, particularly over the last few years, this genre has some true classics under its belt, delivering stories that hold eternal nostalgic value or are just plain old timeless.
Best Sports Anime Of All Time
Be it baseball, basketball, or boxing, the best sports anime deliver suspense, drama, action, and comedy.
Car racing anime tend to fall under the shonen banner, meaning they often focus on young underdog characters who are taking their first steps into the competitive world of driving. The theme often shares similarities with conventional sports shows, and fans of the latter are likely to enjoy them. Let's take a look at the greatest racing anime of all time.
Updated January 27, 2026 by Mark Sammut: The Winter 2026 season is airing the third season of MF Ghost, and racing fans should cherish it as who knows when we will get another entry in the genre.
I've added Uma Musume: Cinderella Gray as a special mention at the end of the article, along with Highspeed Etoile.
18 Highspeed Etoile
MyAnimeList: 6.14
Highspeed Etoile
- Release Date
- 2024 - 2024
- Studio
- Studio A-CAT
- Number of Episodes
- 12
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
This anime's inclusion in this article speaks to the simple fact that car racing series have become extremely rare in the last decade. Highspeed Etoile is not good by any stretch of the imagination, but its mere existence justifies a mention, as it could be mildly entertaining if you are looking for a "so bad, it's kind of good" type anime. Focusing on futuristic racing, which is essentially Formula One + things like AI, the story revolves around Rin, a girl who is a racing prodigy despite being a complete novice. Almost in spite of herself, she ends up as the main driver of a competitive team, and she gradually goes from a nobody to a contender.
Highspeed Etoile could be fun, but it is let down by lackluster CG animation and paper-thin characters. Rin is a prime example, as she has almost no depth and her success stems from an innate gift rather than hard work. Still, if you are looking for a kind of F1 anime racing show, you could eventually watch Highspeed Etoile, as long as you watch everything else before it.
17 Speed Racer X
MyAnimeList: 6.28
Speed Racer X
- Release Date
- January 9, 1997
- Japanese Title
- Mach GoGoGo
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Tatsuo Yoshida
- Number of Episodes
- 34
Outside of Japan, most people's first exposure to Speed Racer was likely the 2008 movie, one of the more divisive anime adaptations. The original series is iconic and influential, but it is not the easiest show to revisit in this day and age; alternatively, there is always the 1997 reboot. At the bare minimum, its animation has aged slightly better than its more decorated predecessor.
Speed Racer X was a failed attempt to revive the franchise, to the point that a 52-episode run was cut short to only 34. The series struggled to find an identity, opting to chase trends that were common during the '90s. Some fun can still be had for those who like a bit of cheese, but otherwise, this show should only be watched by completionists.
16 eX-Driver
MyAnimeList: 6.67
eX-Driver
- Release Date
- July 25, 2000
- Studio
- Actas
- Number of Episodes
- 6
- Streaming Service(s)
- Tubi
In the span of two years, eX-Driver released six OVAs, a single prequel OVA episode, and a movie in 2002. The anime takes place in a future where humans have forgotten how to drive since every vehicle is controlled by A.I. The only exceptions are the eponymous "eX-Drivers," and these people are tasked with stopping rogue A.I. When things go haywire.
EX-Driver is a dumb show that takes itself a bit too seriously at times. However, the driving sequences are generally great, particularly in the movie. While it is not that easy to care about the characters, the show gets its action right, even if they aren't technically taking part in races.
15 Lupin III: Is Lupin Still Burning? (2018)
MyAnimeList: 6.93
Lupin the 3rd
- Release Date
- October 24, 1971
- Studio
- Tokyo Movie Shinsha, Telecom Animation Film
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Monkey Punch
Lupin the Third has been around for half a century, and the anime has been shockingly consistent. The late 2010s was a particularly strong era for the legendary thief, with Lupin the Third Part 5 being generally regarded as the best entry in the series. Right in the middle of that run, the anime dropped a special episode to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the manga, which debuted in 1967. Is Lupin Still Burning? Does its own thing, serving as a celebration of the franchise's impressive history. Consequently, this OVA is designed solely with die-hard fans in mind, so any newcomers or people who have only caught a handful of episodes will likely not get much out of this 30-minute trip.
50 Years Of Lupin: Breaking Down The Iconic Franchise
The Lupin III anime recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. Take a look at the history behind this long-running juggernaut franchise.
Starting as a remake of the very first Lupin the Third caper, Lupin finds himself invited to take part in a race, which he accepts despite being fully aware that it is a trap. From there, Is Lupin Still Burning? Says goodbye to any form of logic and transforms into a time-jumping extravaganza that revisits some of the character's most iconic episodes. Ultimately, the race aspect is a fairly small footnote, but the episode is still fun.
14 Tailenders
MyAnimeList: 6.70
Clocking in at less than 30 minutes, Tailenders moves by at an absolutely blistering pace, and the movie manages to accomplish quite a lot despite its short runtime. Set in a world ravaged by Earthquakes, two rivals compete in races to try and match the record set by Loser King, a racer who vanished approximately a hundred years prior to the story's events. After one race leaves Tomoe Shiro on the verge of death, a woman shows up to make him an offer he cannot refuse.
While its animation cannot compare to something like Redline, Tailenders is nevertheless a treat for the eyes, courtesy of its flashy and vibrant visuals. The story doesn't have the time to fully flesh out its ideas, but it sprinkles in enough surprises to keep things interesting. This movie is mostly style but there is a hint of substance.
13 Future GPX Cyber Formula
MyAnimeList: 7.43 (TV Series)
As Sunrise's Future GPX Cyber Formula has been largely forgotten, it might be surprising to learn that this series was active for roughly a decade, producing four ova sequels to the main show. The franchise even has a 2018 video game. When revisiting this car anime, its success becomes quite understandable – this is a pretty entertaining watch that benefits from Sunrise's solid animation and pacing.
In this universe, cars are largely automated, although the anime's central cyber system needs to be navigated by a human partner. Packed with intense races that go to some wild places, Future GPX Cyber Formula is a blast from the past that holds up shockingly well.
12 Speed Racer
MyAnimeList: 6.68
Speed Racer
- Release Date
- 1967 - 1968-00-00
- Showrunner
- Tatsuo Yoshida
- Directors
- Hiroshi Sasagawa, Peter Fernandez
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
The original Speed Racer from the '60s may have had some issues with recycling animation a bit too much and being a bit cheesy, but it's still fondly remembered. Its iconic opening theme is still stuck in the heads of many viewers to this day. The classic anime inspired 1997's Speed Racer X, a live-action movie, and even a spinoff focused on girls called Mach Girl.
Speed Racer is one of those shows that is difficult to place in this day and age. Except for Initial D, it is the most well-known and, arguably, influential racing anime of all time, and its reach extends far beyond most shows that lean into this theme. However, the anime has just not aged particularly well, making it almost impossible to recommend to most people.
11 Bakusou Kyoudai Let's & Go
MyAnimeList: 6.86 (Season 1)
Bakusou Kyoudai Let's & Go
- Release Date
- January 8, 1996
- Studio
- Xebec
- Number of Episodes
- 153
Not all racing shows have to have big suped-up cars! Bakusou Kyoudai Let's & Go is the perfect show for anyone who loved remote-controlled racing cars as a kid. Retsu and Go's racing adventures spanned more than 100 episodes across two seasons and even inspired a movie. The show was successful enough to spawn a third season focusing on new characters.
Best Anime From The 90s
The 1990s were a great time for anime, and several series from the era remain popular today. Here are the best anime from that decade.
Bakusou Kyoudai Let's & Go can be difficult to recommend since it primarily works as a gateway anime for children, but it is hardly accessible enough to fulfill that role. Still, the show is charming in its own right. It's an enjoyable '90s release for fans to dig into if they want something longer to watch.
10 RideBack
MyAnimeList: 7.25
RideBack
- Release Date
- 2009 - 2009-00-00
- Network
- AT-X, Tokyo MX, Chiba TV, Teletama, tvk
- Streaming Service(s)
Madhouse's RideBack is difficult to classify due to the story having two distinct halves that do not 100% combine to create a really satisfying whole. Set in a future with fairly advanced robotics and an overwhelming organization known as the GGP, RideBack starts as a heartwarming tale about persevering in the face of tragedy. A talented ballerina, Rin's dream is taken away following a significant leg injury, causing her to go into a depressive state as she struggles to find a goal that can push her forward. However, one day, she stumbles upon the RideBack invention, which is basically a cross between a motorbike and a robot. Along with greatly enhancing her mobility, the technology propels Rin into the world of motorsport, igniting a flame that she feared had gone out permanently.
RideBack is arguably at its best when focusing on Rin's newfound passion, telling a sweet story that combines character development and fun races. However, the anime is also part of the cyberpunk genre, resulting in the introduction of a more political angle that can be quite jarring compared to the story's early chapters. That's not to say RideBack falls off a cliff in terms of quality, as it is good throughout, but this shift complicates what was initially shaping up to be a simple but effective storyline.
9 Pui Pui Molcar
MyAnimeList: 8.01
Pui Pui Molcar
- Release Date
- January 5, 2021
- Studio
- Shin-Ei Animation
- Number of Episodes
- 24
- Streaming Service(s)
- Netflix
Pui Pui Molcar is one of the most highly reviewed children's shows from Japan of all time. While it might not pack in the heart-racing action that other shows about cars might, its adorable guinea pig cars are undeniably kawaii.
Best Anime on Crunchyroll to Watch Right Now
Crunchyroll’s anime lineup grows constantly. This guide highlights the best series to watch right now in 2026.
The show originally gained popularity as a bit of a meme but has become loved by fans as an iyashikei anime — a show meant to have a healing effect on the soul. At only 2 minutes an episode, it's the perfect show to relax to and binge in a single day.