21+ Best Racing & Cars Anime!

Updated October 7, 2022 by Ernie

I bet you guys have watched the famous animated movie Cars, right? But, that movie is not considered anime. Sooo, we’ll be looking at some racing or cars anime on this list. 

I should mention some technicalities before we start. Racing anime are not limited to cars only. You’ll see some shows related to other vehicles including skateboards and bikes. Secondly, there aren’t many racing anime out there. The anime industry is yet to explore this exquisite genre. So, most of the shows on this list are from the 90s. 

There are a few new ones, and of course, we’ll talk about them as well. Without any further ado, let’s start the list. You should also take a look at this 85+ Best Manga Of All Time! (Recommendations)

 

BEST RACING ANIME

 

22-Hyper Speed Transforming Gyrozetter

Information
Title	Hyper Speed Transforming Gyrozetter
Genre	Action, Mecha, Racing, Shounen
Type	TV
Studio	A-1 Pictures
Premiered	2012
Episode Count	51
Duration	25 min

Now, this is one longggg title. I think you can already guess from the title that this anime is about Mecha, right? No? I guess I’ll have to explain everything.

The plot of this anime revolves around transforming cars. The world has evolved a lot and now we have AI cars all around. However, to drive these cars, you have to attend a driving school. Even children are taught how to drive these cars. Lol!

This is where the fun begins. Our MC, Kakeru Todoroki, was chosen to drive a special car that can turn into mecha, known as Gyrozetter. For what purpose? Well! He will fight for the safety of humanity. 

The animation of this show is also pretty decent. You will defo enjoy it.

 

21-Two Car

Information
Title	Two Car
Genre	Racing
Type	TV
Studio	SILVER LINK
Premiered	2017
Episode Count	12
Duration	23 min

Two Car is the next anime on the list. This anime is unlike your typical racing anime. In this show, we follow the story of two girls named Yuri and Megumi. Both of them are sidecar racers participating in a racing event representing their high school. 

Well! This sport is not that popular, so why are they participating? The main reason is that they want to see their teacher who taught them racing. If they win this tournament, they will be able to participate in a prestigious event that’ll take place in England. 

And there is another thing….. Both of them are in love with their teacher. Hmmmm! This makes things interesting, right? For some people, this thing kills the vibe of the show. But, for some, this makes the anime even more interesting. The animation is really exquisite.

 

20- The Racing Brothers  Let’s and Go

Information
Title	Bakusou Kyoudai Let’s and Go
Genre	Adventure, Racing
Type	TV
Studio	Xebec
Premiered	1996
Episode Count	51
Duration	25 min

This show is unlike other traditional car racing anime. You won’t see original cars in this one. I’ll assume that you guys have watched Beyblade and Bakugan, right? Well! This anime is pretty similar to them. 

It features the story of two brothers, Go Seiba and Retsu. I’ll tell you a bit about the world in which our MCs live. Like Beyblade, there are special tournaments held for mini cars. Retsu and Seiba received special mini cars named “Mini 4WD”. This marked the beginning of their adventure. From collecting parts for their cars and participating in different tournaments, our MCs face a lot of difficulties.

Well! The anime mainly targets younger audiences. Most of y’all might not enjoy it. The animation is also not that great. Still. It is an enjoyable watch.

 

19-Speed Racer

Information
Title	Speed Racer
Genre	Action, Adventure, Racing
Type	TV
Studio	–
Premiered	1967
Episode Count	52
Duration	–

Speed Racer is one of the oldest anime out there. This amazing show aired back in 1967 and has over 50 episodes. 

Gou Mifune is the protagonist of the show. His father is a genius mechanic who built the world’s fastest car, Mach 5. Gou has a huge dream. His goal is to become the world’s greatest racer. However, his father is not too fond of his ambition. He doesn’t want his son to become a racer. Why? Well! I won’t tell ya why.why..

Being the protagonist, Gou won’t give up on his dream. He somehow managed to get into the racing industry. Soon, he realizes that it is not that easy to become a racer. He’ll face a lot of challenges. The animation of this show is not great. Well! It makes sense as it aired back in 1967. Still, it is an inspiration for a lot of racing anime.

 

18-Ex-Driver

Information
Title	Ex-Driver
Genre	Actio. Adventure, Racing, Comedy
Type	OVA
Studio	Actas
Premiered	2000
Episode Count	6
Duration	25 min

As I’ve already mentioned, most of the anime on this list are pretty old. This gem was released back in 2001 and 2002. It comprises 6 OVAs, a prequel OVA, and a movie. This show is not really about racing. 

It features the story of Ex-Drivers. Who are ex-drivers? Well! This anime is based in the future where everything is controlled by AIs. Ex-drivers are one of the few humans who can drive. They have a crucial task to ensure transportation safety and stop malfunctioning robots. 

The plot is not that special. Still, the show manages to make it really interesting. If you’re a fan of OG racing/car anime, then this one is a must-watch. You just cannot miss it.

 

17-F-Zero: GP Legend

Information
Title	F-Zero Falcon Densetsu
Genre	Action, Adventure, Mecha, Racing
Type	TV
Studio	Production Reed
Premiered	2003
Episode Count	51
Duration	23 min

Next anime to feature on this list is based on a famous game F-Zero: GP Legend. Fans have been waiting eagerly for the sequel of this game. However, it has been quite some time and gamers have lost all hope. 

But, we still have an anime based on the game! But, we still have an anime based on the game! This anime follows the story of Captain Falcon, who is a racer. This anime shows his life and how he participated in many races, and how many he won. The storyline of this anime is just really good!

This anime also shows the daily life of Captain Falcon in a way that makes it interesting for viewers to watch.

This anime aired back in 2003, so the animation is a bit lacking. It has over 50 episodes and is a great watch if you’re looking for some action-packed racing anime.

 

16-What’s up Mechadoc

Information
Title	Yoroshiku Mechadoc
Genre	Action, Comedy, Detective, Racing
Type	TV
Studio	Tatsunoko Production
Premiered	1984
Episode Count	30
Duration	23 min

This show is one of the most realistic shows I’ve ever watched. This amazing show aired back in the 1980s. It is criminally underrated in my opinion. Well! The main reason here is that it was only dubbed in Italian. Yes! You read that right! It was never dubbed in English, which made it harder for it to reach an audience outside Japan.

I won’t spoil the show for y’all. But, I’ll tell you a bit about the perks of this show. The cars featured in this show are all based on real cars, meaning that there aren’t any fake designs. All of these cars were running back in the 1980s. Even the sound of their engines was recorded to use in the show.

Interesting, right? This show is a must-watch in my opinion. You should defo give it a shot. I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.

 

15-Oban Star-Racers

Information
Title	Oban Star-Racers
Genre	Action, Adventure, Mecha, Racing
Type	TV
Studio	Hal Film Maker
Premiered	2006
Episode Count	26
Duration	25 min

Next anime to feature on this list is Oban Star-Racers. This anime is about a girl named Eva. She lives in a boarding school away from his father. Her father really loves her, however, for quite some time, her father hasn’t contacted her. This made Eva anxious. Soooo, she sneaked out of her school with her Rocket Bike and somehow managed to infiltrate the team representing Earth in an intergalactic race.

Well! This is getting interesting. You might be wondering, what is in it for Eva? The thing here is that the winner gets to make any wish and it will be fulfilled– Eva wants to meet her father. 

The plot is really interesting, and of course, there are some twists as well. You will surely love this show.

 

14-Super Grand Prix

Information
Title	Arrow Emblem Grand Prix no Taka
Genre	Drama, Racing
Type	TV
Studio	Toei Animation
Premiered	1977
Episode Count	44
Duration	24 min

First anime on this list is Super Grand Prix. This show aired back in the 1970s. So, the animation is not that great. However, the plot is really something else. 

This show features the story of an F1 racer Takaya. He got into an accident while driving. Damnnn, he must be gravely injured, right? However, much to his surprise, he was absolutely fine. There was not even a single scratch.

After that, he was approached by a strange man. This strange man offered him to join his racing team. He was also provided with a new prototype vehicle. Takaya picked up on his offer and joined the team.

This anime has a special place in my heart as some of the characters are based on real-life F1 racing legends like James Hunt and Mario Andretti. It is a must-watch in my opinion.

13-Nasu: Summer in Andalusia

Information
Title	Nasu: Andalusia no Natsu
Genre	Action, Sports
Type	Movie
Studio	Madhouse
Premiered	2003
Episode Count	1
Duration	46 min

Nasu: Summer in Andalusia is a cycling anime. Pepe is the MC of this show. He decided to pursue cycling after his ex-girlfriend decided to marry his brother. However, his career didn’t turn out as he wanted it to. 

He had a minor role. All he had to do was to make sure that the lead cyclist of his team wins the race. Now, this is where the fun begins. In the next race, he had to cross his hometown. The very same day his brother was getting married. Kinda frustrating, right?

Seeing this, he decided to abandon his role and win the championship. Can he do it? I’m not very sure.

12-F (Formula-1 -Engines on the Track)

Information
Title	F
Genre	Racing, Shounen
Type	TV
Studio	Studio Deen
Premiered	1988
Episode Count	31
Duration	25 min

Next anime to feature on this list is F (Formula-1- Engines on the Track). Now, this is a pretty long title, lol!

F features the story of a countryside teenager named Gunma Akagi. Gunma is the son of a famous politician. However, he is totally different from his father. He is considered a punk. He also owns a turbocharged tractor, running it around the village.

One day, he was driving on the highway as a car crossed him. He got furious and took it as a challenge and tried to outrace it. I think you can guess what happens next, right? He lost and decided to find this mysterious driver to defeat him.

This marks the beginning of his journey as he aspires to become a formula-1 racer. This show is a must-watch if you are into racing anime.

 

11-Kandagawa Jet Girls

Information
Title	Kandagawa Jet Girls
Genre	Racing
Type	TV
Studio	TNK
Premiered	2019
Episode Count	12
Duration	23 min

Kandagawa Jet Girls is the next anime to feature on this list. As you can already see from the title that this show is about Jet Skis. This anime is relatively new as it aired in 2020.

 The plot revolves around a teenage girl named Rin Namiki. Rin has a huge dream. She wants to become a pro Jet Ski racer. Why? Well! Her mother was a well-known pro, so she wants to follow in her footsteps. However, it is not an easy dream. Most schools don’t have a Jet Ski club and of course, the school she joined didn’t have one.

Still, this doesn’t affect her ambition much. She decides to make a club of her own with the help of Misa Aoi and other students. Will she be able to achieve her goal?

 

10-Rideback

Information
Title	Rideback
Genre	Action, Drama, Mecha, School
Type	TV
Studio	Madhouse
Premiered	2009
Episode Count	12
Duration	24 min

Rideback is the next anime to feature on this list. This anime is unlike your typical racing anime. It features the story of ballet dancer Rin. She lives in a world controlled by an evil organization named GGP. 

Rin’s ballet career was not that smooth as she had to quit after an injury. However, in her college years, she found a new hobby. She managed to discover a mysterious robotic bike called Rideback. Due to her flexibility, she immediately got the hang of it. 

Now, this is where things get interesting. Rin somehow got involved with GGP. I won’t spoil the story any further. You gotta watch it yourself.

 

09-Yowamushi Pedal: Spare Bike

Information
Title	Yowamushi Pedal: Spare Bike
Genre	Sports
Type	TV
Studio	TMS Entertainment
Premiered	2016
Episode Count	1
Duration	1 Hour

This anime is unlike others on the list. It is one of the few anime I genuinely enjoyed and binged in a day. I seriously don’t want to spoil it to y’all, so we’ll keep the spoilers to a minimum. I’ll just explain the basic plot.

This anime basically follows the story of some teenagers in their third year of high school. All of them have different goals. But, one thing is common here, they love CYCLING!! We follow their backstories when they first got into cycling. 

This show can get really cute at times. You’ll deffo enjoy it!! The animation is also pretty great as well. 

 

08-Future GPX Cyber Formula

Information
Title	Future GPX Cyber Formula
Genre	Aventure, Racing, Sci-Fi
Type	TV
Studio	Sunrise
Premiered	1991
Episode Count	37
Duration	24 min

Future GPX Cyber Formula is one of the most popular racing anime out there. This anime aired back in 1991. Besides the TV series, this show has 4 OVAs as well. It even got a video game adaptation in 2018.

Kazami Hayato is the protagonist of the show. Kazami is considered a genius as he is the youngest driver to participate in the Grand Prix. As you can see from the title, this show is based in the future. The cars are automated, however, they still require the assistance of a human. 

I won’t spoil the story any further as it’ll ruin the experience for you. Like other protagonists. Kazami is not perfect. He has to learn a lot of new things to become the champion. Well! The animation is not that great, still, it is an enjoyable show.

 

07-Wangan Midnight

Information
Title	Wangan Midnight
Genre	Action, Racing, Seinen
Type	TV
Studio	A.C.G.T
Premiered	2007
Episode Count	26
Duration	25 min

Wangan Midnight is one of the most popular racing shows out there. This anime is named after a real road in Japan named Wangan. Wangan basically means Bayside. This road is known as the straightest road in Japan. So yeah! Action-packed races are pretty common there.

This anime features the story of a high schooler named Akio Asakura. Akio used to own a Fairlady Z (Z31). One day, as he was driving on the highway, he was challenged by a Porsche 964 Turbo. Akio tried his best but was ultimately defeated. After that, he went to a junkyard to buy new parts for his cars. Much to his surprise, he discovers an abandoned Midnight Blue Fairlady Z (S30). 

And I think you can guess what he did, right? He bought that car. This marks the beginning of his adventure as he tries to beat “Blackbird”. Oh! I forgot to mention that the Porsche was nicknamed Blackbird. Pretty cool, right?

 

06-Tailenders

Information
Title	Tailenders
Genre	Action, Adventure, Racing
Type	Movie
Studio	Picograph
Premiered	2009
Episode Count	1
Duration	27 min

Tailenders is the next anime to feature on this list. This show aired back in 2009. It has a runtime of just 30 mins. Despite its short runtime, it managed to make a mark. The plot is action-packed, and the animation is just exquisite.

It features the story of two rival racers trying to break a century-old record. This record was set by a racer named Loser King. I guess I should also tell you a bit about world-building. The anime is set in the future. Earthquakes completely shattered the earth and everything is in ruins.

As our protagonists were racing, one of them got into an accident and was about to die. But, this is the world of anime. Something has to happen, right? A mysterious woman offered him help. I won’t spoil ya any further. If you ask me, this show is a must-watch.

 

05-Capeta

Information
Title	Capeta
Genre	Racing, Shounen
Type	TV
Studio	Studio Comet
Premiered	2005
Episode Count	52
Duration	23 min

Capeta is one of the most underrated shows in my opinion. The plot of this show revolves around Capeta, an elementary school student. Capeta lives with his father who comes back late from work. Sooooo, Capeta is usually alone. He is also bullied a lot at his school. 

Capeta’s father was afraid that he was not giving his son enough attention. So, he decided to give him a Go-Kart as a gift. However, he couldn’t afford to buy a new one, so he tried making one from scratch. This marks the beginning of Capeta’s obsession with Go-Karts and racing. 

Capeta would no longer be known as the bullied, weak kid. This anime aired back in 2006, so the animation is pretty decent. I’m pretty sure you’ll love it.

 

04-Redline

Information
Title	Redline
Genre	Action, Racing, Sci-Fi
Type	Movie
Studio	Madhouse
Premiered	2009
Episode Count	1
Duration	1 Hour 42 min

Redline is one of the most thrilling and action-packed racing anime everrrrrr!!! This anime features the story of a racer named JP. JP is the driver of Daredevil. He is ready to participate in the deadliest race of the entire universe, REDLINE!!!

This race takes place every 5 years, and racers from all around the universe participate in it. JP and Sonoshee are the only human participants. What makes this race deadly is the fact that there are no rules whatsoever. You are allowed to do anything in your power. 

The race takes place on different planets. This time, the planet chosen is Roboworld, which is well-known for its vicious criminals. Will JP be able to survive this race and win? Well! You gotta watch the anime to find out!!

 

03-Appare-Ranman!

Information
Title	Appare-Ranman!
Genre	Comedy, Racing, History
Type	TV
Studio	P.A Works
Premiered	2020
Episode Count	12
Duration	23 min

Appare-Ranman is one of the few recent racing anime on this list. Racing anime has been scarce in recent years. Appare-Ranman features the story of Appare Sorrano. Appare has a huge obsession with automobiles. He is especially obsessed with steamships. He wants to build all kinds of vehicles.

One day, as Appare and his fellow samurai were traveling across the sea on a steamship, their ship suddenly shut down. All they could see was the ocean. All hope was lost! However, this is an anime. They were saved by a huge steamship that took them to Los Angeles. 

In Los Angeles, Appare got the opportunity to participate in an event known as the “Trans America Wild Race”. It will provide him the opportunity to build the automobile of his dreams. But, it won’t be that easy. There are a lot of skilled engineers from all around the globe participating in this event.

 

02-Initial D

Information
Title	Initial D First Stage
Genre	Action, Drama, Racing, Seinen
Type	TV
Studio	Gallop, Studio Comet
Premiered	1998
Episode Count	26
Duration	25 min

Initial D is one of the highest-rated anime out there. It has a large global following despite being relatively old.

This anime features the plot of Takumi Fujiwara. Takumi is the son of a tofu chef. He has to do deliveries every morning across the dangerous mountain range of Akina. Despite being an amazing driver, he is not interested in cars or racing. 

One day, a famous racing group known as the Akagi Red Suns visited his town. They intended to defeat every racer in Takumi’s town. They were quite arrogant that they are the fastest and no one could defeat them. Now, this is where things get interesting. One of their Ace’s cars was overtaken by a Toyota A86. Lol!

And guess what? Takumi was the one driving that car. This marks the beginning of Takumi’s adventure as the Akagi Red Suns look for the mysterious driver who defeated them. This anime has a total of 6 seasons, and all of them are action–packed!! You’ll defo love it. Here is the watch order of Initial D COMPLETE Initial D Watch Order (Easy To Follow)

 

01-SK8 Infinity

Information
Title	SK Infinity
Genre	Sports
Type	TV
Studio	Bones
Premiered	2021
Episode Count	12
Duration	23 min

S88 Infinity is one of the recent anime that aired in 2021. Some people even call it the best sports anime of the season. Why? Well! You have to see it for yourself. 

The plot of this show revolves around two teenagers, Reki Kyan and Langa Hasegawa. Reki is a skateboarder and he’s pretty good at it. On the other hand, Langa is a half-Japanese, half-Canadian teen who has just returned to Japan. Unlike Reki, he is not a fan of skateboarding. 

However, Langa’s father was a snowboarder, and he himself is pretty adept at it. Skateboarding and snowboarding are quite different. Still, Langa managed to get the hang of it. He even created his own style of skating. I won’t spoil the plot any further. This is ENOUGH!!! The animation of this show is just out of this world. It’s just beautiful!!!

 

Conclusion

This concludes the list fellas!! Hope you like it. Just to make sure, this list wasn’t about car racing, it was about the racing genre in general. 

I’ve tried my best to find the best anime for y’all. Hope you enjoy them all. Here are some more recomms 85+ Best 80s Anime (Recommendations) To Watch!