8 of the best car racing documentaries ever produced

• The best car racing documentaries offer a rare appreciation of what it takes to be in motorsports
• Most of the races you see on tracks are the final product of tireless moments
• Racing is a gruelling spot

The best car racing documentaries offer a rare appreciation of what it takes to maintain the optics of the sport. Most of the races you see on tracks are the final product of tireless moments by teams.

Racing is a gruelling spot; the world of Formula 1 goes over and beyond to keep the world hooked. Insightfully, engineers behind the scenes hold teams together but not a lot of appreciation goes to them. Drivers take most of the credit – they rightfully should – but other team players should share in this glory too.

This article focuses on the best documentaries ever produced on racing.

WHICH ARE THE BEST CAR RACING DOCUMENTARIES?

F1 in recent years has changed a lot. More advanced technology, competitive teams, and resolute and ambitious drivers have increased its global popularity. These productions not only show the glory of motorsports but its struggles too. Here are the best car racing documentaries.

Brawn (2023)

Brawn GP. Photo/Goodwood

You may have heard that launching a Formula One team is a multi-billion-dollar investment and Brawn proves as much. This constructors team came and went; very fast. Its first race was in 2009 and it quickly dominated the F1 World Championship with Jenson Button as its lead driver. However, limited funding that dogged it from the start to the end sunk it.

Schumacher (2021)

German driver Michael Schumacher remains a legend in Formula One 11 years after his life-changing skiing accident.  The film on Netflix shows his journey into motorsports and how he eventually won seven World Championships with Red Bull and Scuderia Ferrari. His 30 years in racing inspired and shaped dreams.

A Life of Speed (2020)

A Life of Speed is arguably among the best racing cars documentaries as it focuses on five-time World Championship F1 driver Juan Manuel Fangio. Juan makes you appreciate the progress of F1. He won five seasons in cars without any safety features or protective gear for its drivers.

Williams (2017)

Williams F1 series. Photo/Sky

The documentary is pegged on passion. Sir Frank Williams built this F1 team back in the 80s but was incapacitated in 1986 following a motor accident. His daughter Claire Williams took over and resuscitated the team amid a lot of struggles.

McLaren (2017)

From grass to grace theme makes McLaren one of the best racing cars documentaries. A young man, Bruce McLaren, from New Zealand had nothing but a dream in racing. Despite his constant ill health, he rose to become a top F1 driver and a team owner in later years. Nothing is impossible in life.

Drive to Survive

Drive to Survive is a continuing Netflix series capturing raw behind-the-scenes moments in Formula 1. New motorsport fans grasp the nitty gritty of the drama and controversies surrounding teams.  It’s more of reality TV focusing on motorsports.

Drive to survive. Photo/Medium

Life on the Limit (2013)

What you see on F1 in 2024 is a stark contrast to what the sport was in mid 60s to late 80s. A sizeable share of racing development such as safety gear for drivers and the addition of safety features in cars came about. Most of the advancement in the latter years was pegged on the initial development made between 1960 and 1980s.

Senna (2010)

Ayrton Senna, a former Brazilian F1 driver is the focus of this film, probably the first documentary chronicling life on the tracks. Senna was a promising driver who rivalled Alain Post. Unfortunately, he died at age 34 while at the peak of his career. His story has a lot of similarities to that of Schumacher whose star dimmed at the peak of his racing career.

WHAT IS THE GREATEST RACING CAR OF ALL TIME?

It’s a hard pick to single out a particular car. However, here are some of the greatest racing cars in Formula One history.

McLaren F1 GTR – It ruled racing tracks in the 90s powered by a V12 BMW engine and a lightweight chassis.

Mercedes-Benz W196 – The legendary Juan Manuel Fangio sat behind this vehicle that won championships in the 1950s.

Porsche 917 – Endurance racing wouldn’t be without the Porsche 917. Its flat-12 engine delivered nerve-jangling power, winning it the 1970 and 1971 Le Mans races.

CONCLUSION

A look at the best car racing documentaries sheds light on the struggles and unknown details of motorsport. A lot happens in hindsight and remains largely unknown. But these films tell it as it is.