Whilst I thoroughly enjoy arcade racing video games such as the Need for Speed series, Forza Horizon, Forza Motorsport, GRID, and others, I’m always looking for exciting racing thrills on the big screen. My favourites are those based on fact, although the car chases in some memorable Hollywood films are hard to beat – The French Connection springs to mind.
For streaming
Race for Glory: Audi vs Lancia
Rally racing doesn’t get much attention in cinemas, although it’s very popular in video games – the Colin McRae Rally series is one of the most popular – this film is based on the rivalry between Audi and Lancia in the 1983 Rally World Championship, a real David and Goliath story which had me gripped from beginning to end. Fortunately, I wasn’t aware of the result before I watched it, which added to the tension. In fact, I thought Formula One was dangerous until I saw this. Starring the excellent Daniel Brühl, its authenticity is enhanced by being spoken in Italian, German, and English with subtitles, and it’s a must-watch.
Available on Prime Video.
Rush
Rivalry is the magic dust that makes racing exciting, and this is exemplified no better than in Ron Howard’s film, which depicts the intense rivalry between James Hunt and Niki Lauda back in the glamorous days of Formula One of the 70s. Starring Chris Hemsworth as Hunt and Daniel Brühl (again) as Niki Lauda, this film is a tour de force. In fact, when Niki Lauda saw the film, he is said to have commented, hell, that’s really me! But it’s more than the rivalry that we see in Rush – we discover what makes these men tick, their total commitment to win, and the life-or-death risks they take. This is one of my favourites, and you may be able to find it on Netflix.
Ford v Ferrari
With Matt Damon as Carroll Shelby and Christian Bale as Ken Miles, this superb film tells the true story of how Ford took on Ferrari by developing a revolutionary racing car – the GT 40 – so that they could beat their rival in the legendary Le Mans 24-hour race in 1966. This film oozes character, and you feel the 1966 period in every scene. The racing, just like in Rush, is so real that you feel like you’re inside the car with Ken Miles as he pushes the GT 40 to the limit.
Senna
Brazilian Ayrton Senna was born to race cars, and this series captures his spirit perfectly. Winner of three Formula One titles, he would go on to be Brazil’s greatest hero, and the racing scenes in this Netflix series are outstanding.
Free to watch on YouTube And Other Platforms
A very short film that captures the dangers of Group B rally racing.
Le Mans (1971)
Starring Steve McQueen, this extraordinary film combines both a movie and a real-life Le Mans (1970) race, creating such a realistic atmosphere that you feel you’re actually at the race. Clearly, racing has moved on considerably since then, with both crowd and driver safety being paramount, but here, you wonder if safety is even considered. The final few minutes of the race are breathtaking, and I felt I was in the cars as they were hurtling down the Mulsanne straight with nerves of steel. Probably one of the finest racing films ever made.
Barry Sheene World Champion
Barry Sheene, the cheeky chappy from London, rose to become a motorcycle racing champion and hero to many a youngster, both male and female. Suffering injuries that would put most people off vehicular transport for life, he carried on riding, finally settling in Australia, where, even after his death, he is fondly remembered for his unrivalled charm and nerves of steel.
Which are your favourites? Please let us know in the comments.
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