12 Racing Documentaries You Definitely Need to Watch
Luckily, motorsport fans have been spoiled with a lot of choices when it comes to racing documentaries produced in the last 20 years. Out of all, these are the very best of the bunch. Luckily, the increasing growth in Formula 1’s popularity has provided tons of opportunities for talented filmmakers out there to revisit some of the best racing stories ever told.
While it’s nice to be out there and experience the thrill of it yourself, if you’re looking to find out more about these people and their amazing stories, you definitely have to check out these incredible documentaries. Let us know which one you enjoyed!
Road (2014)
This is one of the best motorsport documentaries you can find out there, especially since Liam Neeson is standing by his narration duties to attest to his true caliber. It’s all the more poignant as one of the main stars, William Dunlop, passed away competing in the sport he loved in 2018.
However, The Road does an amazing job of portraying just why he and his ilk end up in such an addicted state to race away from the health and safety of regular circuits. If you want to watch it, you can find it on Amazon Prime.
McLaren (2017)
This film focuses on the very dramatic backstory of Bruce. Besides being a very talented driver, he was also a mechanical genius. You will reach the end of the film mourning on multiple levels. Not only will you mourn the man, but you will also mourn his latent potential that was never truly fulfilled.
If you truly enjoy geeking out on motorsports, it’s definitely better than Senna. And if you don’t, it would still represent a worthy addition to the growing collection of films devoted to the most glamorous sport on the face of the earth.
TT: Closer to the Edge (2011)
The film was efficient in sending Guy Martin right into the arms of the mainstream. “Closer to the Edge” follows the 2010 Isle of Man TT from start to finish, in a year where there was more drama and bigger headlines than ever before.
It’s also narrated by Jared Leto, and it brings a disarmingly honest look into the highs and lows of one of the most infamous races on the planet. Whether you’re into bikes or not, it’s still something worth watching. You can find it on YouTube.
Senna (2010)
Senna unfolds a wonderful story in a truly remarkable fashion, eschewing many standard documentary techniques in favor of a more cinematic approach that makes complete use of astounding footage.
A seminal moment for factual, more than a dramatized motorsport movie, this was the exact moment they landed in the mainstream. Of course, the dramatic nature of Ayrton Senna’s life also means that the plot still twists and turns like Interlagos.
However, the archive footage, including the ones from family camcorders, blended with the masterful direction of Asif Kapadia makes this documentary so much more than an F1 history lesson. If there’s anything, the depiction of Ayrton was a bit one-sided, but all in all, a brilliant masterpiece.
A Life of Speed: The Juan Manuel Fangio Story (2020)
If you are a certain age, then you must have heard of the Formula One king by now. He won five world championships in the early 1950s, before protective gear and safety features were even introduced.
You probably also understand the legend, but you don’t quite know just how good he was. “A Life of Speed” tries to explain exactly why he’s the biggest Formula 1 driver. Of course, it’s all shown with a little science and plenty of personal anecdotes. It takes a while to get going, but it’s still worth sticking with. Just make sure you read a lot of subtitles. You can find it on Netflix.
Uppity: The Willy T. Ribbs Story (2020)
This is a great story about one of the most dramatic motorsport tales no one really knows much about. And one we truly need to know. There’s a Senna-esque one-sidedness to some of the coverage in the movie, but it’s nevertheless an informative and occasionally chilling look at how recent races have unjustly played a big part in block-buster sports. You can find it on Netflix.
Williams (2017)
The documentary follows the intricate story of Sir Frank Williams, a man whose infinite determination allowed him to build one, if not the most, iconic Formula 1 team in the entire history. Naturally, those who are familiar with the Williams story already know that it’s marred by profound tragedy due to Frank William’s near-fatal car accident back in 1986.
One of the finest parts of the documentary mainly centers on Claire Williams, who took full control of the team as her father aged. Trust me, she has some heartbreaking stories to share about what it was like growing up with such a force as a father and also about a mother who was never thanked for the role she played in nursing Frank back to health.
The 24-Hour War (2016)
When Enzo Ferrari decided to decline Ford’s offer to buy his company, Henry Ford II was fuming. He vowed to build a race car that would easily dethrone Ferrari. If you’ve watched Le Mans ’66, this is the ideal follow-up material: one of the most famous Le Mans 24-Hour races of them all.
Only this time, the story is retold with better facts and footage rather than Hollywood razzmatazz. You can find it on Netflix.
Shelby American (2019)
Carroll Shelby started everything from very humble beginnings. At first just a chicken farmer in East Texas, Shelby managed to become one of the best drivers in the history of American motorsports.
If you watched Le Mans ’66 and you can’t help but wish to know more about the backstory of Caroll Shelby (played by Matt Damon), then you will have two hours of it right here. Of course, you’ll have to ignore the occasionally annoying background music. Overall, it’s an interesting documentary on motor racing’s most evocative names.
Hitting the Apex (2015)
“Hitting the Apex” is narrated by Brad Pitt, which makes it already better. It follows six of the biggest names in motorcycle racing’s premier-class Moto GP. Naturally, Valentino Rossi is one of them. You can think of it as a two-wheeled, feature-length equivalent of “Drive to Survive,” with multiple back stories of the riders to contextualize their friendships but also their rivalries on the track. You can find it here.
Brawn: The Impossible Formula 1 Story (2023)
The latest release on our list, the Brawn documentary series (that, by the way, is narrated by Keanu Reeves), tells the wonderful story of how the underfunded and understaffed Brawn F1 team suddenly arrived in 2009 and how he dominated the World Championship.
It also tackles his immediate disappearance after launching Jenson Button into stardom. It’s meant to be an impossible story, but it’s still one of the most exceptional in the sport’s history.
Schumacher (2021)
It has now been more than a decade since the skiing accident that completely changed Michael Schumacher’s life. Well, the “Schumacher” documentary is nothing less than a heartbreaking look at one of the greatest racing legends the world has known and the impact he’s had on his family and friends.
You will soon learn about Schumacher’s early against-all-odds forays into motorsport, where he was karting on salvaged tires.
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