Many documentaries fail to convey the high-octane drama, tension, and danger involved in motor racing, but some manage to hit the mark perfectly. If you consider yourself to be a true fan of the genre, then the following are essential viewing.
8
TT3D: Closer to the Edge (2011)
Watch TT3D: Closer to the Edge on Prime Video
The Isle of Man TT is the oldest and most dangerous motorcycle race in the world, and TT3D: Closer to the Edge puts you right in the heart of the action with the riders who risk it all. Narrated by actor Jared Leto, the film follows the 2010 TT season with a focus on that year’s fan favorite, the eccentric Guy Martin.
You’ll find the jaw-dropping onboard camera footage thrilling enough, but where this film truly shines is its exploration of what compels the riders to push themselves to the limits on a course where fatalities occur almost yearly. This is a raw, emotional, and compelling study of the obsession and passion for speed.
7
Formula 1: Drive to Survive (2019–present)
Watch Drive to Survive on Netflix
Netflix’s flagship F1 docuseries has come under some fire over the years for dramatizing events and its “creative” use of editing. However, where DTS truly succeeds is its use of storytelling to outline team rivalries, personal dramas, and trackside politics, as well as an in-depth exploration of the personalities inside the cockpit.
I especially enjoy the way the series focuses not only on the race leaders but also on the battles being fought further down the grid between those teams with less funding and more to lose. Love it or hate it, Drive to Survive has captured the imaginations of fans both old and new, revitalizing the sport, especially in the United States, which is currently consumed by F1 fever following the release of the Brad Pitt movie.
6
The 24 Hour War (2016)
Watch The 24 Hour War on Netflix
Fans of the movie Ford v Ferrari, starring Christian Bale and Matt Damon, will be familiar with the story behind The 24 Hour War. It follows the legendary rivalry between the two racing giants at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the 1960s. Directed by Adam Carolla and Nate Adams, this is the true story featuring archival footage from the era, supplemented with interviews and expert commentary.
The documentary examines how Henry Ford II, Carroll Shelby, and Ken Miles attempted to challenge Ferrari’s dominance in endurance racing. As fascinating as it is exhilarating, it offers a more nuanced and detailed view of this epic battle, making it the perfect companion to its fictional counterpart.
5
F1: The Academy (2025)
Watch F1: The Academy on Netflix
For too long, motorsports have been a male-dominated field, but this is subject to change, and Netflix is along for the ride. F1: The Academy promises to be as groundbreaking as Drive to Survive, where 15 young women compete to become the first female driver back on the F1 grid.
Like its long-running DTS sibling, F1: The Academy makes for perfect comfort viewing, offering both inspiration and insight, with plenty of behind-the-scenes action. There will be struggles, challenges, and triumphs along the way, as its stars hope to become the face of a new, inclusive future of motorsports.
4
On Any Sunday (1971)
Watch On Any Sunday on Apple TV+
Self-declared petrolhead and screen legend Steve McQueen provided funding and participated in this landmark documentary, which perfectly captures motorcycle culture in its late 1960s and early 1970s heyday. Unlike similar films that focus on a specific genre, this encompasses all aspects of motorcycling, including motocross, desert racing, flat-track racing, and casual weekend riding.
Filmmaker Bruce Brown tends to focus on the human element of motorcycling, rather than just the machines and competition. His lens sees the camaraderie and pure joy that come with riding, and this classic documentary has gone on to inspire generations of people (myself included) to take to two wheels in the intervening years.
3
American Thunder: NASCAR to Le Mans (2025)
Watch American Thunder: NASCAR to Le Mans on Prime Video
NASCAR and the 24 Hours of Le Mans are two distinct competitions that rarely overlap. However, American Thunder: NASCAR to Le Mans challenges this, as it follows NASCAR’s groundbreaking Garage 56 modified stock car in the 2023 season of the prestigious endurance race.
What follows is a retrospective of not only the technical challenges faced by this unconventional race entry, but also the cultural collision between these two very different racing worlds, as recalled by the team that made it happen.
2
Hitting the Apex (2015)
Watch Hitting the Apex on Prime Video
Narrated by Brad Pitt and directed by Mark Neale, Hitting the Apex delves into MotoGP during arguably its most competitive era. The film follows six riders—Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo, Dani Pedrosa, Marc Márquez, Marco Simoncelli, and Casey Stoner—as they go head-to-head to dominate the pinnacle of motorcycle racing.
The film explores risk and rivalry and includes plenty of visually stunning, high-octane footage that will keep you on the edge of your seat. There is also considerable emotional weight associated with the on-track death of Simoncelli—a stark reminder that there is not just everything to gain, but also everything to lose, when you compete at this level.
1
Senna (2010)
Watch Senna on Netflix
The 1994 death of Brazilian Formula 1 hero Ayrton Senna is one of my earliest sporting memories, and the life of this legendary maverick continues to touch and inspire people to this day. This documentary is unique in that it uses no talking-head interviews, relying solely on archival footage to tell Senna’s story, set during F1’s 1980s and 1990s heyday.
Notable for its coverage of Senna’s rivalry with Alain Prost, the film also captures his spiritual side, his devotion to his country, and the profound impact he had on the marginalized and impoverished people of Brazil. Senna’s untimely end is also captured in heartbreaking detail, and even if you’ve never watched an F1 race, Senna will leave a lasting impact.
Motorsport is so much more than a bunch of people competing for podiums. It’s a stage where human courage, rivalry, technology, and innovation collide. These eight documentaries capture every facet that makes motorsports special, showcasing the very best of the human spirit when it’s pitted against some of the most challenging obstacles.
