One of my favorite car anime has to be 'Initial D', and the protagonist Takumi Fujiwara is just iconic. He's this unassuming tofu delivery boy who turns out to be a drifting prodigy, thanks to his years of driving the mountain passes in his dad's old Toyota AE86. The show does a fantastic job of making his growth feel organic—starting from someone who doesn't even care about racing to becoming a legend. The rival characters like Keisuke and Ryosuke Takahashi add so much depth with their own arcs and racing philosophies.
Then there's 'Wangan Midnight', which flips the script with Akio Asakura, a guy obsessed with speed and his cursed Devil Z. The psychological tension in this one is wild, blending supernatural elements with street racing. The way it explores his obsession and the car's 'will' is unlike anything else in the genre. Lesser-known gems like 'Capeta' also deserve love—it follows a kid who climbs the ranks from karting to Formula racing, and the underdog vibes are so heartwarming.