--- title: "This Upcoming Switch Racing Game Has a Surprisingly Good Car List" date: "2024-07-02" modified: "2024-07-02" authors: - name: "Adam Ismail" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/adam-ismail" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/culture/this-upcoming-switch-racing-game-has-a-surprisingly-good-car-list" categories: - "Culture" - "News" - "Video Games" --- # This Upcoming Switch Racing Game Has a Surprisingly Good Car List ![Screenshot of a Venturi 600 LM in Hot Lap Racing.]() *\Maximum Entertainment via YouTube\* Look, I really want to use my Nintendo Switch more than I do, but the system just hasn't brought enough standout [racing games](), even in its seventh year on the market. A guy can only play *Mario Kart 8 Deluxe* and *Fast RMX* so many times before he calls his [dusty PSP out of retirement](). There's a new indie racer on the horizon for Nintendo's handheld, called *Hot Lap Racing*. And while I know literally nothing about it and can't make an educated guess as to its quality, I can say this: It has a killer car roster. *Hot Lap* is due to release in about two weeks, on July 16, courtesy of publisher Maximum Entertainment. The company has posted a [full car list reveal video to YouTube](), and it contains a variety of vehicles you just don't see in very many games anymore. That's saying something, because there have been plenty of racing games over the years, and cars that used to be rarities in the digital realm, like the Alfa 155 and Opel Calibra DTM cars, for example, or the [Lancia Delta Integrale](), have become extremely common. They just don't surprise the way they did in, say, *Gran Turismo 4*. This game has those covered, but it also has an assortment of cool, weird French cars from the days when French cars were the coolest and the weirdest. There's the Renault 5 Turbo and Citroen AX *Superproduction*—road-racing versions of venerable hatches better known for their exploits on rallying stages. You'll also find not one but two flavors of the Venturi Atlantique, the 400 Trophy and 600 that contested Le Mans. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sueYhrkV_0 But that's not all! How'd you like a [CART]() open-wheeler? Seriously, *Hot Lap Racing* includes a Lola B02/00, in a livery evoking the Havoline getup Newman/Haas Racing ran decades ago. CART was the coolest, and its cars are unfortunately long gone from modern racing games. There's also a pair of '90s BTCC mainstays, in the Vauxhall Cavalier and Renault Laguna, and the visually puzzling Lola B2K/10 prototype. The Minardi M191 [F1]() car from the early '90s, with all its offending sponsors removed. Those weird-ass Lamera Cup Cars with the Ford Focus headlights that race in a single-make series in Europe. This roster is *all over the place*. There are some more modern inclusions too, like the Peugeot 9X8 Le Mans Hypercar (that might not be competing much longer, if the automaker's [patience for success is truly wearing thin]()), alongside that wild all-electric Renault 5 Turbo 3E concept from a couple years back. Plus, I'm sure you'll noticed all the *unlicensed* homages to beloved motorsport icons, like the Fred Motors GT and Gunma Prestazione X2006. They sure bear a resemblance—but to what exactly, who's to say? Again, I have no idea if this game will be good. It has four-player local multiplayer, which is neat and very rare these days, although I worry that mode will bring the Switch's ancient Tegra X1 to its knees. If you find out, be sure to let me know in the comments. *Hot Lap Racing* releases July 16 on the [Nintendo eShop]() for $35, though it's on sale for $30 for those who preorder. It's also coming to PC via [Steam](). *Got tips? Send ’em to tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Adam is a Senior Editor at The Drive, concentrating on curating and developing the site's slate of daily journalism, from initial pitch to final copy edit. When he's not at his desk researching leads and working with writers, he's testing vehicles or reviewing racing games, new and old. He joined The Drive in 2023, following seven years of covering consumer technology and cars. A car lover and gamer since his earliest memories, Adam came to know the automotive world through video games. First it was Daytona USA, Sega Rally, and Ridge Racer; then came Need For Speed, which inspired an encyclopedic knowledge of '90s supercars, and, of course, Gran Turismo. If not for them, he'd assuredly be doing something else right now. Adam is based in the suburbs outside Philly, where there are ample roads for his hot hatch to stretch its legs. In his car, he's probably listening to indie rock, drum and bass, or Yankees baseball. ### Author social links [Bluesky]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()