In Star Wars Episode I: Racer, your Podracer's speed will play an important role in helping you reach the top of the podium in every circuit. However, Acceleration or Top Speed alone will only alleviate part of the challenge, as you will require a balance of attributes to cross the finish line in one piece.
Whether you are playing on PC, Nintendo 64, or the most recent Xbox version of the game, you'll need a fast Pod suited to your particular racing style in order to come out on top. There are a number of attributes by which to judge your selection, including Traction, Repair, Turning, and Air Brake, among others. These top racers and their flying hunks of metal will have you speeding down the stretch with only one thing on your mind: "Now this is Podracing."
10 Gasgano, Four Arms With Speeds To Match
Unlocked from the start, Gasgano is an excellent starting racer for players looking for speed to open up a lead on their fellow racers. Equipped with one of the best Top Speed attributes of all starting characters, Gasgano is a fast and durable option for players looking to get a hang of every sharp turn on the many track circuits without sacrificing pace.
Gasgano's Repair stat is almost maximized from the start, leaving plenty of room to modify his pod with additional Top Speed and some much-needed Air Brake. Left un-upgraded, Gasgano's combination of mediocre Air Brake and Turning mean you will be hitting obstacles often, which explains his high Repair stat. However, if you can keep your crashes to a minimum, this Podracer will be more than enough to win a few circuits.
9 Anakin Skywalker, Tatooine's Local Legend
Despite only officially finishing one race in his entire life, Anakin and his pod offer well-rounded attributes led by Cooling and Repair, which will help clumsy racers to endure some mishaps without their Pod exploding mid-race. Anakin's Top Speed is not very high, so luckily you shouldn't be losing control of your pod too often.
While his Acceleration, Top Speed, and Air Brake start rather low, upgrading Anakin's pod throughout the game will boost these stats to very respectable levels. Anakin is a safe choice to start with and invest your Trugut winnings into, but he will eventually be outperformed in harder races by faster Pods.
8 Slide Paramita, The Curve King Of The Circuit
As his name suggests, Slide Paramita's Traction and Turning make him a popular choice for crafty racers as this pod will glide around tight corners more gracefully than the competition. With Top Speed below 50% of the fastest Pods, you should have little trouble with crashes, as Slide gives you the control needed to weave through obstacles with ease.
In case the overall handling is still not enough for you, Slide's two highest attributes lie in Cooling and Repair, much like Anakin. While he lacks the glamour of other top options, this little-know Ciasi racer will be an excellent alternative to Anakin once you unlock him after beating AP Centrum.
7 Ebe Endocott, A Dark Horse Daredevil
Canonically known for his thrill-seeking, high octane stunts, Ebe Endocott boasts an excellent myriad of attributes for his starting pod. Highlighted by very high Traction, Cooling, and Repair, Ebe's pod combines top-notch safety and handling with Top Speed that can reach similar heights.
While his starting Top Speed and Air Brake need to be upgraded to compete in the toughest circuits, Ebe will perform well even without high-end parts. He will likely need some clever mechanic work to make him one of the best, but he easily surpasses fellow starting pods, like Gasgano's.
6 Neva Kee, The Fast Track For Traction
Neva Kee shakes things up with a maxed-out Traction stat to start along with great Acceleration and top-tier Repair that makes this pod a great choice for slippery tracks, like the snow-and-ice-covered world of Ando Prime.
His high Acceleration will ensure he can reach max speed for short straightaway bursts before carefully taking turns and dodging icicles. His stop-and-start playstyle means that Neva will be outclassed in races with a lot of open space and long straightaways as racers with superior Top Speeds will gain ground quickly.
5 Toy Dampner, A Technically Prudent Podracer
Toy Dampner takes inspiration from well-rounded pods like Anakin's and Ebe's and improves upon their balanced stats. With high-tier starting attributes in Cooling, Repair, Air Brake, and Traction, Toy's pod is responsive and durable — two excellent qualities that work in-tandem to keep your races crash-free.
Toy's Pod is only marginally faster than Slide's and much slower than Neva Kee as points of comparison, but what he gives up in pure speed is definitely made up by the ease with which you can pilot his Pod. Complex, winding courses like Oovo IV's will be where Neva shines, as he is likely going to fall short on sheer speed.
4 Boles Roor, Roaring Down The Backstretch
Unlike his aforementioned peers, Boles Roor is all about pure speed. Boasting one of the highest starting Top Speeds in the game, Boles Roor will earn many victories for skilled Podracers as he blows past the competition on tracks that afford him adequate time to gain speed.
Besides Top Speed, Boles' next highest attribute is his Repair, and you will definitely be needing it. Once Boles reaches his Top Speed, it will become very difficult to control his pod as he approaches the 1000 mark on the speedometer. Take care to spend your Truguts on his Turning and Air Brake or you will make a habit of speeding headfirst into walls.
3 Sebulba, A Very Dangerous Dug
The most infamous Podracer in the galaxy, the speed demon Sebulba defends his intimidating reputation well. Sebulba's maximum Top Speed, great Cooling and Traction highlight his abilities, not to mention a unique exhaust attack that damages the pod adjacent to you while it is active.
However, Sebulba's exhaust trick is not much more than a fun Easter Egg that references his mischievous and often violent trickery on the track. Once you unlock Sebulba by winning the Boonta Classic, take this Dug out for a whirl around the track and watch your speed climb as you leave Pods in the dust.
2 Ben Quadrinaros, Four Engine Fury
A direct rival to Sebulba's chart-topping Top Speed, Ben Quadrinaros combines excellent Top Speed & Traction with excellent Repair to keep him flying around the circuit quickly and in one piece.
While their overall stats are similar, Quadrinaros' Pod simply responds better than Sebulba's and is physically more compact than Sebulba's wide engines. Despite having more engines, Ben's slightly narrower and easier to pilot Pod makes better use of his superior stats than his Dug counterpart.
1 Mars Guo, The Perfectly Balanced Podracer
While most racers specialize in Top Speed or overall handling, Mars Guo offers exceptional Top Speed, Traction, and Repair, while also maintaining well-balanced supporting stats to give this pod a snappy and responsive feel. You will easily notice the difference between racers like Guo and Boles Roor, the latter of which requires a great deal of effort to stay on-track.
Upon upgrading his pod, Mars becomes a juggernaut, particularly once you improve his Acceleration and Turning. These upgrades will give the pod the ability to shift between gears and handle straightaways of varying lengths without worrying about sharp turns. Win the Spice Mine Run to unlock him and enjoy using Mars from then on, as he proves himself time and time again on the track.