GameSpot added the driving game genre to its categories because of the increasing variety and diversity of driving games that have become available since 1996. The genre continued to thrive this year, as a number of outstanding and highly realistic racing simulations of many assorted motor sports were published. Some of these featured exciting, arcade-like gameplay, but the most impressive were those that simulated the motor sports realistically but still provided players with the ability to customize the game for a less exhaustively authentic experience. Of further note, Electronic Arts - whose EA Sports brand is a longtime authority on sports simulations - dominated the driving genre this year.

This game improves on F1 2000, an already great Formula One racing game, by adding a great tutorial and enhancing some of the graphics and the sound. As it stands, F1 Championship Season 2000 was the only Formula One game released this year to deliver a complete experience of the 2000 FIA season.

The long-awaited sequel to Grand Prix II might be a bit rough around the edges, but it is undoubtedly the next best thing to driving an actual multimillion dollar Formula One car. A great physics engine and the ability to tweak every part of your race car make Grand Prix 3 a racing fan's favorite.

It might not be big in the US, but rally racing is one of the most grueling and physically demanding types of automotive racing in the world. Electronic Arts' Mobil 1 Rally Championship does a great job of simulating the feel of the sport with its sharp scenery, great sound, and solid gameplay.

The latest in Electronic Arts' successful Need for Speed franchise lets you drive almost all of the cars in Porsche's venerable 50-year history. The game's intuitive yet persistently challenging gameplay keeps veteran drivers on their toes while still making it easy for beginners to experience all the fun of driving a European exotic.

Milestone Studios and Electronic Arts team up once again to produce a great motorcycle racing game in Superbike 2001. The game lets you race alongside your favorite SBK rider on one of seven monstrous 170-horsepower bikes across 15 real-world racetracks. With its visual accuracy and unparalleled physics models, Superbike 2001's nomination was an easy choice.