If you read the Nintendo Life review of Super Mario Kart, the original SNES title set out a solid template for gameplay in kart racing games. This combined effectively with graphics and a soundtrack that conveyed the fun and vibrancy of the Crash Bandicoot universe.
Released in the same year as Speed Freaks, and colourful mascot racers like Bomberman Fantasy Race on PSone, Crash Team Racing stood out with balanced gameplay, excellent controls, and reliable kart manoeuvrability. In this case it's CTR: Crash Team Racing from 1999, which also happens to be the greatest kart racing game on the PSone. Start your engines, and fasten your seatbelts for another Naughty Dog creation.