King of Speed: Idris Elba Looks at Street Racing

Actor Idris Elba looks back at the history of underground street racing in the United States and around the world in this two-part BBC special, Idris Elba: King of Speed. Beginning with Episode 1, Elba travels from his childhood home in London to the “motor city,” Detroit. In Episode 2, below, he continues his exploration of cars and culture and how speed has changed the way we drive and look at cars. Elba examines the history of the MINI rally car and the underground drifting scene in Japan.

Elba describes his approach to the series and what he hopes viewers might get from it, “Cars, racing, speed, they are and have been for many people throughout history, a way of life; either a means to make, a living, or a means to escape. If people take one thing away from this documentary that surprises them or makes them look at kids on their streets tinkering around with their cars in a different light, then great.”

Be sure to watch the episodes now, before the BBC decides to yank down these unofficial copies we found on YouTube!