In Japan, Game Machine listed Final Lap R in its March 15, 1993 issue as being the country's third most popular upright arcade game at the time.1 It went on to be the eighth highest-grossing dedicated arcade game of 1993 in Japan.2
A reviewer for the French publication Consoles Plus described it as "the swan song of 2D F1 simulation games", and admired its graphics and fast-paced gameplay.3
"Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25". Game Machine (in Japanese). No. 468. Amusement Press, Inc. 15 March 1994. p. 29. ↩
""Virtua Fighter 2" and "Virtua Cop" Top Videos" (PDF). Game Machine (in Japanese). No. 511. Amusement Press, Inc. 1 February 1996. p. 22. https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19960201p.pdf#page=12 ↩
"Japon En Direct - NebulasRay" (in French). No. 31. Consoles+. April 1994. pp. 16–17. ↩