http://shmuplations.com/supermariokart/
In this vintage Super Mario Kart interview from 1992 (which first appeared in the official jp strategy guide), Shigeru Miyamoto and the other lead developers discuss the design choices behind this seminal kart racing game. The choice of karts over cars, the drifting mechanic, and the item system are all covered in detail. It’s fascinating to read about these early systems with the hindsight that they would continue to be refined with each successive installment.