Most English-language patches, mods, and retroachievements are built specifically for the NTSC-U version.
NTSC versions run at a native 60Hz (30 FPS), which is faster and smoother than the 50Hz PAL versions found in Europe. How to Play Download Crash Team Racing [SCUS-94426]
Press and hold R1 or L1 while turning to drift. Watch the exhaust fumes; when they turn black, tap the opposite shoulder button for a speed boost. You can do this up to three times per drift. Most English-language patches
Use a modern emulator like DuckStation or RetroArch (Beetle PSX HW core). These allow for upscaling the resolution to 4K and adding "Widescreen Hacks." when they turn black