Velo Mask

The Velo Mask is a sapient tiki mask similar to Aku Aku, Uka Uka and the Elementals in appearance, although it's unknown if it is related to any of them. The Velo Mask appears in Crash Nitro Kart, where it is the mascot for Emperor Velo the 27th's team.

During races it protects members of Team Oxide (Velo, Zam, Zem, and Nitros Oxide) and members of Team Trance (N.Trance and the brainwashed Dingodile, Polar and Pura) when the player gets a mask power-up.

The fact that the real Velo is alive and well (unlike Aku Aku and Uka Uka, who died long ago) could prove the Velo Mask as either artificial or a mere gameplay mechanic; as it is never properly explored in-game.

The Velo mask also protects each of the game bosses so that they can't fall victim to their own weapons.