View source for Auto racing

{{short description|Motorsport involving the racing of cars for competition}}
{{About|the motorsport|the video game|Auto Racing (video game)}}
{{Redirect-multi|3|Auto race|Racing cars|Race driver|other uses|Auto race (disambiguation)|the Welsh pop band|Racing Cars|the racing simulation video game series|TOCA Race Driver}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2022}}
{{Infobox sport
| image = Texas Grand Prix 2023 turn 1 action1.jpg
| imagesize = 
| caption = Many [[stock cars]] entering the first turn during the [[2023 EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix]]
| union = [[Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile|FIA]]
| nickname = 
| first = August 30, 1867
| firstlabel = First contested
| registered =
| clubs =
| contact =
| team =
| mgender = Yes
| category = Outdoor and indoor
| ball =
| olympic = [[1900 Summer Olympics]] (demonstration only)
}}

'''Auto racing''' (also known as '''car racing''', '''motor racing''',<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/motor-racing |title=motor racing (noun) definition and synonyms Macmillan Dictionary |website=macmillandictionary.com |access-date=2019-09-02}}</ref> or '''automobile racing''') is a [[motorsport]] involving the [[racing]] of [[automobiles]] for competition. In North America, the term is commonly used to describe all forms of automobile sport including non-racing disciplines.

Auto racing has existed since the invention of the automobile. Races of various types were organized, with the first recorded as early as 1867. Many of the earliest events were effectively [[Classic trials|reliability trials]], aimed at proving these new machines were a practical mode of transport, but soon became an important way for automobile makers to demonstrate their machines. By the 1930s, specialist racing cars had developed.

There are now numerous different categories, each with different rules and regulations.

==History==
{{Main|History of auto racing}}
[[File:1894 paris-rouen - albert lemaître (peugeot 3hp) 1st.jpg|thumb|[[Albert Lemaître]] classified first in his [[Peugeot Type 5]] 3hp in the [[Paris–Rouen (motor race)|Paris–Rouen]].<!-- Note discrepancy that text below states that Peugeot (the car manufacturer) was the winner. -->]]
[[File:Fernand Gabriel Mors Paris-Madrid 1903.jpg|thumb|Fernand Gabriel driving a [[Mors (automobile)|Mors]] in [[Paris–Madrid race|Paris-Madrid]] 1903]]
[[File:Brooklands Members' Banking from bridge.jpg|thumb|A remaining section of the [[Brooklands]] track in 2007]]

The first prearranged match race of two self-powered road vehicles over a prescribed route occurred at 4:30 A.M. on August 30, 1867, between [[Ashton-under-Lyne]] and [[Old Trafford]], England, a distance of {{Convert|8|mi|km|abbr=on|sp=us}}. It was won by the carriage of [[Isaac Watt Boulton]].<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Isaac_Watt_Boulton|title=Isaac Watt Boulton |website=gracesguide.co.uk |access-date=2016-07-27}}</ref>

Internal combustion auto racing events began soon after the construction of the first successful [[gasoline]]-fueled automobiles. The first organized contest was on April 28, 1887, by the chief editor of Paris publication ''{{Lang|fr|Le Vélocipède}}'', Monsieur Fossier.<ref name="8W"/> It ran {{convert|2|km}} from Neuilly Bridge to the Bois de Boulogne.

On July 22,<ref>{{cite web|url= https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k613226v |title=Le Petit journal |page=1 |date=July 23, 1894 |website=Gallica |language=fr |access-date=2019-09-02}}</ref> 1894, the Parisian magazine ''{{Lang|fr|[[Le Petit Journal (newspaper)|Le Petit Journal]]}}'' organized what is considered to be the world's first motoring competition, from Paris to Rouen. One hundred and two competitors paid a 10-[[franc]] entrance fee.<ref name="8W"/>

The first American automobile race is generally considered to be the Thanksgiving Day [[Chicago Times-Herald race|''Chicago Times-Herald'' race]] of November 28, 1895.<ref name="berger" /> Press coverage of the event first aroused significant American interest in the automobile.<ref name = "berger">{{cite book|first=Michael L. |last=Berger |title=The automobile in American history and culture: a reference guide |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=oRwMv8iNP-MC&pg=PA278 |year=2001 |publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group |isbn=978-0-313-24558-9| page=278 }}</ref>

The [[Targa Florio]] was an open road [[Endurance racing (motorsport)|endurance]] automobile race held in the mountains of [[Sicily]], Italy near the island's capital of [[Palermo, Sicily|Palermo]]. Founded in [[1906 Targa Florio|1906]], it was the oldest [[sports car racing]] event, part of the [[World Sportscar Championship]] between 1955 and 1973, and it was discontinued in 1977.

The oldest surviving sports car racing event is the [[24 Hours of Le Mans]], begun in 1923. It is run by the [[Automobile Club de l'Ouest|Automobile Club of the West]] (ACO). Team [[Ferrari]] won the race in 2023.

With auto construction and racing dominated by France, the French automobile club ACF staged a number of major international races, usually from or to Paris, connecting with another major city, in France or elsewhere in Europe.

[[Aspendale Racecourse]], in Australia, was the world's '''first purpose-built motor racing circuit''', opening in January 1906. The pear-shaped track was close to a mile in length, with slightly banked curves and a gravel surface of crushed cement.

[[Brooklands]], in Surrey, England, was the first purpose-built 'banked' motor racing venue, opening in June 1907.<ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=Autocar |volume=127 |issue=3731 |last=Sammy |first=Davis |author-link=S. C. H. "Sammy" Davis |title=How Brooklands started |page=43 |date=August 17, 1967}}</ref> It featured a {{convert|4.43|km|2|abbr=on}} concrete track with high-speed banked corners.

One of the oldest existing purpose-built and still in use automobile race course in the United States is the {{convert|2.5|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}} [[Indianapolis Motor Speedway]] in [[Speedway, Indiana]]. It is the largest capacity sports venue of any variety worldwide, with a top capacity of some 257,000+ seated spectators.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_menu/stadium_list/100000.shtml |title=Stadium List: 100 000+ Stadiums |website=worldstadiums.com|access-date=2013-09-02 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20061023205044/http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_menu/stadium_list/100000.shtml |archive-date=October 23, 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

NASCAR was founded by [[Bill France Sr.]] on February 21, 1948, with the help of several other drivers. The first NASCAR "[[Strictly Stock]]" race ever was held on June 19, 1949, at [[Daytona Beach, Florida]], U.S..

From 1962, sports cars temporarily took a back seat to [[Grand tourer|GT cars]], with the {{Lang|fr|[[Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile]]|italic=no}} (FIA) replacing the World Championship for Sports Cars with the International Championship for GT Manufacturers.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Jenkinson |first1=Dennis |title=The Automobile Year Book of Sports Car Racing |date=1983 |publisher=Motorbooks International |isbn=9782880011291}}</ref>

From 1962 through 2003, NASCAR's premier series was called the Winston Cup Series, sponsored by [[R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company]] cigarette brand [[Winston (cigarette)|Winston]]. The changes that resulted from RJR's involvement, as well as the reduction of the schedule from 56 to 34 races a year, established 1972 as the beginning of NASCAR's "modern era".

The [[IMSA GT Series]] evolved into the [[American Le Mans Series]], which ran its first season in 1998.<ref>{{cite news|last=Perez|first=A.J.|title=Le Mans series showcases prototype race cars|url= http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/motor/2007-08-29-lemans-motor_N.htm |access-date=August 20, 2008 |work=USA Today |publisher=Gannett Company |date=August 30, 2007}}</ref> The European races eventually became the closely related [[Le Mans Series|European Le Mans Series]], both of which mix prototypes and GTs.

{{Lang|es|[[Turismo Carretera]]|italic=no}} (TC) is a popular touring car racing series in Argentina, and one of the oldest car racing series still active in the world. The first TC competition took place in 1931 with 12 races, each in a different province. Future Formula One star [[Juan Manuel Fangio]] (Chevrolet) won the 1940 and 1941 editions of the TC. It was during this time that the series' Chevrolet-Ford rivalry began, with Ford acquiring most of its historical victories.

Over the last few years, auto racing has seen a [[Transformative use|transformative]] shift, echoing past pivots.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}} The industry, much like the [[car]]s it [[champion]]s, has had to navigate through a global [[pandemic]] and a persistent chip shortage, each threatening to derail [[production schedule]]s.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}} At the same time, a new course is being charted towards an electric future, a dramatic change in direction that is challenging the old guard of gasoline engines. There is also a growing number of events for electric racing cars, such as the [[Formula E]], the [[Eco Grand Prix]] or the [[FIA Electric GT Championship|Electric GT Championship]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sheikh |first=Shahzad |date=2024-05-25 |title=Electric motorsports: racing towards the future |url=https://evlife.world/en/ae/tech/electric-motorsports-racing-towards-the-future/ |access-date=2024-10-28 |website=EVLife |language=en-US}}</ref>{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}

==Categories==
===Open-wheel racing===
{{Main|Formula racing|Open-wheel car}}
[[File:Fernando_Alonso_2011_Malaysia_FP1.jpg|thumb|[[Fernando Alonso]] driving the [[Ferrari 150º Italia]] at [[Sepang International Circuit]]]]
[[File:2019 IndyCar Series, Indianapolis Motor Speedway (47966333303).jpg|thumb|The [[Dallara DW12]] IndyCar driven by [[Pippa Mann]] during practice for the [[2019 Indianapolis 500]]]]
[[File:Formel3 racing car amk.jpg|thumb|[[Formula Three]] car racing at the [[Hockenheimring]], 2008]]
[[File:DUT17.jpg|thumb|The 2017 [[Formula Student]] electric race-car of the [[Delft University of Technology]]]]
[[File:In Car Micheal Fitzgerald Cork Racing.jpg|thumb|Racing driver's view]]

In single-seater ([[open-wheel]]) racing, the wheels are not covered, and the cars often have aerofoil wings front and rear to produce [[downforce]] and enhance adhesion to the track. The most popular varieties of open-wheel [[road racing]] are [[Formula One]], [[IndyCar Series]] and [[Super Formula]]. In Europe and Asia, open-wheeled racing is commonly referred to as 'Formula', with appropriate hierarchical suffixes. In North America, the 'Formula' terminology is not followed (with the exception of Formula One). The sport is usually arranged to follow an international format (such as Formula One), a regional format (such as the Formula 3 Euro Series), and/or a domestic, or country-specific, format (such as the German Formula 3 championship, or the British Formula Ford).

Formula One is a worldwide series that runs only [[street circuit]] and [[race track]]s. These cars are heavily based on technology and their aerodynamics. The speed record was set in 2005 by [[Juan Pablo Montoya]] hitting 373&nbsp;km/h (232&nbsp;mph).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.redbull.com/au-en/fastest-f1-records|title=Blink and you'll miss these F1 records|work=Red Bull|access-date=2018-08-08|language=en}}</ref> Some of the most prominent races are the Monaco Grand Prix, the [[Italian Grand Prix]], and the [[British Grand Prix]]. The season ends with the crowning of the World Championship for drivers and constructors.

In the United States, the most popular series is the [[IndyCar Series]]. The cars have traditionally been similar to, though less technologically sophisticated than, [[F1 cars]], with more restrictions on technology aimed at controlling costs. While these cars are not as technologically advanced, they are faster, in part due to their lower downforce compared to Formula One cars, and also because they compete on oval race tracks, being able to average a lap at 388&nbsp;km/h (241&nbsp;mph). The series' biggest race is the [[Indianapolis 500]], which is commonly referred to as "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing" due to being the longest continuously run race in the series and having the largest crowd for a single-day sporting event (350,000+).

The other major international single-seater racing series is [[Formula Two|Formula 2]] (formerly known as [[Formula 3000]] and [[GP2 Series]]). Regional series include [[Super Formula]] and [[Formula V6 Asia]] (specifically in Asia), [[Formula Renault 3.5]] (also known as the World Series by Renault, succession series of [[World Series by Nissan]]), [[Formula Three]], [[Formula Palmer Audi]] and [[Formula Atlantic]]. In 2009, the [[FIA Formula Two Championship (2009–2012)|FIA Formula Two Championship]] brought about the revival of the F2 series. Domestic, or country-specific, series include Formula Three and Formula Renault, with the leading introductory series being [[Formula Ford]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Formula Ford |url=https://www.formulaford.org.au/about}}</ref>

Single-seater racing is not limited merely to professional teams and drivers. There exist many amateur racing clubs. In the UK, the major club series are the [[Monoposto Racing Club]], BRSCC F3 (formerly ClubF3, formerly ARP F3), Formula Vee and Club Formula Ford. Each series caters to a section of the market, with some primarily providing low-cost racing, while others aim for an authentic experience using the same regulations as the professional series (BRSCC F3). The SCCA is also responsible for sanctioning single-seater racing in much of North America.

There are other categories of single-seater racing, including [[kart racing]], which employs a small, low-cost machine on small tracks. Many of the current top drivers began their careers in karts. [[Formula Ford]] represents the most popular first open-wheel category for up-and-coming drivers stepping up from karts. The series is still the preferred option, as it has introduced an aero package and slicks, allowing the junior drivers to gain experience in a race car with dynamics closer to Formula One. The [[Star Mazda Series]] is another entry-level series. [[Indy Lights]] represent the last step on the [[Road to Indy]], being less powerful and lighter than an [[IndyCar]] racer.

Students at colleges and universities can also take part in single-seater racing through the [[Formula SAE]] competition, which involves designing and building a single-seater car in a multidisciplinary team and racing it at the competition. This also develops other soft skills, such as teamwork, while promoting motorsport and engineering.

The world's first all-female Formula racing team was created in 2006. The group was an assemblage of drivers from different racing disciplines and formed for an MTV reality pilot, which was shot at [[Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca]].

In December 2005, the [[Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile|FIA]] gave approval to [[Superleague Formula]] racing, which debuted in 2008, whereby the racing teams are owned and run by prominent sports clubs such as [[A.C. Milan]] and [[Liverpool F.C.]]

After 25 years away from the sport, former [[Formula 2]] champion [[Jonathan Palmer]] reopened the F2 category again; most drivers have graduated from the [[Formula Palmer Audi]] series. The category is officially registered as the [[Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile|FIA]] Formula Two championship. Most rounds have two races and are support races to the [[FIA World Touring Car Championship]].

===Touring car racing===
{{Main|Touring car racing}}
[[File:2012 WTCC Race of Japan (Race 1) opening lap.jpg|thumb|Opening lap of [[2012 WTCC season|2012 WTCC]] Race of Japan]]

Touring car racing is a style of road racing that is run with production-derived four-seat race cars. The lesser use of aerodynamics means following cars have a much easier time following and passing than in [[open-wheel racing]]. It often features full-contact racing with subtle bumping and nudging due to the small speed differentials and large grids.

The major touring car championships conducted worldwide are the [[Supercars Championship]] (Australia), [[British Touring Car Championship]], [[Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters]] (DTM), [[World Touring Car Championship]] and the [[World Touring Car Cup]]. The [[European Touring Car Cup]] is a one-day event open to [[Super 2000]] specification touring cars from Europe's many national championships. While [[Super GT]] traces its lineage to the now-defunct [[JGTC]], the cars are much more similar to [[Group GT3|GT3]] race cars than proper touring cars, and also have much more aggressive aerodynamics.

The [[Sports Car Club of America]]'s [[SPEED World Challenge]] Touring Car and GT championships are dominant in North America. America's historic [[Trans-Am Series]] is undergoing a period of transition, but is still the longest-running road racing series in the U.S. The [[National Auto Sport Association]] also provides a venue for amateurs to compete in home-built factory-derived vehicles on various local circuits.

===Sports car racing===
{{Main|Sports car racing}}

[[File:2011 FIA GT1 Silverstone 2.jpg|thumb|[[FIA GT1 World Championship|FIA GT1]] at [[Silverstone Circuit|Silverstone]] in [[2011 FIA GT1 World Championship season|2011]]]]
[[File:Audi R18 e-tron quattro at 2013 Le Mans.jpg|thumb|The [[Audi R18]], a [[Le Mans Prototype]] car, during an [[endurance racing (motorsport)|endurance race]]]]

In sports car racing, production-derived versions of two-seat [[sports car]]s, also known as [[grand tourer]]s (GTs), and purpose-built [[sports prototype]] cars compete within their respective classes on closed circuits. The premier championship series of sports car racing is the [[FIA World Endurance Championship]]. The main series for GT car racing is the [[GT World Challenge Europe]], divided into two separate championships: the [[GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup]] and the [[GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup]]. This series has formed after the folding of the various FIA GT championships.

The prevailing classes of GT cars are [[Group GT3|GT3]], [[SRO GT4|GT4]] and [[SRO GT2|GT2]] class cars. GT2 cars have powerful engines, often exceeding 600 horsepower. However, they have less downforce than GT3 cars and also have less driver aids. GT3 cars are far and away the most popular class of GT cars, with premier racing series such as the [[FIA World Endurance Championship]] and [[IMSA]] both using GT3 as their top class of GT car. GT3 cars have more significant aero than a GT2 car, but also have less horsepower, typically falling in between 500 and 550 horsepower. GT4 class cars have very little aerodynamics and less horsepower than GT3 machinery, typically around 450 horsepower. GT4 typically serves as the last step up to premier GT-class racing.

Other major GT championships include the [[GT World Challenge America]], [[GT World Challenge Asia]], [[Super GT]], and the [[International GT Open]]. There are minor regional and national GT series using mainly GT4 and GT3 cars featuring both amateur and professional drivers.

Sports prototypes, unlike GT cars, do not rely on road-legal cars as a base. They are closed-wheel and often closed-cockpit purpose-built race cars intended mainly for endurance racing. They have much lower weight, more horsepower and more downforce compared to GT cars, making them much faster. They are raced in the 24 hours of Le Mans (held annually since 1923) and in the (European) [[Le Mans series]], [[Asian Le Mans Series]] and the [[WeatherTech SportsCar Championship]]. These cars are referred to as [[Le Mans Prototype|LMP]] (Le Mans prototype) cars with [[Le Mans Hypercar|LMH]] and [[LMDh]] cars being run mainly by manufacturers and the slightly less powerful LMP2 cars run by privateer teams. All three Le Mans Series run GT cars in addition to Le Mans Prototypes; these cars have different restrictions than the FIA GT cars.

Another prototype and GT racing championship exists in the United States; the [[Grand American Road Racing Association|Grand-Am]], which began in 2000, sanctions its own endurance series, the [[Rolex Sports Car Series]], which consists of slower and lower-cost [[Daytona Prototype]] race cars compared to LMP and FIA GT cars. The [[Rolex Sports Car Series]] and [[American Le Mans Series]] announced a merger between the two series forming the [[WeatherTech SportsCar Championship]] starting in 2014.

These races are often conducted over long distances, at least {{convert|1000|km|0|abbr=on}}, and cars are driven by teams of two or more drivers, switching every few hours. Due to the performance difference between production-based sports cars and purpose-built sports prototypes, one race usually involves several racing classes, each fighting for its own championship.

Famous sports car races include the [[24 Hours of Le Mans]], the [[Rolex 24 at Daytona]], [[Spa 24 Hours|24 Hours of Spa]]-Franchorchamps, the [[12 Hours of Sebring]], the [[6 Hours of Watkins Glen]], and the {{convert|1000|mi|km|adj=on}} [[Petit Le Mans]] at [[Road Atlanta]]. There is also the [[Nürburgring 24 Hours|24 Hours of the Nürburgring]] on the famed Nordschleife track and the [[Dubai 24 Hour]], which is aimed at GT3 and below cars with a mixture of professional and pro-am drivers.

===Production-car racing===
{{Main|Production car racing}}

Production-car racing, otherwise known as "showroom stock" in the US, is an economical and rules-restricted version of touring-car racing, mainly used to restrict costs. Numerous production racing categories are based on particular makes of cars.

Most series, with a few exceptions, follow the [[Group N]] regulation. There are several different series that are run all over the world, most notably, Japan's Super Taikyu and [[International Motor Sports Association|IMSA]]'s Firehawk Series, which ran in the 1980s and 1990s all over the United States.

===Stock car racing===
{{Main|Stock car racing}}
[[File:Green flag at Daytona.JPG|thumb|NASCAR green flag start at [[Daytona International Speedway]] for the [[2015 Daytona 500]]]]
[[File:Three-wide multiple row back.JPG|thumb|[[Jimmie Johnson]] leads the field racing three-wide multiple rows back at [[Daytona International Speedway]] in the [[2015 Daytona 500]].]]
[[File:BrettSontag2010LateModelRockfordSpeedway.jpg|thumb|An [[ASA Late Model Series]] stock car on an asphalt track]]
In North America, [[stock car racing]] is the most popular form of auto racing.<ref>{{cite news|last=Fryer |first=Jenna |title=Addition of IndyCar champ Hornish will give Penske third Cup team|url= https://www.espn.com/racing/news/story?id=3099978&seriesId=2 |access-date=February 8, 2009|work=ESPN News Services |agency=Associated Press |publisher=ESPN Internet Ventures|date=November 8, 2007|location=Charlotte, North Carolina}}</ref> Primarily raced on [[Oval track racing|oval tracks]], stock cars vaguely resemble production cars, but are in fact purpose-built racing machines that are built to tight specifications and, together with touring cars, also called [[Silhouette racing car]]s.

The largest stock car racing governing body is [[NASCAR]] (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing). NASCAR's premier series is the [[NASCAR Cup Series]], its most famous races being the [[Daytona 500]], the [[Bojangles Southern 500|Southern 500]], the [[Coca-Cola 600]], and the [[Brickyard 400]]. NASCAR also runs several feeder series, including the [[Xfinity Series]] and [[NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series|Craftsman Truck Series]] (a [[pickup truck]] racing series). The series conduct races across the entire [[continental United States]]. NASCAR also sanctions series outside of the United States, including the [[NASCAR Canada Series]], [[NASCAR Mexico Series]], [[NASCAR Whelen Euro Series]], and [[NASCAR Brasil Sprint Race]].

NASCAR also governs several smaller regional series, such as the [[Whelen Modified Tour]]. Modified cars are best described as open-wheel cars. Modified cars have no parts related to the stock vehicle for which they are named after. A number of modified cars display a "manufacturer's" logo and "vehicle name", yet use components produced by another automobile manufacturer.

There are also other stock car governing bodies, most notably the [[Automobile Racing Club of America]] (ARCA).

In the UK, [[British Stock car racing]] is also referred to as "Short Circuit Racing". UK Stock car racing started in the 1950s and grew rapidly through the 1960s and 1970s. Events take place on shale or tarmac tracks&nbsp;– usually around 1/4&nbsp;mile long. There are around 35 tracks in the UK and upwards of 7000 active drivers. The sport is split into three basic divisions&nbsp;– distinguished by the rules regarding car contact during racing. The most famous championship are the [[BriSCA F1 Stock Cars]].

Full-contact formulas include [[Banger racing|Bangers]], Bombers, and Rookie Bangers&nbsp;– and racing features Demolition Derbies, Figure of Eight, and Oval Racing.

Semi Contact Formulas include BriSCA F1, F2, and Superstox&nbsp;– where bumpers are used tactically.

Non-contact formulas include National Hot Rods, Stock Rods, and Lightning Rods.

===One-make racing===
{{See also|One-Design|Spec racing}}

One-make, or single marque, championships often employ production-based cars from a single manufacturer or even a single model from a manufacturer's range. There are numerous notable one-make formulae from various countries and regions, some of which&nbsp;– such as the [[Porsche Supercup]] and, previously, [[International Race of Champions|IROC]]&nbsp;– have fostered many distinct national championships. Single marque series are often found at the club level, to which the production-based cars, limited modifications, and close parity in performance are very well suited. Some of the better-known single-make series are the Mini 7 Championship (Europe's longest-running one-make championship), the [[Radical European Masters]], John Cooper Mini Challenge, [[Renault Clio Cup|Clio Cup]], [[Ginetta Cars|Ginettas]], [[Caterham Racing|Caterhams]], [[Kumho BMW Championship|BMWs]], and [[MaX5 Racing Championship|MX5s]]. There are also single-chassis [[open-wheel car|single seater]] formulae, such as [[Formula Renault]] and [[Formula BMW]], usually as "feeder" series for "senior" race formula (in the fashion of [[farm team]]s).

===Drag racing===
{{Main|Drag racing}}
[[File:Tarlton-Drag racing-004.jpg|thumb|Jet-propelled [[drag racing|dragster]] in Tarlton, Gauteng, South Africa]]
[[File:1970 AMC Javelin dragstrip car-r.jpg|thumb|Two modified [[American Motors Corporation|AMCs]] launching at a [[dragstrip]]]]

In drag racing, the objective is to complete a given straight-line distance, from a standing start, ahead of a vehicle in a parallel lane. This distance is traditionally {{convert|1/4|mi|m}}, though {{convert|1000|ft|m}} and {{convert|1/8|mi|m}} are also common. The vehicles may or may not be given the signal to start at the same time, depending on the class of racing. Vehicles range from the everyday car to the purpose-built [[drag racing|dragster]]. Speeds and elapsed time differ from class to class. Average street cars cover the {{frac|4}} mile in 12 to 16&nbsp;seconds, whereas a [[top fuel dragster]] takes 4.5&nbsp;seconds or less, reaching speeds of up to {{convert|530|km/h|0|abbr=on}}. Drag racing was organized as a sport by [[Wally Parks]] in the early 1950s through the [[National Hot Rod Association]] (NHRA). The NHRA was formed to discourage [[street racing]].

When launching, a top fuel dragster will accelerate at 3.4 [[g-force|g]] (33&nbsp;m/s<sup>2</sup>), and when braking parachutes are deployed the deceleration is 4&nbsp;g (39&nbsp;m/s<sup>2</sup>), more than the [[Space Shuttle]] experiences. A top fuel car can be heard over {{convert|8|mi|km}} away and can generate a reading from 1.5 to 3.9 on the [[Richter magnitude scale|Richter scale]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://topfuel.nhra.com/blog/nhra-notebook/2007/07/26/22660/ | title=Herbert's engine thunders to 3.9 on Richter scale | date=July 26, 2007 | work=NHRA.com | access-date=August 11, 2010 }}{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
<!-- Need more details to verify this reference:<ref>NHRA Mile High Nationals 2001, and 2002 testing from the National Seismology Center.</ref> -->

Drag racing is two cars head-to-head, the winner proceeding to the next round. Professional classes are all first to the finish line wins. Sportsman racing is handicapped (slower car getting a [[Head start (positioning)|head start]]) using an index (a lowest e.t. allowed), and cars running under (quicker than) their index "break out" and lose. The slowest cars, bracket racers, are also handicapped, but rather than an index, they use a [[Drag racing#Dial-in|dial-in]].

===Off-road racing===
{{Main|Off-road racing}}

[[File:Stockmini.jpg|thumb|[[Rod Hall (racer)|Rod Hall]] in a [[Hummer H3]] during a [[Best in the Desert]] race]]

In [[off-road racing]], various classes of specially modified vehicles, including cars, compete in races through off-road environments. In North America these races often take place in the [[desert]], such as the famous [[Baja 1000]]. Another format for off-road racing happens on closed-course [[Short course off-road racing|short course tracks]] such as [[Crandon International Off-Road Raceway]]. In the 1980s and 1990s, the short course was extended to racing inside stadiums in the [[Mickey Thompson Entertainment Group]]; this format was revived by [[Robby Gordon]] in 2013 with his [[Stadium Super Trucks]] series.

In Europe, "offroad" refers to events such as autocross or rallycross, while desert races and rally-raids such as the [[Paris-Dakar Rally|Paris-Dakar]], Master Rallye or European "bajas" are called "cross-country rallies".

===Kart racing===
[[File:AtwaterSat394.jpg|thumb|A sprint kart race in Atwater California hosted by the International Karting Federation]]

{{Main|Kart racing}}
The modern kart was invented by Art Ingels, a fabricator at the Indianapolis-car manufacturer Kurtis-Kraft, in Southern California in 1956. Ingels took a small chainsaw engine and mounted it to a simple tube-frame chassis weighing less than 100&nbsp;lb. Ingels, and everyone else who drove the kart, were startled at its performance capabilities. The sport soon blossomed in Southern California, and quickly spread around the world. Although often seen as the entry point for serious racers into the sport, [[kart racing]], or karting, can be an economical way for amateurs to try racing and is also a fully-fledged international sport in its own right. A large proportion of professional racing drivers began in karts, often from a very young age, such as [[Michael Schumacher]] and [[Fernando Alonso]]. Several former motorcycle champions have also taken up the sport, notably [[Wayne Rainey]], who was paralysed in a racing accident and now races a hand-controlled kart. As one of the cheapest ways to race, karting is seeing its popularity grow worldwide.

Despite their diminutive size, karts of the most powerful class, [[superkart]] (assuming a weight of 205&nbsp;kg (452&nbsp;lb), and a power output of 100&nbsp;hp (75&nbsp;kW)), can have a [[power-to-weight ratio]] (including the driver) of 490&nbsp;hp/tonne (0.22&nbsp;hp/lb). Without the driver, this figure doubles, to almost 980&nbsp;hp/tonne (0.44&nbsp;hp/lb).

===Historical racing===
[[File:Monterey Historic.jpg|thumb|[[Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca]], [[Monterey]], 2008]]

{{Main|Historic motorsport}}
Historic motorsport or vintage motorsport uses vehicles limited to a particular era. Only safety precautions are modernized in these hobbyist races. A historical event can be of various types of motorsport disciplines, from [[road racing]] to [[rallying]]. Because it is based on a particular era it is more hobbyist-oriented, reducing corporate sponsorship. The only modern equipment used is related to safety and timing. A historical event can be of a number of different motorsport disciplines.

Some of the most famous events include the [[Goodwood Festival of Speed]] and [[Goodwood Revival]] in Britain and [[Monterey Historic]] in the United States. Championships range from "grass root" [[Austin 7|Austin Seven]] racing to the [[FIA Thoroughbred Grand Prix Championship]] for classic [[Formula One]] chassis. While there are several professional teams and drivers in historical racing, this branch of [[auto sport]] tends to be contested by wealthy car owners and is thus more amateur and less competitive in its approach.

===Other categories===
{{see also|Category:Auto racing by type}}

{{columns-list|colwidth=22em|
* [[Autocross]]
* [[Autograss]]
* [[Banger racing]]
* [[Board track racing]]
* [[Demolition derby]]
* [[Dirt speedway racing]]
* [[Dirt track racing]]
* [[Drifting (motorsport)]]
* [[Eco-Marathon]]
* [[Electric drag racing]]
* [[Folkrace]]
* [[High Performance Drivers Education]]
* [[Hillclimbing]]
* [[Ice racing]]
* [[Legends car racing]]
* [[Midget car racing]]
* [[Mini sprint|Mini Sprint]]
* [[Monster truck]]
* [[Mud bogging]]
* [[Power Racing Series|Power Wheels Racing]]
* [[Pickup truck racing]]
* [[Rallycross]]
* [[Road racing]]
* [[Short track motor racing]]
* [[Autocross|Slalom]]
* [[Solar car racing]]
* [[Sprint car racing]]
* [[Swamp buggy|Swamp Buggy racing]]
* [[Truck racing]]
* [[Wheelstand Competition]]
}}

==Scoring==
{{unsourced section|date=December 2024}}
Each [[motor racing]] series has a points system, and a set of rules and regulations that define how points are accrued. Nearly all series award points according to the finishing position of the competitors in each [[Racing|race]]. Some series only award points for a certain number of finishing positions. In [[Formula One]], for example, only the top ten finishers get points. Drivers may be forced to finish the race or complete a certain number of the laps in order to score points.

In some series, points are also awarded based on lap leading, lap times, [[overtaking]] and qualifying positions (in particular by achieving [[pole position]]s and [[fastest lap]]s). In NASCAR, for example, besides receiving points depending on the final standings, one point is awarded for leading a lap and one point for leading the most laps in the race. In other series, such as for the [[National Hot Rod Association]], points are awarded for attempting the race along with a podium finish in any of the four qualifying rounds, as an incentive to have drivers participate week after week to compete.

==Use of flags==
{{Main|Racing flags}}

In many types of auto races, particularly those held on closed courses, flags are displayed to indicate the general status of the track and to communicate instructions to competitors. While individual series have different rules, and the flags have changed from the first years (e.g., red used to start a race), these are generally accepted.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Flag 
! Displayed from the start tower
! Displayed from the observation post
|-
|[[File:Auto Racing Green.svg|25px|border|Green flag]]
|The session has started or resumed after a full course caution or stop.
|End of the hazardous section of the track.
|-
|[[File:Auto Racing Yellow.svg|25px|border|Yellow flag]]
|Full course caution condition for ovals. On road courses, it means a local area of caution. Depending on the type of racing, either two yellow flags will be used for a full course caution or a sign with 'SC' ([[Safety car]]) will be used as the field follows the [[pace car|pace/safety car]] on track and no cars may pass. However, if the safety car gives a green light, then the cars behind can pass the safety car (lapped cars only).
|Local caution condition&nbsp;—no cars may pass at the particular corner where being displayed. When Stationary indicates hazard off-course, when Waving indicates hazard on-course.
|-
|[[File:Auto Racing Oil.svg|25px|Yellow flag with red stripes]]
|Debris, fluid, or other hazard on the track surface.
|Debris, fluid, or other hazard on the track surface.
|-
|[[File:Auto Racing Black.svg|25px|border|Black flag]]
|The car with the indicated number must pit for consultation.
|The session is halted, all cars on the course must return to the pit lane. May also be seen combined with a green flag to indicate oil on the track, typically referred to as a 'pickle' flag combination.
|-
|[[File:Auto Racing Orange Circle.svg|25px|border|Meatball flag]]
|The car with the indicated number has mechanical trouble and must pit.
|
|-
|[[File:Auto Racing Black White.svg|25px|border|Black and white flag]]
|The driver of the car with the indicated number has been penalized for misbehaviour.
|
|-
|[[File:Auto Racing White Cross.svg|25px|border|White cross flag]]
|The driver of the car with the indicated number is disqualified or will not be scored until they report to the pits.
|
|-
|[[File:Auto Racing Blue.svg|25px|border|Blue flag with yellow stripe]]
|The car should give way to faster traffic. This may be an advisory or an order depending on the series.
|A car is being advised or ordered to give way to faster traffic approaching.
|-
|[[File:F1 red flag.svg|25px|border|Red flag]]
|The session is stopped. All cars must halt on the track or return to the pit lane.
|
|-
|[[File:Auto Racing White.svg|25px|border|White flag]]
|Depending on the series, either one lap remains or a slow vehicle is on the track.
|A slow vehicle is on the track.
|-
|[[File:Auto Racing Chequered.svg|25px|border|Chequered flag]]
|The session has concluded.
|
|}

==Accidents==
{{see also|Deaths in motorsports}}
The worst accident in racing history is the [[1955 Le Mans disaster]], where more than 80 people died, including the French driver [[Pierre Levegh]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://jalopnik.com/just-how-horrifying-was-the-worst-crash-in-motorsports-1589382023/1710702151 |title=More Than 80 People Died In A Single Racing Crash 60 Years Ago Today |first=Patrick |last=George |date=6 November 2015 |access-date=25 October 2018 |work=Jalopnik |publisher=Gizmodo Media Group}}</ref>

==Racing-car setup==
{{Main|Racing setup}}

In auto racing, the [[racing setup]] or car setup is the set of adjustments made to the vehicle to optimize its behaviour (performance, [[Car handling|handling]], reliability, etc.). Adjustments can occur in [[Suspension (vehicle)|suspensions]], brakes, [[Transmission (mechanics)|transmissions]], engines, tires, and many others.

===Aerodynamics===
Aerodynamics and airflow play big roles in the setup of a race car. Aerodynamic downforce improves the race car's handling by lowering the center of gravity and distributing the weight of the car equally on each tire.<ref name="Adams, Eric 2006">{{cite journal |journal=Popular Science |title=The Perfect Racecar |date=April 2006 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=MY3SEwT-K0oC&q=The+Perfect+Racecar&pg=PA50 |last1=Adams |first1=Eric |first2=Joe |last2=Brown |volume=268 |issue=4 |pages=50–51 |access-date=2019-09-02}}</ref> Once this is achieved, fuel consumption decreases and the forces against the car are significantly lowered. Many aerodynamic experiments are conducted in wind tunnels, to simulate real-life situations while measuring the various drag forces on the car.<ref name="Diba, Fereydoon 2014">{{cite journal |last1=Diba |first1=Fereydoon |last2=Barari |first2=Ahmad |last3=Esmailzadeh |first3=Ebrahim |title=Handling and safety enhancement of race cars using active aerodynamic systems |journal=Vehicle System Dynamics |date=10 July 2014 |volume=52 |issue=9 |pages=1171–1190 |doi=10.1080/00423114.2014.930158 |bibcode=2014VSD....52.1171D |s2cid=110554353 }}</ref> These "Rolling roads" produce many wind situations and direct air flow at certain speeds and angles.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Marston |first=Steve |title=Spectacles of Speed: Modernity, Masculinity, and Auto Racing in Kansas, 1909–1918 |journal=Kansas History: A Journal of the Central Plains |date=Autumn 2015 |volume=38 |pages=192–207 |url= https://www.kshs.org/publicat/history/2015autumn_marston.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.kshs.org/publicat/history/2015autumn_marston.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |access-date=3 September 2019}}</ref> When a [[Diffuser (automotive)|diffuser]] is installed under the car, the amount of drag force is significantly lowered, and the overall aerodynamics of the vehicle is positively adjusted.<ref name="Diba, Fereydoon 2014"/> Wings and canards channel the airflow in the most efficient way to get the least amount of drag from the car. It is experimentally proven that downforce is gained and the vehicle's handling is considerably changed when aerodynamic wings on the front and rear of the vehicle are installed.<ref name="Diba, Fereydoon 2014"/>

===Suspension===
Suspension plays a huge part in giving the race car the ability to be driven optimally. Shocks are mounted vertically or horizontally to prevent the body from rolling in the corners. The suspension is important because it makes the car stable and easier to control and keeps the tires on the road when driving on uneven terrain. It works in three different ways including vertically, longitudinally, and laterally to control movement when racing on various tracks.<ref name="Adams, Eric 2006"/>

===Tyres===
Tyres called R-Compounds are commonly used in motorsports for high amounts of traction. The soft rubber allows them to expand when they are heated up, making more surface area on the pavement, therefore producing the most traction.<ref name="Adams, Eric 2006"/> These types of tyres do not have grooves on them. Tyre pressure is dependent on the temperature of the tyre and track when racing. Each time a driver pulls into the pits, the tyre pressure and temperature should be tested for optimal performance. When the tyres get too hot they will swell or inflate and need to be deflated to the correct pressure.<ref name="Adams, Eric 2006"/> When the tyres are not warmed up they will not perform as well.

===Brakes===
Brakes on a race car are imperative in slowing and stopping the car at precise times and wear quickly depending on the road or track on which the car is being raced, how many laps are being run, track conditions due to weather, and how many caution runs require more braking. There are three variables to consider in racing: brake pedal displacement, brake pedal force, and vehicle deceleration.<ref name="Groot, S. 2011">de Groot, S., et al. "Car Racing In A Simulator: Validation And Assessment Of Brake Pedal Stiffness." Presence: Teleoperators & Virtual Environments 20.1 (2011): 47–61. Academic Search Complete. Web. 7 Dec. 2016.</ref> Various combinations of these variables work together to determine the stiffness, sensitivity, and pedal force of the brakes. When using the brakes effectively, the driver must go through a buildup phase and end with a modulating phase. These phases include attaining maximum deceleration and modulating the brake pressure.<ref name="Groot, S. 2011"/> Brake performance is measured in bite and consistency. Bite happens when the driver first applies the brakes and they have not warmed up to the correct temperature to operate efficiently. Consistency is measured in how consistent the friction is during the entire time of braking. These two measurements determine the wear of the brakes.<ref name="Groot, S. 2011"/>

===Engine===
The race car's engine needs a considerable amount of air to produce maximum power. The air intake manifold sucks the air from scoops on the hood and front bumper and feeds it into the engine. Many engine modifications to increase horsepower and efficiency are commonly used in many racing-sanctioning bodies.<ref name="Adams, Eric 2006"/> Engines are tuned on a machine called a dynamometer, which is commonly known in the racing world as a DYNO. The car is driven onto the DYNO and many gauges and sensors are hooked up to the car that are controlled by an online program to test force, torque, or power. Through the testing, the car's engine maps can be changed to get the most horsepower and ultimately speed out of the vehicle.

==Racing drivers==
{{more citations needed section|date=February 2013}}
[[File:Podium 2016 Malaysia.jpg|thumb|right|[[Formula One]] racing drivers [[Max Verstappen]] ''(left)'', [[Daniel Ricciardo]] ''(center)'', and [[Nico Rosberg]] ''(right)'' celebrate on the podium of the [[2016 Malaysian Grand Prix]]]]
Racing drivers, at the highest levels, can be paid by the team, or by [[sponsor (commercial)|sponsor]]s, and can command substantial salaries. Drivers who pay for their positions, or ''seats'', within racing teams are typically known as [[pay driver]]s, or ''gentleman drivers''. Drivers may also enter events as [[privateer (motorsport)|privateer]]s.

Contrary to popular assumption, racing drivers as a group do not have unusually strong reflexes or [[reaction time|peripheral response time]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Memmert |first1=D. |last2=Simons |first2=DJ |last3=Grimme |first3=T. |title=The relationship between visual attention and expertise in sports |journal=Psychol Sport Exerc. |date=October 2009 |volume=10 |pages=146–151|doi=10.1016/j.psychsport.2008.06.002 }}</ref> During repeated physiological and psychological evaluations of professional racing drivers, the two characteristics that stand out are racers' near-obsessive need to control their surroundings—psychological—and an unusual ability to process fast-moving information —physiological. Researchers have noted a strong correlation between racing driver psychological profiles and those of fighter pilots. In tests comparing racing drivers to the general public, the greater the complexity of the information processing matrix, the greater the speed gap between the two groups.<ref>{{Cite journal |title=Differences between racing and non-racing drivers: A simulator study using eye-tracking |year=2017 |pmc=5679571 |last1=Van Leeuwen |first1=P. M. |last2=De Groot |first2=S. |last3=Happee |first3=R. |last4=De Winter |first4=J. C. |journal=PLOS ONE |volume=12 |issue=11 |pages=e0186871 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0186871 |pmid=29121090 |bibcode=2017PLoSO..1286871V |doi-access=free }}</ref>

Due partly to the performance capabilities of modern racing cars, racing drivers require a high level of [[Physical fitness|fitness]], focus, and the ability to concentrate at high levels for long periods in an inherently difficult environment. They often complain about injuries in the lumbar, shoulder, and neck regions.<ref name="2W"/> Racing drivers experience large [[g-force]]s due to [[formula racing|formula cars]] and [[sports prototype]]s generating high levels of [[downforce]], and being able to corner at high speeds.<ref>{{cite news|title=Driving a Race Car Takes Strength and Stamina: These Athletes Travel in Fast Lane but Keep Fit|url= https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-05-19-sp-9410-story.html |access-date=February 24, 2013|work=The Los Angeles Times |agency=Associated Press |publisher=Tribune Publishing |date=May 19, 1985|location=Indianapolis}}</ref> [[Formula One]] drivers routinely experience lateral loads in excess of {{Convert|4.5|g-force|lk=on|abbr=|m/s2 ft/s2}}, requiring drivers to commit to frequent neck training regimens.<ref>{{cite news|last=Norton|first=Charlie|title=Formula One drivers feel the G-force|url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/motorsport/7681665/Formula-One-drivers-feel-the-G-force.html |access-date=April 11, 2013|work=The Daily Telegraph |date=May 10, 2010}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Sports}}
* [[Outline of auto racing]]
* [[List of auto racing tracks]]
* [[Motorcycle racing]]
* [[Race track]]
* [[List of auto racing films]]
* [[Racing video game]]

==References==
{{reflist|refs=
<ref name="2W">{{cite journal |vauthors=Koutras C, Buecking B, Jaeger M, Ruchholtz S, Heep H |title=Musculoskeletal injuries in auto racing: a retrospective study of 137 drivers |journal=Phys Sportsmed | volume = 42 | issue = 4 | pages = 80–86 | year = 2014 | pmid = 25419891 | doi = 10.3810/psm.2014.11.2094 |s2cid=22425278 }}</ref>
<ref name="8W">{{cite web | url=http://forix.autosport.com/8w/bdb.html | title=The cradle of motorsport |first=Rémi |last=Paolozzi | date=May 28, 2003 | work=Welcome to Who? What? Where? When? Why? on the World Wide Web | publisher=Forix, Autosport, 8W}}</ref>
}}

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline|Automobile racing}}

; Sanctioning bodies
* [https://www.motorsportuk.org/ Motorsports UK Association] 
* [http://www.americanlemans.com/ American Le Mans Series (ALMS)]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150817050745/http://www.indycar.com/ Indy Racing League (IRL)]
* [http://www.FIA.com Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA)]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160422084627/http://www.grandamerican.com/ Grand American Road Racing Association]
* [http://www.icscc.com International Conference of Sports Car Clubs (ICSCC)]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20191030232225/http://www.ihra.com/ International Hot Rod Association (IHRA)]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081009000433/http://imsaracing.net/ International Motor Sports Association (IMSA)]
* [http://www.nasaproracing.com National Auto Sport Association]
* [http://www.nascar.com/ National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR)]
* [http://www.nhra.com National Hot Rod Association (NHRA)]
* [https://www.noprep.com No Prep Racing]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150824032706/http://score-international.com/ SCORE International Off-Road Racing]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150807042740/http://www.scca.org/ Sports Car Club of America (SCCA)]
* [http://www.usacracing.com/ United States Auto Club (USAC)]
* [http://www.formula1.com/ Formula One (F1)]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090522095748/http://www.cams.com.au/ Confederation of Australian Motorsport (CAMS)]
* [http://bitd.com/ Best In The Desert Off-Road Racing]
{{Class of Auto racing}}
{{Automobile endurance races}}
{{Racing}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Auto Racing}}
[[Category:Auto racing| ]]