The first prearranged match race of two self-powered road vehicles occurred on August 30, 1867, between Ashton-under-Lyne and Old Trafford, England. Internal combustion racing began shortly after the construction of the first gasoline-fueled automobiles. On April 28, 1887, Monsieur Fossier organized the first contest, a 2-kilometre run from Neuilly Bridge to the Bois de Boulogne. On July 22, 1894, the Parisian magazine Le Petit Journal organized what is considered the world's first motoring competition, held from Paris to Rouen. One hundred and two competitors paid a 10-franc entrance fee for the event.
In the United States, the Thanksgiving Day Chicago Times-Herald race of November 28, 1895, is generally considered the first American automobile race and aroused significant interest in the vehicle. Early international racing was often dominated by France, where the automobile club ACF staged major races connecting Paris with other cities. In Argentina, the Turismo Carretera (TC) began in 1931 and remains one of the oldest active racing series in the world; future Formula One star Juan Manuel Fangio) won the 1940 and 1941 editions of the TC driving a Chevrolet.
The development of purpose-built circuits began in the early 20th century. Aspendale Racecourse in Australia opened in January 1906 as the world's first purpose-built motor racing circuit. Brooklands in England followed in June 1907 as the first purpose-built "banked" venue. In the United States, the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway is one of the oldest existing purpose-built courses still in use and holds the largest capacity of any sports venue worldwide. While the corpus notes its status as one of the oldest, external records indicate the first race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was held in 1909 (history.com).
NASCAR was founded on February 21, 1948, by Bill France Sr., with its first "Strictly Stock" race held in 1949 at Daytona Beach. The sport entered its "modern era" in 1972 following schedule reductions and the involvement of the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company.
In single-seater (open-wheel) racing, the wheels are not covered, and cars often use aerofoil wings to produce downforce. Formula One is a worldwide series where cars are heavily based on technology and aerodynamics; Valtteri Bottas set a speed record of 372.5 km/h (231 mph) in 2016. In the United States, the IndyCar Series is the most popular, featuring the Indianapolis 500, known as "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing." Other tiers include Formula 2, Formula 3, and introductory series like Formula Ford.
Touring car racing uses production-derived four-seat race cars. Because they use less aerodynamics than open-wheel cars, following and passing is easier, often resulting in full-contact racing. Major championships include the Supercars Championship (Australia), the British Touring Car Championship, and DTM.
This category involves production-derived versions of two-seat sports cars (GTs) and purpose-built sports prototypes. The 24 Hours of Le Mans, begun in 1923, is the oldest surviving sports car race. Prototypes, such as LMP, LMH, and LMDh cars, are purpose-built for endurance and are faster than GT cars. The premier series is the FIA World Endurance Championship.
Most popular in North America, stock cars are purpose-built machines that vaguely resemble production cars. NASCAR is the largest governing body, with the NASCAR Cup Series featuring famous races like the Daytona 500 and Coca-Cola 600. In the UK, stock car racing is often called "Short Circuit Racing" and includes full-contact formulas like Bangers.
Also known as "showroom stock," this is an economical and rules-restricted version of touring car racing used to restrict costs. Most series follow Group N regulations. Notable examples include Japan's Super Taikyu and the Firehawk Series which ran in the U.S. during the 1980s and 1990s.
Championships where all competitors use cars from a single manufacturer or a single model, such as the Porsche Carrera Cup. While some series use identical engines, others like Super Formula or IndyCar use a standardized chassis but allow different engine suppliers, such as Toyota and Honda.
Drag racing: A straight-line competition over distances like 1/4 mile. Top fuel dragsters can reach speeds of 530 km/h (329 mph).
Off-road racing: Competitions in off-road environments, such as the Baja 1000 or stadium-based short course racing.
Kart racing: Often the entry point for professional racers, using small, low-cost machines. The modern kart was invented by Art Ingels in 1956.
Historical racing: Hobbyist-oriented racing using vehicles limited to a particular era, such as the Goodwood Festival of Speed or the Monterey Historic.
Most series award points based on finishing positions. Some, like Formula One, only award points to the top ten finishers. NASCAR awards additional points for leading a lap or leading the most laps. In many races, flags are used to communicate track status and instructions to drivers, such as the use of red flags to stop a race.
The car setup involves adjustments to optimize performance:
Aerodynamics: Downforce improves handling by distributing weight equally on tires. Diffusers, wings, and canards are used to manage airflow and reduce drag.
Suspension: Controls movement vertically, longitudinally, and laterally to keep tires on the road.
Tires: R-Compound tires provide high traction. Soft rubber expands when heated to increase surface area.
Brakes: Performance is measured in "bite" (initial application) and "consistency" (friction during the entire braking period).
Engine: Engines are tuned on a dynamometer (DYNO) to maximize horsepower and torque.
Professional drivers require high levels of fitness to withstand large g-forces. Formula One drivers routinely experience lateral loads exceeding 4.5 g. Psychologically, professional racers are characterized by a near-obsessive need to control their surroundings and an unusual ability to process fast-moving information, a profile similar to that of fighter pilots.
The 1955 Le Mans disaster is the worst accident in racing history, resulting in the deaths of more than 80 people, including driver Pierre Levegh.
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