Motorsport involving the racing of cars for competition

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Auto racing</span>

Auto racing

<p><b>Auto racing</b> (also known as <b>car racing</b>, <b>motor racing</b>,<span class="mw-ref reference" id="cite_ref-1"><a href="#cite_note-1" style="counter-reset: mw-Ref 1;"><span class="mw-reflink-text">[1]</span></a></span> or <b>automobile racing</b>) is a <a href="/en/Motorsport" title="Motorsport" class="wl">motorsport</a> involving the <a href="/en/Racing" title="Racing" class="wl">racing</a> of <a href="/en/Automobiles" title="Automobiles" class="mw-redirect wl">automobiles</a> for competition.</p>

<div class="shortdescription nomobile noexcerpt noprint searchaux" style="display:none" about="#mwt1">Motorsport involving the racing of cars for competition</div>
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<style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1066479718" typeof="mw:Extension/templatestyles mw:Transclusion">.mw-parser-output .infobox-subbox{padding:0;border:none;margin:-3px;width:auto;min-width:100%;font-size:100%;clear:none;float:none;background-color:transparent}.mw-parser-output .infobox-3cols-child{margin:auto}.mw-parser-output .infobox .navbar{font-size:100%}body.skin-minerva .mw-parser-output .infobox-header,body.skin-minerva .mw-parser-output .infobox-subheader,body.skin-minerva .mw-parser-output .infobox-above,body.skin-minerva .mw-parser-output .infobox-title,body.skin-minerva .mw-parser-output .infobox-image,body.skin-minerva .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data,body.skin-minerva .mw-parser-output .infobox-below{text-align:center}</style><div class='mobile-collapse'><header class="mobile-collapse-header mobile-collapse-btn"><b>Quick facts: Highest governing&nbsp;body, First contested,...</b> <span class='arrow'>▼</span></header> <table class="infobox vcard mobile-collapse-element"><caption class="infobox-title fn" style="padding-bottom:0.2em;">Auto racing</caption><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="line-height:1.3em; padding-right:1.0em;">Highest <a href="/en/Sports_governing_body" title="Sports governing body" class="wl">governing<span>&nbsp;</span>body</a></th><td class="infobox-data" style="line-height:1.3em;"><a href="/en/Fédération_Internationale_de_l'Automobile" title="Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile" class="wl">FIA</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="line-height:1.3em; padding-right:1.0em;">First contested</th><td class="infobox-data" style="line-height:1.3em;">August 30, 1867</td></tr><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-header notheme" style="background:#eee;">Characteristics</th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="line-height:1.3em; padding-right:1.0em;"><a href="/en/Mixed-sex_sports" title="Mixed-sex sports" class="wl">Mixed-sex</a></th><td class="infobox-data" style="line-height:1.3em;">Yes</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="line-height:1.3em; padding-right:1.0em;">Type</th><td class="infobox-data" style="line-height:1.3em;">Outdoor and Indoor</td></tr><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-header notheme" style="background:#eee;">Presence</th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="line-height:1.3em; padding-right:1.0em;"><a href="/en/Olympic_Games" title="Olympic Games" class="wl">Olympic</a></th><td class="infobox-data" style="line-height:1.3em;"><a href="/en/1900_Summer_Olympics" title="1900 Summer Olympics" class="wl">1900 Summer Olympics</a> (demonstration only)</td></tr></tbody></table> <footer class='mobile-collapse-footer mobile-collapse-btn'><b>Close</b> <span class='arrow'>▲</span></footer></div>

<p>Auto racing has existed since the invention of the automobile. Races of various sorts were organised, with the first recorded as early as 1867. Many of the earliest events were effectively <a href="/en/Classic_trials" title="Classic trials" class="wl">reliability trials</a>, 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.</p>

<p>There are now numerous different categories, each with different rules and regulations.</p>



Auto racing is a motorsport involving the racing of automobiles for competition. Auto racing has existed since the invention of the automobile. Races of various sorts were organised, with the first recorded as early as 1867. Many of the earliest events were effectively 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. 