null Skip to main content

In sport, racing is a competition of speed, against an objective criterion, usually a clock or to a specific point. The competitors in a race try to complete a given task in the shortest amount of time. Typically this involves traversing some distance, but it can be any other task involving speed to reach a specific goal.

Auto racing (also known as car racing, motor racing or automobile racing) is a motorsport involving the racing of automobiles for competition.

Almost as soon as automobiles had been invented, races of various sorts were organized, 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 competing 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.

!