Motor sports Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Motorsport
Characteristics
A modern-day Formula One car (the Mercedes F1 W06 Hybrid of 2015)
Highest governing body	FIA (four- or more wheeled) FIM (two-wheeled)
First competitive race	1894
Glossary	Glossary of motorsport terms
Presence
Country or region	Worldwide
Olympic	1900 (Demonstration only)

Motorsport is a type of sport where people compete using vehicles with engines. This can include cars, motorcycles, or even boats. Sometimes, people also race aircraft or snowmobiles.

These sports can be about speed, where the fastest person wins. These are often called races. Other times, they are about skill, where you try to get the fewest mistakes or penalty points. These are sometimes called trials. Some popular motor sports are rally, Formula 1, and Nascar.

What is Motor Racing?
Images for kids
See also

What is Motor Racing?

Motor racing is a big part of motorsport. It's all about competitors racing against each other to see who is the fastest.

Open-Wheel Racing

The Mercedes F1 W06 Hybrid, a winning Formula One car from 2015.

Open-wheel racing uses special cars where the wheels are outside the main body of the vehicle. They look very different from regular cars. These races often have different "Formula" levels, like Formula One (the most famous), Formula 3, and Formula Ford. In North America, the IndyCar series is a top open-wheel race.

Formula One: The Pinnacle of Racing

Formula One is a very popular type of open-wheel racing. It's managed by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The rules for these cars are very strict. They control how powerful, heavy, and big the cars can be.

Formula E: Electric Speed

Formula E is a newer type of open-wheel racing. What makes it special is that all the cars are powered only by electricity! This series started in 2014 and has become very popular. The cars use the same basic design, but different companies can create their own electric engines.

IndyCar Series: American Racing History

The IndyCar Series has a long history, starting in 1909. One of its most famous races is the Indianapolis 500, which began in 1911. Today, the IndyCar series has many teams and drivers. They race on different tracks throughout the season.

Enclosed-Wheel Racing

A Ford Focus WRC rally car during the 2010 Rally Finland.

In enclosed-wheel racing, the wheels of the cars are mostly covered by the car's body. These cars look more like regular production cars.

Sports Car Racing

Sports car racing involves special sports cars and racing cars on closed tracks. A very famous race is the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France. In this race, teams compete for 24 hours straight! Rules for sports car racing can be different depending on where the race is held.

Stock Car Racing: A Unique American Sport

Stock car racing is very popular in the United States, especially through NASCAR. These cars race on oval tracks. Even though they are called "stock cars," they are now built just for racing. However, they still look like regular production cars.

The sport of stock car racing has interesting beginnings. It's said that it started with people who secretly transported goods during a time when certain items were forbidden. They modified their cars to be faster than the police cars. Many famous NASCAR drivers started this way.

NASCAR was officially formed in 1947. One of the biggest races is the Daytona 500, held in Florida. It's often called 'The Great American Race'. Richard Petty is a legendary NASCAR driver, known for winning over 200 races.

Touring Car Racing

Touring car racing uses modified street cars. These cars race on special tracks and sometimes on temporary street courses.

Off-Road Racing: Adventures Beyond Pavement

Off-road racing involves vehicles built for rough terrain. These cars are modified to race on dirt tracks and courses. It's very popular in places like California and Arizona. A famous off-road race in the United States is the Baja 1000. This race covers nearly 1000 miles in the Baja California peninsula. Organizations like the National Off-Road Racing Association (NORRA) help organize these exciting events.

Other Types of Racing

Finnish speedway riders competing in the Speedway Extraliiga.

Besides car racing, there are many other kinds of motor sports where people race against each other:

Air racing (racing airplanes)
Motor rallying (racing on public or private roads)
Motorcycle racing (racing motorcycles)
Kart racing (racing small, open-wheel vehicles called karts)
Motorboat racing (racing boats)
Drone racing (racing remote-controlled drones)
Hovercraft racing (racing hovercrafts)
Lawn mower racing (racing modified lawn mowers)
Radio-controlled model racing (racing small remote-controlled vehicles)
Slot car racing (racing miniature cars on a track with slots)
Snowmobile racing (racing snowmobiles)
Truck racing (racing large trucks)

Images for kids

A postcard from the Brighton Motor Trials in July 1905.
Mercedes-Benz has won many Formula One championships. Pictured: the Mercedes W11.
Hélio Castroneves at the 2019 Indianapolis 500.
Cole Rouse driving in NASCAR in 2018.
Marc Márquez riding in the 2018 MotoGP World Championship.
The Citroën C3 WRC racing at the 2017 WRC Rally Finland.