Standing start facts for kids

A standing start is a way a car race begins where all the cars are completely still when the race starts. Imagine a traffic light counting down, and when it turns green, all the cars zoom off at the same time!

This type of start is used in many exciting motorsports. You'll see it in drag racing, where cars race in a straight line, and in famous races like Formula One and GP2 Series. It's also common in Touring Car races (like British and World Touring Cars) and V8 Supercars. Sometimes, before a standing start, cars do a slow lap called a parade lap to warm up their tires and get ready.

Why Use a Standing Start?

A standing start is different from a rolling start, where cars are already moving when the race begins. For very fast cars, like those in Formula sports, standing starts are often seen as safer. This is because these cars can accelerate incredibly quickly, and starting from a standstill helps manage that power right at the beginning.

However, standing starts can sometimes cause problems. If a car stalls (stops working) right at the start, another car behind it on the grid might accidentally hit it. Also, drivers who try to "jump the start" (move before the green light) usually get a penalty.

Images for kids

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  A Le Mans-style start at the Nürburgring in 1965.

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  A Le Mans-style start at Le Mans Classic in 2018.

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  Cars starting from a "launch point" at the 2013 EFRA European 1:8 IC Off-Road Championship.

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  A "land rush" start in ice racing (2010).

See also

In Spanish: Parrilla de salida para niños