Motorsport
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other uses, see Motorsport (disambiguation).
Various forms of motorsport
Motorsport(s) or motor sport(s) are sporting events, competitions and related
activities that primarily involve the use of automobiles, motorcycles, motorboats
and powered aircraft. For each of these vehicle types, the more specific terms
automobile sport, motorcycle sport, power boating and air sports may be used
commonly, or officially by organisers and governing bodies.[1][2][3][4]
Different manifestations of motorsport with their own objectives and specific rules
are called disciplines. Examples include circuit racing, rallying and trials.
Governing bodies, also called sanctioning bodies, often have general rules for each
discipline, but allow supplementary rules to define the character of a particular
competition, series or championship. Groups of these are often categorised
informally, such as by vehicle type, surface type or propulsion method. Examples of
categories within a discipline are formula racing, touring car racing, sports car
racing, etc.[5][6][7]
History
See also: Histories of the internal combustion engine, electric motor, steam
engine, automobile, motorcycle, motorboat, and aviation
[icon]
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (October 2023)
The first prearranged match race of two self-powered road vehicles over a
prescribed route occurred in the north west of England at 4:30 A.M. on August 30,
1867, between Ashton-under-Lyne and Old Trafford, Manchester, a distance of eight
miles. It was won by the locomotive of Isaac Watt Boulton, one of six he said he
had run over the years, perhaps driven by his 22-year-old son, James W. The race
was against Daniel Adamson's carriage, likely the one made for Mr. Schmidt and
perhaps driven by Mr. Schmidt himself. The reports do not indicate who was driving,
since both were violating the red-flag law then fully in force. Boulton's carriage
was developed from a scrapped John Bridge Adams light-rail vehicle. These were
solid fired steam carriages. This event and the details of the vehicles are
recorded in the contemporary press, The Engineer, and in Fletcher's books.
The Wisconsin legislature passed an act in 1875 offering a substantial purse for
the first US motor race, which was run on July 16, 1878, over a 200-mile course
from Green Bay to Appleton, Oshkosh, Waupon, Watertown, Fort Atkinson and
Janesville, then turning north and ending in Madison. Only two actually competed:
the Oshkosh and the Green Bay (the machines were referred to by their town of
origin). This is examined and illustrated in detail in The Great Race of 1878 by
Richard Backus, Farm Collector, May/June 2004.[8]
In 1894, the French newspaper Le Petit Journal organised a contest for horseless
carriages featuring a run from Paris to Rouen. This is widely accepted as the
world's first motorsport event, and was the first to involve what would become
known as automobiles.[9] On 28 November 1895, the Chicago Times-Herald race,
running from Chicago to Evanston and back, a distance of sixty miles, was held.
This is believed to be the first motorsport event in the United States of America.
[10] In 1900, the Gordon Bennett Cup was established.
Motorsport was a demonstration event at the 1900 Summer Olympics.
Following World War I, European countries organised Grand Prix races over closed
courses. In the United States, dirt track racing became popular.[11]
After World War II, the Grand Prix circuit became more formally organised. In the
United States, stock car racing and drag racing became firmly established.[12]
Automobile sport
Governing bodies
The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), formed in 1904, is the oldest
and most prominent international governing body. It claims to be the sole
international motor sporting authority for automobiles and other land vehicles with
four or more wheels, whilst acknowledging the authority of the Fédération
Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) over vehicles with one to three wheels, which
FIM calls motorcycle sport.[13][7]
FIM and FIA are both recognised as international sports federations by the
International Olympic Committee.[14][15]
FIA hierarchy
See also: List of FIA member organisations
Within the FIA's structure, each affiliated National Sporting Authority (ASN) is
recognised as the sole authority in their nation. Permission of the ASNs must be
obtained to organise events using their rules, and their licenses must be held by
participants. Not all ASNs function in the same manner, some are private companies
such as Motorsport UK, some are supported by the state such as France's FFSA, or in
the case of the US's ACCUS, a council of sanctioning bodies is the national
representative at FIA meetings.[16][17][18][19]
ASNs, their affiliated clubs or independent commercial promotors organise
motorsport events which often include competitions. A collective of events is
called a series, and a grouping of competitions often forms the basis of a
championship, cup or trophy.
