Auto Racing is a sport in which drivers compete with each other to drive their cars faster around closed courses. Car racing is an important part of automobile development, allowing mechanics to test and improve vehicles with various technologies and engines while also providing a popular sport that attracts millions of fans.
The sport of car racing has been around since petrol-fueled engines were invented in the late 1800s. The first recorded races were effectively reliability trials, but soon developed into an important way for manufacturers to demonstrate their new vehicles.
One of the most popular forms of auto racing is road racing, which takes place on a circuit or racetrack. The first purpose-built circuit opened in 1907 in Surrey, England, known as Brooklands. It was designed by the famous engineer and aeronautical designer Geoffrey de Havilland, with a 4.43 km (2.75 mi) high-speed banked track.
Another popular form of racing is rallying, which involves driving over specified routes, with the driver being guided to checkpoints by a navigator between them. Rallying became very popular after World War II, with a European championship and worldwide competitions being instituted by the FIA.
In most types of auto racing, there are a number of different rules and regulations that must be followed in order to ensure safety for the drivers. These rules can vary from series to series, but most have the same general principle: if a car is being passed by a faster car, the driver must leave enough space for the faster car to pass without causing an accident.