Motor sport

Motor sport includes car and motorcycle racing for spectators. There are motor sport events at all levels, from international series such as the Formula One, to casual amateur contests.

• Formula One or F1 is the premier category of motor sport, with cars racing at over 350 kph, usually on dedicated circuits but occasionally on closed streets, such as in Monaco.

Grand Prix is the annual calendar of 24 F1 races, with winners totting up points towards the World Championships.

F2, F3 and F-E (electric) are lower car categories. Their races are interspersed with F1 over a three-day Grand Prix weekend.

• IndyCar is roughly the US equivalent to F1, racing similar open-wheel cars. However, many of its races are on oval tracks, which F1 does not use.
• MotoGP is equivalent to F1 for motorcycle racing. It is a series of races held on various circuits around the world, attracting top motorcycle manufacturers.
• NASCAR is the governing body for American stock car racing, which uses cars more similar in appearance to regular street vehicles and races almost exclusively on oval tracks. Its top-level Cup Series is the most popular form of motorsport in the US, especially in the southeastern states. Note also that one of its racing series uses pickup trucks instead of cars.
• Supercars Championship takes place in Australia but also includes one race in New Zealand. It's a touring car series. Americans: think NASCAR, but run only on road courses. Europeans: think of it as an Australian equivalent to the German-based DTM series.
• Rallying is staged over a road circuit or point-to-point, where vehicles don't start head-to-head but are flagged off at intervals. That's more suitable for narrow roads or forestry haulways where overtaking is difficult, and massed vehicles racing abreast isn't possible. The World Rally Championship is an annual series with about a dozen events: the "Dakar Rally" since 2020 is held in Saudi Arabia, while the "Monte Carlo Rally" is still in the south of France but seldom visits Monaco.
• Go-karting: the next generation of F1 drivers has to start somewhere. But if you seat a bunch of excitable 8-year-olds in racing cars and encourage them to drive hell-for-leather, you've a responsibility to ensure that the resultant crashes are survivable and the repairs are affordable. Go-karts are low-set, low-powered vehicles designed for young drivers, and spectators are usually just family.

• Motorcycle speedway involves motorcycles racing around an oval-shaped track.

Despite significant improvements in safety over the past several decades, motor sports remain an inherently dangerous activity for both drivers and spectators. Strong fences surround the spectator areas at nearly every race track, but there is still a risk of car parts breaking through or even flying over the fence and causing injuries should an incident occur nearby. If one does, move away from the area immediately and follow the directions of the track's safety personnel.

Ear protection is also strongly recommended for attendees, as prolonged exposure to the very loud noise generated by racing engines can lead to hearing damage.

• Skydiving gets you moving at 200+ kph but you leave the motor behind: the aircraft lifts you to altitude then you dive out into freefall.