With the motorsports season right around the corner, it can be hard to keep track of all the exciting races that occur during the season, especially if you are new to the sport. Here is a simple guide to get to know the exciting world of motorsports.
Formula 1:
Formula 1 is one of the fastest sports across the nation. Commonly referred to as F1, this popular motorsport began in the 1950s and it is a form of racing done by a single-seat car. In Formula 1, there are only the top 20 drivers in the world that compete for this form of racing: two drivers from each of 10 teams competing. The Formula 1 season usually starts off with the pre-season testing that begins in late February. During this time, the teams, alongside their driver, work together in testing the car to prepare for the season. This season will be a record-breaking season seeing as there will be 24 races all around the world. The 2024 Formula 1 season will start on March 2 in Bahrain and end on Dec. 8 in Abu Dhabi.
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IndyCar:
While Formula 1 is well-known all-around Europe, IndyCar is well-known in the United States. Similar to F1, IndyCar is also a style of single-car racing. IndyCar has also had its fair share of ex Formula 1 drivers that have raced, like Marcus Ericsson and Romain Grosjean. IndyCar races take place all over the United States and many drivers involved in these races are already a part of a driver development program with an F1 team. IndyCar is a great way for F1 fans in the United States to get a similar experience to the fast action that F1 can bring. The IndyCar 2024 season begins March 10 and finishes Sept. 15.
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NASCAR:
Similar to IndyCar, NASCAR is also very popular in the United States. NASCAR started in 1948 with its inaugural race at the beach course in Daytona. The Daytona 500 is one of the most popular races of the season due to the history behind the track and the race. The key difference in NASCAR is that there are more laps which means the race is longer compared to the previous two. Nonetheless, NASCAR is just as entertaining by emphasizing on the use of strategy during races and will always be a time filled family, fun and entertainment. You would think with longer races, NASCAR would have a shorter season. This is definitely not the case, with the 2024 NASCAR season being made up of 41 races, which starts on Feb. 4 in Los Angeles and ends Nov. 10 in Avondale, Arizona.
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MotoGP:
MotoGP became popular in 2002 and since then has become the peak of the two-wheeled sport. Although F1 seems to be considered the pinnacle of all motorsports, MotoGP is not far from claiming the title due to the high-speed corners that the bikers face during their races. MotoGP races in five different classes; 500cc, 350cc, 250cc, 125cc, and 600cc sidecars. This means that the higher the cc is for the bike the faster it is going to be. Similar to F1, MotoGP races take place all around the world on different tracks. The first race weekend of the MotoGP season will begin March 10 and finish Nov. 15.
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Endurance Racing:
Endurance racing is very different from the motorsports listed above. The other motorsports require the drivers to finish a certain number of laps with the fastest time. Meanwhile, drivers for endurance racing are given a certain time to run the longest distance amongst each other. This form of racing allows for the driver to show off their endurance as well as the equipment’s. There are eight rounds of endurance racing and each vary in different times. Rounds can go between six to 24 hours, the most famous race being the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Endurance racing allows for three drivers to compete for each team. The drivers take turns switching out when the car needs to refuel or when drivers start to feel fatigued. The 2024 WEC season will consist of eight rounds that will begin March 2 and finish Nov. 2.
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Whether you are a trained motorsports fan or are someone that is just getting into the sport, this guide is sure to help you keep your weekends booked and busy all year long.
Edited by: Kendall Merriett
Social Media Content created by: Callista Carreiro
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