Types of motorsport
Virtually all sports are divided into varieties with one or another kind of specificity. Motorsport is no exception. In this sport, its differences are determined by criteria such as: the modification of the car, the material and configuration of the road surface, the length of the route, the crew, the specificity of the athlete’s behaviour on the track.
Karting is a good starting point. Almost all world-class sportsmen often started their careers in karting with it. Karting is a sport that may be practised as early as at the age of five, and the range of successes a karting driver may achieve: from the titles of winner of various local competitions to gold medalists of world championships.
Round robin racing is perhaps the best-known form of karting, as it features the Formula 1 world championship, the most popular sport among karting fans. Until recently, circuit racing had three main components: asphalt track, competitions held in warm season and “hot” girls with flags. But the latter component has become a thing of the past due to gender trends in modern society.
Drifting is “figure skating” on a car. This kind of motorsports originated in Japan, and it remains the most popular in this country to this day. The reason: lack of space in the country for big car competitions. Like traditional figure skating, drifting is judged on technical correctness and spectacularity of the performance.
Drag racing is a short distance car race of 402 metres. Not only race car drivers, but also engine engineers compete in this discipline. A common attribute of cars taking part in such competitions is a parachute, whose task is to reduce the braking distance of the car after the end of the distance.
Autocross is a dirt track circular race, held at various times during the year. It is one of the dirtiest and dustiest but also one of the most entertaining forms of motorsport.
Rally-cross is a mixed-surface motor-racing course, part dirt and part tarmac. It is just as spectacular as classic autocross.
Winter track – a kind of motorsport, most popular in countries where snow and ice are prevailing road surfaces, or in moderate climates where the track is flooded before competitions, races are held on ice.
A vintage car rally is not even a motor sport, but rather an exhibition of vintage cars, and an opportunity for the owners to show off how well they maintain their motorized artefacts. Retro Rally is undoubtedly a spectacular form of motorsport which has many admirers. Routes are usually chosen for competitions in beautiful locations or places rich in historical sites.
Jeep-trial. The essence of this kind of motorsports is in its name. Only off-road vehicles are involved in competitions, and race tracks are selected according to the class of the car.
Trophy-raids are off-road races in cars with high cross-country ability held on rugged and difficult terrain.
Rally-raids are races for cars of various classes (both cars and trucks can take part in the same competition) on long-distance tracks. Courses may be either unpaved or asphalt. The most famous of these competitions is the Paris-Dakar Rally.
Rally is the discipline in which motorsport competitions were first held. Cars take part in the race. The track surface is usually asphalt. Competitions are held at different times of the year.
