With so many motorsport events being organised all over the world, a racing enthusiast is truly spoilt for choice these days. So, which are the ones that you just cannot afford to miss if you’re a petrolhead? Where can you get that perfect combo of edge-of-your-seat viewing, thrilling competition, fearless racing, and rich tradition?
There are certainly too many contenders for the crown of best motorsport event in the calendar for us to even attempt to narrow it down to just one. So here, without any further ado, are the ten biggest and best events in motorsport:
- The Indianapolis 500
Over 30 cars speeding at over 200 mph over one of the most famous tracks in racing history and nearly 400,000 people spectating. Now that is enough to get your heart thumping, right? The Indianapolis 500 (or, as it is more fondly known, the Indy 500), is one of the most esteemed motorsport events in the world. From seasoned fans to newbies alike, this action-packed race attracts everyone.
- The Monaco Grand Prix
The Monaco Grand Prix is the crown jewel of the Formula 1 racing calendar. Letting those 700+ horsepower engines loose on the 3.34 kilometre long track through the streets of Monaco, leads to one adrenaline-pumping event. The race, which started way back in the year 1929, now attracts the most prestigious drivers and glamorous spectators from all over the world to this small principality.
- The 24 Hours of Le Mans
Racing for two hours, though exhausting, is doable. But racing for 24 hours straight through the day and night? You’d have to be mad, right? But that is exactly what the 24 Hours of Le Mans brings you. Teams consisting of three drivers battle it out to complete the most number of laps of the 8.47 miles long Circuit de la Sarthe in a full day. Come June, thousands of fans of motorsport come to this small town, from where the race derives its name, to witness the endurance test of all endurance tests.
- The Daytona 500
Want to visit the richest, biggest, and the most prestigious race of NASCAR? The Daytona 500 is the one for you. This one is best known as the crown jewel of the Sprint Cup Series. With names like Petty, Earnhardt, Yarborough, and Gordon on the list of the past winners, Daytona 500 has a special place in the NASCAR Hall of Fame. It’s the spectacle that every sports admirer needs to experience at least once in their lifetime.
- The Isle of Man TT
The Isle of Man Tourist Trophy is often referred to as the last great motorsport event in the world: a well-deserved title for the event. Every year in June, the racers compete on a closed two-lane country road at speeds of over 200 mph. It is undoubtedly one of the most dangerous races in the world. Legends like Mike Hailwood, Giacomo Agostini, and Joey Dunlop have competed and earned victories on this course. Ever since the Grand Prix departed from the island, the prize money has taken a hit, but the passion of the competitors has certainly not!
- Rally Finland
Rally Finland is all about a series of sprints over blind crests and through narrow turns, demanding high speed, absolute bravery, and complete accuracy. Those famous gravel stages through the forest and around Jyvaskyla are as unforgiving as you can imagine. Think about jumps that send the cars flying almost half of the length of a football pitch, while your heart pumps so fast that you fear it will burst out of your chest. Yes, that is what this motorsport event does to you. Still, want to miss it?
- The Reno Air Races
Until humans start racing space shuttles, there is nothing that you need to look up for that can beat the excitement of the Reno Air Races. So you thought Indy was pretty fast? Now, think about doubling the speed to over 500 mph and flying a hundred feet off the ground. You get the picture, right? The event, demonstrated by the air show pilots, is truly one of a kind and that makes it worthy of an honourable mention on this list, even though, yes, we know, it isn’t a motorsports event in the strictest sense.
- The Grand Prix of Belgium at Spa
If you have a bucket list and you are a motorsport junkie, then it simply has to include the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa. There is little that can come close to it for the thrill factor. It is one of the classics on the F1 calendar, and for good reason. The track snakes through the Ardennes Forest for seven kilometres, which makes it one of the longest circuits in the entire series. And perhaps it is also the rustic appeal of Spa which brings a festival-like feeling to the event.
- The 24 Hours of Nürburgring
Watched a Grand Prix? Visited Le Mans? Now, it’s time for you to pack your bags for the legendary Nürburgring. With 15.99 miles of track and 150,000 spectator capacity, it is one of the longest, most richly steeped in tradition, challenging and busiest race tracks in the world. And the 24 Hours of Nurburgring is one of the toughest driving experiences in the world. It is racing in its purest form. It is similar in format to Le Mans, but the size and the scale of the event are much larger, which makes it even more spectacular.
- The Italian Grand Prix at Monza
Autodromo Nazionale Monza is the oldest circuit on the current F1 calendar, and with history dating back to 1922, it’s a pilgrimage that any true racing fan needs to make at least once. If you’re lucky enough to attend on an occasion when Ferrari wins the race at Monza, then you can expect to see a party that makes the Carnivals in Rio look like a prayer meeting!
These top ten picks make unbeatable experiences for anyone who gets a rush out of motorsport. If you can’t attend them, then make sure you watch them and see what makes them the best motorsport events in the world.