Auto racing

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This article is about the motorsport. For the video game, see ​Auto Racing (video game)​.

"Auto race" redirects here. For other uses, see ​Auto race (disambiguation)​.

"Racing cars" redirects here. For the Welsh pop band, see ​Racing Cars​.

"Race driver" redirects here. For the racing simulation video game series, see ​TOCA Race Driver​.

Jimmie Johnson​ leads the field racing three-wide multiple

rows back at ​Daytona International Speedway​ in the ​2015
Daytona 500​.

Highest ​governing FIA

body

First contested April 28, 1887

Characteristics

Mixed gender Yes

Type Outdoor and Indoor

Presence
 Olympic 1900 Summer
Olympics​(demonstration
only)

[1]​
Auto racing​ (also known as ​car racing​, ​motor racing​,​ or ​automobile racing​) is a ​motorsport​ involving

the ​racing​ of ​automobiles​ for competition.

Almost as soon as automobiles had been invented, races of various sorts were organised, with the first
recorded as early as 1867. Many of the earliest events were effectively ​reliability trials​, aimed at proving
these new machines were a practical mode of transport, but soon became an important way for competing
makers to demonstrate their machines. By the 1930s specialist racing cars had developed.

There are now numerous different categories, each with different rules and regulations.

Contents
[2]
ulton​.​

Internal combustion auto racing events began soon after the construction of the first successful
gasoline​-fueled automobiles. The first organized contest was on April 28, 1887, by the chief editor of Paris
[3]​
publication ​Le Vélocipède,​ Monsieur Fossier.​ It ran 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from Neuilly Bridge to the Bois

de Boulogne.

Albert Lemaître​ classified first in his ​Peugeot Type 5​ 3hp in the ​Paris–Rouen​.

[4]​
On July 22,​ 1894, the Parisian magazine ​Le Petit Journal​ organized what is considered to be the world's

first motoring competition, from Paris to Rouen. One hundred and two competitors paid a 10-franc entrance
[3]
fee.​
The first American automobile race is generally held to be the Thanksgiving Day ​Chicago Times-Herald
[5]​
race​ of November 28, 1895.​ Press coverage of the event first aroused significant American interest in the

[5]
automobile.​

Fernand Gabriel driving a ​Mors​ in ​Paris-Madrid​ 1903

With auto construction and racing dominated by France, the French automobile club ACF staged a number
of major international races, usually from or to Paris, connecting with another major city, in France or
elsewhere in Europe.

A remaining section of the ​Brooklands​ track in 2007

[6]​
Brooklands​, in Surrey, was the first purpose-built motor racing venue, opening in June 1907.​ It featured a

4.43 km (2.75 mi) concrete track with high-speed banked corners.

One of the oldest existing purpose-built automobile racing circuits in the United States, still in use, is the
2.5-mile-long (4.0 km) ​Indianapolis Motor Speedway​ in ​Speedway, Indiana​. It is the largest capacity sports
[7]
venue of any variety worldwide, with a top capacity of some 257,000+ seated spectators.​
NASCAR was founded by Bill France, Sr. on February 21, 1948, with the help of several other drivers of the
time. The first NASCAR "Strictly Stock" race ever was held on June 19, 1949, at ​Daytona Beach, Florida​.

From 1962, sports cars temporarily took a back seat to GT cars, with the FIA replacing the World
[8]
Championship for Sports Cars with the International Championship for GT Manufacturers.​

From 1972 through 2003, NASCAR's premier series was called the Winston Cup Series, sponsored by ​R.
J. Reynolds Tobacco Company​cigarette brand ​Winston​. The changes that resulted from RJR's
involvement, as well as the reduction of the schedule from 48 to 31 races a year, established 1972 as the
beginning of NASCAR's "modern era".

[9]​
The IMSA GT Series evolved into the ​American Le Mans Series​, which ran its first season in 1999.​ The

European races eventually became the closely related ​Le Mans Series​, both of which mix prototypes and
GTs.

Turismo Carretera (Road racing, lit., Road Touring) is a popular touring car racing series in Argentina, and
the oldest car racing series still active in the world. The first TC competition took place in 1937 with 12
races, each in a different province. Future Formula One star Juan Manuel Fangio (Chevrolet) won the 1940
and 1941 editions of the TC. It was during this time that the series' Chevrolet-Ford rivalry began, with Ford
acquiring most of its historical victories.

Categories​[​edit​]

Open-wheel racing​[​edit​]
​ ormula racing​ and O
Main articles: F ​ pen wheel car

Giedo van der Garde​ driving the ​Caterham CT03​ at ​Sepang International Circuit

The two most popular varieties of open wheel ​road racing​ are ​Formula One​ and the ​IndyCar Series​.

Formula One is a European-based series that runs only ​street circuit​ and ​race tracks​. These cars are
heavily based around technology and their aerodynamics. With the highest speed record set in 2005 by
[10]​
Juan Pablo Montoya hitting 373 kph (232 mph).​ Some of the most prominent races are the Monaco
Grand Prix, the Italian Grand Prix, and the British Grand Prix. The season ends with the crowning of the
World Championship for drivers and constructors.

In single-seater (​open-wheel​), the wheels are not covered, and the cars often have aerofoil wings front and
rear to produce ​downforce​ and enhance adhesion to the track. In Europe and Asia, open-wheeled racing is
commonly referred to as "Formula", with appropriate hierarchical suffixes. In North America, the "Formula"
terminology is not followed (with the exception of F1). The sport is usually arranged to follow an
international format (such as F1), a regional format (such as the Formula 3 Euro Series), and/or a
domestic, or country-specific, format (such as the German Formula 3 championship, or the British Formula
Ford).

A Panoz GF09 Indycar Series chassis driven by ​Jaques Lazier​ during practice for the ​2007 Indianapolis
500

In the United States, the most popular series is the ​National Championship​, more commonly known as the
IndyCar Series and previously known as ​CART​). The cars have traditionally been similar though less
technologically sophisticated than ​F1 cars​, with more restrictions on technology aimed at controlling costs.
While these cars are not as technologically advanced, they are faster, mainly because they compete on
oval race tracks, being able to average a lap at 388 kph (241 mph). The series' biggest race is the
Indianapolis 500​, which is commonly referred to as "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing" due to being the
longest continuously run race and having the largest crowd for a single-day sporting event (350,000+).
 Formula Three​ car racing at the ​Hockenheimring​, 2008

The other major international single-seater racing series is ​Formula 2​ (formerly known as ​Formula 3000
and ​GP2 Series​). Regional series include ​Formula Nippon​ and ​Formula V6 Asia​ (specifically in Asia),
Formula Renault 3.5​ (also known as the World Series by Renault, succession series of ​World Series by
Nissan​), ​Formula Three​, ​Formula Palmer Audi​ and ​Formula Atlantic​. In 2009, the ​FIA Formula Two
Championship​ brought about the revival of the F2 series. Domestic, or country-specific, series include
[​citation
Formula Three and Formula Renault, with the leading introductory series being ​Formula Ford​.​

needed]​

Single-seater racing is not limited merely to professional teams and drivers. There exist many amateur
racing clubs. In the UK, the major club series are the ​Monoposto Racing Club​, BRSCC F3 (Formerly
ClubF3, formerly ARP F3), Formula Vee and Club Formula Ford. Each series caters for a section of the
market, with some primarily providing low-cost racing, while others aim for an authentic experience using
the same regulations as the professional series (BRSCC F3).

There are other categories of single-seater racing, including ​kart racing​, which employs a small, low-cost
machine on small tracks. Many of the current top drivers began their careers in karts. ​Formula Ford
represents the most popular first open-wheel category for up-and-coming drivers stepping up from karts.
The series is still the preferred option, as it has introduced an aero package and slicks, allowing the junior
drivers to gain experience in a race car with dynamics closer F1. The ​Star Mazda Series​ is another
entry-level series.

The full electric ​Formula Student​/​Formula SAE​ car of the ​Eindhoven University of Technology

Students at colleges and universities can also take part in single-seater racing through the ​Formula SAE
competition, which involves designing and building a single-seater car in a multidisciplinary team and racing
it at the competition. This also develops other soft skills, such as teamwork, while promoting motorsport
and engineering.
The world's first all-female Formula racing team was created in 2006. The group was an assemblage of
drivers from different racing disciplines and formed for an MTV reality pilot, which was shot at ​Mazda
Raceway Laguna Seca​.

Racing Drivers View.

In December 2005, the ​FIA​ gave approval to ​Superleague Formula​ racing, which debuted in 2008, whereby
the racing teams are owned and run by prominent sports clubs such as ​A.C. Milan​ and ​Liverpool F.C.

After 25 years away from the sport, former ​Formula 2​ champion ​Jonathan Palmer​ reopened the F2
category again; most drivers have graduated from the ​Formula Palmer Audi​ series. The category is
officially registered as the ​FIA​ Formula Two championship. Most rounds have two races and are support
races to the ​FIA World Touring Car Championship​.

Touring car racing​[​edit​]

​ ouring car racing
Main article: T

Opening lap of ​2012 WTCC​ Race of Japan

Touring car racing is a style of road racing that is run with production-derived race cars. It often features
full-contact racing due to the small speed differentials and large grids.

The major touring car championships conducted worldwide are the ​Supercars Championship​ (Australia),
British Touring Car Championship​, ​Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters​ (DTM), and the ​World Touring Car
Championship​. The ​European Touring Car Cup​ is a one-day event open to ​Super 2000​ specification
touring cars from Europe's many national championships.

The ​Sports Car Club of America​'s ​SPEED World Challenge​ Touring Car and GT championships are
dominant in North America. America's historic ​Trans-Am Series​ is undergoing a period of transition, but is
still the longest-running road racing series in the U.S. The ​National Auto Sport Association​ also provides a
venue for amateurs to compete in home-built factory-derived vehicles on various local circuits.

Sports car racing​[​edit​]

​ ports car racing
Main article: S

FIA GT1​ at ​Silverstone​ in ​2011

In ​sports car racing​, production-derived versions of ​sports cars​, also known as grand tourers (GTs), and
purpose-built ​sports prototype​ cars compete within their respective classes on closed circuits. The premier
championship series of sports car racing is the ​FIA World Endurance Championship​. The main series for
GT car racing is the ​FIA GT1 World Championship​. There is also the ​FIA GT3 European Championship​as
well as the less powerful ​GT4 European Cup​. Previously, an intermediate ​FIA GT2 European
Championship​ existed, but the FIA dropped it to cut costs. Other major GT championships include the
Japanese ​Super GT​ championship and the ​International GT Open​ for GT2 and GT3 cars. There are also
national GT championships using mainly GT3 and GT4 cars featuring professional and amateur drivers
alike.

The ​Audi R18​, a ​Le Mans Prototype​car, during an ​endurance race

Sports prototypes, unlike GT cars, do not rely on road-legal cars as a base. They are closed-wheel and
often closed-cockpit purpose-built race cars intended mainly for endurance racing. They have much lower
weight and more down force compared to GT cars, making them much faster. They are raced in the 24
hours of Le Mans (held annually since 1923) and in the (European) ​Le Mans series​, ​Asian Le Mans Series
and the ​WeatherTech SportsCar Championship​. These cars are referred to as ​LMP​ (Le Mans prototype)
cars with LMP1 being run mainly by manufacturers and the slightly less powerful LMP2 cars run by
privateer teams. All three Le Mans Series run GT cars in addition to Le Mans Prototypes; these cars have
different restrictions than the FIA GT cars.

Another prototype and GT racing championship exists in the United States; the ​Grand-Am​, which began in
2000, sanctions its own endurance series, the ​Rolex Sports Car Series​, which consists of slower and
lower-cost race cars compared to LMP and FIA GT cars. The ​Rolex Sports Car Series​ and ​American Le
Mans Series​ announced a merger between the two series forming the ​WeatherTech SportsCar
Championship​ starting in 2014.

These races are often conducted over long distances, at least 1,000 km (621 mi), and cars are driven by
teams of two or more drivers, switching every few hours. Due to the performance difference between
production-based sports cars and purpose-built sports prototypes, one race usually involves several racing
classes, each fighting for their own championship.

Famous sports car races include the ​24 Hours of Le Mans​, the ​Rolex 24 at Daytona​, ​24 Hours of
Spa​-Franchorchamps, the ​12 Hours of Sebring​, the ​6 Hours of Watkins Glen​, and the 1,000-mile (1,600
km) ​Petit Le Mans​ at ​Road Atlanta​. There is also the ​24 Hours of the Nürburgring​ on the infamous
Nordschleife track and the ​Dubai 24 Hour​, which is aimed at GT3 and below cars with a mixture of
professional and pro-am drivers.

Production-car racing​[​edit​]
​ roduction car racing
Main article: P

Production-car racing, otherwise known as "showroom stock" in the US, is an economical and
rules-restricted version of touring-car racing, mainly used to restrict costs. Numerous production racing
categories are based on particular makes of cars.

Most series follow the ​Group N​ regulation with a few exceptions. There are several different series that are
run all over the world, most notably, Japan's Super Taikyu and ​IMSA​'s Firehawk Series, which ran in the
1980s and 1990s all over the United States.

One-make racing​[​edit​]
See also: ​One-Design​ and S
​ pec racing

One-make, or single marque, championships often employ production-based cars from a single
manufacturer or even a single model from a manufacturer's range. There are numerous notable one-make
formulae from various countries and regions, some of which – such as the ​Porsche Supercup​ and,
previously, ​IROC​ – have fostered many distinct national championships. Single marque series are often
found at club level, to which the production-based cars, limited modifications, and close parity in
performance are very well suited. Some of the better-known single-make series are the ​Mini 7
Championship​ (Europe's longest-running one make championship), the ​Radical European Masters​, ​John
Cooper Mini Challenge​, ​Clio Cup​, ​Ginettas​, ​Caterhams​, ​BMWs​, and ​MX5s​. There are also single-chassis
single seater​ formulae, such as ​Formula Renault​ and ​Formula BMW​, usually as "feeder" series for "senior"
race formula (in the fashion of ​farm teams​).

Stock car racing​[​edit​]

​ tock car racing
Main article: S

[11]​
In North America, ​stock car racing​ is the most popular form of auto racing.​ Primarily raced on ​oval

tracks​, stock cars vaguely resemble production cars, but are in fact purpose-built racing machines that are
built to tight specifications and also called ​Silhouette racing cars​.

NASCAR green flag start at ​Daytona International Speedway​ for the ​2015 Daytona 500​.

The largest stock car racing governing body is ​NASCAR​ (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing).
NASCAR's premier series is the ​Monster Energy Cup Series​, its most famous races being the ​Daytona
500​, the ​Southern 500​, the ​Coca-Cola 600​, and the ​Brickyard 400​. NASCAR also runs several feeder
series, including the ​Xfinity Series​ and ​Camping World Truck Series​ (a ​pickup truck​ racing series). The
series conduct races across the entire ​continental United States​. The ​NASCAR Pinty's Series​ conducts
races across Canada and the ​NASCAR PEAK Mexico Series​ conducts races across Mexico.

NASCAR also governs several smaller regional series, such as the ​Whelen Modified Tour​. Modified cars
are best described as open-wheel cars. Modified cars have no parts related to the stock vehicle for which
they are named after. A number of modified cars display a "manufacturer's" logo and "vehicle name", yet
use components produced by another automobile manufacturer.
An ​ASA Late Model Series​ stock car on an asphalt track.

There are also other stock car governing bodies, most notably the ​Automobile Racing Club of America
(ARCA).

In the UK, ​British Stock car racing​ is also referred to as "Short Circuit Racing". This takes place on shale or
tarmac tracks – usually around 1/4 mile long. The governing bodies for the sport are the Oval Racing
Council (ORC) and BriSCA. Both bodies are made up of individual stadium promoters. There are around 35
tracks in the UK and upwards of 7000 active drivers. The sport is split into three basic divisions –
distinguished by the rules regarding car contact during racing. The most famous championship is the
BriSCA F1 Stock Cars​. Full-contact formulas include Bangers, Bombers and Rookie Bangers – and racing
features Demolitions Derbies, Figure of Eight racing and Oval Racing.

Semi Contact Formulas include BriSCA F1, F2 and Superstox – where bumpers are used tactically.

Non-contact formulas include National Hot Rods, Stock Rods and Lightning Rods.

UK Stock car racing started in the 1950s and grew rapidly through the 1960s and 1970s.

Rallying​[​edit​]
​ allying
Main article: R

Andreas Mikkelsen​ driving a ​VW Polo R WRC​ during the ​2013 Rally de Portugal
Rallying​ at international and most national championship levels involves two classes of ​homologated
road-legal production-based cars; ​Group N​ production cars and more modified G
​ roup A​ cars. Cars
compete on closed public roads or off-road areas on a point-to-point format where participants and their
co-drivers "rally" to a set of points, leaving in regular intervals from start points. A rally is typically conducted
over a number of "special stages" on any terrain, which entrants are often allowed to scout beforehand at
reduced speeds compiling detailed shorthand descriptions of the track or road as they go. These detailed
descriptions are known as pace notes. During the actual rally, the co-driver reads the pace notes aloud
(using an in-helmet intercom system) to the driver, enabling them to complete each stage as quickly as
possible. Competition is based on lowest total elapsed time over the course of an event's special stages,
including penalties.

The top series is the ​World Rally Championship​ (WRC), first contested in 1973, but there are also regional
championships, and many countries have their own national championships. Some famous rallies include
the ​Monte Carlo Rally​, ​Rally Argentina​, ​Rally Finland​ and ​Rally GB​. Another famous event (actually best
described as a ​rally raid​) is the ​Paris-Dakar Rally​, conceived in 1978. There are also many smaller, club
level, ​categories of rallies​, which are popular with amateurs, making up the "grass roots" of motor sports.
Cars at this level may not comply fully with the requirements of ​group A​ or ​group N​ ​homologation​. Other
major rally events include the ​British Rally Championship​, ​Intercontinental Rally Challenge​, ​African Rally
Championship​, ​Asia-Pacific Rally Championship​ and endurance rally events like the ​Dakar Rally​.

"Der Panzerwagen" at the 2010 ​Targa Tasmania

The ​Targa Tasmania​, held on the Australian island state of Tasmania and run annually since 1992, takes
its name from the ​Targa Florio​, a former motoring event held on the island of ​Sicily​. The competition
concept is drawn directly from the best features of the ​Mille Miglia​, the ​Coupe des Alpes​ and the ​Tour de
[​citation needed]​ ​
Corse​.​ Similarly named events around the world include the ​Targa Newfoundland​ based in

Canada, ​Targa West​ based in Western Australia, ​Targa New Zealand​ and other smaller events.

Drag racing​[​edit​]
​ rag racing
Main article: D
 Jet-propelled ​dragster​ in ​Tarlton​, ​South Africa

In drag racing, the objective is to complete a given straight-line distance, from a standing start, ahead of a
1​ 1​
vehicle in a parallel lane. This distance is traditionally ​ ⁄​4​ mile (400 m), though ​ ⁄​8​ mile (200 m) has become

popular since the 1990s. The vehicles may or may not be given the signal to start at the same time,
depending on the class of racing. Vehicles range from the everyday car to the purpose-built ​dragster​.
Speeds and elapsed time differ from class to class. Average street cars cover the ¼ mile in 12 to 16
seconds, whereas a ​top fuel dragster​takes 4.5 seconds or less, reaching speeds of up to 530 km/h (329
mph). Drag racing was organized as a sport by ​Wally Parks​ in the early 1950s through the ​NHRA​ (National
Hot Rod Association). The NHRA was formed to discourage ​street racing​.

When launching, a top fuel dragster will accelerate at 3.4 ​g​ (33 m/s²), and when braking parachutes are
deployed the deceleration is 4 g (39 m/s²), more than the ​Space Shuttle​ experiences. A top fuel car can be
[12]
heard over 8 miles (13 km) away and can generate a reading from 1.5 to 3.9 on the ​Richter scale​.​

Drag racing is two cars head-to-head, the winner proceeding to the next round. Professional classes are all
first to the finish line wins. Sportsman racing is handicapped (slower car getting a ​head start​) using an
index (a lowest e.t. allowed), and cars running under (quicker than) their index "break out" and lose. The
slowest cars, bracket racers, are also handicapped, but rather than an index, they use a ​dial-in​.

Off-road racing​[​edit​]
​ ff-road racing
Main article: O
 Rod Hall​ in a ​Hummer H3​ during a ​Best in the Desert​ race

In ​off-road racing​, various classes of specially modified vehicles, including cars, compete in races through
off-road environments. In North America these races often take place in the desert, such as the famous
Baja 1000​. Another format for off-road racing happens on closed-course ​short course tracks​ such as
Crandon International Off-Road Raceway​. In the 1980s and 1990s, short course was extended to racing
inside stadiums in the ​Mickey Thompson Entertainment Group​; this format was revived by ​Robby Gordon​ in
2013 with his ​Speed Energy Formula Off-Road​ series.

In Europe, "offroad" refers to events such as autocross or rallycross, while desert races and rally-raids such
as the ​Paris-Dakar​, Master Rallye or European "bajas" are called "cross-country rallies."

Kart racing​[​edit​]

A sprint kart race in Atwater California hosted by the International Karting Federation

​ art racing
Main article: K

The modern kart was invented by Art Ingels, a fabricator at the Indianapolis-car manufacturer Kurtis-Kraft,
in Southern California in 1956. Ingels took a small chainsaw engine and mounted it to a simple tube-frame
chassis weighing less than 100 lb. Ingels, and everyone else who drove the kart, were startled at its
performance capabilities. The sport soon blossomed in Southern California, and quickly spread around the
world. Although often seen as the entry point for serious racers into the sport, ​kart racing​, or karting, can be
an economical way for amateurs to try racing and is also a fully fledged international sport in its own right. A
large proportion of professional racing drivers began in karts, often from a very young age, such as ​Michael
Schumacher​ and ​Fernando Alonso​. Several former motorcycle champions have also taken up the sport,
notably ​Wayne Rainey​, who was paralysed in a racing accident and now races a hand-controlled kart. As
one of the cheapest ways to race, karting is seeing its popularity grow worldwide.

Despite their diminutive size, karting's most powerful class, ​superkart​, can have a power-to-weight ratio of
440 hp/tonne.

Historical racing​[​edit​]

​ onterey​, 2008
Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca​, M

Main article: ​Historic motorsport

As modern motor racing is centered on modern technology with a lots of corporate sponsors and politics
involved, ​historical racing​ tends to be the opposite. Because it is based on a particular era it is more
hobbyist oriented, reducing corporate sponsorship and politics. Events are regulated to only allow cars of a
certain era to participate. The only modern equipment used is related to safety and timing. A historical
event can be of a number of different motorsport disciplines. Notably some of the most famous events of
them all are the ​Goodwood Festival of Speed​ and ​Goodwood Revival​ in Britain and ​Monterey Historic​ in the
United States. Championships range from "grass root" ​Austin Seven​racing to the ​FIA Thoroughbred Grand
Prix Championship​ for classic ​Formula One​ chassis.

While there are several professional teams and drivers in historical racing, this branch of ​auto sport​ tends
to be contested by wealthy car owners and is thus more amateur and less competitive in its approach.

Other categories​[​edit​]
See also: ​Category:Auto racing by type

● Autocross
● Autograss
● Banger racing
● Board track racing
 ● Demolition derby
● Dirt speedway racing
● Dirt track racing
● Drifting (motorsport)
● Eco-Marathon
● Folkrace
● High Performance Drivers Education
● Hillclimbing
● Ice racing
● Legends car racing
● Midget car racing
● Mini Sprint
● Monster truck
● Mud bogging
● Power Wheels Racing
● Pickup truck racing
● Rallycross
● Road racing
● Short track motor racing
● Slalom
● Solar car racing
● Sprint car racing
● Swamp Buggy racing
● Wheelstand Competition

Use of flags​[​edit​]
Main article: ​Racing flags

In many types of auto races, particularly those held on closed courses, flags are displayed to indicate the
general status of the track and to communicate instructions to competitors. While individual series have
different rules, and the flags have changed from the first years (e.g., red used to start a race), these are
generally accepted.

Flag Displayed from start tower Displayed from observation

post

The session has started or resumed after a full End of hazardous section of
course caution or stop. track.

Full course caution condition for ovals. On road Local caution condition —no
courses, it means a local area of caution. Depending cars may pass at the particular
on the type of racing, either two yellow flags will be corner where being displayed.
used for a full course caution or a sign with 'SC' When Stationary indicates
(​Safety car​) will be used as the field follows the hazard off-course, when Waving
pace/safety car​ on track and no cars may pass. indicates hazard on-course.

Debris, fluid, or other hazard on the track surface. Debris, fluid, or other hazard on
the track surface.
The car with the indicated number must pit for
consultation.
The session is halted, all cars
on course must return to pit
lane. May also be seen
combined with a green flag to
indicate oil on track, typically
referred to as a 'pickle' flag
combination.

The car with the indicated number has mechanical

trouble and must pit.

The driver of the car with the indicated number has

been penalized for misbehaviour.

The driver of the car with the indicated number is

disqualified or will not be scored until they report to
the pits.

The car should give way to faster traffic. This may be A car is being advised or
an advisory or an order depending on the series. ordered to give way to faster
traffic approaching.

The session is stopped. All cars must halt on the

track or return to pit lane.

Depending on the series, either one lap remains or a A slow vehicle is on the track.
slow vehicle is on the track.

The session has concluded.