Written by Rebecca

Automobile racing has been around since cars were invented– the earliest of racing were to test the reliability of the car. If it could function at speeds that supposedly nobody would ever be driving at day to day, then it would be perfect for leisure speeds.

Organized events started as early as 1867. The longest surviving race is the famous 24 Hour race of Le Mans, which made its debut in 1923. This long event is an especially special part of racing history. The winner of the Le Mans 24 hour race is determined not by being the quickest to finish the course, but by which car covers the most distance in the 24 hour period. Each team has three racers who must swap out after a maximum time of four hours behind the wheel. The modern period of racing is introducing new leagues of electric car racing. 

Each version of racing has its own set of rules and regulations that must be followed. Rules are added and changed in order to keep the drivers safe while competing at top speeds that most people can only dream of.

To pick just one, here is an overview of the history of the popular Formula One regulations. Formula One got its start in 1948 but the rules and regulations didn’t start coming in until the introduction of the world championship in 1950. At this point, however, safety was not an issue as the speeds were still fairly slow. 

In the early to mid-1960’s, many new regulations were placed as engines became more powerful and cars became faster. Supercharges were taken off the engines, cars were to have standardized seatbelt anchorage, helmets, and safety inspections. This was also when cars were mandated to have that now classic open wheel look of the modern F1 cars. 

The late 1960’s saw the mandate of a roll bar above the head of the driver, harnesses, fire-proof clothing, shatterproof visors on helmets and the banning of hay bales being used as barriers after the fatal accident of Lorenzo Bandini. 

Driver numbers, rear lights, self-sealing fuel lines, driver medical exams, and a maximum time of 5 seconds to evacuate the vehicle were set forth in the 1970’s. 

By the time the 2000’s rolled around, there were less safety regulations being added and more things being banned.