Race Car Encyclopedia & Database
Every Machine That Ever Roared
Welcome to the definitive guide to every race car ever built, a comprehensive collection that spans the entire history of motorsports. From the pioneering machines of the early 20th century to the cutting-edge technological marvels of today, this encyclopedia leaves no wheel unturned. Whether you're a die-hard racing enthusiast or simply curious about the machines that have pushed the boundaries of speed and engineering, this is your ultimate resource.
1,500+ Race Cars & Counting
Whether you're a die-hard racing enthusiast or simply curious about the machines that have pushed the boundaries of speed and engineering, this is your ultimate resource. We delve deep into the history of motorsport, uncovering the iconic, the dominant, and even the obscure race cars that have graced the track.
Explore the legendary machines that conquered Formula 1, like the Ferrari F2004 and the McLaren MP4/4. Discover the endurance heroes of Le Mans, such as the Porsche 917 and the Audi R18 e-tron quattro. Unearth the rally legends that tamed treacherous terrains, like the Lancia Stratos and the Subaru Impreza WRC. And delve into the world of NASCAR, IndyCar, and touring car racing, where iconic names like the Ford GT40 and the BMW M3 have left their mark.
But this encyclopedia goes beyond the famous names. We also celebrate the unsung heroes, the experimental prototypes, and the underdog machines that, despite their lack of mainstream recognition, played a crucial role in shaping the history of motorsports. Each entry provides detailed information about the car's design, engine, performance, and racing history. We delve into the stories behind their creation, the drivers who piloted them to victory, and the engineers who pushed the boundaries of technology.
This is more than just a list of cars; it's a celebration of the passion, innovation, and relentless pursuit of speed that defines motorsports. So, get ready to explore the world of race cars like never before, and discover the machines that have fueled our fascination with speed and competition for over a century.
Abarth Race Cars
Abarth, the scorpion-badged Italian tuning house, has a rich history of transforming humble Fiats into ferocious little racing machines that have conquered hill climbs, rally stages, and racetracks with their giant-slaying performance and undeniable charm.
Alfa Romeo Race Cars
Alfa Romeo, with its rich racing heritage and passion for performance, has produced a legendary lineage of beautiful and exhilarating machines that have conquered Formula 1, touring car championships, and endurance races, leaving an indelible mark on motorsport history.
Allard Race Cars
Allard, the British automaker known for their rugged and powerful sports cars, built a reputation on and off the track in the 1940s and 50s with their formidable V8-powered machines that challenged the established order and achieved notable success in both rallies and hill climbs.
Aston Martin Race Cars
Aston Martin, a name synonymous with British elegance and sporting prowess, has a rich racing pedigree, crafting iconic machines like the DBR1, which conquered Le Mans in 1959, and continuing to push performance with modern contenders like the Vantage GTE and the Valkyrie hypercar.
Audi Race Cars
Audi, renowned for its "Vorsprung durch Technik" (Advancement through Technology) philosophy, has consistently pushed the boundaries of motorsport with its innovative and dominant race cars, achieving legendary status in rally with the quattro, conquering endurance racing with the R8 and R10 TDI, and leaving a lasting legacy in touring car championships with its various DTM contenders.
Bentley Race Cars
Bentley, a marque synonymous with luxury and refinement, also boasts a rich motorsport heritage, tracing its roots back to the "Bentley Boys" who dominated Le Mans in the 1920s with their powerful and enduring race cars, a legacy that continues today with the Continental GT3 challenging for victories in GT racing.
Benz Race Cars
In the pioneering days of motor racing, Benz & Cie. forged its motorsport legacy with innovative machines like the "Blitzen Benz" and the 200 hp "Lightning Benz", which shattered land speed records and propelled the company to the forefront of automotive development in the early 1900s.
BMW Race Cars
BMW, with its "Ultimate Driving Machine" ethos, has a storied history in motorsports, achieving success across a diverse range of disciplines, from Formula 1 and touring car championships with iconic models like the M3 and 3.0 CSL, to endurance racing with the V12 LMR that conquered Le Mans in 1999.
Brabham Race Cars
Brabham, the brainchild of legendary driver Sir Jack Brabham, not only conquered Formula 1 with innovative designs like the iconic BT19, but also became a powerhouse constructor, supplying customer cars that dominated junior formulas and achieved success across various motorsport disciplines.
BRM Race Cars
BRM, a symbol of British ambition in motorsports, produced innovative and often unconventional race cars, like the powerful V16-powered P15 and the reliable P261, achieving both triumphs and tribulations in Formula 1 and leaving a lasting legacy of engineering ingenuity.
Bugatti Race Cars
Long before the Veyron and Chiron redefined hypercar performance, Bugatti reigned supreme in the early days of Grand Prix racing with legendary machines like the Type 35, a masterpiece of engineering and design that dominated the competition and cemented its place in motorsport history.
Chaparral Race Cars
Chaparral, the brainchild of Jim Hall, revolutionized racing in the 1960s and 70s with their radical and innovative designs that incorporated advanced aerodynamics, like the iconic high-mounted wing and groundbreaking ground effects, forever changing the face of motorsport.
Chevrolet Race Cars
From NASCAR ovals to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Chevrolet has fueled a legacy of roaring engines and checkered flags, with iconic race cars like the Corvette C8.R and Camaro ZL1 continuing to push the boundaries of performance and dominate tracks around the world.
Ferrari Race Cars
Ferrari, the Prancing Horse of Maranello, has woven a tapestry of motorsport legend with its iconic red race cars, achieving unparalleled success in Formula 1 with champions like Schumacher and Fangio, dominating sports car racing with machines like the 250 GTO and 330 P4, and etching its name into the history books with victories at legendary races like Le Mans and the Mille Miglia.
Fiat Race Cars
Fiat, with its long and storied history in motorsports, has produced a diverse range of competitive machines, from the diminutive yet fierce Abarth-tuned Fiats that conquered hill climbs and rally stages, to the powerful Group 5 turbocharged silhouette racers that dominated touring car championships in the 1970s.
Ford Race Cars
Ford, a pioneer in American motorsports, has a rich and storied history on the track, from the legendary GT40 that conquered Le Mans in the 1960s to the modern-day Mustang and GT race cars that continue to dominate in NASCAR, IMSA, and various racing series worldwide.
Jaguar Race Cars
Ford, a pioneer in American motorsports, has a rich and storied history on the track, from the legendary GT40 that conquered Le Mans in the 1960s to the modern-day Mustang and GT race cars that continue to dominate in NASCAR, IMSA, and various racing series worldwide.
Lancia Race Cars
Lancia, a name synonymous with rallying greatness, forged a legacy of victories and championships with innovative and dominant machines like the Stratos, 037, and Delta Integrale, their screaming engines and masterful car control forever etched in motorsport history.
Lola Race Cars
Lola, a name synonymous with innovation and versatility in motorsport, has built a legacy of successful race cars across a wide range of disciplines, from Formula 1 and IndyCar to sports car racing and even Le Mans prototypes, leaving a lasting impact on the world of racing with their engineering prowess and adaptability.
Lotus Race Cars
Lotus, with its philosophy of "simplify, then add lightness," has built a reputation for nimble and innovative race cars, achieving legendary status in Formula 1 with iconic drivers like Jim Clark and Colin Chapman, and continuing to push the boundaries of performance with modern machines like the Evija electric hypercar and the Emira GT4.
Maserati Race Cars
Maserati, with its trident emblem symbolizing power and performance, has a rich motorsport heritage, from its early Grand Prix victories with legendary drivers like Juan Manuel Fangio to its more recent successes in GT racing with the MC12 and the Trofeo series, showcasing the brand's enduring passion for competition.
Mazda Race Cars
Mazda, renowned for its "Zoom-Zoom" spirit, has a history of defying convention in motorsports, from its rotary-powered triumphs at Le Mans with the 787B to its grassroots dominance with the MX-5 Miata, proving that driving passion can come in all shapes and sizes.
McLaren Race Cars
McLaren, with its Formula 1 DNA woven into every car, has created a legacy of groundbreaking race cars, from the legendary Can-Am titans and the Le Mans-conquering F1 GTR to the modern Formula 1 contenders and innovative hybrid hypercars that continue to push the boundaries of motorsport technology.
Mercedes Race Cars
In the dawn of motorsports, Mercedes emerged as a force to be reckoned with, their early 1900s race cars, like the groundbreaking 35 hp and the powerful Simplex models, dominating the competition and setting the stage for a century of racing dominance.
Mercedes-Benz & Mercedes-AMG Race Cars
From the dominant Silver Arrows of pre-war Grand Prix racing to the technological marvels of modern Formula 1 and the thunderous roar of AMG-powered DTM and GT cars, Mercedes-Benz and Mercedes-AMG have forged a legacy of motorsport excellence, pushing the boundaries of performance and innovation on tracks around the world.
Nissan & NISMO Race Cars
From the legendary Skyline GT-Rs that dominated touring car racing to the innovative DeltaWing and ZEOD RC prototypes that pushed the boundaries of endurance racing, Nissan and its NISMO performance arm have consistently delivered thrilling and unconventional race cars that have left their mark on motorsports history.
Peugeot Race Cars
Peugeot, with its lion emblem symbolizing courage and strength, has roared to victory in diverse motorsport arenas, from its early Grand Prix successes and Dakar Rally dominance with the rugged 205 T16, to its Le Mans triumphs with the innovative 905 and 908 prototypes.
Porsche Race Cars
Porsche, with its relentless pursuit of motorsport excellence, has created a legendary lineage of race cars, from the iconic 917 that dominated Le Mans to the technologically advanced 919 Hybrid that conquered endurance racing, and the versatile 911 that has achieved success in virtually every motorsport discipline imaginable.
Renault Race Cars
Renault, with its diamond badge gleaming on circuits worldwide, has a long and storied history in motorsports, from pioneering turbocharged engines in Formula 1 to conquering the World Rally Championship with the iconic 5 Turbo and achieving endurance racing glory at Le Mans.
Shelby Race Cars
Shelby American, born from Carroll Shelby's vision of blending American muscle with European handling, has created a legacy of legendary performance cars, from the iconic Cobra and Daytona Coupe that conquered sports car racing in the 1960s to the modern-day Mustang GT350R and GT500 that continue to dominate on tracks and drag strips.
Subaru Race Cars
Subaru, with its iconic blue and yellow livery and rally-bred heritage, has cemented its place in motorsports history with the legendary Impreza WRX STI, a turbocharged all-wheel-drive icon that dominated the World Rally Championship and continues to inspire driving enthusiasts worldwide.
Toyota Race Cars
Toyota, a giant in the automotive world, has also made its mark on motorsport with a diverse range of race cars, from the legendary Celica GT-Four that dominated rally stages to the TS050 Hybrid that conquered Le Mans, and the GR Yaris that continues to thrill rally fans today.