10 Auto Races That Were Discontinued for Being Too Deadly
Modern motor racing is as safe as it's ever been, but today's safety regulations are written in blood.
Published 6 months ago in Wow
At its best, motor racing is one of the most daring and exciting forms of sport in the world. But at its worst, it's deadly.
Fortunately, modern motor racing is as safe as it's ever been, but today's safety regulations are most definitely written in the blood of past competitors.
Here are 10 auto races that were discontinued for being too deadly.
1
F1 at the Nordschleife
Shouldn't the world’s greatest racecars race at the world’s greatest track? Yes, they should, but as Formula 1 cars in the 1970s got faster and faster, they outgrew the long, narrow, and formidable Nordschleife section of the Nürburgring. Following Niki Luada’s nearly fatal crash in 1976, (check out the movie Rush), the decision was made to stop racing the Nordschleife in Formula 1. F1 can still race on the Nürburgring’s modern track.
2
Group B Rallying
The golden age of rallying was also the most dangerous. Group B cars were raw, powerful, and devastatingly fast, especially in an era where local fans could run all over stages. Group B was officially ended in 1987, but the cars were still used from time to time in less official capacities.
3
The Mulsanne Straight: Le Mans 24 Hours
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is still one of the world’s biggest races, but it looks slightly different. In the old days, the Circuit de la Sarthe’s back straight stretched for 3.7 miles, with cars reaching speeds as high as 252 mph. However, after some serious, fatal, (and airborne) crashes, two chicane corners were added in 1990, breaking up the straight.
4
IndyCar at Daytona
At first glance, you might think America’s premier open wheel series would race on one of America’s most famous tracks, but as you’ll see later, IndyCars and ovals don’t always mix well. The only IndyCar race ever held at Daytona took place in 1959, in which driver George Amick lost his life. In that race, cars were clocked at almost 180 mph. Now, speeds of 250 mph or more could be possible.
7
Indycar at 1.5 and 2-Mile Ovals
Open wheel race cars are fun because of their light weight, insane grip, and high speeds. Unfortunately that makes them incredibly dangerous at oval race tracks. Still, us Americans insist on only turning left, and oval after oval have been added, and kicked off the IndyCar calender after fatal accidents. Fontana, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway, and Pocano just to name a few. Paul Tracy clocked a speed of 257 mph in 1996 at Michigan International Speedway, and IndyCars and their tracks have been made slower ever since. If it weren’t so famous, the Indy 500 might be on this list too.
9
Spa-Francorchamps
One of racing’s most spectacular tracks is also one of its most dangerous. Originally a 9.3 mile winding road through the Belgian forest, it has since been shrunk to a still lengthy 4.3 miles. Many fatal accidents have prompted changes to the track, most recently when 22-year-old F2 racer Anthoine Hubert was killed after an accident at the track’s infamous Radillon corner. There are still many who believe the track still hasn’t done enough.
10
Imola
In European racing’s most infamous moment, Ayrton Senna was killed in an accident at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix at the Imola Circuit in Italy. Just a day prior, Roland Ratzenberger had also perished in an accident, and the devastating weekend prompted massive safety regulations around the racing world, including adjustments to the track. F1 recently returned to the updated Imola in 2020.
11
Dishonorable Mention: The Isle of Mann TT
The most dangerous race in history takes place every year at the Isle of Man in between England and Ireland, featuring hundreds of motorcycle riders and their quest to circle the island the fastest. There have been well over 250 deaths at the event, far more than any other motor racing venture in history, and still the event continues on with minimal changes every year.
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