Nationwide Vehicle Contracts lists the eight most dangerous and challenging motorsport races in the world.
Motorsport racing is exhilarating to watch, with drivers pushing themselves and their cars to the absolute limit. Nowadays, with the vast amount of precautions, the sport has been regulated to ensure the safety of all those involved.
However, there are still some races out there that stare down the barrel of a gun. Races such as the Dakar Rally and Isle of Man TT have become notorious for danger, but others out there also play with fire.
Read on below for Nationwide Vehicle Contracts run-down of the eight most dangerous motorsport races in the world.
1. The Dakar Rally
The Dakar Rally has been one of the most notorious motorsport races since its inception in 1978. Initially held as a rally race from Paris to Dakar, the location was changed to South America in 2008 because of security issues. Since 2020 it has been held in Saudi Arabia.
Described as the ultimate off-road endurance race, drivers not only have to tackle a range of terrains and climate, their navigation and mental strength is tested to the absolute limit.
Drivers have been known to go missing for days on end, which most famously happened when Mark Thatcher, the son of British Prime Minister Margaret, went missing for six days in 1982.
2. Isle of Man TT
The Isle of Man TT is one of the world's oldest and most dangerous motorbike races. First held in 1907, participants have to work their way through a maze of narrow public roads, all whilst travelling at speeds of more than 130mph.
The race was deemed so dangerous that it was stripped of its world championship status in 1977. This means riders who want to win the championship are no longer forced to compete in the TT; anyone who is crazy enough is doing it because they want to!
3. The Baja 1000
The Baja 1000 is an annual off-road race on the Baja California Peninsula in Mexico. Spanning over 1,000 miles through the Mexican desert, the Baja 1000 tests the driver and their vehicle's endurance. One of the most unique things about the race is that various types of vehicles are allowed to compete.
Oh, and the fact that spectators often sabotage the course by digging holes and placing booby traps for the unknowing drivers. Yes, you read that right. Organisers of the event claim that this adds to the race's charm, but I'm not sure the drivers would think that.
The booby traps aren't intended to injure the driver, but because of how fast the vehicles are travelling, injuries to drivers and spectators are common.
4. 24 Hours of Le Mans
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the oldest sports car endurance race in the world, held annually since 1924. The aim of the race is to balance speed with the car's ability to drive for 24 hours straight, with the winner being determined by the car that covers the greatest distance.
Danger creeps in when the drivers start to tire and have to keep up their speed. There have been many noticeable incidents over the years, but the worst came in 1955 when 83 spectators and driver Pierre Lavegh were killed after his car went off track.
5. Pikes Peak International Hill Climb
A high-speed race is dangerous wherever it is, let alone through the winding roads of the Rocky Mountains. The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is sure to get viewers on the edge of their seats, with drivers travelling at high speeds up the Rocky Mountains with little-to-no barriers to stop them from falling off.
The sharp turns of the race are what make it so notorious; a single mishap could send a driver tumbling down the Rockies. Until 2011 the race used to have both paved and gravel sections, but since then, its been fully paved.
That's surely a good thing? Well, think again; the fully paved circuit means that drivers can travel at higher speeds for the race, making cornering even harder. This one isn't for the faint-hearted.
6. The Erzberg Rodeo
The Erzberg Rodeo is one of the most demanding motorcycle races, with contestants having to scale up a working mine at the heights of the Austrian Alps. It's so daring that of the 500 contestants who took part in the 2022 edition, only eight finished the race.
Because of the steep gradient, riders have to control their motorbike so that it doesn't flip over and land on them. This is easier said than done, and it's common to see many an ambulance scaling down the mountain to help the injured contestant.
7. Nürburgring 24 Hours
Similar to Le Mans, the Nürburgring 24 Hours is an endurance race that tests the driver and the car to the absolute limit. 210 cars participate in the race each year, and they are allowed to have two drivers who can drive for 150 minutes non-stop.
This sounds alright, doesn't it? Well, the Nürburgring is one of the most challenging circuits ever devised, with dangerous dips, twists, and turns making it a real challenge for drivers, especially in the dark.
8. The Rainforest Challenge
The Rainforest Challenge is considered one of the most challenging off-road races in the world, and it's not hard to see why. A six-day race through the Malaysian jungle, participants have to overcome dense jungle vegetation, jungle animals, mud, and rivers. To top it off, the race is always completed during monsoon season.
This event is probably one of the most physically challenging in the world. You're only allowed a two-person team, so if your car gets stuck, your body is tested to the absolute limit to try and get it out.
The toughness of the race is made clear by the organisers, who arrange a mandatory pre and post-event post-traumatic stress disorder briefing.
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