What Are the Most Popular Motorsports in the World?

Motorsports betting has gone global, and while it doesn’t touch on the popularity of football betting, it has an army of fans among bettors. Fast-moving cards and vehicles are an amazing sight, and people are also amazed by the impressive specs of the machines that run them.

Motorsports is more than just Formula 1. While it is one of the most popular high-octane racing championships, other motorsports deserve plenty of attention as well. We’ll cover some of the most popular motorsports options you can watch week-in and week-out and of course, place bets as you see fit.

NASCAR

NASCAR is the most-viewed racing series in the USA. Formula 1 is popular in the country, but NASCAR is close behind. The series was first organized in the late 1940s, with stock car racing in the focus. It was a big hit from the beginning, and now has millions of fans around the world. NASCAR is a popular piece of Ohio motorsports history, and one of the most popular betting motorsports markets as well.

The thrilling high-octane races draw millions of viewers every year. That kind of popularity has brought NASCAR plenty of sponsorships, making it one of the renowned motorsports circuits. Watching the drivers speed up and overtake others is never boring, and because of this, NASCAR’s popularity won’t fade away anytime soon.

Formula 1

There’s no motorsports championship more popular than Formula 1 on a global scale. F1 is organized by the FIA and represents the highest level professional single-seat, open-wheel racing competition in the world. Unlike NASCAR which is based on stock car racing, Formula 1 cars are built on specific regulations set by the FIA. The circuits are special as well, making it a distinct motorsports championship like no other.

Formula 1 is popular in the USA, and Europe, where it has a cult following, South America, and Asia. Every season has 24 Grand Prix televised on many channels. Some of the world’s best drivers are on F1 teams. Its rich history includes motorsports legends such as Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel, Lewis Hamilton, and Kimi Raikkonen. The new guard consisting of Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc among others may even break some records of the old guard, even if they’re currently far behind.

Moto GP

While racing is usually associated with cars, motorcycles receive a lot of attention, too. The Moto GP is a motorcycle racing version of Formula 1, with expensive bike prototypes designed for this kind of racing. Just like F1 cars, these bikes are not street-legal, and that’s what makes the championship so exciting.

There are different engine sizes which are broken down into different championship classes. The races in MotoGP don’t allow for pit stops, so drivers should do their best to get the most out of their bikes. Riders complete qualifying laps before the race, and those with the fastest timings start from the pole position. Faster lap times allow riders a head start in the exciting races which have millions of fans around the world.

IndyCar

Similar to NASCAR, the IndyCar racing series is a key piece of American sports racing history. The first races were held in 1909, making it one of the older racing championships. In fact, IndyCar was America’s first open-wheel racing league. The unique cockpit design mimics Formula 1, so these vehicles are not street-legal. They’re optimized for maximum performance, and this is the reason why the fast-paced IndyCar races are so exciting.

IndyCar’s main event is the Indianapolis 500. This is a 500-mile race around the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It attracts one of the largest crows in motorsports every year, with around 400,000 fans in attendance.

Rally Racing

Off-road racing is distinct and very different from racing in Formula 1 or any other racing championship. Depending on the event’s scale, off-road racing events can last for days or weeks. There are different classifications regarding the races, including different classes of automobiles and bikes in rally racing.

These vehicles are designed with optimum performance on dirt in mind. Specific race legs may occur in cities, with various lengths for each race. While rally racing doesn’t come close to the popularity of Formula 1, it still has millions of fans around the world.