90. Road racing

In motor sport, road racing is racing held on public roads, as opposed to at a race track or off-road racing. Different types of event exist, in both automobile racing and motorcycle racing. A small portion of these automobile race tracks are called temporary street courses.


Road racing can be of two types: in the first, car or motorcycle races are run on specially built, closed circuit courses; in the second, public roads are temporarily closed off for the purpose of conducting a race. Notable examples of this include the Monaco Grand Prix which is conducted on the city streets of the small principality, the Mille Milieu, the Teargas Florio, and the Isle of Man.

The Tourist Trophy, probably the most famous motorcycle race of its type, takes place over the Snaefell Mountain Course, as well as the North West 200 in Ireland. Also the Ulster Grand Prix and at a dozen pure "closed road" circuits unique to Ireland.[(MCUI)]Of the former, closed circuit type, purpose-built race tracks are used that, due to their irregular shapes and many turns and curves, resemble true road courses.


Due to safety and insurance concerns, this style of racing has largely supplanted true road racing, particularly in Europe. Road racing is also occasionally conducted using the infield and oval portions of tracks making a "revel", such as the 24 Hours of Daytona. Road racing has become a featured part of many racing video games.