Automobiles have come a long way since their invention more than a century ago. Over the years, race cars have evolved to be some of the fastest machines in the world. Which brings us to the question, what is the most successful car in motorsports?
From racetrack legends such as the Audi R18, Ferrari F2004, and Porsche 911 to evergreen icons such as the Mclaren F1 GTR, Porsche 956, and Bugatti 35, today, we will list down some of the fastest cars invented by humankind and determine which amongst them has enjoyed the most success in motorsports.
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Top Cars In Motorsports
With the advent of technology, race cars have received their fair share of innovation throughout the ages. This has given rise to some of the best race cars we’ve seen in modern times. By the way, usually everyone thinks that such machines are not available for purchase. Yes, you can’t buy the car that participated in 24 Hours of Le Mans, but it’s very easy to find something similar here.
Audi R18
The Audi R18 demonstrates speed and tenacity and is easily one of the best race cars in the world. It launched in 2011 when it dominated race courses worldwide and made a name for itself in motorsports.
The Audi R18 then went on to win every race until 2014, an incredible feat that still impresses us today. This magnificent car has won 18 of the 47 races it participated in, which is quite an achievement.
Ferrari F2004
2004 saw the rise of the captivating Ferrari F2004, which drew inspiration from its predecessor, the F2003-GA. Needless to say, the reception was terrific.
The F2004 is one of Ferrari’s best-performing cars, winning 15 of the 18 races it participated in. Moreover, the F2004 started its reign by winning the Constructor’s championship and the straight Driver’s Championship. Ferrari’s sixth consecutive victory in the Constructor’s championship and the fifth at the straight Driver’s Championship.
BMW M3
BMW has become a name that signifies status, class, power, and overall sophistication. However, another side to BMW cars that isn’t much talked about is the tremendous force it displays in the world of motorsports.
The BMW M3 was created as a more robust and efficient version of the BMW 3 series. The iconic car was launched in 1986 when it tried its hand in several racing events and tours. Unsurprisingly, the car demonstrated excellent reliability and was a force to reckon with on the racetrack. What’s more, its also been named one of the best-driven cars ever.
McLaren F1 GTR
The McLaren F1 was initially designed to be a luxury car for civilian use; however, demands from fans convinced manufacturers to make some tweaks to its system. We’re glad they did so because it resulted in one of the greatest racecars we have ever seen.
The sports version of the McLaren F1 was launched in 1995 and was designed keeping grand touring racing styles such as the BPR Global GT series in mind. Pretty soon, the all-powerful race car showed what it could do in the 1995 Le Mans tournament. Crowds cheered on as it won the competition overall and secured the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 13th places.
Ford GT40
The Ford GT40 is one of the most legendary cars in modern history and is one of the most reliable cars to drive on a racetrack. This is the same car that dominated the prestigious Le Mans for four years.
The best innovations often stem from the toughest of competitions, and that’s certainly true in the case of the Ford GT40. The level of innovation, skill, and passion that went into its creation has been the subject of countless sports magazines, tabloids, and even an Oscar-nominated motion picture.
The GT40 was built specifically for one reason, to destroy Ferrari’s reputation in the racetracks, and that’s what exactly it did. The car secured four consecutive wins at Le Mans from 1966-1969. Overall, it’s one of the best cars ever constructed.
Porsche 911
The Porsche 911 is a titan on the racetrack and boosts an impressive win record worthy of highlighting. The magnificent car has won the Paris-Dakar, Monte Carlo rally, Targa Florio, 24 Hours Le Mans, 12 Hours Sebring, and 24 Hours Daytona, amongst others. Moreover, the Porsche 911 is a regular winner of numerous GT championships.
The Porsche 911 soon became the model car for future Porsche developments and gave rise to a string of powerful racecars. These include the Porsche 935 and 959.
Porsche 956
The Porsche 956 is easily one of the most iconic cars in the world and has a rich history of racetrack domination. Norbert Singer, its ingenious designer, created a beast of a machine to replace the old 936-model and delivered everlasting fame to the company. The car was initially manufactured to compete in the FIA World Sportscar championship in 1982.
The Porsche 956’s legendary status only grew stronger when German racer Stefan Bellof drove it around the Nürburgring Nordschliefe in just 6 minutes, 11.13 seconds. This record would stand unbroken for the next 35 years, one of the most impressive feats in racing history.
Lotus 72
The Lotus 72 is one of the most iconic racecars in the world and brought a revolutionary spark in 1970. This ingenious machine competed in 75 Grand Prix races back in the day. What’s even more impressive is that it won 20 of these prestigious races, which is more than what most racecars could do back then.
The Lotus 72 enjoyed a long reign of domination from 1970-1975 and was the driving factor in most motorsports events. Moreover, it barely had to modify or upgrade its mechanics throughout its run!
The Most Successful Car In Motorsports History
Bugatti Type 35
There is no argument that the Bugatti type 35 is the most iconic, legendary, and successful car in motorsports history. This car was ahead of its time back then and could perform feats that no other car could. Even today, its heavily regarded as a masterpiece among automobiles, and we couldn’t agree more.
The Bugatti 35 dominated the Grand Prix World Championship in 1926, when it won a total of 351 races. Moreover, before that, the car had already set 47 world records, a marvelous feat even by modern standards. To top it all, the Bugatti 35 won in over 2000 racetracks between 1924 and 1930!
