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Auto racing is a global sport with a multitude of categories which can appear daunting to the uninitiated. Some series use cars solely designed for the purpose of racing while others use cars initially designed as road cars. In the USA the NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) series is one of the most popular sporting spectacles in the country. Drivers like Tony Stewart and Dale Earnhardt Jr are household names. Fans can identify with the cars that race as they bear an aesthetic resemblance to the cars they drive themselves. Stock car racing is an extremely accessible sport with lightly modified street cars being able to be campaigned for relatively little cost.

For those looking to get started on a small budget, hillclimbing is also an excellent way into the sport. Street cars can compete and, in certain classes, a road license is all that is required. Drivers compete one at a time over a short course against the clock. This has the added benefit of allowing drivers to hone their skills without the risk of colliding with other competitors.

Experiencing the thrill of motor sport doesn't even have to involve buying a car. Most top drivers, including Michael Schumacher and the late, great Ayrton Senna, began their careers racing karts at a very young age. Karting is a highly popular pastime and easy to get involved in. There are many circuits where the public can turn up, pay a small amount and try their hand at being a racing driver. It is also great for children as it has an excellent safety record.

There are many other categories of car racing which also use production models as a basis. Touring car racing is very popular, particularly in Europe, Australia and Asia. Like stock car racing, these cars bear a close resemblance from the outside to standard road cars. Under the skin they are highly modified, the ultimate example being the German touring car series (DTM), where cars produce around 500 bhp and sport complex aerodynamic packages.

In complete contrast to production based racers are the purpose built single-seaters that, from initial design to conception, are intended only for racing. The most exclusive and technologically advanced series is Formula 1. The budgets involved are enormous and the global TV audience is measured in billions. Cars are constantly developed throughout the season and rarely appear at consecutive races without some alterations. The tracks are diverse, from the confines of Monte Carlo to the flat-out blast of the

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