Back Formelsport German Fórmula (automovilismo) Spanish مسابقات فرمولا Persian Formula-kilpailu Finnish Formule (automobile) French Formula racing Galician מרוצי פורמולה HE Balap formula ID Formula (automobilismo) Italian 포뮬러 자동차 경주 Korean
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.jpg) Start of the Formula One 2014 Bahrain Grand Prix | |
| Highest governing body | FIA |
|---|---|
| Characteristics | |
| Contact | No |
| Team members | Yes |
| Mixed-sex | Yes |
| Type | Circuit racing, Road racing |
| Equipment | Open-wheel car |
| Venue | Permanent road and city street circuits |
Formula racing, also known as open-wheel racing in North America, is any of several forms of open-wheeled single-seater motorsport. A "formula", first devised by FIA for its post–World War II single-seater races, is a set of regulations for a given type of car. The best known are Formula One, Formula E, Formula Two, Formula Three, regional Formula Three and Formula Four. Common usage of "formula racing" encompasses other single-seater series, including the IndyCar Series and the Super Formula Championship.
Lower categories such as Formula Three and Formula Two are described as junior formulae, lower formulae, or feeder formulae, referring to their position below top-level series like Formula One on their respective career ladders of single-seater motor racing. There are two primary forms of racing formula: open formula, which allows a choice of chassis or engines; and control or "spec" formula, which specifies a single supplier for chassis and engines. Formula Three is an example of an open formula, while Formula BMW is a control formula. Exceptions include Formula Ford, which has an open chassis formula but a single-brand engine formula.
While Formula One is the most expensive form of motorsport in the world, not all formula series are high-cost professional events. Some formulas are intended for juniors and amateurs; Formula 1000 and Formula Vee are among the least expensive forms of circuit racing.
Most contemporary formula categories allow the use of racing slicks, and extensive use of wings and ground effects to increase cornering speeds. However, there are popular amateur categories such as Formula Ford and Formula Vee which do not, and consequently have much slower cornering speeds and in which “drafting” plays a much more important role. Occasionally the term “wings and slicks racing” is used to distinguish the faster categories.