Motorsport has given birth to some of the most iconic race cars that have transformed racing, shattered records, and become legends in the world of cars. These cars set the engineering, speed, and performance bar high, leaving their mark in history. From Formula 1 to Le Mans, rally to touring cars, here are 20 cars that have made history in motorsport:
Mercedes-Benz W196 (1954)
Rudolf Uhlenhaut designed the Mercedes-Benz W196 that dominated Formula 1 during the 1950s with its 2.5L straight-8, 290-horsepower engine. It featured innovative technologies such as desmodromic valve actuation and fuel injection. The cockpit was minimalistic and entirely functional, with a thin-rimmed wooden wheel and simple instrumentation. The vehicle could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds, an impressive achievement in its time to win multiple World Championships for Juan Manuel Fangio.
Ford GT40 (1964)
Designed to beat Ferrari at Le Mans by Eric Broadley and Roy Lunn, the Ford GT40 had a 7.0L V8 engine that produced 485 horsepower and accelerated from 0-60 mph in 4.2 seconds. The cockpit was driver-oriented, with a racing seat, Smiths gauges, and toggle switches, reflecting sheer performance. It won Le Mans four consecutive times (1966-1969), solidifying its place in history. Its low-slung silhouette and aerodynamic design made it among the most identifiable racing cars ever. Even now, the GT40 is an icon of American dominance of the racing scene.
Porsche 917 (1969)
The Porsche 917, penned by Hans Mezger, was one of history’s most dominant endurance race cars. Its 4.5L flat-12 produced 600 horsepower, with a 0-60 mph in 2.7 seconds. The interior was stripped to the bone, with a diminutive steering wheel, minimal dash, and the seat mounted straight onto the chassis. It took Le Mans in 1970 and 1971, making Porsche a force to be reckoned with in endurance racing. The 917’s outrageous speed and lightness enabled it to hit more than 240 mph on the Mulsanne Straight. Years later, it’s still one of the most highly respected race cars ever constructed.
Ferrari 312T (1975)
Mauro Forghieri designed the Ferrari 312T, the most popular Formula 1 vehicle of that era. Its engine was a 3.0L flat-12, yielding 510 hp and accelerating in just 3.8 seconds to 0-60 mph. The car had a better gearbox mounted on it transversely, bettering the balance and handling of the car and helping Ferrari gain the upper hand over all the other racing vehicles. The cockpit was simple but effective, with a small-diameter steering wheel, analog gauges, and a lightweight racing seat. Driven by Niki and Clay Regazzoni, the 312T secured multiple championships, cementing Ferrari’s dominance in the mid-70s.
McLaren MP4/4 (1988)
One of the most dominant Formula 1 cars ever, the McLaren MP4/4, designed by Steve Nichols and Gordon Murray, featured a 1.5L twin-turbo V6 Honda engine, producing 700+ horsepower. It achieved 0-60 mph acceleration in 2.3 seconds, record-setting for speed and efficiency. It had a minimal cockpit with an unadorned steering wheel featuring paddle shifters, analog gauges, and a dropped racing seat. Driven by Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost, it won 15 of 16 races in 1988, an F1 record.
Audi Quattro S1 (1985)
A revolution of Group B rallying, the Audi Quattro S1 was designed by Roland Gumpert. It brought all-wheel drive to rally racing, changing the sport forever. It was powered by a 2.1L turbocharged inline-5 engine that gave it 591 horsepower, enough to propel it from 0-60 mph in a mere 3.1 seconds, even on rugged terrain. The interior was bare-bones, with a strengthened roll cage, lightweight racing bucket seats, and a digital telemetry dashboard for instant telemetry. Driven by legends like Walter Röhrl, the Quattro S1 cemented Audi’s reputation as a rally powerhouse.
Nissan R32 Skyline GT-R (1990)
Dubbed “Godzilla”, the Nissan R32 Skyline GT-R, designed by Naganori Ito, dominated Group A touring car racing, especially in Japan and Australia. Its 2.6L twin-turbo inline-6 engine (RB26DETT) officially made 276 horsepower, but real-world figures often exceeded 300 horsepower due to Nissan’s gentleman’s agreement on power caps. The ATTESA E-TS all-wheel-drive system and Super-HICAS four-wheel steering made it the best handling. The cabin was austere but efficient, with deep bucket seats, a Momo steering wheel, and an analog instrument group. The R32 won 29 successive JTCC races and is considered one of the greatest touring cars in history.
Peugeot 905 (1991)
Created by André de Cortanze, the Peugeot 905 was a Le Mans-winning prototype endurance racing car in 1992 and 1993. It had a 3.5L naturally aspirated V10 engine with 650 horsepower, which could achieve a 0-60 mph time of 2.6 seconds. The cockpit was a cramped, fighter jet-style environment, with little padding, a digital instrument panel, and a wraparound windshield for aerodynamics. Its carbon-fiber monocoque lightness assisted it in its dominance of endurance races, securing Peugeot as a legend of endurance racing.
McLaren F1 GTR (1995)
Gordon Murray designed the McLaren F1 GTR, which transformed from a road car into a race car, earning it a legendary status in endurance racing. Its 6.1L naturally aspirated V12 engine (powered by BMW) produced 627 horsepower from 0 to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds. The distinctive center-seat driving position was retained, with a bare-bones carbon-fiber interior, racing harnesses, and a light dashboard. It famously won the 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans, outrunning purpose-built prototypes, demonstrating its superiority as a road and race car.
Toyota TS050 Hybrid (2016)
Toyota’s TS050 Hybrid, developed by Hisatake Murata, transformed endurance racing with hybrid power. Fitted with a 2.4L twin-turbo V6 hybrid powerplant, it churned out 986 horsepower and reached 0-60 mph in 2.4 seconds. The cabin was a high-tech driver-centric cockpit with a digital dashboard, paddle shifters, and hybrid power optimization energy deployment controls. After years of disappointment, Toyota finally won its first-ever Le Mans in 2018 and demonstrated hybrid technology could reign supreme in long-distance racing.
Ferrari F2004 (2004)
One of the most excellent all-time Formula 1 cars, Rory Byrne and Aldo Costa’s Ferrari F2004 powered Michael Schumacher to his seventh World Championship. Its 3.0L V10 motor made 865 horsepower and went from 0 to 60 mph in just 2.6 seconds. Inside was a simple, carbon-fiber race cockpit with a multifunction steering wheel, paddles, LCD display, and racing seat. Winning 15 out of 18 races in 2004, it remains one of Ferrari’s most successful F1 cars.
Porsche 956 (1982)
Norbert Singer designed the Porsche 956. It dominated endurance racing in the early ’80s, particularly at Le Mans, where it set the fastest lap record for 35 years. Its 2.65L turbocharged flat-6 engine produced 635 horsepower, accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in just 2.7 seconds. Inside, the cockpit was snug and concentrated, featuring a digital dashboard, roll cage, and fire-resistant material-clad bucket seat. The 956 dominated Le Mans four years running (1982-1985) and is considered one of the greatest endurance racing cars ever.
Lancia Stratos HF (1973)
A rally legend in every sense, the Lancia Stratos HF, penned by Marcello Gandini, became the symbol of World Rally Championship dominance. Its 2.4L Ferrari Dino V6 produced 280 horsepower, and although its 0-60 mph time of 5.5 seconds was not scorching, its mid-engine configuration and light weight gave it the handling of a much smaller car. The minimalist cabin featured a roll cage made of tubes, a plain instrument cluster, and harness-equipped bucket seats. The Stratos took three WRC championships in a row (1974-1976), revolutionizing rally car design.
BMW M3 E30 DTM (1987)
One of the most renowned touring cars, Paul Rosche’s BMW M3 E30 DTM, dominated Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft (DTM) during the late ’80s and early ’90s. It boasted a 2.3L naturally aspirated inline-4 engine with a 300-horsepower output and could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 6.1 seconds. The track-ready interior included a minimalist dash, roll cage, digital rev counter, and racing harnesses. Winning numerous DTM and endurance titles, the E30 M3 is a cult classic in motorsport.
Ford Escort RS Cosworth (1992)
The Ford Escort RS Cosworth was a rallying monster penned by John Wheeler. It was a Group A rallying powerhouse with a 2.0L turbocharged inline-4 engine. It made 227 horsepower in road trim but more than 400 horsepower in race configuration, accelerating it from 0-60 mph in a mere 3.9 seconds. Inside, it was all business with a roll cage, Sparco racing seats, and a sparse dash with toggle switches for easy tweaks. Famous for its gigantic “whale tail” rear wing, it took victory in many World Rally Championship (WRC) events, showing its mettle on tarmac, gravel, and snow.
Chevrolet Corvette C5-R (1999)
Chevrolet’s Corvette C5-R was a GT racing icon developed by Doug Fehan and Pratt & Miller. Its 7.0L normally aspirated V8 engine generated 600 horsepower and could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds. The cockpit contained a digital screen, a quick-release steering wheel, and a complete FIA-spec roll cage for safe high-speed operation. Racing at Le Mans and the American Le Mans Series (ALMS), the C5-R won Corvette Racing’s first Le Mans class victory in 2001, making the Corvette a serious player in endurance racing.
Subaru Impreza 22B WRC (1997)
Developed to be a World Rally Championship winner, the Subaru Impreza 22B WRC, engineered by David Lapworth at Prodrive, had a 2.0L turbo boxer-4 engine that developed 300+ horses. With 0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds, courtesy of its Symmetrical AWD system, it was almost unstoppable on snow and dirt. The interior was spartan, with a minimalist dash, a quick-release steering wheel, and a sequential shifter. Driven by Colin McRae, it won several WRC championships and became a rallying icon.
Dodge Viper GTS-R (1996)
Dodge’s Viper GTS-R, designed by Oreca Racing and Chrysler, was a merciless GT race car. It contained an 8.0L naturally aspirated V10 engine, delivering 700 horsepower, and accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds. The driver-oriented cockpit included a racing seat, roll cage, and digital telemetry system. The Viper dominated endurance racing, taking multiple Le Mans and ALMS titles, demonstrating that American muscle could play on the global stage.
Mercedes-AMG CLK GTR (1997)
Engineered for the brief-lived GT1 racing series, the Mercedes-AMG CLK GTR, penned by HWA AG, had a 6.0L naturally aspirated V12, delivering 600 horsepower, with 0-60 mph in 3.2 seconds. The cabin was ultra-spartan, with carbon-fiber panels, a tiny LCD dash, and a tight racing bucket seat. It took several FIA GT Championships before GT1 regulations were abolished, so it is one of the most scarce and extreme race cars ever constructed.
Bugatti Type 35 (1924)
The Bugatti Type 35, created by Ettore Bugatti, is among the greatest racing cars ever, having won more than 1,000 races during the 1920s and ’30s. Its 2.3L inline-8 engine was good for 135 horsepower, with a 0-60 mph time of approximately 6.0 seconds, which was wildly fast for the era. The interior was primitive, with a wooden steering wheel, leather bucket seat, and hand-cranked ignition system. Its lightweight, streamlined construction made it virtually invincible on the Grand Prix circuit, establishing Bugatti as a racing legend.
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Electric vehicles are no longer a luxury for the elite—they’re a smart investment for the everyday driver. With manufacturers stepping up to the plate, affordable EVs now deliver on reliability, range, and modern comforts. Here’s a look at 18 economical electric cars engineered to outlast their payment plans.
18 Budget-Friendly Electric Cars That Last Longer Than Their Loans — Economical Electrics
