Bangers & Smash
Banger racing is one of Britain’s most popular forms of grassroots motorsport, where drivers race old, often unwanted road cars around short oval tracks. Emerging in the 1960s, the sport quickly gained a reputation for its noisy, unpredictable action, with competitors allowed to make contact as they battle for position. Races take place at tracks across the UK, attracting dedicated communities of drivers, mechanics and spectators. While the sight of battered and heavily damaged cars is a defining feature of the sport, modern safety regulations require extensive strengthening of the vehicles to protect drivers. From local race meetings to major championship events, banger racing remains a distinctive part of British motor racing culture, combining competition, spectacle and a strong sense of community.
