By Matthew Etzel and Marina Halbert
Racing is about more than sponsorships and competition. It’s the intersection of art, science, and athleticism, the constant clash of man and machine. In racing, we get to witness a world where the two work hand in hand, almost becoming one. In celebration of the sport, we want to rank the top five coolest race cars, whether it is because they brought success to their driver or their technical developments had significant impacts in the sport. From NASCAR to Formula 1, here are the top five best race cars.
Starting strong at number 5, we have the Tyrrell P34 Six Wheeler. A true feat of engineering, the P34 boasted 6, rather than four, wheels. While it was competitive within its circuit, Goodyear’s forfeiture of the ten-inch wheels prevented it from becoming widespread.
In fourth we have the Chaparral 2J, which competed in the 1970 Can-Am championship series. The Chaparral 2J was quickly banned from competition due to its sliding polycarbonate skirts, but still serves as one of the first examples of a ground racing car, which uses the shape of the bottom of the chassis to create a suction under the vehicle, increasing downforce and leading to faster speeds.
One of the most dominant cars in all of Formula 1 history, the RB19 makes number three on our list. Not only did it secure Max Verstappen a championship win, it looked damn cool doing it.
We couldn’t possibly write a list of the best cars of all time in the month of May without including the iconic McLaren MP4/4. This second place car allowed Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost to win 15 out of 16 races in the circuit, an incredible feat from two amazing drivers. This car had 675 horsepower and was an absolute beast on the grid, helping Senna secure his first ever world title in 1988.
NUMBER ONE! Porsche 917k. You know it, you love it, it’s the winner of Les Mans and now worth more than $16 million! How does it get any cooler than that? This antique machine had a top speed of 230 miles per hour, which is totally insane for a car that’s almost half a century old.