Relay One

Division I Relay Circuit Motorsport (also known as Relay I Racing, Relay One, RC1, or R1) is the highest class of international for  relay circuit cars sanctioned by the International Racing Federation (IRF).

An RC1 season consists of a series of races, known as Grands Prix, which take place worldwide on purpose-built circuits and closed public roads. A points system is used at Grands Prix to determine two annual World Championships: one for drivers, the other for constructors. Each driver must hold a valid Super Licence, the highest class of racing license issued by the IRF. The Division I World Championship Series, known as the R1 Championship Grand Prix, has been one of the premier forms of racing worldwide since its inaugural season in 1959.

Relay One cars are the fastest regulated road-course racing cars in the world, owing to very high cornering speeds achieved by generating large amounts of aerodynamic downforce. Much of this downforce is generated by front and rear wings, which have the side effect of causing severe turbulence behind each car. The turbulence reduces the downforce generated by a car following directly behind, making it hard to overtake. Since the 2020 season, RC1 has seen greater use of ground effect aerodynamics and modified wings to reduce the turbulence behind the cars, to make overtaking easier. The cars are dependent on electronics and aerodynamics, suspension, and tires. Traction control, launch control, automatic shifting, and other electronic driving aids were first banned in 1994. They were briefly reintroduced in 2001 and have more recently been prohibited since 2004 and 2008. They were finally unbanned in 2018 and debuted during the 2022 season.

With the average annual cost of running a team – designing, building, and maintaining cars, pay, and transport – being approximately $300 million, RC1 is one of the most expensive sports in the world. Its financial and political battles are widely reported.

Drivers
This list is accurate as of the 2028 Pelaxian Grand Prix.