If you thought racing cars only involved driving around a loop repetitively, think again. Many of the world’s top car and motorcycle races involve difficult terrain, extreme conditions, and incredible endurance. Racecar drivers from around the globe test themselves in some of the most inhospitable environments—pushing their vehicle, and themselves, to the limit in the process. These are races that are truly grueling and have to be seen to be believed.
Here is a list of the 10 most extreme car and motorcycle races in the world today.
The King of the Hammers Race
King of the Hammers is an off-road desert race held each February in Johnson Valley, California. And it is about as tough a race as there is in the United States. More than 400 teams and 30,000 spectators come out each year for this event, which sees Ultra 4 desert runner vehicles drive across harsh off-road terrain and also crawl across large rocks and boulders.
Founded in 2007, this race has been known to leave more than a few cars on the side of the track with blown tires and busted axles. The cars used in this race travel at speeds of more than 100 miles an hour and use modified V8 engines that can produce 800 horsepower, as well as 40-inch tires with Beadlock wheels. Competitors must complete the 165-mile course in less than 14 hours or be disqualified.
