Asports prototype, sometimes referred to simply as aprototype, is a type ofrace car that is used in high-level categories ofsports car racing. They are purpose-built auto-sports race cars, as opposed to production-car based or street-legal, low-volumehomologation specials – thus entirely not intended for consumer purchase, or production beyond the fabrication of the (nearly) unique cars entered into races and in race-car competition classes or "formulas", with sufficiently open regulations to allow for vehicles of unique design to partake.
Prototype racing cars have competed in sports car racing since beforeWorld War II, but became the top echelon of sports cars in the 1960s as they began to replacehomologated sports cars. CurrentACO regulations allow most sports car series to use two forms of cars:grand tourers (GT cars), which are strictly based on production street cars, andsports prototypes, which are allowed a great amount of flexibility within set rule parameters.
From the1953 season to1984, theWorld Sportscar Championship titles were awarded tomanufacturers of sports prototypes (except1978–1981). From1985 to1992, titles were awarded toteams entering sports prototypes.
In historic racing, they are often called "sports racing cars". Sometimes, they aremetonymically referred to as "Le Mans cars", as the24 Hours of Le Mans has been closely associated with the category in recent decades and features entries from several of the main championships contested by prototypes.[1][2][3]
Since the 1960s, various championships have allowed prototypes to compete. However, most championships have had their own set of rules for their prototype classes. Listed here are some of the more commonly known types of prototypes.
 | Thissports car racing-related article is astub. You can help Wikipedia byexpanding it. |