Introduction

Abstract

This chapter offers a short introduction for contextualising the significance and popular appeal of motorsport. Of course, motorsport has not been without controversy, with this chapter acknowledging some of the historical, political and social issues that have persisted around power, people and the environment. Notably, most motorsport categories have been underpinned by forms of privilege, elitism and whiteness, as well as assumptions of masculine risk-taking and bravado. In this vein, moneyed men and the politically ambitious have also tended to use motorsport to advance their own causes in relation to wealth accumulation and political gain, and for nationalistic projections.

Moreover, with a historical deleterious impact on the environment, the relevance of motorsport and many of its self-proclaimed sustainability initiatives have been challenged in contemporary times. While sports such as Formula One have publicly sought to showcase their ‘green’ credentials, many of their sustainability initiatives are underscored by fundamental shortcomings.

Nevertheless, despite these historical, political and social issues, motorsport remains immensely popular. There is an enduring engagement with and appeal for global audiences as fans, consumers and spectators. Additionally, media companies and transnational corporations clamour to be involved with prestigious motorsport events and global series.

Conversely, and somewhat perplexingly, only a handful of scholars have engaged in sustained research on motorsport as an academic field of study. Hence, despite the robust scholarship around sport histories and cultures across the past 50+ years, motorsport is notably absent, overlooked or ignored. This book is but one small step in redressing this imbalance. As such, the remainder of this chapter overviews the contents, chapters and contributors to this edited volume on Lives in the Fast Lane.