The year 1973 was notable across a range of international motor racing disciplines, featuring several championship titles, landmark victories, and the loss of prominent drivers.
Formula One
- The 1973 FIA Formula One World Championship consisted of 15 Grand Prix events.
- Jackie Stewart (Tyrrell) secured his third World Drivers' Championship, winning three races (World Championship Victory, Belgian Grand Prix, Dutch Grand Prix).
- Emerson Fittipaldi (Lotus) finished second in the standings, and Denny Hulme (McLaren) placed third.
- The season was marked by the fatal accident of François Cevert at the French Grand Prix, and the first win for a turbocharged engine was not achieved until later years.
IndyCar / USAC Championship
- The 1973 USAC Championship Car season encompassed 17 races, including the Indianapolis 500.
- Gordon Johncock won the Indianapolis 500 driving for All American Racers, and he also claimed the USAC National Championship title.
NASCAR
- In the NASCAR Grand National (now Cup Series) season, Benny Parsons captured the championship, driving for Melling Racing.
- Richard Petty won the 1973 Daytona 500, marking his second victory in that event.
Sports Car Racing
- The 1973 24 Hours of Le Mans was won by Henri Pescarolo and Gérard Larrousse in a Matra‑MS670.
- The World Sportscar Championship featured multiple victories for manufacturers such as Porsche, Alfa Romeo, and Ferrari.
Other Notable Events
- The inaugural NASCAR Winston Cup Series race at Riverside International Raceway (the 1973 Winston Western 500) took place.
- In rallying, the World Rally Championship had not yet been established (it began in 1973 but the first season was 1973, with Alpine Rondeau winning the manufacturers' title).
Overall, 1973 was a year of competitive diversity across open‑wheel, stock car, and endurance racing, highlighted by championship successes for Jackie Stewart, Gordon Johncock, and Benny Parsons, alongside significant safety concerns following driver fatalities.
