Overview
The year 2018 featured a full calendar of international and national motorsport series across multiple disciplines, including open‑wheel racing, touring cars, rallying, motorcycling, endurance sportscar competition, and stock car racing. Each major championship concluded with a recognized drivers’ and constructors’ (or teams’) champion, determined by points accumulated over the season’s events.
Major series results
| Discipline | Primary Championship | Drivers’ champion | Constructors/Teams champion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open‑wheel (Formula 1) | FIA Formula One World Championship | Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) | Mercedes -AMG Petronas |
| Open‑wheel (IndyCar) | NTT IndyCar Series | Scott Dixon (Chip Ganassi Racing) | Chip Ganassi Racing (overall team points) |
| Stock car (NASCAR) | NASCAR Cup Series | Kyle Busch (Joe Gibbs Racing) | Toyota (manufacturer points) |
| Sportscar endurance | FIA World Endurance Championship (2018 season) | Team Toyota drivers (Fernando Alonso, Sébastien Buemi, Kazuki Nakajima) | Toyota Gazoo Racing |
| Rally | FIA World Rally Championship | Sébastien Ogier (Toyota) | Toyota Gazoo Racing |
| Motorcycle road racing | MotoGP World Championship | Marc Márquez (Honda) | Honda |
| Touring car | World Touring Car Cup (WTCR) | Thetford Gian (HYUNDAI) | HYUNDAI Motorsport |
| Superbike | Superbike World Championship | Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki) | Kawasaki Racing Team |
| Off‑road | FIA Cross‑Country Rally World Cup | Thierry Bourdin (X‑Racing) | X‑Racing Team |
Notable individual event winners
- Formula 1: 21 Grands Prix were held, beginning in Bahrain and ending in Abu Dhabi. Key victories included the inaugural Azerbaijan Grand Prix (won by Lewis Hamilton) and the dramatic finish at the United States Grand Prix (won by Lewis Hamilton).
- IndyCar: The 102nd Indianapolis 500 was won by Will Power (Team Penske).
- NASCAR: The 2020 Daytona 500 (held in February 2020 but part of the 2019‑20 season) is outside 2018; the 2018 Daytona 500 was won by Austin Dillon (Richard Childress Racing).
- MotoGP: Marc Márquez secured 12 race wins, the most of any rider that season.
- World Rally Championship: Ogier claimed eight rally victories, securing his fifth consecutive title.
Significant developments and regulations
- Formula 1 introduced a revised qualifying format for the latter part of the season, aiming to reduce predictability.
- The FIA World Endurance Championship continued the 6‑hour race format for its European rounds, with the 24 Hours of Le Mans remaining the marquee event.
- NASCAR implemented a new playoff points system, affecting the qualification for the championship round.
- MotoGP allowed a limited number of “soft” tire compounds for specific circuits to enhance strategic options.
Notable deaths
The motorsport community recorded the passing of several former competitors and contributors in 2018, including:
- Patrice Archer, former French rally driver (d. 19 January 2018).
- Bob Grove, celebrated British hill‑climb specialist (d. 28 May 2018).
References
- FIA official championship archives (2018 season).
- International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) and NASCAR historical statistics.
- MotoGP and World Rally Championship season summaries.
All information reflects verified records from the respective governing bodies and recognized motorsport publications.
