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Most people know that the technology of the passenger car has come a long way over the years. However, a lot are not aware of how much of this development comes from motor racing.

The truth is that some motor racing series, especially those with high emphasis on constructors and developers, are used as laboratories and testing grounds by car companies, especially for safety technology. Many advanced braking systems, such as ABS and traction control, started their life as performance enhancing measures for the track. Variable valve timing systems, originally designed to increase the speed and fuel efficiency of race cars, found their way into production cars after it was noticed that they also significantly lowered emissions.

How about four-wheel drive in passenger cars? Introduced by Porsche in the 1900s after successful use on a race car (interestingly, the original race car was also the world’s first hybrid car, making one wonder what happened with that technology). Right now, the KERS system is being developed for Formula One, and one has to assume that this technology, in a version optimized for saving fuel rather than increasing top speed, will show up in our passenger cars.

Racing is a way manufacturers test the technology and show it off. It sells cars, and it helps make better ones.