Fast and Curious: Motorsports at Hopkins

55% of forty students and faculty reported that they watch motorsports. Of this percentage, most said they watched because of the fast-paced nature of motorsports, familial interest, specific racers, or the technology associated with the cars. Lily Lu ’29 stated, “I like the intensity of F1, and how there's only 20 seats. Some students expressed a lifelong interest in watching motorsports. Amory Erenhouse ’27 explained, “I've always liked cars, ever since I was little, and getting to watch cool cars race around a track is just really interesting. You get to learn about all the different cars, what engines power them, and the racers.” Star racers also attract interest. Henry Weinstein ’26, for example, said that one of the reasons he watches Formula 1 is because of “the sheer attractiveness of Carlos Sainz and the added niche of the car and tires being a factor; it never is just the best racer, it's a push and pull of different things.” 

45% expressed that they do not watch motorsports. Jane Liu ’29 said, “I don't hear much about it, so I've never had the incentive to watch.” Math teacher Joshua Zelinsky mentioned he does not watch because of the environmental drawbacks: “Unneeded CO2 production for no good purpose.” 

Motorsports raise the question of whether or not it should be considered a true sport. Yet, 86.6% of Hopkins believes motorsports are a sport, with many students comparing motorsports to other sports. Natalie Billings ’27 said, “The drivers are legitimate athletes who drive cars, just like sailors who sail boats and runners who use their bodies.” Aiden Gomez ’28 said, “Think of a bobsled or boat, the athletes in those sports are primarily using that instead of their own bodies to do the sport. It involves intense focus and awareness for motorsports.” Ananya Biederer ’28 said, “It requires training and focus like all other sports. It is a sport.” On the other hand, math teacher, ski coach, and crew coach John Isaacs said motorsports are different from other sports: “Racing sports are different than field sports or sports with a ball. Racing sports are about focus, endurance, technique, training, [and] maximization.” 

Many students mentioned the physicality of motorsports. Haley Kreitler ’27 stressed the physical requirements: “The amount of physical and mental stress on the drivers is enough to fatally injure a normal person.” Max Alderman ’27 added that the “high G forces on the human body” make motorsports a true sport. Solomon Polak ’30 said, “It takes extreme athletic ability to be able to be a professional.” Liam Acton, representing the Hopkins Club, Motorsports on the Hill, led by himself, Ava Kwok ’26, Josie Sirowich ’26, and Thooyan Thirumaran ’26 stated, “Motorsports are true sports: I mean, is anything more athletic than sweating pounds off and pushing your body to its limits just to see victory? The physical demands are insane, drivers endure high G-forces, extreme heat, and split-second decision-making for hours.”  Zachary Cohen ’29 remarked, “They require high levels of skill and understanding of the vehicle. People are able to compete against each other and physically and mentally exert themselves which is part of the definition of ‘what a sport is.’”

While many believe motorsport drivers are legitimate athletes, there are dissenters. Amelia Andersson ’28 said, “The person is not doing very much or using their body. The car is doing most of the work.” Neitzke agreed, “They're mostly about how fast the car is - not how good/fast a competitor is.” Riley Belcher ’30 claimed that “motor sports don’t require athleticism.” Maeve Phipps ’27 agreed, “there is no athletic ability needed.”

 
Although some of the Hopkins community thinks no athleticism is required, a large proportion of the community believes motorsports are legitimate sports, and watches them often. Acton finished with, “If anything, motorsports might be even tougher because one small mistake at high speeds can cost everything.”