What Is a Race Car Driver Called?

A race car driver is most commonly called a “racing driver” (internationally) or a “race car driver” (especially in North America). Depending on region, discipline, and context, you may also hear terms like “race driver,” “motorsport driver,” or discipline-specific titles such as “Formula One driver,” “NASCAR driver,” or “rally driver.” The terminology can be formal, colloquial, or series-specific, but all refer to an athlete who competes in organized auto racing events.

Common Terms and Synonyms

Several widely accepted terms describe the profession across regions and settings. The following list outlines the most common labels you’ll encounter in news coverage, official documents, and everyday conversation.

• Racing driver — The globally prevalent term, used by entities like Formula 1 and the FIA.
• Race car driver — Standard in North American English; interchangeable with “racing driver.”
• Race driver — A concise variant often used in headlines and reports.
• Motorsport driver — A broad descriptor emphasizing the sport rather than car type.
• Driver — Context-dependent shorthand; common inside the paddock and in broadcasts.
• Racer — Colloquial and cross-disciplinary; can also refer to motorcycle or bicycle competitors.
• Pilot — Borrowed from French/Spanish (“pilote”/“piloto”); occasionally used in English motorsport slang.
• Wheelman/wheelwoman — Informal U.S. slang historically heard around stock car and short-track scenes.

While these terms vary in formality and frequency, they point to the same role: an athlete operating a competition-prepared vehicle in sanctioned racing.

Discipline-Specific Titles

Because auto racing spans multiple categories, titles often reference the series or vehicle type. The items below show how the label changes with discipline, helping audiences identify a driver’s specialty at a glance.

• Formula One driver — Competes in F1, the FIA’s premier single-seater championship.
• IndyCar driver — Races in North America’s top open-wheel series.
• NASCAR driver — Competes in U.S. stock car series such as the Cup Series, Xfinity, or Trucks.
• Sports car/GT/endurance driver — Races GT and prototype machinery (e.g., WEC, IMSA, Le Mans).
• Rally driver — Competes on closed public roads and stages (e.g., WRC).
• Rallycross driver — Contests mixed-surface sprint events with short, intense races.
• Touring car driver — Races production-derived sedans/hatchbacks (e.g., BTCC, TCR).
• Drag racer — Specializes in straight-line acceleration contests (e.g., NHRA).
• Kart racer (karting driver) — Competes in karting, a common entry point into the sport.
• Off-road/Baja driver — Races desert or short-course off-road events.

These titles offer quick context about the machinery, format, and governing body, making coverage clearer for fans and newcomers alike.

Formal Qualifications and Licensing

The label “racing driver” also implies adherence to safety, licensing, and competitive standards governed by national and international bodies. The outline below summarizes the typical pathway and requirements recognized across major series.

1. Obtain a competition license from a national sporting authority (ASN) affiliated with the FIA; this usually involves training, an on-track evaluation, and medical clearance.
2. Gain experience through karting and junior categories, building results and racecraft.
3. Meet series-specific requirements (e.g., FIA Super Licence points for Formula 1; series approvals for IndyCar, NASCAR, IMSA, and WRC).
4. Maintain medical fitness and pass periodic physicals mandated by sanctioning bodies.
5. Secure a seat with a team and compete in sanctioned events to maintain license status and eligibility.

Standards vary by country and series, but the common thread is structured licensing, verified competency, and ongoing compliance with safety protocols.

Gender and Inclusivity

“Driver” is gender-neutral and widely accepted in professional contexts. While phrases like “female driver” appear in coverage to highlight representation milestones, the default, inclusive term remains “driver.” Development efforts—such as national programs and FIA-backed initiatives—aim to broaden access and visibility for underrepresented groups across the sport.

Regional Usage Notes

In the United Kingdom and much of Europe, “racing driver” is the standard form. In the United States and Canada, “race car driver” is equally common. In non-English contexts, translations like “pilote” (French) or “piloto” (Spanish/Portuguese) are standard, and you may see “pilot” informally borrowed back into English paddock slang.

Summary

A race car driver is generally called a “racing driver” or “race car driver,” with discipline-specific titles (e.g., “Formula One driver,” “NASCAR driver”) used for clarity. Synonyms such as “race driver,” “motorsport driver,” and “racer” are common, while “driver” serves as the inclusive, gender-neutral default across the sport.

What do you call someone who does racing?

/reɪs ˌdraɪvər/ Definitions of race driver. noun. someone who drives racing cars at high speeds. synonyms: automobile driver, racer.

Are race car drivers called pilots?

It’s a language thing. People that have learned English as a second language tend to use the term Pilot. Variations of the word “Pilot” mean “race car driver” in several other languages like French (pilote) or Spanish (piloto)

What are car drivers called?

A person who drives a car is generally called a driver. If the person is employed to drive a luxury or private vehicle, they are called a chauffeur. 
Here’s a breakdown:

• Driver: Opens in new tabThis is the most common and general term for anyone operating a car or other vehicle. 
• Chauffeur: Opens in new tabThis term is used for a person who is employed to drive a passenger vehicle, especially a luxury sedan or limousine, providing a higher level of personalized service. 
• Motorist: Opens in new tabThis term can refer to a person who owns or drives a car, but it is often used in a more formal context, or to describe a category of people who drive, like pedestrians or cyclists. 

What is the fancy name for a car driver?

The term chauffeur comes from the French term for stoker because the earliest automobiles, like their railroad and sea vessel counterparts, were steam-powered and required the driver to stoke the engine.