This Day In Motorsports History: May 18

Formula 1

1958: Monaco Grand Prix
Maurice Trintignant won the Monaco Grand Prix, driving for Cooper-Climax. This victory was notable as it marked the first win for a rear-engine car in Formula 1, signaling a significant shift in the design philosophy of F1 cars.

NASCAR

2003: The Winston (All-Star Race)
Jimmie Johnson won The Winston, NASCAR's All-Star race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. This victory was part of Johnson's rise to prominence in NASCAR, where he would go on to become a seven-time Cup Series champion.

MotoGP

2008: French Grand Prix
Valentino Rossi won the French Grand Prix at Le Mans. This victory was part of Rossi's successful 2008 season, where he secured his eighth World Championship across all classes.

World Rally Championship (WRC)

2003: Rally Argentina
Carlos Sainz won the Rally Argentina, adding to his impressive record in the WRC. This victory helped Sainz finish third in the championship standings that year.

IndyCar

1997: Indianapolis 500 Pole Day
Arie Luyendyk won the pole position for the 1997 Indianapolis 500 with a record-setting qualifying run. Although he did not win the race, his pole position was a highlight of his career and a significant achievement in IndyCar history.

Sports Cars

2013: 24 Hours of Nürburgring
The Black Falcon team won the 24 Hours of Nürburgring with their Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3. This victory was a significant achievement in the team's endurance racing career.

Touring Cars

2014: BTCC Race of Thruxton
Colin Turkington won the first race of the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) Race of Thruxton. This victory was part of Turkington's campaign, where he went on to win the BTCC title that year.

Supercars

2019: Winton SuperSprint
Scott McLaughlin won the first race of the Winton SuperSprint, part of the Australian Supercars Championship. McLaughlin's victory contributed to his dominant 2019 season, where he won his second consecutive Supercars Championship title.

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