Automobile racing is one of the most popular sports in the world. The history of professional and amateur auto racing probably goes back to the days when the automobile was first invented. One of the big improvements that revolutionized auto racing was the introduction of the turbo charger. They increase the amount of air drawn into the piston of an engine at each stroke; thereby increasing the power boost that the engine supplies to the vehicle in motion. The first use of a turbocharger in auto racing was in the late 1970s that was a relatively late development given the long history of the turbo charger, but up until this point race car developers believed the technology was not fuel efficient or reliable enough to power a successful race car. But, Renault proved critics wrong by using a turbocharger that provided a significant boost to the speed of the car with the use of a fairly small engine.

Beside increasing the speed a race car could hit in a short amount of time, the skill needed to use a turbo charger in an engine also meant a new breed of drivers were needed. This development was not just limited to professional circuits like Formula One; amateurs all over the world found that successfully racing a turbo driven car meant an increase in timing ability, reflexes, and even strength.

The introduction of the turbo charger changed auto racing forever. Nowadays, there are many styles of auto racing that do not allow turbo chargers, but even so, the very fact that there has to be litigation against these innovations is an indication of their far reaching impact and application!