Major Incident: In 2008, a driver for Team Malo was kidnapped for nine days during the race. It was discovered during the high-intensity shootout that resulted in his rescue that his captors were former police officers.
Why It's Dangerous: The first timed run down the Baja peninsula took place in 1962, as a publicity stunt for Honda Motorcycles. Its first official running as a competitive event came in 1967, from Tijuana to La Paz.More recently, the race has become embroiled in all kinds of gang warfare, with kidnappings and shootings a part of each event.
Major Incident: Giulio Masetti was killed driving his 1926 Delage at the first turn of the race. His car wore the number 13, and since then no other car in the Targa Florio has had that number.
Why It's Dangerous: In its most recent configuration (from 1951 to 1977) the Targa Florio was ten laps on a 45 mile course through the Madonie Mountains of Sicily. Competitors had to traverse mountain roads, switchback hairpins, gravel, mud, and spectators and buildings right up against the edge of the track. Famously, in 1974 it was declared ‘too dangerous' to be run as part of the WRC, further confirming its dangerous reputation.
Major Incident: in the 1960 Belgian Grand Prix, Chris Bristow was trying to keep his Cooper ahead of Willy Mairesse's Ferrari on lap 20. He rolled his car in the Burnenville corner, decapitating himself. Stirling Moss had broken both his legs and several ribs the previous day at the same spot.
Why It's Dangerous: Spa's Eau Rouge corner is one of the most loved in all of motorsports, but also part of one of the most deadly tracks. Originally constructed in 1924, the track now bears little resemblance to its previous layouts. Since its opening, 23 drivers have lost their lives here.
Major Incident: Le Mans was also the site of the worst motor racing accident to date in 1955, killing between 80 and 100 spectators and injuring another 120, in addition to driver Pierre Levegh. As a result, all forms of racing were banned in several European nations until tracks there could be made more safe. While most nations have since lifted their bans, auto racing is still banned today in Switzerland.
Why It's Dangerous: Started in 1923, the 24 Hours of Le Mans is one of the most glamorous events in car racing. The circuit features a nearly 4 mile long straight, on which cars have reached speeds of up to 259.9 mph. To date, The Circuit de La Sarthe has claimed the lives of 24 drivers.
Major Incident: The death of Dale Earnhardt on the final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500 is certainly the one of the most legendary. Racing for his second win at the 500, Earnhardt hit the wall at about 160 mph, killing him instantly. It was referred to as Black Sunday by the Sporting Press, a title that it keeps to this day.
Why It's Dangerous: Since its opening in 1959, Daytona International Speedway has claimed the lives of 28 drivers. The track is banked at 31 degrees in the corners, and 18 degrees on the start/finish straight.
Major Incident: The fatal 1961 crash of Wolfgang Von Trips in his 156 Sharknose Ferrari put an end to Formula 1 cars on the banked section of the track's oval course, and to Von Trips' World Championship hopes, which he would have won that year.
Why It's Dangerous: Opened in 1922, Monza is one of the oldest tracks on the list. Once the home of the banked Parabolica corner, the track used to cross over itself in its old configuration. Now, some of the highest speeds on the Formula 1 calendar are reached there.
Why It's Dangerous: Since its construction in 1909, Indianapolis Motor Speedway has seen the deaths of 42 competitors, most recently Tony Renna, who lost his life during a private tire test session in 2003.
Major Incident: Pascal Terry died on the course after running out of fuel. Miscommunication by race officials confused his brother for him, and so no search was started until three days later, when it was already too late.
Why It's Dangerous: Run from Paris to Dakar, Senegal since 1979, the Dakar Rally sends drivers and navigators over some of the roughest terrain on the planet. Starting last year, the race has been moved to South America due to safety concerns. 45 competitors have lost their lives somewhere along the way, averaging a little under one competitor death per year, with the most recent last year.
Major Incident: Perhaps most famously, the track is where Ferrari driver Niki Lauda nearly died in 1976. He was issued the last rites by a priest, only to return to Formula 1 racing two races later, in Italy.
Why It's Dangerous: Since its construction in the 1920's, the Nordschleife, known as the “The Green Hell,”has taken the lives of 52 drivers, the most recent being Leo Lowenstein in April this year in an Aston Martin V8 Vantage.
Why It's Dangerous: With riders on motorcycles reaching top speeds around 180 mph on single lane country roads, it's almost surprising the Isle of Man, by far the most dangerous course on the top ten list hasn't claimed more than 227 lives in its 103-year history.
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