These are not arbitrary colors picked by each construc-
tor for his cars (except in the case of strictly national,
local or club competition, where anything goes), but are
the result of a decision reached in the early days of racing.
Cars were, and still are, distinguishable by assigned num-
bers, but further separation (prompted no doubt by na-
tionalistic feelings) was felt desirable. This is why racing
cars from Italy are red, the cars from England are green
and the cars from Germany are white (or sometimes sil-
ver-the result of leaving the aluminum body unpainted).
A private owner will generally paint his car in the
color(s) of his own country, rather than the manufactur-
er's. According to the C.S.I. of the F.I.A., "The use of
distinctive colors of nationality is compulsory when the
supplementary regulations of the competition require it.
These colors are determined by the nationality of the
competitor." So, a Ferrari owned by an Englishman
would be painted green, even though it was an Italian car.
Thus, it has become a tradition for racing cars to be
painted in the colors of the entrant, although they are oc-
casionally seen with minor variations. Mercedes, for ex-
ample, honored Englishman Richard Seaman, who was a
Mercedes team driver, with a green border around the
grille opening of his car. The shrewd Germans had also
noted that this would allow quick identification if Seaman
and one of the other Mercedes drivers (who would be in
identical cars) chanced to pass rapidly by the pits at the
same time.
Because these colors were assigned during the days
when racing cars possessed chassis that were visible be-
neath the body, many countries have a combination of
colors: one for the body, one for the, chassis and some-
times another for some other part, such as the wheels or
hood. This presented a problem when streamlining came
into fashion and the chassis disappeared from sight. As a
consequence, the color formerly allotted to the chassis is
now applied in the form of stripes or other trim over the
color assigned to the body by the Code Sportif Interna-
tional of the Federation Internationale de L'Automobile.
To further simplify (or complicate) matters, green, the
color assigned to the British Empire, is used as a basis for
all cars from England and its possessions. The common-
wealth countries use green as a body color with other
colors, at their choice, as stripes. Canada, for example,
uses two white stripes 4 in. wide, one on each side of the
car's centerline and 6 in. apart.
British racing green, to dispel some of the arguments,
is not any particular shade of green, but Napier green is
preferred. Stirling Moss drove a light sea-green BRM in
the 1959 French Grand Prix. This was quite contrary to
the accepted general opinion of what constitutes "British
Racing Green" but was, nevertheless, acceptable.
The color applied to a racing car has also had its share
of side effects. For many years U.S. drivers would not
drive in, or in competition with, cars painted any shade
of green; they believed the color to be unlucky. This has
diminished in recent years, especially since the advent of
more British international competition.
The chart lists the racing colors of each country as as-
signed by the C.S.I. The car number and its background
color, a necessary aid to identity, are made to contrast as
as much as possible to aid race officials and lap scorers.
Colors assigned to chassis or underframe in the chart are
now applied to stripes or trim.