race car
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race car
A vehicle specially designed and built for car racing, intended for high speed and performance.
Der Formel-1-Pilot stieg aus seinem Rennwagen und winkte den Fans zu.
The Formula 1 driver got out of his race car and waved to the fans.
'Rennwagen' (race car) is a compound noun made from the stem of the verb 'rennen' (to run/race) and the noun 'Wagen' (car/vehicle). So it literally describes a car that is built for racing.
Schon als Kind träumte er davon, einen echten Rennwagen zu fahren.
Even as a child, he dreamed of driving a real race car.
The word element 'Renn-' is often used as a prefix for things that have to do with competition and speed. When you see 'Renn-', you can often infer such a meaning, as in 'Rennrad' (racing bike), 'Rennpferd' (racehorse), or 'Rennstrecke' (racetrack).
Die Rennstrecke war nach dem Regen noch nass und rutschig.
The racetrack was still wet and slippery after the rain.
Specific verbs are often used in connection with a race car. Typical phrases are 'einen Rennwagen steuern' (to drive/control a race car), 'im Rennwagen sitzen' (to sit in the race car), or 'den Rennwagen auf der Strecke testen' (to test the race car on the track).
Der Mechaniker überprüft den Motor des Rennwagens vor dem Start.
The mechanic checks the engine of the race car before the start.
sports car
Both words refer to fast, high-performance cars. A „Sportwagen“ is intended as a sporty road car, even if it can be driven on a racetrack. A „Rennwagen“, by contrast, was built specifically for car racing. The key question is therefore whether sporty driving or competition is the focus.
Der Rennwagen wurde ausschließlich für den Wettbewerb auf der Rennstrecke gebaut.
The race car was built exclusively for competition on the racetrack.
Mit seinem neuen Sportwagen fährt er am Wochenende gern über kurvige Landstraßen.
He enjoys driving his new sports car along winding country roads on weekends.
