title: 1979 in motorsport
text: # 1979 in motorsport
  
  The following is an overview of the events of 1979 in motorsport including the major racing events, motorsport venues that were opened and closed during a year, championships and non-championship events that were established and disestablished in a year, and births and deaths of racing drivers and other motorsport people.
  
  ## Annual events
  
  The calendar includes only annual major non-championship events or annual events that had significance separate from the championship. For the dates of the championship events see related season articles.
  
  | Date | Event |
  | - | - |
  | 26 December-14 January | 1st Dakar Rally |
  | 3–4 February | 17th 24 Hours of Daytona |
  | 18 February | 21st Daytona 500 |
  | 27 May | 37th Monaco Grand Prix |
  | 27 May | 63rd Indianapolis 500 |
  | 3–9 June | 62nd Isle of Man TT |
  | 9–10 June | 47th 24 Hours of Le Mans |
  | 21–22 July | 31st 24 Hours of Spa |
  | 29 July | 2nd Suzuka 8 Hours |
  | 20 September | 20th Hardie-Ferodo 1000 |
  | 6–7 October | 8th 24 Hours of Nurburgring |
  | 18 November | 26th Macau Grand Prix |
  
  ## Births
  
  | Date | Month | Name | Nationality | Occupation | Note |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 16 | February | Valentino Rossi | Italian | Motorcycle racer | MotoGP World champion (2001-2005, 2008-2009). |
  | 18 | April | Anthony Davidson | British | Racing driver | FIA World Endurance champion (2014). |
  | 2 | July | Sam Hornish Jr. | American | Racing driver | Indianapolis 500 winner (2006). |
  | 25 | December | Robert Huff | British | Racing driver | World Touring Car champion (2012). |
  
  ## Deaths
  
  | Date | Month | Name | Age | Nationality | Occupation | Note | Ref |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 22 | June | Louis Chiron | 79 | Monegasque | Racing driver | The first Monegasque Formula One driver. 1931 French Grand Prix winner. | |
  