title: 1961 in motorsport
text: # 1961 in motorsport
  
  The following is an overview of the events of 1961 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 own significance separate from the championship. For the dates of the championship events see related season articles.
  
  | Date | Event |
  | - | - |
  | 26 February | 3rd Daytona 500 |
  | 30 April | 45th Targa Florio |
  | 14 May | 19th Monaco Grand Prix |
  | 30 May | 45th Indianapolis 500 |
  | 10–11 June | 29th 24 Hours of Le Mans |
  | 12–16 June | 43rd Isle of Man TT |
  | 19 November | 2nd Armstrong 500 |
  | 19 November | 8th Macau Grand Prix |
  
  ## Births
  
  | Date | Month | Name | Nationality | Occupation | Note |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 19 | February | Andy Wallace | British | Racing driver | 24 Hours of Le Mans winner (1988). |
  | 20 | April | Paolo Barilla | Italian | Racing driver | 24 Hours of Le Mans winner (1985). |
  | 23 | April | Pierluigi Martini | Italian | Racing driver | 24 Hours of Le Mans winner (1999). |
  | 23 | June | Ian Duncan | Kenyan | Rally driver | 1994 Safari Rally winner. |
  | 28 | July | Yannick Dalmas | French | Racing driver | 24 Hours of Le Mans winner (1992, 1994-1995, 1999). World Endurance champion (1992). |
  | 6 | December | Manuel Reuter | German | Racing driver | 24 Hours of Le Mans winner (1989, 1996). |
  | 20 | December | Freddie Spencer | American | Motorcycle racer | 500cc Grand Prix motorcycle racing World champion (1983, 1985). |
  