French are supporting vehicle after elevating Formula One events (5)
I believe the answer is:
races
'events' is the definition.
(race is a kind of event)
'french are supporting vehicle after elevating' is the wordplay.
'french are' becomes 'es' ('are' in French).
'supporting' says to put letters next to each other (in a down clue, some letters go below others).
'vehicle' becomes 'car' (car is a kind of vehicle).
'after elevating' says the letters should be written backwards (in a down clue, letters go up).
'car' back-to-front is 'rac'.
'es' put after 'rac' is 'RACES'.
'formula one' is the link.
I am not very happy about this link. Some or all of it may be part of another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for races that I've seen before include "Rushes" , "Operates at excessive speed" , "Competitions; ethnic groups" , "Events at Epsom or Ascot?" , "Competitive trials of speed" .)