Beginners Guide To Rallying

The Beginner's Guide to Rallying

Q: What is a Rally?

A: A car rally is a competition of speed against the clock where drivers in specially prepared cars race over sections of closed public and forestry roads.  Drivers start at one or two minute intervals.  At the end of the event the driver who has taken the least time to complete all the Stages is the winner.  Drivers get time penalties for taking too long to service their cars or for being late to clock in to the start of a Special Stage.  These penalties are expressed in time (eg 10 seconds for every minute late) and are added to the overall time.

Q: What is a Special Stage?

A: A Special Stage (SS) is a section of road that is closed off to the public to allow the rally cars to race over.  These sections of road are made safe by having all roads leading onto the Special Stage blocked off with tape and “No Entry” signs. All gates and driveways leading onto the Special Stage are also marked with tape to prevent the public accidentally driving onto the Stage.   

Safe spectator viewing areas are set up by the Organisers with safety tape to define the area and safety marshals to guide the public into these areas.  Whistles are used by the marshals to warn of the approach of rally cars.

Q: What is a Touring Stage?

A: A Touring Stage is the section of road that links one Special Stage with the next.  Drivers have to obey normal road rules while driving these Touring Stages.  Drivers must complete these sections of road keeping to a strict timetable and are penalized if they are late to “clock in” at the start of the next Special Stage.

Q: What is a Service Park?

A: Between the Special Stages the cars need to be serviced.  This service included changing tyres, adding fuel and replacing or repairing any damaged parts of the car.   This servicing is carried out in specially designed areas that allow the public to view the mechanics and drivers in action without getting in the way.  The team mechanics often have to complete repairs, such as replacing gearboxes within 15 minutes – a task that would take your local garage five to six hours.

Q: What is Parc Ferme?

A: This is an area where the cars are parked securely overnight.  The crews are not allowed to work on the car when it is in parc ferme.

Q: What is a Super Stage?

A:  A Super Stage is a specially designed track that allows the public to view the rallying close up.  The track design can include spectacular jumps and water splashes and, unlike the normal Special Stages can have two cars rallying side-by-side against each other and the clock for thrilling action.  This provides excellent family entertainment without having to got out to the forest and countryside.

Q: What is Over Time Limit (OTL)?

A: Each competitor has a specified time to travel between the start of each stage.  If he exceeds that time for any reason (mechanical fault or even getting lost) then he is classified as OTL and cannot progress any further that day.  He may rejoin the next day and will receive a penalty time for each SS (Special Stage) missed.

Q: Who starts first on the road?

A: The drivers are “Seeded” on the entry list with the fastest drivers first.  Similar to tennis seeding lists, drivers’ previous competition results are taken into consideration when calculating this order.  The top drivers who work for the Manufacturers Teams in the World Rally Championship are always placed on the seeding list first. For the start of the event the WRC registered drivers compete in a timed qualifying section on the day before the event starts. The fastest is then invited to choose his preferred event start order, then the second fastest and so on.

Q: What is a ‘Yellow Flagged’ stage?

A:  If there is an incident during the running of a SS that causes the stage to be stopped then all competitors on the stage prior to the incident have a Yellow Flag waved at them. The rules require that they must immediately slow and be ready to stop.  Their stage time is then assessed for all cars affected by this stoppage.

Q: How do rally cars differ from ordinary cars?

A: Rally cars differ from ordinary cars in a range of different areas.

Performance. Rally cars have extremely powerful motors that are designed to withstand high speed and high revs for a long period of time.  Rather than purely “top-end speed” such as is needed for a circuit racing car, the motors, gearboxes and differentials in rally cars are designed to give very quick pickup through the twisting, turning Special Stages.

Suspension. The shock absorbers and steering equipment are strengthened to withstand the bumps and jumps at high speed.  The body shells are also strength-welded. Where possible light but strong material is used to give strength without the added weight, eg carbon fibre disc brakes, Kevlar underbody protection.

Safety. The drivers are protected with the following devices: Roll cages are built inside each car to protect the crew in the event of a crash.   The crew are further protected with full harness safety belts, strengthened seats, crash helmets and fireproof overalls.  Should a car catch on fire each car is required to carry fire extinguishers.

Q: How do rally cars differ from each other?

A: The cars that compete in the Rally New Zealand are divided into three groups: production cars, modified cars and World Rally Cars.

Production Cars.  These cars are quite similar to performance cars that you can buy from your local dealer; eg Subaru WRX RA, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X.  These cars have to retain road-going trim including rear seats and all internal fittings.

Modified Cars. These cars are similar models to Production cars, but have more powerful engines and may have internal fittings removed to make them lighter.

WRCars. These cars are rallied and prepared by the World Rally Championship manufacturers teams.  Designed to a special set of rules they are more developed versions of the Modified Cars.

Q: How to get started in rallying?

A: To compete as a Driver or Co-Driver in National rallying events:

1.                You must be a member of a MSNZ Member Car Club.

2.                You must have a Civil Drivers Licence.

3.                You must apply for a Competition Licence through MotorSport New Zealand.

To compete in international rallying events:

     (this includes Rally New Zealand and Rally of Whangarei)

1.                You must have all 3 above, plus

2.                You must have an Entrant’s Licence from MotorSport New Zealand.

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