Rally Terms

Pace Notes:

Written description of the stage roads that the co-driver read to the driver, which allows them to set up the car for parts of the road past the field of vision.  These notes are written ahead of time using a combination of in person Recce and video.​

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Reconnaissance (Recce):
Pre‑event process where competitors slowly drive the stages to create or refine their pace notes. It happens at road‑legal speeds in non-competition cars, often with specific rules about how many passes are allowed.  Media is also permitted to participate in recce, provided they also follow event guidelines.

 

Supplemental Regulations (Supps): 
The event governing document that includes the schedule, basic stage info, and important details.

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Course Car Schedule:
Schedule that the course cars and competition follow. Extremely important to understand moving around a rally and understand the timing to access to different locations.

 

Scrutineering/Tech: 
Pre-event technical inspection of all competition vehicles.

 

Parc Expose: 
“Car Show” that happens before competition. May be each day of an event. Fan opportunity to see the cars and crews up close.

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Parc Ferme:

Controlled area at the end of the day or event.  Competition cars must remain in Parc Ferme until released by the officials, and neither competitors, crew, or anyone else are allowed near the cars at until released.

 

Net Control:
A rally uses a HAM radio network to maintain security and safety of the course. There are typically ~60 radio operators at a National event. A central person(s) manages all communication over the network and is referred to as “Net Control”

 

Stage / Special Stage: 
Competition portions of the stages that are driven at high speed.

 

Transit: 
Open road portions between the stages. These roads are still open to the public.  Cars must follow traffic laws and speed limits.

 

Media Zone: 
Designated location where competitors stop for pictures/interviews. These will typically be before service in regroups, but could be other places. Time is built into schedule by the event. Pictures encouraged - Only ARA Series media may interview.

 

Service: 
Location the service crews perform repairs on competition cars. Location and times are controlled by the event.

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Flying Finish:

The point at which timing for the special stage ends. The name comes from the fact that a car will be travelling at full racing speeds when it passes this post. 

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Stop Control:

Located 200 – 500 yards after the flying finish, where all crews must stop to have their time recorded on their Time Card.