Rally – Overview

Rally is a form of auto racing that takes place on public or private roads with improved production or specially built road-legal cars. This motorsport is renowned by running not on a circuit, but as a substitute. It is a point-to-point arrangement in which contestants and their co-drivers drive between set control points (special stages), leaving at systematic interludes from one or more start points. Rallies may be won by pure speed within the stages or alternatively by driving for a pre-arranged supreme journey time within the stages.

Rallying

There are no ovals, speed cars or shower interruptions. Rally competing structures real cars racing contrary to the timepiece on closed-off segments of actual infrastructures that are usually not cemented and difficult to tolerate. Events can last several days and cover hundreds of miles through rain, snow, day or night. This life-threatening test of skill, speed and strength collectively makes rally racing the world’s premiere and most exciting motorsport that is rapidly escalating in North America.

Team Size

In rally, the team size is two, one driver and one co-driver.

  • Driver − Insiders and even casual fans consider rally motorists to be the best allaround drivers on the sphere. They can dominate every road surface and every weather condition while owning the fortitude and determinations needed to make it through long hours and hundreds of miles.

  • Co-drivers − The key to rally drivers’ accomplishment are their co-drivers. Rally drivers cannot practice the course and must rely on their direction finder to survive. The co-driver uses an onscreen odometer along with a complete direction book to interconnect to the motorist what mendacities fast on the highway.

The route book describes in detail the road ahead and comprises warnings for threats such as overhangs, trees and intersections. Rally drivers govern what speed and angle to enter each turn or summit in the road by listening to their co-drivers’ continual directions.

A Brief History of Rally

Rally is a branch of Motorsports and it can be tracked back to 1894, when a Paris newspaper hosted a Paris Rouen Horseless Carriage Competition. Till late 1920s, some other sports used this name. In the year 1930, European rally was organised which attracted more than 300 participants.

Post World War II, Rallying became extremely popular. Competitions and championships were organized throughout the year as World Rally Championship.

The period after 1950 was considered to be the golden period for Rally. Apart from Monte Carlo rally in Europe, there were other Rally championships which drew huge crowds. Some of the major championships are −

  • The Lisbon Rally
  • The Tulip Rally
  • The rally to the mid-night

Participating Countries

The rally sport has not only gathered its popularity in India but also outside. Countries like Japan, Korea, Sri Lanka and Malaysia have their own sports clubs relating to rally. Completions like FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championships are attracting more numbers of participants each year.

The point of origin of this sport was in Europe. So it’s an obvious thing that apart from Europe, the sport has also its fan following in its nearby countries like England, France, Germany, Finland etc. Post war, many countries forwarded their helping hand to make this sport popular.

Playing Environment

Rally does not require closed gallery, smooth roads and lots of crew care takers for the cars. It is completely rough sport. With only a co-driver, you will drive along the rough roads for long distance. A race can last up to many days as the moving arena is not small. In addition to that, there is no specific weather condition requirement by this sport.

To make the sport a lot more adventurous, difficult sites are chosen to make it challenging for the drivers to drive. Bumpy roads and roads full of gravels are most common. Crests and valley are also a part of this adventure. A driver has to focus on the driving always. So a co-driver is necessary to guide him throughout the way.