Get Started in Motorsport

SINGLE VENUE RALLY

A single-venue stage rally is an event based at one venue, usually on an airfield or military ground. The event will use multiple layouts within the venue, with each crew completing a few laps. They’re a great way to get to grips with your car, your co-driver, and experience stage rallying.

The course may be defined by hay bales, cones or old tyres and certain sections of the stage will likely be altered throughout the day or run in reverse. Each crew will be issued with a stage diagram on the morning of the event, and your co-driver will use this to direct you around the stage. Some venues will allow you to walk or cycle the venue before the start of the event.

You will have the opportunity to return to service between stages, allowing you to work on your car, change tyres or make any setup changes.

Generally, entry fees are cheaper for single venue events and there is less risk of damage to your vehicle. Check out footage of the Circuit Rally Championship for inspiration, or head along to an event near you and chat to competitors.

Once you’re ready to get started purchase your Motorsport UK Rallying Starter pack which includes the cost of your first rally competition licence and details all you need to know to go rallying. See you on the stages!

MULTI-VENUE STAGE RALLY

A multi-venue stage rally takes in multiple competitive sections, or stages, which are joined together by road sections on the public highway. Stages tend to take place on forest tracks or on closed-public roads.

It’s you vs the clock as your co-driver navigates you through the event using route notes supplied by the event organisers. The crew that completes the event in the lowest aggregate time wins. But beware, you will receive penalties for checking into a timing control early or late.

The majority of multi venue stage rallies in forests have no more than 45 competitive stage miles, whereas on events on closed public roads this can be more than 75 miles. Road mileage (sections between stages where normal RTA rules apply) will vary depending on the event location.

A standard event format would see technical checks and event sign-on taking place on the Friday afternoon prior, with the main event taking place all-day on a Saturday. It is therefore important to build in food, travel and accommodation costs into your event budget.

A ‘one make’ series can be a good place to start to keep costs down and compete against a friendly community in similar vehicles.

Check out rallying footage on Motorsport UK TV for inspiration, or head along to an event near you and chat to competitors in the service area.

Once you’re ready to get started, purchase your Motorsport UK Rallying Starter Pack which includes the cost of your first rally competition licence and details all you need to know to go rallying. See you on the stages!

The BARS Assessment

To compete in stage rallying in the UK you will need to purchase a Motorsport UK Rally Starter Pack. This costs £110 and includes the cost of your first competition licence.

Inside your pack you’ll find an exclusive ‘Rally Driver’ keyring design, plus a booklet and video series explaining your next steps. Once you have your pack you will need to learn the National Competition Rules for rallying and complete a BARS assessment at your chosen rally school. Costing around £250, the assessment entails a multiple choice test based on the competition rules and a short practical assessment to review how you handle a vehicle.

Once you have completed your assessment, return your licence form to Motorsport UK who will issue your first stage rally licence.

Each starter pack is valid for two years, meaning you have two years from the date of purchase to take out your first stage rally competition licence. Motorsport UK competition licences are valid for 12 months and run from January – December each year, so think about when you might want to apply get to the most out of your licence.

Jargon Buster

As with any new passion, the world of stage rallying comes with it’s own phrases and sayings. Get to grips with some of the basics below:

BARS – The British Association of Rally Schools. Can also refer to the ‘BARS Test’ aka the novice driver training course which must be completed before obtaining your first stage rally competition licence.

CLO – Competitor Liaison Officer. Your point of contact, on event, for any questions or issues you want to raise with the organisers.

DSO – Driving Standards Observers appointed by the event to monitor driving standards on the public road, including noise and speed levels. They must report driving likely to bring the sport into disrepute to the Clerk of the Course.

Finals – Final instructions. These are the last instructions sent to you by the event organiser ahead of the event.

Noise – Noise test. Part of the scrutineering process. This takes place before the start of the event to ensure your vehicle doesn’t breach event noise restrictions.

PC/TC/MTC – These are all abbreviations for time controls that you may see in your event documentation. PC refers to a passage control, a route check where time cards will be collected by marshals and the times are then communicated back to the results team. TC refers to a time control, whereas MTC refers to a main time control, such as the event start or finish.

Rally Time – To allow precise timing, all marshals and competitors synchronise watches to an agreed time. When you sign on there will be a watch with rally time on display – set yours to match it, exactly to the second.

Recce – Short for reconnaissance. Refers to a pre-event feature on larger stage rallies where the driver and co-driver traverse the stages at slow speed and in a regular road car in order to preview the course and write their notes.

SRs – Supplementary Regulations. A document issued ahead of the event detailing all key information. Make sure you read these before entering as these will detail the class your vehicle falls in for the event.

Timecard – Your timecards are critical to your event. Handed out by the event organisers, they are your co-driver’s way of recording your times. Marshals will fill out various sections throughout the rally.