Jargon

RALLYING JARGON

 

'00' and '0' Cars

 

Cars driven along every Special Stage by rally officials to ensure that the course is clear.

 

Active Differential

 

Computer-controlled differential that distributes the engine's power to those tyres with the best grip, thus maximising performance.

 

Ditch-hooking

 

When drivers drive a trail with their inside front wheel over a road-side ditch.

 

FCD

 

Time of the First Car Due.

 

FIA

 

Federation Internationale de l'Automobile, the Geneva-based governing body for worldwide motor sport which regulates and controls the MSA British Rally Championship.

 

Flying Finish

 

A flying finish marks the end of a stage - so called because the cars 'fly' across it at full speed.

 

Gravel Settings

 

The suspension adjustments made to optimise the handling of a car for rough surfaced Special Stages.

 

Intercom

 

The radio system that allows the navigator to read out the pace notes to his driver above the engine noise.

 

Leg

 

Term to describe a day's rallying over several stages of the British Rally Championship event.

 

OTL

 

Literally 'over time limit' - crews have to stick to a strict timetable during the event. If they arrive at a stage or service too late (15 minutes at any one control, or 30 minutes in total during a rally) they are OTL and therefore out of the rally.

 

Pace Notes

 

The navigator's hand-written notes made during a course 'recce' and used during the Special Stages to alert the driver about the terrain, corners and the likely speeds he can drive at during the rally.

 

Parc Fermé

 

French for 'closed park'. Where the rally cars are securely locked up after a day's rallying under close supervision. No service is allowed in the Parc Fermé.

 

Podium Ramp

 

Raised platform at the official start and finish of the rally, over which the competitors must drive their cars.

 

Recce Car

 

A normal road car (with extra safety equipment installed) driven by the driver and accompanied by the navigator to 'recce' the stages pre-event.

 

Reconnaissance or Recce

 

The driver and navigator complete a thorough 'recce' of the course at low speeds in the three days before the event in their Recce Car to prepare the pace notes for the event.

 

Road Book

 

A specially prepared book of instruction, timings, directions and maps issued to each crew by the rally organiser.

 

Road Section

 

The public roads used by competitors to drive from stage to stage, service points and parc fermé. Here all traffic laws must be obeyed.

 

Safety Car

 

The car sent through the stage fifteen minutes before the rally begins to warn spectators of the arrival of the rally cars.

 

Scrutineers

 

Team of officials who check the eligibility and legality of rally cars before, during and after the event.

 

Seeding

 

The order in which the rally cars will start, determined by past rallies and times after each leg.

 

Sequential Gearbox

 

Rally gearbox which allows quick, clutchless gear changes by placing the gears 'in line' - as opposed to the more conventional 'H-pattern'.

 

Service Parks

 

Designated team areas where running repairs to a rally car may take place subject to rigid time limits.

 

Shakedown

 

Last pre-event day providing teams and crews with a final chance to test their cars on rally roads and trails typical of the location.

 

SF

 

Stage finish. Usually appears on a map to indicate the end of the Special Stage.

 

SS

 

Stage start or Special Stage. When this appeears on a map it is the point where the timed section actually begins. Where it is written in a report it usually means Special Stage i.e. SS3 - Special Stage 3.

 

Stage

 

Also known as a 'Special Stage', these are the competitive sections of the rally - where the drivers and navigators drive as fast as possible to achieve the quickest time.

 

Stage Time

 

The officially recorded time taken by a rally car to complete a Special Stage, from standing start to flying finish.

 

Stop Line

 

The line where a rally car must stop to have its 'stage time' recorded on the time card, usually 200 - 500 metres after the flying finish.

 

Sump Guard

 

A reinforced panel under the car's engine bay to protect the engine's sump (the oil reservoir) and transmission.

 

Target Time

 

The official time allocated by rally officials for a British Rally Championship car to complete a road section. Early or late arrival may result in time penalties being awarded.

 

Time Card

 

A card the driver and his navigator must present at the start and the finish of every stage or time control. Arriving at a control before or after the time prescribed on the time card will result in a time penalty.

 

Time Control

 

A location where cars must stop to get their official passing time recorded by rally officials.

 

Time Penalty

 

Once the allotted time has elapsed, a crew receives a penalty of 10 seconds for every minute their car is late. Time penalties are also awarded if teams take longer repairing their car than allowed. Finally, the crew receives a time penalty if they arrive at a control too early

 

Turbo

 

The component used to boost engine power by increasing the air pressure in the combustion chamber. It is fitted to all British Rally Championship cars and emits an incredible throaty engine growl as the car flies past.