In this guide
Special stages and road sections have different jobsThe rally lead is a running totalPoints come from more than one classificationRead SS and stage numbers in contextThe FIA World Rally Championship sends crews through timed special stages rather than a shared circuit race with all cars starting together. Each crew contains a driver and co-driver, whose pace notes help describe the road ahead.
The rally result is built from cumulative stage performance. A fastest stage time is an achievement within that result, while the championship points system adds a further season-long layer.
Special stages and road sections have different jobs
Special stages are timed competitive sections on closed roads. Crews also travel between stages on public-road sections under normal traffic rules. A programme showing a car on the road between tests is not necessarily showing a timed attempt.
The rally lead is a running total
A stage winner is the crew fastest on that stage. The rally leader is determined by the cumulative classification across the event. A crew can win a stage without taking the rally lead, particularly if it entered that stage with a larger deficit.
Points come from more than one classification
The current published system awards points from the final overall classification, a separate Sunday-stage classification and the Power Stage. The maximum combines 25 overall points with five Sunday points and five Power Stage points. These are different scoring opportunities, not three separate full rallies.
| Graphic or label | What it describes |
|---|---|
| Stage time | One competitive section |
| Overall classification | Cumulative rally result |
| Sunday classification | Sunday’s combined stages |
| Power Stage | A specific points-scoring stage |
Read SS and stage numbers in context
SS is commonly used for special stage. A programme titled SS12 identifies a section of the rally, not the twelfth championship round. Keep rally name, season and stage number together. A stage replay and a rally highlights programme can show the same roads while covering different amounts of the event.