The 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.
FIA
Federation Internationale de l'Automobile, the Geneva-based governing body for worldwide motor sport which regulates and controls the World 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 Cars
Special cars are sent through the stages before the start to report news of weather and surface conditions to the WRC drivers.
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 World 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 Park 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 World 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.
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 Finish
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.
Studs
Metal spikes fitted into the treads of winter tyres to give extra grip on snow and ice.
Sump Guard
A reinforced panel under the car's engine bay to protect the engine's sump (the oil reservoir) and transmission.
Super Special Stage
A stage with two parallel tracks, specially set up to allow pairs of rally cars to literally race against each other without actually being on the same road.
Target Time
The official time allocated by rally officials for a World 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 World Rally Championship cars and emits an incredible throaty engine growl as the car flies past.
WRC
If you see the initials WRC near your home, you know the World Rally Championship is coming to town. Race down there and join in the turbocharged excitement.