These machines come right off the showroom floor and are highly modified for safety, speed and reliability. Roll cages and navigational equipment are added as well as upgrades in power, braking and suspension. High Intensity Discharge auxillary lighting is added for night racing and reinforced gravel racing wheels and tires are equipped to handle the rugged terrain.
Held on gravel, mud, pavement, snow and ice. Closed sections of public roads are broken up into sections known as Stages. These stages are connected by public road sections known as Transits. Each car drives the stage one at a time, lowest elapsed time over all stages wins. Every few stages, cars are allowed a 30 minute repair service at a designated service area.
Drivers race beyond their vision over hills and crests, often turning into the unknown at over 100mph. This is made possible by the co-driver (navigator) reading a description, called Stage Notes, of what is to come ahead. When the driver and co-driver bring the car in for service, a team of mechanics, engineers and managers oversee often a host of repairs varying from simple cleaning and brake pad replacement to entire transmission replacement in as little as 30 minutes!
