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The ABC of the WRC (World Rally Championship)

A deceptively simple race where cars and drivers get into the depths of adventure in a series of two, three or four-day events racing against some of the toughest cars and conditions imaginable - that's the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) for you in a sentence. One part exposes drivers to ice and snow while another surface promises the roasting heat of the sun. The adventure includes, but is not limited to, rallying over packed ice, over-smooth asphalt and boulder-strewn rocky tracks.

WRC is known to be the world's most challenging motorsport competition. Established in its current format in 1973 in 2010 drivers and manufacturers will battle it out for the 38th annual driver's and manufacturer's championship trophies on rallies spread across 13 countries.

Special Stages

There are 15-25 'special stages' and drivers need to tackle them; one car at a time. Each tries to complete them in the shortest time. Competitors drive to and from each special stage on normal roads, observing normal traffic regulations. During the special stages, the co-driver or navigator reads pace notes to alert the driver of conditions on the road ahead.

World Rally Cars

World Rally Cars are basically the cars based on four-cylinder two-litre production cars competing at the top level of the sport. These rally cars look very similar to production cars but have upgraded engines, slush boxes and suspension. WRC cars are turbo-charged, four-wheel drive ogres that spew out over 300 bhp and oodles of torque. Regardless of the road surface, around 3 seconds are sufficient for these monsters to sprint from a standing start to 100 kmph. Their top speed depends upon the gearing chosen for each rally, but 220 kmph is no surprise.

The Driver and Co-Driver

Competitors in the World Rally Championship (WRC) are among the best drivers in the world. In fact, many motorsport devotees would argue that they are absolutely, definitely, the world's best. The WRC pushes mental concentration and physical fitness of the race drivers to the limit. Unlike most other forms of motor sport, rally cars carry two people - a driver and a co-driver. The co-driver, who sits in the front passenger seat, provides the driver with a running commentary on what's coming up on the road ahead. As well as advising the driver when he can, or can't, take a blind hump at full throttle, the co-driver is also the car's administrator.

FIA is the Ringmaster

Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) regulates and controls WRC. Most WRC rallies follow the same basic itinerary: two days of exploration on Tuesday and Wednesday, to enable the driver and co-driver to check the route, and 'shakedown,' a test on a piece of road with similar characteristics to the special stages on Thursday, followed by the competition itself on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. There are also 'super special' stages at times; short and compact sprint tests which feature two cars racing head-to-head.

Gimme a Break

These car rallies go on for several days, and cars and drivers need a break. So, they have the 'service park' at fixed times during each event. The car is inspected, tyres are changed and a team of four technicians is allowed to perform mechanical work on each car during the interval. Break time is strictly limited though, with each stop being either 10, 30 or 45 minutes depending on the itinerary. When these visits exceed the time allotted, time penalties are given. Time penalties are also given to competitors who arrive late at stage starts, or any of the other various check-points throughout the event.

The Supermen Backstage

WRC mechanics are indeed some of the best in the world. Working in such a pressured environment is no joke. They are gifted with unusual skills and speed. In the heat of competition a suspension upright, hub and brake unit will be swapped in around five minutes, a gearbox in 10. With hammers, welding torches and tank tapes, hands of these WRC mechanics transform a remorseful looking wreck into a rally winner. Away from the service park, repairs or adjustments can still be made, but only by the driver and co-driver, and only using tools and spare parts carried in the car.

The Winner Takes it All

The driver completing all special stages with the shortest total time takes it all. Points are allocated to the ten drivers on a 25-18-15-12-10-8-6-4-2-1 basis. Points are also awarded to manufacturers and manufacturer teams registered for the championships (identified by the letter M on the entry list). FIA awards the winning driver and winning manufacturer with the WRC championship title at the end of each season.

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