A road rally is a form of car-based competition that is fun and challenging, while maintaining a high level of safety. A team of two, made up of a navigator and a driver use a set of instructions to follow a specific route. A further complication is that they are required to maintain a specific average speed (always below the posted limit). At intervals along the route, the organizers will have set up secret control locations. When the competitors encounter one of these checkpoints, their time will be checked and a score computed based on an ideal time. They will then proceed along the route to the next checkpoint where the process is repeated. The team is awarded penalty points if they arrive earlier or later than their ideal time. When all these points are added up at the end of the rally, the team with the lowest score is declared the winner.
The challenge in a road rally is following the route instructions and maintaining the assigned speeds. Success requires teamwork. The navigator interprets the route instructions and instructs the driver while also ensuring that the correct speed is being maintained. Teamwork is crucial!
When designing the route, organizers make sure to set average speeds below the speed limits for the roads traversed. Competitors should never feel the need to speed or drive unsafely to meet time goals. The goal of a Road Rally is precision, not risk.
Other names used for a Road Rally are Navigational Rally, Navex Rally or TSD (Time, Distance, Speed) Rally.
For more Information on Road Rally, check out the Atlantic Region webpage at https://roadrallyatlantic.ca/