Rally car driving is a unique form of organized racing, in which the actual races take place on roads that are typically used for non-racing activities. These can be public roads or privately held, and the cars must be street legal. Read the latest news and results for the world rally championships.

The rules behind the races differ based on the type of rally that is being run. In some races, the competitors compete head to head to see who wins the matchup. A more popular form of rally racing in many parts of the world, however, are those in which a single car runs time trials. Each car is alone on the track, and the completion times are compared to determine the winner.

Rally racing traces its origins to the late 19th century, when Italian drivers competed in a race from Arona to Stresa, then back again. Because the popularity of that form of racing couldn’t be denied, longer races were organized, and many car manufacturers of the time began competing in earnest, including Rolls-Royce, Peugeot, and others. Intercontinental races were eventually organized, leading to the New York to Paris rallies and the infamous Peking to Paris rallies. The New York to Paris rally drivers raced via the continental United States, then to Japan, through Siberia, and on into Europe.

The rally phenomenon is still wildly popular throughout many parts of Europe and Asia, and many races even include Africa in their schedules. The unpredictability of the regions in which the races take place and the long preparation times required between ultra-long rallies mean that only a few such events are held annually. Thinking about experiencing it for yourself then check out how you can have your own rally experience.