All rally drivers are up against the same opponent: the clock. Unlike in circuit racing, drivers in this motorsport discipline are not involved in direct duels for positions and victory. Instead, the aim is to clock the fastest time over a certain section – known as a special stage.

The drivers are assisted by co-drivers, who have made detailed pacenotes of the route prior to the event, and provide their drivers with precise instructions over the course of the stage. Each rally traditionally has link sections between the end of one special stage and the beginning of the next. These are not timed and take place on public roads. However, there is a maximum and minimum time for each section and if the driver exceeds these penalties will be applied.

While FIA WRC events are traditionally held on closed roads or specially prepared stages, the so-called Rally Raids long-distance rallies are contested over thousands of miles in open country. Whereas the drivers will complete between 200 and 300 miles per rally, Rally Raid drivers often cover this distance in one day.