Okay, so you are ready to begin the first special stage.

Make sure that your driver can hear you via the intercom, and knows that he should only set off when he hears you shout "GO".

The marshal will usually count you down, but you can often also see the clock. You should count down your driver at 15 seconds (if it is dark this is a good time to remind him to switch on the spot lights), 10 seconds, 5 seconds, then 4, 3, 2 ,1 and finally "GO".

Now you begin to read back your pace notes, and your driver will try to understand them. If this is your first rally, you may lose your place, or get sick, or freeze up. Or if you are lucky you will be a natural co driver and do a great job. Unfortunately you won't know in advance what will happen, so my best advice is MAKE SURE YOUR DRIVER ALLOWS FOR THIS!

If you lose your place in the pace notes make sure you tell you driver immediately! Only tell your driver you have found your place again when you are 100% sure, and have found a reliable reference point.

If all goes well, you will arrive at the end of the stage and see the yellow warning sign followed by the red (end of stage) timing sign. Make sure you keep reading pace notes even after the red sign because sometimes there will be a hazard between the stage finish and the time control. You should tell the driver to slow down as soon as you pass the red sign, as you will soon have to stop at the time control, and arriving backwards into the finish control is not cool.

Congratulations. You have completed your first ever rally stage, and are now more qualified to talk about rallying over a beer than most bar room rally drivers!

During the Rally Continued

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