In conventional stage rallying, a special stage is a section of closed road timed individually for each competing crew. Cars leave the start at set intervals — typically four minutes apart — and attempt to cover the stage as quickly as possible. The driver with the lowest aggregate time across all special stages in the event wins. Stages vary widely by surface and terrain: asphalt mountain passes, loose gravel forest tracks, ice and snow, and desert sand all feature across the global rally calendar. Lengths generally run between 10 and 30 kilometres, though some stages extend to 50 kilometres.
At the end of every special stage, two sets of markers define the conclusion of competition. The flying finish marks the point at which timing stops — named because cars pass it at full racing speed. A stop control lies several hundred metres further along, where crews must halt for officials to record times and check paperwork.
Between special stages, crews transit on public roads under normal traffic law, with scheduled arrival times enforced to prevent speeding on open roads. Arriving too early carries penalties; the margin for late arrival is generally generous.
A stage earns the "super special" designation when it departs in a meaningful way from the rally's standard format. The term is broadly defined; the supplementary regulations must spell out the specific differences for each instance. Common scenarios include:
A change in surface type, such as an asphalt stage inserted into an otherwise gravel-based rally
A head-to-head format in which two cars start simultaneously from different points of a looped stage, running toward and then away from each other on the same circuit
A modified running order, altered for promotional or spectator-engagement purposes rather than purely on sporting grounds
Irregular starting intervals, which depart from the standard four-minute gap used in conventional stages
Super special stages are frequently designed with spectator access as a primary consideration. The head-to-head looped format in particular places two cars on course at the same time — visible from a single viewing point — and produces a more immediate sense of competition than the isolated, timed structure of a conventional stage run deep in a forest or on a mountain road. Urban super specials, held on closed-off city streets or even inside sports stadiums, have become a staple of opening-night ceremony events on major rallies, maximising exposure and media coverage before the bulk of the competitive stages get underway in remote terrain.
Super special stages appear regularly on the calendar of top-tier competitions, including rounds of the World Rally Championship. They are used to open events in accessible locations — city centres, fairgrounds, or purpose-built arenas — where large crowds can attend and broadcast cameras can capture close-quarters action. Results from super specials count toward overall stage times in the same way as any other special stage, meaning the format carries real competitive weight alongside its promotional function.
Standard special stages make up the bulk of any rally itinerary, typically numbering 15 to 30 across a multi-day event. Transport stages, sometimes called liaison stages or road sections, connect special stages and are run on open public roads under road-legal conditions. Super special stages occupy a third category: they are timed and competitive like a standard special stage, but their format, surface, or operational rules diverge enough to warrant separate designation and specific regulatory explanation.