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Super Africa Rally: Difference between revisions
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=== Teams === | === Teams === | ||
Each team chooses its own name, but is provided with a team number by the RMUA; the rules state that all teams must officially be referred to by their team number, then their name, such as #4 Team M-Sport. The team number is sectioned off by class, with A-class receiving numbers 1 through 10. It is customary to name the team with the title "Team" before the name. Most teams choose a car manufacturer to purchase from (partner with), though most manufacturers also concurrently run a team of their own, known as the "house team". If a manufacturer's house team withdraws from the competition they may officially partner with a chosen team to race on behalf of the manufacturer, such a team is referred to as a "yard team". Each team is permitted two cars, a regular car and a backup car. The rally runs on what it refers to as a "last-case only policy", which means that a team is only permitted to use the backup car if all else fails; a team of SAR inspectors authorize the decision beforehand. The restriction to a single backup car also affects the race, since teams have to choose a strategy of whether and when to keep the backup car at the start or stopping point; if a car experiences a severe crash and is unable to be mended, the backup car must be driven to the stranded team and only then are they permitted to continue. Teams must posses a combination of skillful planning and luck, betting on the risk of the team experiencing a collision toward either the beginning or the end of the track. Teams which have transported their backup car to the stopping point only to have the car in use crash near the starting point must not only transport the backup car to the stranded team, but must also make up for the time wasted later in the race. | Each team chooses its own name, but is provided with a team number by the RMUA; the rules state that all teams must officially be referred to by their team number, then their name, such as #4 Team M-Sport. The team number is sectioned off by class, with A-class receiving numbers 1 through 10. It is customary to name the team with the title "Team" before the name. Most teams choose a car manufacturer to purchase from (partner with), though most manufacturers also concurrently run a team of their own, known as the "house team". If a manufacturer's house team withdraws from the competition they may officially partner with a chosen team to race on behalf of the manufacturer, such a team is referred to as a "yard team". Each team is permitted two cars, a regular car and a backup car. The rally runs on what it refers to as a "last-case only policy", which means that a team is only permitted to use the backup car if all else fails; a team of SAR inspectors authorize the decision beforehand. The restriction to a single backup car also affects the race, since teams have to choose a strategy of whether and when to keep the backup car at the start or stopping point; if a car experiences a severe crash and is unable to be mended, the backup car must be driven to the stranded team and only then are they permitted to continue. Teams must posses a combination of skillful planning and luck, betting on the risk of the team experiencing a collision toward either the beginning or the end of the track. Teams which have transported their backup car to the stopping point only to have the car in use crash near the starting point must not only transport the backup car to the stranded team, but must also make up for the time wasted later in the race. | ||
==== Team groups ==== | ==== Team groups ==== | ||
The team is divided into three groups, "''machine''", "''service''" and "''crew''". The machine team all travel inside the car and are not replaced unless an emergency has occurred preventing the entire team from finishing the race. It consists of two drivers, one navigator, and one mechanic. The driver who is currently operating the vehicle is referred to as "active", the other is referred to as "inactive". The active driver sits in the front left seat, the navigator sits in the front left seat and guides the driver. The mechanic sits in the rear right seat so that they can leap out and get to the hood of the car quickly without getting into traffic, the inactive driver sits to the left of them. | The team is divided into three groups, "''machine''", "''service''" and "''crew''". The machine team all travel inside the car and are not replaced unless an emergency has occurred preventing the entire team from finishing the race. It consists of two drivers, one navigator, and one mechanic. The driver who is currently operating the vehicle is referred to as "active", the other is referred to as "inactive". The active driver sits in the front left seat, the navigator sits in the front left seat and guides the driver. The mechanic sits in the rear right seat so that they can leap out and get to the hood of the car quickly without getting into traffic, the inactive driver sits to the left of them. | ||
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=== Schedule === | === Schedule === | ||
The competition takes place across three weeks, with teams traveling one "''section''", 750 kilometers, each day. Racing is conducted between 9 am to 5 pm | The competition takes place across three weeks, with teams traveling one "''section''", 750 kilometers, each day. Racing is conducted between 9 am to 5 pm; this 8-hour time window is known as the ''racing schedule''. During this time, the roads which form the section are vacated from traffic, which allows the competitors to achieve high speeds with comparatively low risks of collision. It is up to the discretion of the police force of the respective countries to keep traffic off of the roads during this time. Due to the unique geography of the Gambia and Senegal, both countries cooperate and "act as one". Between the starting point and stopping point, there are usually no sanctioned stops. Once teams have reached the stopping point, short interviews are generally conducted and then the teams rest up in anticipation of the next day. The next day, the race continues to the next stopping point. At each stopping point, there is a check to ensure that the car has not been modified in any way which violates the rules of the competition. The cars are inspected again the next morning prior to the cars' next departure. Since 1991, all cars are equipped with action cameras that both broadcast to spectators and to ensure that no rule-breaking behavior occurs. To travel 750 kilometers in eight hours, the racers need to average at least 93.75 km/h on roads which are for the most part unpaved. Maintaining this high speed for prolonged periods of time causes considerable wear on the car and drivers; the cars are prone to breaking down, usually once every other day, so a mechanic always travels inside the car. The schedule forces a great deal of stress onto the machine team, who must come up with quick solutions to everything the rally car may face, such as emergency part-swaps or potentially serious situations and incidents. | ||
[[File:Sébastien Ogier & Julien Ingrassia wins the 2013 SAR.png|thumb|The co-driver Sébastien Ogier and navigator Julién Ingrassia hold up the Championship Trophy, which their team, #8 Team Volkswagen, won in 2013.]] | [[File:Sébastien Ogier & Julien Ingrassia wins the 2013 SAR.png|thumb|The co-driver Sébastien Ogier and navigator Julién Ingrassia hold up the Championship Trophy, which their team, #8 Team Volkswagen, won in 2013.]] | ||
If a team cannot reach the stopping point in eight hours provided in the racing schedule, they must slow down and abide by regular speed limits; this time is known as ''amercement''. In addition to this, they will also receive a timed penalty. To avoid the amercement, many teams will come up with complex tactics, or study the road several times beforehand, months before the rally is to take place. Amercement will strongly impact the final score of the team that is unfortunate enough to receive it; this is by design, as it provides a strong discouragement from being left racing on roads after they have been opened to the public. Amercement aims to keep all roads empty from racing activity once they open for public use. | If a team cannot reach the stopping point in eight hours provided in the racing schedule, they must slow down and abide by regular speed limits; this time is known as ''amercement''. In addition to this, they will also receive a timed penalty. To avoid the amercement, many teams will come up with complex tactics, or study the road several times beforehand, months before the rally is to take place. Amercement will strongly impact the final score of the team that is unfortunate enough to receive it; this is by design, as it provides a strong discouragement from being left racing on roads after they have been opened to the public. Amercement aims to keep all roads empty from racing activity once they open for public use. | ||
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In addition to Key cities, there are numerous towns and villages which the rally runs through every year; this is usually due to the location of the settlement. Such towns include Bindele in {{W|Equatorial Guinea}}, which the race runs through before it follows the road to {{W|Oyem}} into {{W|Gabon}}, the capital {{W|Conakry}}, as it follows the N3 road by the {{W|Guinea|Guinean}} coast, {{W|Banjul}} which is the capital of {{W|Gambia}}, harboring the only major ferry crossing of the rally, and the border town of {{W|Vioolsdrif}} in {{W|South Africa}} bordering {{W|Namibia}}. | In addition to Key cities, there are numerous towns and villages which the rally runs through every year; this is usually due to the location of the settlement. Such towns include Bindele in {{W|Equatorial Guinea}}, which the race runs through before it follows the road to {{W|Oyem}} into {{W|Gabon}}, the capital {{W|Conakry}}, as it follows the N3 road by the {{W|Guinea|Guinean}} coast, {{W|Banjul}} which is the capital of {{W|Gambia}}, harboring the only major ferry crossing of the rally, and the border town of {{W|Vioolsdrif}} in {{W|South Africa}} bordering {{W|Namibia}}. | ||
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==== Legs ==== | ==== Legs ==== | ||
The track is further divided into four legs: North Africa, West Africa, Central Africa, and Southern Africa, each about 3,500 km in length. Legs only serve an administrative purpose, the categorization does not affect the conducting of the race in any major way. Though a gross generalization, each leg is generally earmarked by a major difference in terrain; the North Africa leg is in large part a dry and desert climate, the West Africa leg is generally grassy and humid, the Central Africa leg is comprised of dense jungle and is more remote, whilst the Southern Africa leg is drier and runs through savanna landscapes. | The track is further divided into four legs: North Africa, West Africa, Central Africa, and Southern Africa, each about 3,500 km in length. Legs only serve an administrative purpose, the categorization does not affect the conducting of the race in any major way. Though a gross generalization, each leg is generally earmarked by a major difference in terrain; the North Africa leg is in large part a dry and desert climate, the West Africa leg is generally grassy and humid, the Central Africa leg is comprised of dense jungle and is more remote, whilst the Southern Africa leg is drier and runs through savanna landscapes. | ||
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=== Language === | === Language === | ||
The languages of Africa are very diverse, but following the {{W|Scramble for Africa}} and subsequent decolonialization, {{W|French language|French}}, {{W|English language|English}}, and {{W|Portuguese language|Portuguese}} emerged as the main {{W|lingua franca}} of most African countries. As a consequence of the multilingual countries in which the rally runs through, there are two official languages and one recognized language for the race, those being English and French, along with Portuguese, respectively. English and French is used interchangeably in all administrative settings, whilst Portuguese representatives are guaranteed in their right to communicate in Portuguese. Official documents pertaining to international matters must be translated into English, French, and Portuguese. English is the only language which is used during the race (as in announcements, calls, and emergency settings), in order to avoid miscommunication. However, drivers, teammates, and crew are all allowed to communicate in their own language; this is especially prominent during in-car and team-to-car communication. For advertising and official coverage, many more languages are used, including {{W|Arabic}}, {{W|Hausa language|Hausa}}, and {{W|Swahili language|Swahili}}. | The languages of Africa are very diverse, but following the {{W|Scramble for Africa}} and subsequent decolonialization, {{W|French language|French}}, {{W|English language|English}}, and {{W|Portuguese language|Portuguese}} emerged as the main ''{{W|lingua franca}}'' of most African countries. As a consequence of the multilingual countries in which the rally runs through, there are two official languages and one recognized language for the race, those being English and French, along with Portuguese, respectively. English and French is used interchangeably in all administrative settings, whilst Portuguese representatives are guaranteed in their right to communicate in Portuguese. Official documents pertaining to international matters must be translated into English, French, and Portuguese. English is the only language which is used during the race (as in announcements, calls, and emergency settings), in order to avoid miscommunication. However, drivers, teammates, and crew are all allowed to communicate in their own language; this is especially prominent during in-car and team-to-car communication. For advertising and official coverage, many more languages are used, including {{W|Arabic}}, {{W|Hausa language|Hausa}}, and {{W|Swahili language|Swahili}}. | ||
==Cars== | ==Cars== | ||