Liaison Stage

A Liaison Stage is a non-competitive road section in rallying that connects the timed racing portions of an event, where drivers must follow normal traffic laws to travel between competitive stages or from their camp to the start of a race stage.

Think of a rally like a multi-day road trip where only certain sections count as actual racing. The Liaison Stage is simply the driving you do to get from one race section to another. It's like driving from your house to a racetrack—necessary, but not part of the competition itself.

During a Liaison Stage, rally competitors drive on regular public roads just like everyday traffic. They must obey all local speed limits, stop at red lights, and follow the same rules as any other driver on the road. This is completely different from the Special Stages, which are the closed-off sections where drivers race against the clock at full speed.

While Liaison Stages aren't timed for competition purposes, they do have time limits. Rally organizers give teams a specific window to arrive at the next checkpoint. If a team shows up too late, they receive time penalties that can hurt their overall standing in the rally. This means teams need to plan their travel carefully and account for things like traffic, road conditions, and fuel stops.

These transport stages serve several important purposes in rally events. They allow organizers to create longer, more varied rally routes that can span hundreds or even thousands of miles. Without Liaison Stages, rallies would be limited to small geographic areas. They also give teams a chance to check their vehicles, make minor adjustments, and prepare mentally for the next competitive section.

Every rally team receives a detailed road book that includes precise instructions for navigating the Liaison Stages. This document tells them exactly which roads to take, where to turn, and what time they need to arrive at each checkpoint. Following these instructions correctly is crucial—taking a wrong turn can waste valuable time and result in penalties.

In famous events like the Dakar Rally, Liaison Stages can be quite long. A typical day might start with a liaison section from the overnight camp (called a bivouac) to the start of the competitive stage, which could be 50 miles or more. After completing the timed Special Stage, teams then drive another liaison section to reach the next bivouac, sometimes covering additional hundreds of miles.

The contrast between Liaison Stages and Special Stages defines the unique character of rally racing. While Special Stages test pure speed and driving skill on challenging terrain, Liaison Stages test navigation, time management, and mechanical reliability. Together, they create a complete test of both racing ability and endurance that makes rallying one of motorsport's most demanding disciplines.