Service Park

A Service Park is a designated area at rally events where teams can perform maintenance, repairs, and preparations on their rally cars during scheduled breaks in the competition.

Think of the Service Park as a temporary pit stop or garage area that gets set up in towns along the rally route. Unlike circuit racing where cars can return to the pits at any time, rally cars spend hours driving through forests, mountains, and countryside stages. The Service Park is their only chance to get professional help from their mechanics.

Teams are only allowed to work on their cars during specific time windows. A typical morning service might last just 15 minutes, while end-of-day service could be 45-75 minutes. This time pressure creates intense, fast-paced scenes as mechanics rush to fix damage, change tires, and adjust car settings for upcoming stages.

The Service Park serves as the team's home base during the rally. Around 80 people might work at each location for major World Rally Championship events, including mechanics, engineers, drivers, and support staff. Beyond car maintenance, teams use this space for strategy meetings, media interviews, and hosting sponsors or guests.

Spectators often enjoy visiting Service Parks because they can see the cars up close and watch mechanics work. While fans can't enter the actual work areas, they can usually observe from nearby and sometimes meet drivers during quieter moments.

Strict rules govern Service Park activities. Cars enter "Parc Fermé" (closed park) overnight where no work is allowed. Officials monitor everything to ensure teams follow regulations about repairs, parts usage, and time limits. Outside the Service Park, drivers typically can only rely on themselves and their co-drivers for repairs.

Service Parks are strategically located to be accessible from multiple rally stages, often in city centers or large venues that can accommodate the temporary facilities needed for professional rally operations.