Staging

Staging refers to the precise positioning of a race car at the starting line in drag racing, or to the individual timed sections that make up a rally course.

In drag racing, staging is all about getting your car in exactly the right spot before the race begins. When drivers pull up to the starting line, they must position their front tires to break invisible light beams that tell the timing system they're ready to race. This process happens in two steps: first "pre-staging" when the car interrupts the first beam, then "staging" when it breaks the second beam.

The Christmas Tree, which is the tall tower of lights at the starting line, shows drivers when they've completed each step. Getting the staging right is crucial because it affects how quickly you can react when the green light appears and how your car launches off the line.

Some drivers use "deep staging," where they roll slightly past the normal staging position. This can help with reaction times but makes it easier to accidentally leave too early and get disqualified. Others prefer "shallow staging" to maximize their rollout distance.

In rally racing, staging means something completely different. Here, a stage is a timed section of road where drivers race against the clock rather than directly against other cars. Each stage might be anywhere from a few miles to over 25 miles long, often on challenging roads with tight turns, hills, and different surfaces like gravel or tarmac.

Rally drivers start each stage individually, usually about a minute apart, and try to complete it as quickly as possible. The driver with the lowest total time across all stages wins the rally. Some special stages, called "Power Stages," even award bonus points in championship competitions.

Whether in drag racing or rallying, staging is a fundamental concept that directly impacts a driver's performance and race results.