Glossary
Anti Lag / ALS
A system that keeps the turbocharger spinning, and producing boost, at low throttle by igniting air and fuel in the exhaust.
Boost
The pressure of air forced into the engine, and increased power potential, created by the turbocharger.
Champion Lubricants Fast Start Award
Rewards drivers who lead into the first corner during World RX races.
Cooper Tires
Single supplier of tyres for all categories. Drivers can use up to eight new tyres per event.
Double Joker
Penalty imposed for making a false start, where the guilty driver must pass through the Joker Lap twice in that race.
ECU
Engine Control Unit. Electronic system that controls engine functions.
FIA
Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile – the governing body of world motorsport.
First reserve driver
The 13th-placed driver in the Intermediate Classification replaces any top 12 driver should they be unable to start in the Semi-Finals. The highest points-scoring of the two fourth-placed Semi-Finalists will be first reserve for the Final.
G force
Where ‘g’ refers to the ‘weight’ created by gravity. So 2.5g experienced under acceleration, deceleration or cornering force etc. refers to 2.5 times ‘normal’ weight.
Gravel / asphalt
Generalised term for the mixed surfaces of a rallycross circuit.
HANS
Device acronym for Head and Neck Support, a specific form of Frontal Head Restraint (FHR) which is compulsory for all drivers to wear during races.
Intermediate classication
Classification after all four rounds of qualifying races, which determines the starting order of the drivers in the Semi-Finals.
Joker Lap
Longer section of the circuit, which all participants have to take once during each race.
Jump/False Start
Caused by a driver starting before the green light is shown. Controlled by an automated system that monitors every car on the grid. The race is then re-started and the driver in question must take the Joker Lap twice.
Kerbs
Raised and painted track-edge marker placed on corners and chicanes.
Naturally Aspirated
Referring to an engine, where the pressure of air entering the engine is at natural atmospheric pressure (see also ‘Turbocharger’).
Parc Fermé
‘Closed Park’ where cars can be isolated after a race for controlled checks by Scrutineers.
Practice
Track session at the beginning of each event, offering drivers the opportunity to learn the circuit and prepare for the races. Usually controlled to a maximum of eight or 12 laps per driver.
Pre-grid
Area behind the start-line where cars line up before each race.
Ready to race
Board or sign notifying drivers on the start-line that the start of the race is imminent.
RX1 (formerly Supercar)
The pinnacle of rallycross – a 600bhp four-wheel drive car, capable of accelerating from 0-100km/h in under two seconds, which is faster than Formula 1.
RX2e
A joint venture between Spanish electro-mobility specialist QEV Technologies and Swedish rallycross powerhouse Olsbergs MSE, RX2e is the first-ever FIA electric rallycross championship, providing a pathway to the top of the sport for aspiring rallycross stars.
RX3 (formerly Super1600)
1600cc front-wheel drive cars featuring in their own FIA European Championship, which features on the support programme at World Championship events.
Scrutineering
Pre- and post-event technical and safety checks of cars to ensure their compliance with the regulations. Carried out by scrutineers.
Sealed/unsealed
Various surfaces of the circuit, sealed typically being asphalt and unsealed being gravel.
Spotter
Member of the race team informing his or her driver on position and timing and advising on Joker Lap strategy.
Suspension
The combination of springs, dampers and fixing links that connect the wheel to the car and by which wheel movement is controlled.
Top Qualier/TQ
First-placed driver in the Intermediate Classification. Starts on pole position in Semi-Final 1.
Torque
The rotational force of an engine. Most usually measured in Newton-metres (Nm).
Turbocharger
A method of forced induction (opposite of Naturally-Aspirated) which uses a compressor driven by exhaust gases to increase the pressure and quantity of air entering the engine, allowing increased power output.
Tyre cleaning
Non-compulsory process prior to lining up on the grid where drivers warm their tyres and rehearse their start procedure, the resulting wheelspin ‘cleaning’ the surface of the tyre.
