Editing Rallying (section)

== History ==

=== Etymology ===
The word '<nowiki/>'''''rally'<nowiki/>''''' comes from the French verb '''rallier''<nowiki/>', meaning to reunite or regroup urgently during a battle. It was in use since at least the seventeenth century and continues to mean to synergise with haste for a purpose.<ref>{{Cite web |title=rally {{!}} Etymology, origin and meaning of rally by etymonline |url=https://www.etymonline.com/word/rally |access-date=2022-06-09 |website=www.etymonline.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=rally |date=2022-06-01 |url=https://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=rally&oldid=67221410 |work=Wiktionary |language=en |access-date=2022-06-09}}</ref> By the time of the invention of the motor car, it was in use as a noun to define the organised mass gathering of people, not to protest or demonstrate, but to promote or celebrate a social, political or religious cause.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1872-09-19 |title=Rally! Rally!! Rally!!! |pages=3 |work=The Brooklyn Union |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56547937/rally-rally-rally/ |access-date=2022-06-04}}</ref> Motor car rallies were probably being arranged as motor clubs and [[automobile associations]] were beginning to form shortly after the first motor cars were being produced.

"Auto Rallies" were common events in the USA in the early twentieth century for the purpose of political [[Caucus|caucusing]], however many of these rallies were coincidentally aimed at motorists who could attend in convenient fashion rather than being a motoring rally.<ref>{{Cite web |title=3 Nov 1906, 8 - The Boston Globe at Newspapers.com |url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/431031828/?terms=auto%20rally&match=1 |access-date=2022-06-04 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=22 Apr 1910, Page 6 - Winston-Salem Journal at Newspapers.com |url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/95198408/?terms=auto%20rally&match=1 |access-date=2022-06-04 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref> One early example of a true motor rally, the 1909 Auto Rally Day in [[Denison, Iowa]], United States, gathered approximately 100 vehicles owned by local residents for no other real reason than to give rides to members of the public, using fuel paid for by local businessmen who hoped the event would help sell cars.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1 Sep 1909, 1 - The Denison Review at Newspapers.com |url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/466193754/?terms=%22auto%20rally%22&match=1 |access-date=2022-06-03 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref>

[[File:Russo-balt_s24-55_ralli_monte-karlo_1.jpg|thumb|1912 [[Monte Carlo Rally]] entrant, [[Russo-Balt]] "Monako" Torpédo]]

In the case of the 1910 Good Roads Rally held in [[Charleston, South Carolina]], a rally was organised to promote the need for better roads. The rally itself had no competition and most vehicles were expected to be parked for its duration. The programme included a visit to some ongoing roadworks, a vehicle parade, with food, drink, dancing and music also arranged. However, the Automobile Club of [[Columbia, South Carolina|Columbia]], who had members attending the event, independently organised their own road competition to contest on the journey between the two cities. A prize of $10 was awarded to the motorist "approximating the most ideal schedule" between two secret points along the route and who had "the most nearly correct idea of a pleasant and sensible pleasure tour" between the two cities. Though this format of competition itself would later become known as a regularity 'rally', it wasn't at the time, however the trophy and prize were awarded at the rally.<ref>{{Cite news |date=7 June 1910 |title=Charleston's Motor Rally |pages=5 |work=The Daily Record: Columbia SC |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/744541918/?terms=motor%20rally&match=1}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=11 Jul 1910, 2 - The Columbia Record at Newspapers.com |url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/744543455/?terms=motor%20rally&match=1 |access-date=2022-06-03 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref>

The first known use of the word rally to include a road competition was the 1911 Monaco Rally (later [[Monte Carlo Rally]]). It was organised by a group of wealthy locals who formed the "Sport Automobile Vélocipédique Monégasque" and bankrolled by the "Société des Bains de Mer" (the "sea bathing company"), the operators of the famous casino who were keen to attract wealthy and adventurous motorists to their 'rallying point'.<ref>Louche, Maurice. ''Le Rallye Monte-Carlo au XXe Siècle'' (Maurice Louche, 2001), p.25.</ref> Competitors could start at various locations but with a speed limit of 25kph imposed, the competitive elements were partly based on cleanliness, condition and elegance of the cars and required a jury to choose a winner. However, getting to Monaco in winter was a challenge in itself. A second event was held in 1912.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-08-09 |title=Rallye de Monaco 1911, première édition du Monte-Carlo |url=http://pcallais.free.fr/rallyeretro/monaco11.html |access-date=2022-06-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809162631/http://pcallais.free.fr/rallyeretro/monaco11.html |archive-date=2020-08-09 }}</ref>

=== Rallying as road competitions ===

==== Origins of motorsport ====
{{Main|Motorsport before 1906}}

[[File:Marcel_Renault_1903.jpg|thumb|[[Marcel Renault]] during the 1903 [[Paris–Madrid race]]]]Rallying as a form of road competition can be traced back to the origins of motorsport, including the world's first known motor race; the 1894 [[Paris–Rouen (motor race)|Paris–Rouen Horseless Carriage Competition]] (''Concours des Voitures sans Chevaux''). Sponsored by a Paris newspaper, ''[[Le Petit Journal (newspaper)|Le Petit Journal]]'', it attracted considerable public interest and entries from leading manufacturers. The official winner was [[Albert Lemaître]] driving a 3&nbsp;hp [[Peugeot]], although the [[Jules-Albert de Dion|''Comte'' de Dion]] had finished first but his steam-powered vehicle was ineligible for the official competition.<ref>{{cite book |author=Rose, Gerald |title=A Record of Motor Racing 1894–1908 |publisher=Royal Automobile Club |year=1909 |edition=1949 facsimile |page=1}}</ref>

The event led to a period of city-to-city road races being organised in Europe and the USA, which introduced many of the features found in later rallies: individual start times with cars running against the clock rather than head to head; time controls at the entry and exit points of towns along the way; road books and route notes; and driving over long distances on ordinary, mainly gravel, roads, facing hazards such as dust, traffic, pedestrians and farm animals.<ref name="Grand Prix History online">[http://www.grandprixhistory.org/story.htm Grand Prix History online] (retrieved 11 June 2017)</ref>

From 24 September-3 October 1895, the ''[[Automobile Club de France]]'' sponsored the longest race to date, a {{convert|1710|km|mi|abbr=on}} event from [[Bordeaux]] to [[Agen]] and back. Because it was held in ten stages, it can be considered the first stage rally. The first three places were taken by a Panhard, a Panhard, and a three-wheeler [[De Dion-Bouton]].<ref name="Grand Prix History online" />

In the [[Paris–Madrid race]] of May 1903, the [[Mors (automobile)|Mors]] of [[Fernand Gabriel]] took just under five and a quarter hours for the {{convert|550|km|mi|abbr=on}} to Bordeaux, an average of 105&nbsp;km/h (65.3&nbsp;mph). Speeds had now exceeded the safe limits of dusty highways thronged with spectators and open to other traffic, people and animals and there were numerous crashes, many injuries and eight deaths. The French government stopped the race and banned this style of event.<ref>Rose, G 1909 p 177</ref> From then on, racing in Europe (apart from Italy) would be on closed circuits, initially on long loops of public highway and then, in 1907, on the first purpose-built track, England's [[Brooklands]].<ref>Boddy, William: "The History of Brooklands Motor Course", page 11. Grenville, 1957.</ref>

Italy had been running road competitions since 1895, when a reliability trial was run from [[Turin]] to [[Asti]] and back. The country's first true motor race was held in 1897 along the shore of Lake Maggiore, from Arona to Stresa and back.<ref>Jones, Chris. ''Road Race'' (George Allen & Unwin Ltd., 1977), p.22.</ref> This led to a long tradition of road racing, including events like Sicily's [[Targa Florio]] (from 1906<ref>Jones, p.31</ref>) and ''Giro di Sicilia'' (Tour of Sicily, 1914), which went right round the island,<ref>Jones, p.39</ref> both of which continued on and off until after World War II. The first Alpine event was held in 1898, the Austrian Touring Club's three-day Automobile Run through South Tyrol, which included the infamous [[Stelvio Pass]].<ref>Pfundner, Martin. ''Die Alpenfahrt 1910–1973'' (Böhlau Verlag, 2005), p.9.</ref>

In [[United Kingdom|Britain]], the legal maximum speed of {{convert|12|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} precluded road racing, but in April and May 1900, the [[Automobile Club of Great Britain and Ireland]] (the forerunner of the Royal Automobile Club) organised the Thousand Mile Trial, a 15-day event linking Britain's major cities in order to promote this novel form of transport.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://nationalmotormuseum.org.uk/thousand-mile-trial-1900/ | title=Thousand Mile Trial 1900 | date=22 April 2020 }}</ref> Seventy vehicles took part, the majority of them trade entries. They had to complete thirteen stages of route varying in length from {{convert|43|to|123|mi|km}} at average speeds of up to the legal limit of {{convert|12|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}}, and tackle six hillclimb or speed tests. On rest days and at lunch halts, the cars were shown to the public in exhibition halls.<ref>Bennett, Elizabeth. ''Thousand Mile Trial''. Elizabeth Bennett, 2000.</ref> This event was followed in 1901 by a five-day trial based in Glasgow<ref>Cowbourne, Donald. ''British Trial Drivers, Their Cars, Motorcycles and Awards 1902–1914'' (Westbury Publishing 2003), p.275.</ref> The Scottish Automobile Club organised an annual Glasgow–London non-stop trial from 1902 to 1904, then the Scottish Reliability Trial from 1905.<ref name="Cowbourne 2005 p 279">Cowbourne 2005 p 279</ref> The Motor Cycling Club allowed cars to enter its trials and runs from 1904 (London–[[Edinburgh]], London–[[Land's End]], London–[[Exeter]]).<ref name="Cowbourne 2005 p 279" /> In 1908 the Royal Automobile Club held its {{convert|2000|mi|km|abbr=on}} International Touring Car Trial,<ref>Cowbourne 2005 p 374</ref> and in 1914 the Light Car Trial for manufacturers of cars up to 1400 cc, to test comparative performances.<ref>Cowbourne 2005 p 422</ref> In 1924, the exercise was repeated as the Small Car Trials.<ref>Cowbourne, Donald. ''British Trial Drivers, Their Cars and Awards 1919–1928'' (Smith Settle, 2001), p.416.</ref>

In [[Germany]], the Herkomer Trophy was first held in 1905, and again in 1906. This challenging five-day event attracted over 100 entrants to tackle its {{convert|1000|km|mi|abbr=on}} road section, a [[Hillclimbing|hillclimb]] and a speed trial, but it was marred by poor organisation and confusing regulations.<ref>Robson, p.17.</ref>{{Full citation needed|date=June 2024}} One participant had been Prince Henry of Austria, who with the Imperial Automobile Club of Germany, later created the first ''Prinz Heinrich Fahrt'' (Prince Henry Trial) in 1908. Another trial was held in 1910. These were very successful, attracting top drivers and works cars from major teams – several manufacturers added "Prince Henry" models to their ranges.<ref>Robson, p.20.</ref> The first Alpine Trial was held in 1909, in Austria, and by 1914 this was the toughest event of its kind, producing a star performance from Britain's [[James Radley]] in his [[Rolls-Royce Limited|Rolls-Royce Alpine Eagle]].<ref>Robson, p.21</ref>

In [[Estonia]] and [[Latvia]], [https://tehnikamuuseum.com/content/documents/book.pdf The Last Race of the Empire] was held in the days prior to the outbreak of World War 1 in 1914. This period was later called the [[July Crisis]]. A 706 mile car race of six stages through what is now Estonia and Latvia. The race was the third Baltic Automobile and Aero Club competition for the [[Princess Victoria Melita of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha|Grand Duchess Victoria Feodrovna]] Prize. The participants were mainly of Tsarist Russian and German Nobility.<ref>Rene Levoll, The Last Motor Race of The Empire 2014 ISBN 9789949380602 accessed 15 December 2023.</ref>

Two ultra-long distance challenges took place at this time. The [[Peking to Paris|Peking-Paris]] of 1907 was not officially a competition, but a "raid", the French term for an expedition or collective endeavour whose promoters, the newspaper "Le Matin", rather optimistically expected participants to help each other; it was 'won' by Prince [[Scipione Borghese, 10th Prince of Sulmona|Scipione Borghese]], [[Luigi Barzini Sr.|Luigi Barzini]], and Ettore Guizzardi in an [[Itala (company)|Itala]].<ref>Andrews, Allen. ''The Mad Motorists: The Great Peking–Paris Race of '07'' (Harrap, 1964), p.16.</ref> The [[1908 New York to Paris Race|New York–Paris]] of the following year, which went via Japan and [[Siberia]], was won by George Schuster and others in a [[Thomas Motor Company|Thomas Flyer]].<ref>Schuster, George, with Mahoney, Tom. ''The Longest Auto Race'' (John Day Company, 1966), p.11.</ref> Each event attracted only a handful of adventurous souls, but in both cases the successful drivers exhibited characteristics modern rally drivers would recognise: meticulous preparation, mechanical skill, resourcefulness, perseverance and a certain single-minded ruthlessness. Rather gentler (and more akin to modern rallying) was the [[Glidden Tour]], run by the [[American Automobile Association]] between 1902 and 1913, which had timed legs between control points and a marking system to determine the winners.<ref>Villard, Henry Serrano. ''The Great Road Races 1894–1914'' (Arthur Barker Ltd, 1972), p.124.</ref>

==== Interwar years ====
[[File:RenaultNervaSport_typeZC4.JPG|thumb|A [[Renault Nervasport]] won the [[Monte Carlo Rally]] in 1935.]]
The First World War brought a lull to motorsport. The Monte Carlo Rally was not revived until 1924, but since then, apart from World War II and its aftermath, it has been an annual event and remains a regular round of the World Rally Championship. In the 1930s, helped by the tough winters, it became the premier European rally, attracting 300 or more participants.<ref>Louche 2001 pp.44–79 & 377–384.</ref>

In the 1920s, numerous variations on the Alpine theme sprang up in Austria, Italy, France, Switzerland and Germany. The most important of these were Austria's ''Alpenfahrt'', which continued into its 44th edition in 1973, Italy's ''Coppa delle Alpi'', and the ''Coupe Internationale des Alpes'' (International Alpine Trial), organised jointly by the automobile clubs of Italy, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and, latterly, France. This last event, run from 1928 to 1936, attracted strong international fields vying for an individual Glacier Cup or a team Alpine Cup, including successful [[Talbot (automobile)|Talbot]], [[Riley (automobile)|Riley]], [[MG (car)|MG]] and [[Triumph Motor Company|Triumph]] teams from Britain and increasingly strong and well funded works representation from [[Adolf Hitler]]'s Germany, keen to prove its engineering and sporting prowess with successful marques like [[Adler (automobile)|Adler]], [[Wanderer (car)|Wanderer]] and Trumpf.<ref>Pfundner 2005, p.45</ref>

The French started their own ''[[Alpine Rally|Rallye des Alpes Françaises]]'' in 1932, which continued after World War II as the ''Rallye International des Alpes'', the name often shortened to ''Coupe des Alpes''.<ref>Pfundner 2005, p.81</ref> Other rallies started between the wars included Britain's [[RAC Rally]] (1932)<ref>Hamilton, Maurice. ''RAC Rally'' (Partridge Press, 1987), p.9.</ref> and Belgium's ''[[Liège-Rome-Liège]]'' or just Liège, officially called "Le Marathon de la Route" (1931),<ref>Delsaux, Jean-Paul. ''Marathon de la Route 1931/1971'' (Jean-Paul Delsaux, 1991), p.7.</ref> two events of radically different character; the former a gentle tour between cities from various start points, "rallying" at a seaside resort with a series of manoeuvrability and car control tests; the latter a thinly disguised road race over some of Europe's toughest mountain roads.

In Ireland, the first ''Ulster Motor Rally'' (1931) was run from multiple starting points. After several years in this format, it transitioned into the {{convert|1000|mi|km|adj=on}} [[Circuit of Ireland Rally]].<ref>Hamill, Sammy. ''The Circuit of Ireland Rally: Fifty Years On'' (Tudor, 1981)", p.10.</ref> In Italy, [[Benito Mussolini]]'s government encouraged motorsport of all kinds and facilitated road racing, so the sport quickly restarted after World War I. In 1927 the ''[[Mille Miglia]]'' (Thousand Mile) was founded, run over a {{convert|1000|mi|km|adj=on}} loop of highways from [[Brescia]] to Rome and back. It continued in this form until 1938.<ref>Lurani, Giovanni. ''La Storia della Mille Miglia'' (De Agostini, 1979), p.7.</ref>

The Liège of August 1939 was the last major event before World War II. Belgium's [[Jean Trasenster]] ([[Bugatti]]) and France's [[Jean Trevoux]] ([[Automobiles Hotchkiss|Hotchkiss]]) tied for first place, denying the German [[Works team|works teams]] shortly before their countries were overrun.<ref>Delsaux 1991, p.27</ref> This was one of five Liège wins for Trasenster; Trevoux won four Montes between 1934 and 1951.

==== Post-World War II years ====
[[File:Osmo_Kalpala_-_1956_Rally_Finland.jpeg|thumb|Osmo Kalpala servicing his car (a [[DKW F93]]) during the 1956 [[Jyväskylän Suurajot]], now known as ''Rally Finland'']]

===== Europe =====
Rallying was again slow to get under way after a major war, but by the 1950s there were many long-distance road rallies. In Europe, the Monte Carlo Rally, the French and Austrian Alpines, and the Liège were joined by a host of new events that quickly established themselves as classics: the Lisbon Rally (Portugal, 1947), the Tulip Rally (the Netherlands, 1949), the Rally to the Midnight Sun (Sweden, 1951, now the [[Swedish Rally]]), the Rally of the 1000 Lakes (Finland, 1951 – now the [[Rally Finland]]), and the [[Acropolis Rally]] (Greece, 1956).<ref>Robson, p.45.</ref> The RAC Rally gained International status on its return in 1951, but for 10 years its emphasis on map-reading navigation and short manoeuvrability tests made it unpopular with foreign crews.<ref>Hamilton 1987, p.17</ref> The ''[[Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile|FIA]]'' created in 1953 a [[European Rally Championship]] (at first called the "Touring Championship") of eleven events; it was first won by [[Helmut Polensky]] of Germany. This was the premier international rallying championship until 1973, when the FIA created the [[List of World Rally Championship Constructors' Champions|World Rally Championship for Manufacturers]].

Initially, most of the major post-war rallies were fairly gentlemanly, but the organisers of the French Alpine and the Liège (which moved its turning point from Rome into Yugoslavia in 1956) straight away set difficult time schedules: the ''Automobile Club de Marseille et Provence'' laid on a long tough route over a succession of rugged passes, stated that cars would have to be driven flat out from start to finish, and gave a coveted ''[[Coupe des Alpes]]'' ("Alpine Cup") to anyone achieving an unpenalised run;<ref>Robson, p.46</ref> while Belgium's Royal Motor Union made clear no car was expected to finish the Liège unpenalised – when one did (1951 winner [[Johnny Claes]] in a [[Jaguar XK120]]) they tightened the timing to make sure it never happened again.<ref>Robson, p.55</ref> These two events became the ones for "the men" to do. The Monte, because of its glamour, got the media coverage and the biggest entries (and in snowy years was also a genuine challenge); while the Acropolis took advantage of Greece's appalling roads to become a truly tough event.<ref>Robson, p.55.</ref> In 1956 came Corsica's ''[[Tour de Corse]]'', 24 hours of virtually non-stop flat out driving on some of the narrowest and twistiest mountain roads on the planet – the first major rally to be won by a woman, Belgium's {{ill|Gilberte Thirion|fr|Gilberte Thirion|lt=Gilberte Thirion,}} in a [[Renault Dauphine]].<ref>Louche, Maurice. ''Le Tour de Corse Automobile 1956–1986'' (Maurice Louche, 1989), p.26.</ref>

These events were road races in all but name, but in Italy such races were still allowed, and the ''Mille Miglia'' continued until a serious accident in 1957 caused it to be banned.<ref>Lurani 1979, p.165</ref> Meanwhile, in 1981, the ''Tour de France'' was revived by the Automobile-Club de Nice as a different kind of rally, based primarily on a series of races at circuits and hillclimbs around the country.<ref>Louche 1989, p.56</ref> It was successful for a while and continued until 1986. It spawned similar events in a few other countries, but none survive.

===== South America =====
In countries where there was no shortage of demanding roads across remote terrain, other events sprang up. In South America, the biggest of these took the form of long distance city to city races, each around {{convert|5000|to|6000|mi|km}}, divided into daily legs. The first was the ''Gran Premio del Norte'' of 1940, run from [[Buenos Aires]] to [[Lima]] and back; it was won by [[Juan Manuel Fangio]] in a much modified [[Chevrolet]] [[coupé]].<ref>Fangio, Juan Manuel, with Carozzo, Roberto. ''Fangio: My Racing Life'' (Patrick Stephens Ltd, 1990), p.50.</ref> This event was repeated in 1947, and in 1948 an even more ambitious one was held, the ''Gran Premio de la América del Sur'' from Buenos Aires to [[Caracas]], [[Venezuela]]—Fangio had an accident in which his co-driver was killed.<ref>Fangio and Carozzo, p.92</ref> Then in 1950 came the fast and dangerous [[Carrera Panamericana]], a {{convert|1911|mi|km|adj=on}} road race in stages across Mexico to celebrate the opening of the asphalt highway between the [[Guatemala]] and United States borders, which ran until 1954.<ref>Murphy, Daryl E: "Carrera Panamericana: History of the Mexican Road Race, 1950-54", page 12. iUniverse Inc.,2nd edition 2008.</ref> All these events fell victim to the cost – financial, social and environmental – of putting them on in an increasingly complex and developed world, although smaller road races continued long after, and a few still do in countries like [[Bolivia]].
===== Africa =====
[[File:EAS1973.jpg|thumb|Checkpoint during the 1973 [[Safari Rally]]]]In Africa, 1950 saw the first French-run [[Algiers-Cape Town Rally]], a {{convert|10000|mi|km|adj=on}} rally from the Mediterranean to [[South Africa]]; it was run on and off until 1961, when the new political situation hastened its demise.<ref>Fromentin, Pierre: "16.000 km à travers l'Afrique", page 1. Plon, 1954.</ref> In 1953 East Africa saw the demanding Coronation Safari, which went on to become the [[Safari Rally]] and a World Championship round,<ref>Barnard, Roger: "Safari Rally: The First 40 Years", page 10. Westholme Publishing, 1992.</ref> to be followed in due course by the [[Rallye du Maroc]] and the [[Rallye Côte d'Ivoire]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Le Rallye du Maroc annulé, remplacé par celui d'Andalousie - Rallye-raid |url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Rallye-raid/Actualites/Le-rallye-du-maroc-annule-remplace-par-celui-d-andalousie/1160296 |access-date=2020-10-02 |website=L'Équipe |language=fr}}</ref> Australia's [[Round Australia Trial|Redex Round Australia Trial]] also dates from 1953, although this remained isolated from the rest of the rallying world.<ref>Tuckey, Bill, and Floyd, Thomas B: "Gregorys 25 Years of Around Australia Trials: From Redex to Repco", page 33. Gregory's Publishing 1979.</ref>

===== North America =====
Canada hosted one of the world's longest and most gruelling rallies in the 1960s, the Shell 4000 Rally. It was the only one sanctioned by the [[Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile|FIA]] in North America.<ref>[http://shell-4000-rally.org/ "The Shell 4000 and BC Trans-Canada Rally History Project"], shell-4000-rally.org, accessed 4 January 2019.</ref>

==== Intercontinental rallying ====
The quest for longer and tougher events saw the re-establishment of the intercontinental rallies beginning with the [[London–Sydney Marathon]] held in 1968. The rally trekked across Europe, the Middle-East and the sub-continent before boarding a ship in Bombay to arrive in Fremantle eight days later before the final push across Australia to Sydney. It attracted over 100 crews including a number of works teams and top drivers; it was won by the [[Rootes Arrow|Hillman Hunter]] of Andrew Cowan/Brian Coyle/Colin Malkin.<ref>Brittan, Nick: "Marathon: Around the world in a cloud of dust". Motor Racing Publications, 1969.</ref> The huge success of this event saw the creation of the World Cup Rallies, linked to Association Football's FIFA World Cup. The first was the [[1970 London to Mexico World Cup Rally]] which saw competitors travel from London eastwards across to Bulgaria before turning westwards on a more southerly route before boarding a ship in Lisbon. Disembarking in Rio de Janeiro the route travelled southward into Argentina before turning northwards along the western coast of South America before arriving in Mexico City. The [[Ford Escort (Europe)#First generation (1967–1975)|Ford Escort]] of Hannu Mikkola and Gunnar Palm won.<ref>Hudson-Evans, Richard, and Robson, Graham: "The Big Drive: The Book of the World Cup Rally 1970". Speed & Sports Publications, 1970.</ref> These were followed in 1974 by the London-Sahara-Munich World Cup Rally,<ref>Green, Evan: "A Boot Full of Right Arms: Adventures in the London-Sahara-Munich Rally and other Motoring Marathons", Cassell Australia 1975.</ref> and in 1977 by the Singapore Airlines London-Sydney Rally.<ref>Stathatos, John. ''The Long Drive: The Story of the Singapore Airlines London-Sydney Rally''. Pelham 1978.</ref>

==== Introduction of special stages ====
[[File:Jari-Matti_Latvala-2007_Wales_Rally_GB_001.jpg|thumb|[[Jari-Matti Latvala]] on the muddy gravel roads of the [[2007 Wales Rally GB]].]]

Rallying became very popular in Sweden and Finland in the 1950s, thanks in part to the invention there of the ''specialsträcka'' (Swedish) or ''erikoiskoe'' (Finnish), or special stage. These were shorter sections of route, usually on minor or private roads—predominantly gravel in these countries—away from habitation and traffic, which were separately timed.<ref>Tunberg, Anders, and Haventon, Peter. ''Full fart genom Sverige: Svenska Rallyt 50 år'' (''Full speed through Sweden: 50 years of the Swedish Rally''). Bienen & Haventon, 2000.</ref><ref>Mäkinen, Marko, and Rauhala, Samuli. ''Finnish Grand Prix: 50 years of rallying'' (UserCom Finland Oy, 2001), p.9.</ref> These provided the solution to the conflict inherent in the notion of driving as fast as possible on ordinary roads. The idea spread to other countries, albeit more slowly to the most demanding events.

The [[RAC Rally]] had formally become an International event in 1951, but Britain's laws precluded the closure of public highways for special stages. This meant it had to rely on short manoeuvrability tests, regularity sections and night map-reading navigation to find a winner, which made it unattractive to foreign crews. In 1961, Jack Kemsley was able to persuade the [[Forestry Commission]] to open their many hundreds of miles of well surfaced and sinuous gravel roads, and the event was transformed into one of the most demanding and popular in the calendar, by 1983 having over {{convert|600|mi|km}} of stage.<ref>Hamilton 1987 p 30</ref> It was later renamed [[Rally GB]].

=== Off road (cross country) rallying ===
In 1967, a group of American off-roaders created the Mexican 1000 rally, a tough 1,000-mile race for cars and motorcycles which ran the length of the [[Baja California peninsula]], much of it initially over roadless desert. Which quickly gained fame as the [[Baja 1000]], today run by the [[SCORE International]].<ref>Fiolka, Marty: "1000 Miles to Glory: The History of the Baja 1000", page 35. David Bull 2005.</ref> "Baja" events, relatively short cross-country rallies, now take place in a number of other countries worldwide.

In 1979, a young Frenchman, [[Thierry Sabine]], founded an institution when he organized the first "rallye-raid" from [[Paris]] to [[Dakar]], in Senegal, the event now called the [[Dakar Rally]]. From amateur beginnings it quickly became a massive commercial circus catering for cars, motorcycles and trucks, and spawned other similar events.<ref>Jones, Dot & Jim. ''Dakar: The Challenge of the Desert'' (Dinefwr, 2003), p.14.</ref> From 2008 to 2019, it was held in South America before moving to Saudi Arabia exclusively in 2020.