Two Checkpoints for Every Stage Finish
Watching a rally special stage for the first time can be puzzling when cars flash across what looks like the finish line at maximum attack and keep driving. Because individual competitors start at set intervals and tackle narrow roads at flat-out speeds, organizers cannot expect a crew to brake to an immediate halt the instant their timed run concludes. Instead, the completion of every special stage is split into two separate locations: the flying finish and the stop control.
Understanding the operational distinction between a rally flying finish vs stop control helps new spectators follow how official results are recorded safely. The flying finish marks the actual conclusion of the competitive test, where electronic beams or transponders capture the vehicle's time to fractions of a second at full speed. Stopping right at this initial line is strictly forbidden because halting on a live competitive route would create an immediate danger for any following car.
Signage and the Deceleration Zone
To guide drivers through this rapid transition, events rely on standard colour-coded boards alongside the track. Approaching the end of a stage, crews pass a yellow board displaying a checkered flag roughly 100 metres before the finish, warning them that the competitive route is about to end. Moments later, they cross the flying finish itself, marked by a red checkered flag.
Once past the red checkered flag, the driver enters a buffer zone that typically spans between 200 and 500 yards, or several hundred metres depending on the stage layout. Drivers must brake progressively without locking up or sliding past marshals, bringing the car to a controlled, complete stop at a prominent red stop sign board. Strict regulations govern this entire corridor: crews are not allowed to reverse, stop early, or begin working on their vehicles between the flying finish and an end-of-control marker placed about 50 metres beyond the stop post.
Handling the Time Card at Stop Control
At the red stop board, the focus turns to administrative verification managed by the co-driver. Marshals stationed at this static checkpoint record or stamp the official stage time onto the physical time card carried inside the car and mirror the entry on an official log sheet.
Before departing, the co-driver is responsible for checking the stamped or handwritten numbers on the card. If an error is spotted, the crew must request a correction on the spot or ask the marshal to note the issue on the master log before proceeding onto the non-competitive transit road section.
Official reference: FIA World Rally Championship regulations.
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