Do you remember watching your first rally race? Rally driving involves racing on a point-to-point format, allowing drivers to hit top speeds on private and public roads. With top speeds, left foot braking, and lots of adrenaline, it’s no wonder this form of auto racing is famous worldwide. This sport isn’t for the faint of heart, that’s for sure!
Fans flock to see the latest races in person, and you can even embrace rally driving in the gaming realm too. But is there any difference between rally driving within a game compared to driving in real life? Curious? Keep reading to learn more about rally driving and the difference between in-game simulations and accurate driving. Ready, set, go!
The history of rally driving
Before we jump into the key differences between rally driving in games and real life, let’s quickly examine the history of this sport.
Rally driving can be traced back to the 1894 Paris-Rouen Horseless Carriage Competition. This competition awarded prizes to the fastest vehicles based on word of mouth from spectators, proving how far we’ve come in monitoring speeds. The winners of this race were Panhard et Levassor and Peugeot — a familiar name for some.
Fast forward to 2022, drivers can now compete in the 2022 World Rally Championship — an international event that’s been supporting drivers and bolstering competition for 50 years. This year’s tournament will take place in various countries, including Sweden, Croatia, and Portugal.
Rally events can be found worldwide, giving fans in all areas a chance to support local professionals. One of the most popular rallies to tune into is the International Round Kurland Rally in Latvia, a rally that passes spectacular Baltic landscapes, Livonian castles, and lush green countryside. Explore the races at https://www.kurlandround.lv/
Ready to learn the top rally driving techniques in real life? Keep reading for top tips.
Top rally driving techniques
Rally driving is motorsport packed with skill and technique, but do you know the top moves drivers use when racing? Here are some notable techniques for real-life driving:
Handbrake turns
One of the most famous techniques, a handbrake turn, involves sliding the car sideways to navigate a tight bend with speed. This move can also be used for turning around in the vehicle’s turning circle.
Left-foot braking
Left-foot braking involves precisely what the name suggests. During this move, drivers keep their right foot on the accelerator and the left on the brake. Unlike normal braking, the clutch isn’t used.
Heel-and-toe
Heel-and-toe is most common during performance driving. This technique has the driver operate the brake and accelerator with the right foot while using the clutch with the left foot. Drivers use this technique for downshifting and braking before entering a turn.
Scandinavian flick
Also known as the Finnish flick or the Pendulum turn, this move is typical in rally driving. When approaching the next turn, the driver applies steering to the opposite direction of the course before steering back towards the bend. This move allows the driver to get around corners with an increasing radius.
Rally driving in games
How does rally driving in video games measure up to real-life driving?
Many users report that getting used to the physics in rally driving games can take some time. Unlike a real car scenario, rally games don’t always act as you’d expect. This is why practice is so crucial.
However, top rally games simulate typical rally-style moves. When playing, gamers can use handbrake turns and left-foot braking to complete the races. This gives the play an authentic touch and helps players learn about the actual driving experience.
Another benefit of rally games is the vast array of driving options. Whether you want a sleek rally car or something a little different, you can get an online feel for driving in different vehicles.
Top rally games
The most famous rally games include stunning graphics, many cars, and real techniques. Here are some of the top games to indulge in:
- Art of Rally
- DiRT 2
- WRC 7
- Overpass
- Sebastien Loeb Rally Evo
- Dakar 18
Final thoughts
Rally driving is unique motorsport, and the gaming options simulate the authentic driving style very well. Of course, no game will give the exact feel of sitting in a car — but these options come pretty close! Will you be experimenting with rally driving any time soon? Good luck!
