Star rally
Event format in which participants start from different directions and converge on a common destination.
The star rally is a long-established event format in classic car and rally motorsport. Unlike a conventional rally with a single common start, participants do not set off from one place but from different directions and various starting points. All routes converge on a shared destination like the points of a star – hence the name.
Each starting location has its own approach route, often with its own roadbook and timing. The individual routes are measured so that all participants arrive at the common destination within a defined time window. A shared final section frequently follows there – for example a series of special or regularity stages, a common evening programme or the prize-giving.
Historically, the star rally is closely tied to the great classics. The best-known example is the Monte Carlo Rally, whose competitors in the early days travelled from various European cities and only met up in Monaco. These so-called concentration runs made the journey itself part of the competition and shaped the event's legend.
Organisers and clubs still value the star rally today: it lets participants from a large catchment area take part without a long transit drive to a central start, and the shared arrival has a special, sociable appeal. For beginners a star rally is often a pleasant introduction, as the journey is already part of the experience and the routes usually stay regional and manageable.
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Related terms
Orientation rally
Event format where finding the correct route from tricky roadbook instructions matters – not speed (often abbreviated Ori).
Start number
Number allocated to each team, displayed on the car and determining the start order; cars start individually at fixed intervals.
Pursuit start
Pursuit start: a start format in multi-stage events where start order and gaps reflect the deficit from previous results – the leader starts first.