RALLYCROSS CoMPETITION RULES
Copyright © 2026 by Northwest Rally Association All rights reserved. This rule set or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the organization.
Rallycross
A rallycross is a motorsports event where vehicles race on a course delineated by cones on generally unpaved, mostly flat surfaces. Elapsed time is tracked by the organizer with time-based penalties assessed for actions such as missed cones and driving off-course. Scoring is the accumulation of timed runs plus penalties where the lowest time wins. One car is released at a time with course workers monitoring cones and penalties.
Rallycross events are structured as a run-work format where competitors race during their class session and work the course when another class races.
Conduct of Competitors
Each competitor must:
Practice good sportsmanship at all times.
Register for and compete in the appropriate class for their vehicle. It is the driver’s responsibility to know the correct class based on the rules and vehicle classifications.
Be responsible for their own safety and the safety of others.
Know, understand and follow all rules as stated herein, in competitor communications and required driver meetings.
Treat all officials, volunteers, spectators, the public and other competitors with respect and courtesy.
Obey all laws and local ordinances, most importantly as they pertain to traffic laws.
Not dispose of trash anywhere on site except for designated garbage receptacles.
Follow the prescribed course. It is the competitor’s responsibility to know the course in order to keep other competitors, course workers and spectators safe. Competitors will be given the opportunity to walk and drive the course prior to competition.
Fully perform their work assignment as instructed.
Failure to comply with the conduct requirements may result in disqualification and/or suspension.
Competitor Eligibility
To be eligible for Rallycross competition, a driver must:
Not be disqualified from event or suspended from competition.
Be, at minimum, 15 years old and meet one of the following criteria:
a. Possess a valid (not expired or suspended) drivers license in their state of residence, or
b. Possess a valid instruction permit and be accompanied by a parent/guardian that has been a licensed driver for at least five years.
Register and race under their legal name and present a valid government-issued driver’s license with the same name. Special exceptions may be made by the Race Director. Please email info@nwrallyassociation.com at least one week prior to the event with your request.
Passenger Eligibility
One passenger is permitted in car during competition runs unless otherwise stated in event-specific communication. In order for passengers to ride along, the following criteria must be met:
A passenger seat must be present and in safe condition (front seat only, no passengers permitted in the back seat).
The seatbelts for the passenger seat must be in safe, operating order.
Passenger must be at least 12 years of age.
Passenger must wear a helmet that meets the requirements set forth under Safety Equipment.
Competition Rules
Drugs & Alcohol: No drugs or alcohol are to be consumed during competition. If you show signs of being under the influence, the race director may remove you from competition at their discretion.
Firearms: No firearms are permitted at Northwest Rally Association events.
Driver Meeting: A mandatory driver meeting is held at the beginning of each event or recorded and distributed prior to the event. Every driver must attend or watch the driver meeting, must have already completed their vehicle inspection and checked in before competing. Drivers who do not attend the meeting will be ineligible to race.
Parade Lap: Each driver is entitled to drive a parade lap, a course lap driven at slow speed. Any competitor that rides along with another competitor during the parade lap forfeits their right to drive the parade. This includes dual drivers - dual drivers may either take two solo laps or one lap together as a team. The parade lap is to be driven under 20mph without stopping, sliding or periods of rapid acceleration/deceleration. Slides, hand-brake turns, stopping or spinning tires during the parade lap will result in your first competition lap being scored as a DNF.
Start Line Procedure: You will be directed to the start line by a grid worker. At the start line, the start worker will give you a signal when you are cleared to start. You have 25 seconds once signaled to leave the line or your run will be scored as a DNF (see Penalties below).
Finish Line & Stop Box: At many events, a stop box will be present just past the finish line (marked with cones and a stop sign). Drivers must come to a complete stop within the stop box. A complete stop is defined as all four wheels stopped and the vehicle has no forward momentum. Once the vehicle has come to a complete stop, the driver may continue at parade speed (10 mph) back to the grid or paddock area.
Red Flag Procedure: All course worker stations on course are equipped with a red flag that is to be used when there is a need to stop all cars on course (e.g. a car has stalled on course, gone off course in an unsafe manner, etc). Drivers may be presented with a red flag during competition runs and need to follow these steps:
Come to a controlled, complete stop as quickly as possible. Do not brake hard enough to cause a skid or slide.
Wait for directions from a course worker. Directions may be to run the remainder of the course at parade speed (10mph) or take a shortcut back to start/finish at parade speed.
Failure to stop at two consecutive red flags (driving past two course workers waving red flags) will result in a DNF for that run.
Penalties: Predefined time penalties are assessed for each of the violations below.
Cone Penalty (2 seconds): Incurred when driver knocks a cone over or moves it out of its base box. Base box is defined as the imaginary box outlining the base of the cone when set in its original position. This includes the cone being contacted by the vehicle or by the dirt/gravel spray off the back of the vehicle.
Missed Gate (10 seconds): A gate is any upright course delineating cone. A missed gate is incurred when the driver goes to the wrong side of a cone.
Did Not Finish – DNF (slowest time in class + 30 seconds): Incurred when the driver fails to complete the course on a competition run due to mechanical failure or other incident.
Driving Off-Course (slowest time in class + 30 seconds): Driving off course is defined as missing two consecutive gates or navigating off the course in a manner that endangers course workers, spectators or other competitors. The race director may determine a driver is off course at their discretion.
Stop Box Failure (10 seconds): Failure to come to a complete stop in the stop box.
Scoring: Your final score is the accumulation of total time on course plus any penalties incurred (there are no “dropped” runs – all runs are scored). The lowest time in class wins.
Time Out: Each competitor has one time out they may use during their session that can be used for any reason (vehicle repairs, allowing the car to cool, fixing a debeaded tire, etc). The time out process is as follows:
Driver must notify a grid or start worker that you are taking a time out.
The grid/start teams will begin a 10 minute timer at the time when the driver was to be at the start line for their run.
The driver must be back to the grid area within 10 minutes of their start time and must notify a grid worker that they are back. If the driver is unable to return to the start line within 10 minutes, their run will be scored as DNF.
Debead Procedure: If a tire debeads during a competition run, the driver will be administered a red flag for safety reasons (a debeaded tire creates a high rollover risk). The driver will be directed to proceed to paddock at parade speed to fix the tire. They will be given one rerun for that competition run as long as they make it back to the grid area within 10 minutes of exiting the course. Note: Each driver will only be given one debead time out. After that, they will be scored a DNF for any subsequent debeads.
Competition Delay Penalty: In order to avoid excessive delays, drivers who cause two red flags or other competition-delay events will not be able to continue competing in that event. For example, a vehicle breaks down on course resulting in a red flag and the driver is given a DNF for that run. The driver is able to repair the issue and start their next run. During that run, the car breaks down again. At this point, the driver will discontinue racing for that event.
Maximum Cone Penalty Allowance: Drivers who hit 10 or more cones in a single race session will be disqualified from the event and must discontinue racing for the day. Repeat maximum cone penalties may result in a competitor being disallowed from future event entries.
Loose & Handheld Items: No loose items are allowed inside the vehicle. Handheld items such as cameras, cell phones or in-car cameras are considered loose items and are not permitted. In-car cameras, such as GoPros, must be securely affixed to the vehicle using suction, adhesive or hardware. If a driver or passenger are spotted utilizing a handheld item during competition, the driver will be given a red flag on course and the run will be scored as a DNF.
Exception: In the occurrence of a debead, the driver is given one rerun which will not count against their competition-delay incident. If there is a second debead, that will count as the competition-delay incident.
Work Assignment: Each competitor is given a work assignment on race day. Typical work assignments are course worker, timing assistant, cleanup, etc. Failure to complete your work assignment will result in disqualification from competition and scoring for that event. Additionally, the race director may choose to disqualify a competitor from future events at their discretion.
Ride Alongs: If a competitor wants to ride along with another driver during a race lap (non-parade laps), they are allowed to do so as long as they are in their car, at the line and ready to race when it is their turn. If a driver misses their lap due to a poorly timed ride along, they will receive a DNF for the run they missed.
Equipment Damage: Any damage to NWRA, venue or competitor equipment must be paid for by the competitor. This includes but is not limited to repair and/or replace of timing equipment, signage, property damage, vehicle damage.