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How to read a rally roadbook

A rally roadbook describes a route one row at a time. Match the distance to the ground, follow the arrow through the diagram, and read the notes before you arrive.

Reading a row

Generated roadbook row: TOTAL 2.03 km, PARTIAL 0.37 km, CAP 152.
Generated in-game · Try roadbook practice →
Distances
TOTAL, the large 2,03, is kilometres from the section start. PARTIAL, the smaller 0,37, is kilometres from the previous row. Compare these with your tripmeter—the distance counter. A comma is the decimal separator.
Diagram
Enter from the bottom and follow the blue arrow. The black branch is the other track. The black dot and its short stem mark the exact distance reference.
CAP and notes
CAP is a compass heading. The yellow 152 gives your direction as you leave, in degrees clockwise from north. kpR means keep right.
Control marks
A waypoint is a GPS checkpoint. M and the cyan tint identify a masked waypoint: GPS direction guidance becomes available on approach. The circled 6 is its reference number.

Distance check

Your tripmeter counts from the same section start and reads 1.83 km. How far remains to this row?

Show answer

Correct. 2.03 − 1.83 = 0.20 km, or 200 m.

Distances & ICO

The ICO is your tripmeter. Its counters change as you ride; the distances printed in the roadbook do not.

Reset PARTIAL
Reset the instrument’s partial counter at the previous row’s reference. It then counts the distance travelled towards the next row; the printed partial stays fixed.
Correct TOTAL
At a landmark you have positively identified, adjust the tripmeter total to match the printed total. A detour or measurement error can put them out of step.
Check the ground
If the junction or landmarks do not match, check your location before adjusting the counter.

CAP headings

North
000°
East
090°
South
180°
West
270°
Departure CAP
The heading as you leave the reference. Find the correct exit in the diagram first; CAP alone does not identify the junction.
Other CAP types and GPS headings
Other CAP types
A small A after the degrees marks an average heading along a winding feature. A small C marks a calculated bearing between references on open ground without a track. A changing CAP follows a curve.
GPS headings
COG (course over ground) is your measured direction of travel; it needs movement. CTW (course to waypoint) points towards a waypoint once GPS guidance is available.

Reading a tulip

A tulip is the drawing of a junction or feature.

Orientation
Read from the approach to the arrow. The top of the drawing is not necessarily north.

Several tracks at a junction

Generated roadbook row: TOTAL 0.77 km, PARTIAL 0.29 km, CAP 227.
Take the blue exit on CAP 227. C marks a control waypoint with no GPS direction guidance. Green behind the distances means this row is less than 300 m after the previous one.

Rock at a turn

Generated roadbook row: TOTAL 1.16 km, PARTIAL 0.39 km, CAP 139.
Turn left beside the grey rock on CAP 139. The downward arrow beside the distances warns that the next row is less than 300 m away.

Surfaces

Solid line
A defined track or road. Follow its shape and the exit arrow.
Squares and strokes
A faint or poorly visible track; its line alternates squares and longer strokes.
Square marks · HP
HP means hors-piste: open ground without a defined track. Use CAP, distance and terrain together.

Leaving the track

Generated roadbook row: TOTAL 0.09 km, PARTIAL 0.09 km, CAP 246.
The track ends: blue squares replace the solid route line. Continue across open ground on CAP 246. This surface-change row has no waypoint, so there is no control badge or circled number.

Hazards

First-level danger. Read the feature and reduce speed before reaching it.

Greater danger. Slow early and inspect the feature before committing.

Highest danger level. Slow well before the feature. A safety waypoint (WPS) requires you to pass close to this point.

Danger

Generated roadbook row: TOTAL 1.66 km, PARTIAL 0.03 km, CAP 114.
The red underline reinforces the level-two warning. Slow before this off-piste turn on CAP 114. The black track at the bottom is the one you have just left.

Colours and control symbols

Blue route
The path to follow. Black lines show other tracks.
Yellow CAP
The departure heading, printed inside the diagram.
Green distance cell
Replaces the waypoint tint when the previous row is less than 300 m away. A downward arrow warns of a short interval to the next row.
Orange border
A speed zone. The number in the ring is its km/h limit.
Red danger marks
An underline accompanies level two; a red frame marks level three.

DZ — Speed zone starts. Obey the accompanying limit.

FZ — Speed zone ends. Other speed restrictions still apply.

DSS — Start of the timed part of the rally.

ASS — End of the timed part of the rally; keep moving through the finish.

CP — Staffed passage control; follow its stopping instructions.

DN — Neutralisation starts: an interval excluded from competitive time.

FN — Neutralisation ends; follow the restart instructions.

Waypoint types

A waypoint validates when the GPS records your passage. Its printed colour does not change to show that it has validated.

WPV · Visible waypoint

Coordinates and GPS guidance are supplied. “Visible” does not mean there is a physical marker.

WPE · Eclipse waypoint

GPS guidance becomes available after the previous waypoint validates, or when you get close enough if it was missed.

WPM · Masked waypoint

GPS direction guidance stays hidden until you approach. The roadbook row itself is visible.

WPS · Safety waypoint

Safety waypoint, used at level-three dangers and other locations that require close passage.

WPC · Control waypoint

Virtual control with no GPS direction guidance. Follow the roadbook to it.

WPP · Precise waypoint

Unmarked in the roadbook, with no GPS direction guidance. It still appears in the waypoint list.

WPN · Navigation waypoint

Navigation waypoint used off-piste or in dunes.

GPS opening and validation distances

The opening distance controls when a waypoint becomes available in the GPS; some types provide no direction guidance. The validation radius is how close you must pass for the GPS to record the waypoint. These are 2026 FIM defaults; event instructions may change them.

DSS
Opens: 1000 m. Validates: 200 m.
ASS
Opens: 800 m. Validates: 90 m.
DZ
Opens: 1000 m. Validates: 90 m.
FZ
Opens: 1000 m. Validates: 90 m.
WPV
Opens: open / far. Validates: 200 m.
WPE
Opens: Previous waypoint validated; 1,000 m fallback if missed. Validates: 90 m.
WPM
Opens: 800 m. Validates: 90 m.
WPS
Opens: 1000 m. Validates: 30 m.
WPC
Opens: none. Validates: 300 m.
WPP
Opens: 100 m. Validates: 20 m.
WPN
Opens: 800 m. Validates: 200 m.
CP
Opens: 1000 m. Validates: 90 m.

Start and finish

Selective start

Generated roadbook row: TOTAL 0.00 km, PARTIAL 0.00 km, CAP 246.
DSS and the start flag begin the timed part of the rally, called a selective section. Both distances start at zero. P means track; depart on CAP 246.

Selective finish

Generated roadbook row: TOTAL 2.48 km, PARTIAL 0.45 km.
ASS and the chequered flag end the timed section. The diagram ends at the finish; continue to any following stop control.

Speed zones & timing

DZ → FZ
Reach the posted speed before DZ and keep within it through FZ. A waypoint validation circle is not the start or end line.
DN → FN
Follow the prescribed neutralisation duration and restart procedure. Untimed does not mean unrestricted speed.

Speed-zone start

Generated roadbook row: TOTAL 1.16 km, PARTIAL 0.39 km, CAP 139.
Reach 40 km/h or less before DZ. The orange border begins here and continues around the zone’s rows. The short black branches show the tracks you are approaching.

Rejoining the track inside the zone

Generated roadbook row: TOTAL 1.20 km, PARTIAL 0.04 km, CAP 139.
RP means rejoin the track. Blue squares become a solid line on CAP 139. The orange border and 40 remain: joining a road does not end the speed limit.

Speed-zone end

Generated roadbook row: TOTAL 1.42 km, PARTIAL 0.22 km, CAP 135.
FZ and the crossed-out 40 end this limit. Keep within it through this point, then continue past the rock on CAP 135.

Abbreviations

kpL / kpR
Keep left / keep right.
P
Piste: a defined track.
RP
Rejoin the track (reprendre piste).
Neut.
Neutralisation: an untimed interval with a prescribed duration and restart procedure.
Ravito
Refuelling or replenishment. Event rules determine permitted work.
TC
Time control: present for the assigned minute using the event’s check-in procedure.
STOP
Post-finish control where the earlier ASS crossing time is recorded on the time card.
km / m
Kilometres / metres. 1 km = 1,000 m.

French route notes

sur
On / along, e.g. "sur piste" means stay on the track.
vers
Towards.
bif. (bifurcation)
A fork in the track.
att. (attention)
Caution.
G / D
Gauche / Droite, left / right.
tout droit
Straight on.
piste
A defined track or trail, normally drawn as a solid line.
route / goudron
Sealed or tarmac road.
oued
A dry riverbed (wadi); notes may warn of sand, ruts or a rough crossing.
gué
Ford or water crossing.
cassis
A sharp dip / drainage bump across the track, dangerous at speed.
casa
House or building.
balise
A marker or beacon to navigate by.
sommet / col
A summit or crest, or a mountain pass.
montée / descente
Climb / descent.
gravillons
Loose gravel, reduced grip.
sable
Sand.
fesh-fesh
Fine powdery dust that can hide holes.
pierres / rocaille
Rocks / stony ground, a surface or hazard description.
virage
A bend or corner.
carrefour
A crossroads where several tracks meet.
pont
Bridge.
dunes
Sand dunes.
puits
Well.
village
A populated area; expect people, animals, traffic and event speed restrictions.
grille à bestiaux
Cattle grid.
tôle ondulée
Corrugations / washboard: repeated ripples in the track surface.
sebkha / lac salé
Salt flat / dry salt lake; a hard-looking crust can conceal soft ground.
trace
A faint vehicle track.
ornières
Ruts or deep wheel grooves.
tas de pierres / cairn
A pile of stones used as a marker.
ligne électrique / pylône
Power line / pylon.
clôture
Fence.
plateau / plaine
Open high ground / flat plain.
ruines
Ruins or an old structure.

FIM 2026 symbol catalogue

Original motorcycle symbols from the FIM symbol sheet, page 91 ↗. Their artwork differs from the FIA-style paper examples above.

Tracks
Tarmac road
A surfaced road.
Track
A defined track/piste.
Off track route
Travel across ground without a defined track.
Low visible track traces
A faint track, shown with alternating squares and longer strokes.
Track
Principal track
Road
Parallel track
Parallel track/piste.
Off track sight driving
Off track; use sight driving.
Off track forbidden
Off-track travel prohibited at the represented instruction.
Follow principal track
Follow road
Sandy
Sandy surface.
Gravel
Gravel surface.
On track
Bump
Raised bump in the track.
Dip or hole
Dip/hole in the track.
Compression
Compression feature, distinct from a simple raised bump.
Ditch
Ditch crossing or feature.
Summit
Summit/crest reference.
Above bridge
Route passes above/on the bridge.
Under bridge
Route passes underneath a bridge.
Step up
Ascending step.
Step down
Descending step.
Uphill
Uphill direction.
Downhill
Downhill direction.
Cut danger
Cut/abrupt terrain danger.
Right or left over crest
Turn in the indicated direction beyond the crest.
Fence gate
Passage through a fence gate.
Fence with cattle gate
Passage through the indicated livestock gate/grid feature.
Wall gate
Passage through a wall opening.
Wading water crossing
Water crossing/ford.
Concrete pass
Concrete pass/crossing.
Safety
Danger one
Danger two
Danger three
Danger level 3. FIM article 11.4 requires the associated WPS safety waypoint.
Global diagram danger
Framed global danger indication applying to the whole note; it is not an extra numbered severity.
Start speed limit
Start of speed limitation/control zone.
Finish speed limit
End of the speed limitation/control zone.
Stop
Stop indication; determine whether road sign or event control by context.
Caution
General caution symbol. Its triangle is distinct from the three numbered danger levels.
Danger two kilometre underline
The underlined total warns of level-two danger.
Start difficult overtaking zone
Start of the difficult-overtaking zone.
Finish difficult overtaking zone
End of that zone.
Waypoints
Masked waypoint
GPS direction guidance opens as you approach.
Control waypoint
Virtual control with no GPS direction guidance.
Safety waypoint
Safety waypoint requiring close passage.
Navigation waypoint
Navigation waypoint used off-piste or in dunes.
Precise waypoint
Listed in waypoint order but unmarked in the riding roadbook.
Visible waypoint
Coordinates and GPS guidance are supplied.
Eclipse waypoint
Guidance becomes available after the previous waypoint validates, or on approach if it was missed.
Waypoint number
The reference identifying this waypoint.
CAPs
Exit cap
Heading to take at the reference.
Average cap
Overall heading along a winding feature, rather than the heading at every bend.
Calculated cap
Bearing between references off-piste, marked with a small C.
Changing CAP
The heading changes along the curve.
Dunes and sand
Sandy plain
Big bowl
Large bowl/cuvette feature.
Sand spit
Dune
Broken dune
Broken dune feature.
Dunes
An area of dunes.
Dune
Dune; context distinguishes this from neutralisation DN.
Many dunes
Small dune
Small dune/dunette.
Dune difficulty one
Dune difficulty two
Dune difficulty three
Symbols
Fence
Barbed fence
Railroad
Railroad reference/crossing.
Hole
Collapse ditch ravine
Collapsed area, ditch, ravine or equivalent terrain.
Ruts
Twisty sinuous
Twisty/sinuous route.
Bumpy broken
Bumpy
Lateral inclination
Post
Electric pole
Electric line
High voltage tower
Antenna
Well
Tanks
Barrels
Concrete elements
Concrete structures used as landmarks.
Tires
Sign posts
Signposts; not automatically an event control.
Restricted protected area
Buildings
Church or mosque
Church/mosque landmark.
Ruins
Ruins or abandoned structure.
Fort castle
Cemetery
Village
Village; context distinguishes from a visible WP icon.
Bivouac
Bivouac location.
Tunnel
Pipeline
Wall
Native local camp
Petrol station and fuel type
Petrol station plus available fuel indication.
Monument
Individual animal
Individual animal warning/reference.
Animals
Animals as a general indication.
Cairn
Rocks
Mountain
Tree
Palm tree
Camel grass
Vegetation
Slope
Small wadi
Large wadi
Sandy wadi
River water
River containing water.
Lake puddle
Plain chott
Towards direction
Towards/in the indicated direction.
Road works
Reset recal trip
Reset/recalibration reference; exact instrument action needs context.
Distance annotation
A distance annotation, not automatically a GPS control.
Controls
Start selective section
Selective-section start.
Arrival selective section
Finish of the timed selective section.
Check point (CP)
Passage control; distinguish from WPC.
Start neutralisation
Start neutralisation; context distinguishes dune mnemonic DN.
Finish neutralisation
End of neutralisation. Follow the restart procedure.
Start neutralisation with speed limit
Start of a neutralisation with a speed limit, shown by the orange DN variant. The actual limit comes from the applicable note/rules.
Start transfer
Finish transfer
End of the transfer. Follow the restart procedure.
Start transfer with speed limit
Start of a transfer with a speed limit, shown by the orange DT variant. The actual limit comes from the applicable note/rules.
Neutralisation transfer allotted time
The prescribed time allowance. Use the value in your roadbook.
Waiting for restart
Waiting/admission line before restart.
Stop for restart
Stop at restart line and wait for signal.
Fuel zone authorised categories
A refuelling zone for the categories shown. Check the event’s eligibility rules.
Time control
Check in at the assigned time using the event’s procedure.
Assistance service
Service/assistance zone.
Tyre marking zone
Tyre marking/check zone.
End zone
End of control zone.
Abbreviations
Vegetation
Left and right
Left and right of the indicated feature. Read with the diagram.
Right and left
Right and left of the indicated feature. Read with the diagram.
On left
On right
Keep left
Keep right
Keep straight
Less visible
Reduced visibility.
More/less visible
Visibility varies.
Alternance
During
In into
And next
Then: the following instruction.
At
At the named feature or point.
Stone stony
Narrow
A narrowing route or feature.
Quit leave
Leave the indicated track or feature.
Always
Many
Imperative
Collapsed
Ruts abbreviation
Bad
Rejoin
Between
Modification
Opening-crew modification, blue-highlighted.
New note
Opening-crew added note, green-highlighted.
Big
Small
Follow
Stony (EMP)
Stony terrain.

A harder roadbook

Four consecutive rows from a harder forest stage: a speed zone, a landmark ahead and a level-three danger just 284 m beyond FZ.

Generated roadbook row: TOTAL 1.67 km, PARTIAL 0.28 km, CAP 315.Generated roadbook row: TOTAL 1.93 km, PARTIAL 0.27 km.Generated roadbook row: TOTAL 2.41 km, PARTIAL 0.48 km, CAP 308.Generated roadbook row: TOTAL 2.69 km, PARTIAL 0.28 km, CAP 304.
1,67 km · Speed zone
Reach 30 km/h or less before DZ. Take the blue exit on CAP 315. The green distance cell and downward arrow warn of short intervals on both sides of this row.
1,93 km · Tree ahead
The green ET means “then”; the highlighted distance puts the tree about 30 m ahead, on your left. The orange border and circled 30 still set the speed limit. This landmark row has no waypoint badge or number.
2,41 km · End of the limit
FZ and the crossed-out 30 end this speed limit. Continue on CAP 308. The downward arrow warns that the next instruction is less than 300 m away.
2,69 km · Level-three danger
The three exclamation marks and red frame demand attention before arrival. S marks a safety waypoint requiring close passage. Follow CAP 304 through the junction; the black branches are other tracks.
Try a harder roadbook →