How Cross-Country Rallies Use a Prologue to Set the Starting Order

Determining the Road Order

Cross-country rally events do not line cars up side by side on a conventional starting grid. Instead, competitors tackle timed desert routes called selective sections at set intervals. Because dust and open terrain make following another vehicle difficult, starting position directly affects visibility and track conditions. Organisers solve this by running a short opening test known as a Prologue to establish the competitive running order for the first full day of racing.

Structure of a Desert Baja

In the buildup to the 2026 Qatar International Baja: 37-car entry lists revealed a typical cross-country structure, where an 11.12-kilometre Prologue preceded two long selective sections totalling 541.24 kilometres. While the main stages test navigation and endurance over hundreds of kilometres, the Prologue functions under the sporting regulations as a brief, high-intensity qualifying run that dictates which crews must open the road.

Championship Scoring Rules

Entry lists in these events also demonstrate how championship points regulations operate. A single entry list often combines multiple concurrent competitions, meaning that not every driver who finishes a stage scores points toward every cup. Crews must specifically register for series such as the FIA World Baja Cup or regional championships, allowing local privateers and international title contenders to race across the same terrain while being classified in separate points tables.

Official reference: FIA’s 2026 Qatar preview.