A shakedown is a short special stage, usually a few kilometres long, that crews drive at full speed before the rally itself begins. It’s held on the Thursday of a rally week, after the recce, when crews drive the stages slowly to write their pace notes, and before the first competitive stage.

The purpose is in the name: crews “shake down” the car to make sure everything works. They test suspension settings, differentials, tyres and, just as importantly, their pace notes. It’s the only time before the rally that a driver can push the car at competition speed on the type of road they’ll face over the weekend.

Crucially, the shakedown doesn’t count towards the result. No points are awarded and the times don’t affect the classification. They’re published, so fans and media can see who’s quick, but a fast shakedown doesn’t guarantee anything once the rally starts.

Where the shakedown fits in rally week

A typical WRC event follows the same rhythm. Early in the week, crews do the recce, driving each stage twice at low speed to write and check their pace notes. On Thursday morning comes the shakedown. Many rallies then hold a ceremonial start or a short opening stage on Thursday evening, often a spectator-friendly “super special” in or near a town. The main competition runs from Friday to Sunday, finishing with the Power Stage.

The shakedown is usually run on a stage chosen to be representative of the rally’s roads, so the feedback is relevant. It’s also a popular spot for fans, because it’s the first chance to see the cars at full speed and it’s often close to the service park.

Circuit racing and rallying prepare in very different ways, because the challenge is different. An F1 driver races on the same short lap dozens of times, so practice is about learning that lap and refining the car over many runs. A rally driver faces hundreds of kilometres of road that changes every few hundred metres, and they only see most of it at competition speed once.

That’s why you won’t find “long-run pace” data in rallying. There are no race stints to simulate. Instead, the real preparation happens during the recce, when crews drive every stage twice at restricted speed to build their pace notes. The shakedown is the final check that those notes, and the car, are right.

There was a period when rallying experimented with a qualifying element. For a few seasons, the leading drivers ran a separate qualifying stage alongside the shakedown, and the fastest could choose their starting position for the first full day. The idea was to reward speed and ease the disadvantage of running first on the road, but it added complexity and was eventually dropped.

There’s also no qualifying in the modern WRC. The running order on the first full day is set by the championship standings, with the leader going first. We explain why that matters on gravel in our guide to WRC strategy, tyres and tactics.

Although it doesn’t score points, the shakedown is where many rallies are quietly won or lost. A car that feels wrong on Thursday can be adjusted before the rally starts. A car that feels right gives a driver the confidence to attack from the first stage.

Teams typically use the runs to compare set-up options: a softer or stiffer suspension, different differential settings, or how the car reacts on the tyres they plan to use. Drivers check that their pace notes match the road, since a single wrong call on a fast stage can end a rally. For drivers returning to an event after a year away, it’s a vital chance to recalibrate.

Tyres are another focus. Rally1 cars run on hard and soft gravel compounds, and teams have a limited allocation for the weekend. The shakedown gives drivers a feel for how each compound behaves on the day’s surface and temperature, which helps them decide what to fit for Friday’s first loop. On a rough rally like Sardinia, choosing the wrong tyre can mean punctures or heavy wear.

What shakedown times can tell you

Times give a rough guide to who feels comfortable, but they need careful reading. Some drivers push hard to build confidence, while others hold back to protect the car or avoid showing their hand. Road conditions change as more cars pass, and teams run different fuel loads and tyre choices. A driver who is fastest on shakedown and fastest on the first stage is a real warning sign. A driver who is fastest on shakedown and then struggles is more common than you’d think.

Common shakedown myths

“The fastest shakedown driver is the favourite.” Not necessarily. Shakedown stages are short and often unrepresentative of the longest, fastest stages of the weekend, and drivers run with different aims.

“A slow shakedown means trouble.” Sometimes it just means a driver was testing a set-up they won’t use, or backing off in the final run to avoid risk. Experienced drivers rarely chase a shakedown time.

“Nothing happens at shakedown.” Occasionally it’s dramatic. Crashes at shakedown have ended rallies before they started, which is why drivers balance speed against risk even in a session that doesn’t count.

The FIA updated the WRC sporting regulations for 2026, and several changes affect the shakedown and the wider rally week:

It’s worth remembering that the shakedown isn’t just for the Rally1 stars. Crews in WRC2 and the other support categories, many of them privateers or young drivers on tight budgets, use the same stage. For them, the shakedown is often the only full-speed running they’ll get before the rally, and making the most of two passes takes discipline: one run to check the car, and one to confirm any change.

For the factory teams, the shakedown is also a data exercise. The cars carry sensors that record suspension movement, temperatures and driver inputs, and engineers compare the numbers with what the driver reports. When the data and the driver’s feeling match, the team can commit to a set-up with confidence for the long Friday loop.

The two-pass limit for non-priority crews saves cost and time for smaller teams and privateers, and keeps the schedule manageable. The Rally1 priority crews usually complete several runs within the shakedown window to compare set-ups.

The mandatory rest rules are aimed at crew welfare after long days in recent seasons, and the shorter midday service means teams have less time to fix problems during the day. That makes getting the set-up right on Thursday even more important. For how the governing body sets these rules, see our explainer on what the FIA is.

The season finale is based on the seafront in Alghero. The organisers’ published itinerary runs from Thursday’s shakedown to Sunday’s Power Stage, with just over 300 kilometres of competitive gravel across 17 stages.

Sardinia is known for its narrow, twisty gravel roads lined with rocks and bushes. The surface is sandy on top with hard, rocky ground underneath, which means the road cleans up as more cars pass but also cuts up and throws out stones in the second pass. Heat is common in early October, and it adds to the strain on tyres, brakes and crews. It’s one of the most punishing rallies on the calendar for cars and one of the least forgiving for drivers.

Friday and Saturday are the long days, with more than 120 competitive kilometres each and midday service back in Alghero. Saturday includes the new Solorché stage near Pattada, which no crew has competed on before, so pace notes from the recce will matter even more there. Sunday is shorter but decisive: the Osilo–Tergu stage has a notably abrasive surface, and the final run through Sassari–Argentiera is the Power Stage, with bonus points for the fastest five.

With Evans, Pajari and Solberg separated by 21 points, each will approach Thursday differently. Evans, who only needs a solid result, may use the shakedown mainly to confirm a safe, predictable set-up. Pajari and Solberg need a big weekend, so they may push harder to find extra pace.

Toyota’s approach will be interesting. The team has already won the manufacturers’ title, and all three contenders drive its GR Yaris Rally1. Engineers will want each car to be as good as possible, but the drivers will also be aware that they are, in effect, racing each other. How openly the three share set-up information on Thursday is one of the quieter questions of the weekend.

Look for three things. First, how close the three Toyotas are to each other: if one is clearly quicker, that’s worth noting. Second, whether anyone is still changing the car between runs, which can be a sign they aren’t happy. Third, the non-contenders: Sébastien Ogier, Adrien Fourmaux and Thierry Neuville could all spoil the title fight by winning stages and taking points. Our Thierry Neuville profile and WRC power rankings have more on the drivers.

How to follow the shakedown

Shakedown times appear on the WRC’s live timing, and the session is usually shown on the WRC+ streaming service along with the rest of the rally. Team social channels often post onboard clips and quick driver reactions afterwards. Because the times are unofficial, the best way to read them is alongside what drivers say: comments like “the car feels good” or “we still have work to do” often tell you more than the stopwatch.

Road position also shapes what the shakedown can tell you. On Friday, Evans will run first as championship leader and sweep loose gravel off the road for those behind. A strong shakedown won’t change that disadvantage. The real test will come on Friday morning’s opening loop.