This Is How Rally Racers Navigate Through the Desert

Added: 2026-06-07

[00:00:00]This guy is updating his navigation system. But instead of downloading an app, he's loading a long roll of paper.

[00:00:05]See, rally racing is different from regular racing. It's not just about speed. It's about finding your way through thousands of miles of desert, mountains, and unknown terrain. That paper is called a road book, and it's the only navigation tool allowed. GPS is actually banned in rally racing. Why?

[00:00:21]Because it would make it too easy. The road book is filled with symbols called tulip diagrams that show exactly where to turn using just drawings and distances. Riders scroll through it with a thumb switch while flying over dunes at 80 mph.