Rallying differs from most other forms of motorsport in that it generally takes place in stages on a point-to-point basis, as opposed to a track or circuit. The races are held on public or private roads and on many different surfaces such as tarmac, gravel, snow and ice. These surfaces and racing conditions have led to the development of a few specific driving techniques such as the 'handbrake turn', 'heal and toe', left foot braking' and 'hill jumping.

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Rallying is a form of motorsport which can be traced back to 1894. It was then that the Paris-Rouen Concours des Voitures sans Chevaux (Horseless Carriage Competition) was first launched. Its popularity lead to other city-to-city road rallies being staged in France and spread to other European countries. Other famous races of this era included Paris-Bordeaux-Paris and Paris-Madrid.

Perhaps the most famous rally of all is the Monte Carlo Rally, which was first run in 1911. Since 1973, the race has traditionally been held every January as the first race in the FIA World Rally Championship.