Chainsaws and sparklers. Discover the traditions of rally fans

The World Rally Championship takes place all over the world. Each round of the championship is beautiful in its own right and unique in some way and the fans add their own special charm to the events. What’s more, cheering styles vary slightly from rally to rally and fans uphold different local traditions. What are they?

21. 7. 2026 Lifestyle

The Giant Jump and Chainsaws

Let’s start right off with a real party—the kind you can experience as a fan at a rally. The Rally of Portugal has been part of the calendar since 1973. The local gravel surface puts the durability of the competitioncars and the courage of their crews to the test. The most iconic spot is the legendary jump on the final stage near the town of Fafe where race cars soar through the air for tens of meters as crowds of fans cheerthem on.

The rally is accompanied not only by huge crowds but also by typical Portuguese snacks sold near the track. And by the revving of chainsaws. It’s a tradition. Fans turn this practical tool for cutting wood into a mechanical vuvuzela that smells of gasoline and oil. For safety reasons, the chainsaws are, of course, without guide bars or chains.

Bengal Fires

The Monte Carlo Rally in January is undoubtedly the most famous rally in the world. Even if you drive here on your own in the summer, the tire tracks left by the race cars will guide you to the summit of Col de Turini, winding between crumbling walls and stone retaining walls that leave no room for error. Just as every F1 driver wants to win the Monaco Grand Prix, every rally driver wants to win in the hills above thePrincipality of Monaco. The footage from the helmet cameras is breathtaking on every stage.

The annual season opener is a celebration for fans and they know how to make it count. The evening practice runs are particularly iconic as fans light flares that burn with intense, colorful flames. Combined with the darkness, snow and sometimes even fog, it looks to the crews as if they’re driving into hell. This creates a unique and intense atmosphere.

Layers of Clothing and Sausages

The Swedish Rally looks like a winter fairy tale. It’s the only event on the calendar that takes place entirely on snow and ice. Even in Monte Carlo, there isn’t snow everywhere. The setup for the rally cars istherefore completely different from that at other races. They must use studded tires and the drivers must muster the courage to navigate between snow barriers. There’s no shortage of long, sweeping drifts and jumps here. All of this takes place in spectacular fashion, with snow flying off the wheels as crowds of fans cheer them on.

For spectators, this rally is unique. The organizers themselves warn fans on their website not to underestimate the need for proper clothing and to remember to wear enough layers. Temperatures can drop as lowas minus 25 degrees Celsius but no one lets the harsh conditions intimidate them and the Swedish rally is one big winter festival filled with the roar of engines. One of the traditions here is grilling Nordic sausagesover an open fire, both in the fan zones and out in the wilderness, in fire pits carved out of the snow.

Jumps and Saunas

Originally known as the 1,000 Lakes Rally, the Finnish Rally is one of the most iconic events of its kind. Race cars here drive at full throttle through the forests on gravel roads featuring a large number ofconsecutive jumps. The Finns truly live and breathe motorsports which is an integral part of their culture. After all, this country has produced several world champions—seven in rally and three in Formula racing.

The locals are warm, enthusiastic and the area is teeming with traditions. For example, fans camp deep in the forests or visit saunas. They bring portable radios tuned to 99.3 FM. That’s where the live commentary takes place which isn’t limited by the weak cell phone signal in the local forests. At the Ouninpohja special stage, they form a massive crowd lining the Yellow House Jump, where approach speeds exceed 150 km/h.