Rally HQ, nerve centre of the Rallye

Under the responsibility of Sport Director Ludovic Taché, the Rallye HQ truck hums with radio calls all day long and is overflowing with cables, control screens, computers, walkie-talkies and 100:000 scale maps.

4 surveillance operators, including a doctor, take turns operating the system 24/7. More than just a simple communication channel, Rally HQ is where all problems and issues related to running the competition converge. Problems that arise throughout the day and which must be dealt with in real time. Problems that tend to accumulate at the end of the day. Surveillance and tracking of all teams, positioning of medical and mechanical assistance teams across the terrain, opening and closing of checkpoints, deployment of radio relays to follow the progress of the leg….

The Rallye HQ operates with military precision. It is a saint-Bernard dispatching assistance for the Gazelles, a judge imposing penalties and settling disputes, and an indispensable intermediary for the 25 media vehicles carrying journalists, photographers, cameramen, communicators and guests.

“Media 5 to HQ, please indicate the position of Team such-and-such? HQ to Media 5, Team such-and-such is approaching checkpoint 2 alpha bravo delta. HQ to alpha tango 3, check your antenna, we’re not receiving you clearly…” Rallye HQ has its own language and the odd cult movie quotes to lighten the mood during the rare calm periods during the day.