What is a road rally or trial?

In short, a road rally is an event intended primarily to test the skill of the crew and the reliability of the vehicle consisting mainly of road sections and transport sections and a trial is an event intended primarily to test the navigation skills of the crew, consisting of transport sections, navigation sections, average speed sections and/or road sections.

Both event types are designed to be run on open public roads, in compliance with all road laws and regulations, in a normal road car that need not undergo any special preparation beyond the usual road worthiness requirements.

Both a full description and the relevant regulations pertaining to these events are available in the on-line manual available through the CAMS site under 'National Rally Code' and 'Touring Road Event Regulations'.