Track List & Layouts

Mastering Dirt Rally 2.0 requires an intimate understanding of each rally location and its various track layouts. This section provides a comprehensive breakdown of each country, highlighting key characteristics, challenging sections, and strategic tips to shave precious seconds off your stage times.

Argentina: Minas Capillitas

Argentina's stages are characterized by their loose gravel, narrow paths, and frequent elevation changes. The surface offers good grip in dry conditions but becomes incredibly slick when wet. Expect many blind crests and tight hairpins. Your co-driver's calls are paramount here.

Las Juntas: A fast, flowing stage with several medium-speed corners. Focus on maintaining momentum through the sweeping turns. Watch out for the deceptive off-camber right-handers after the long straights.
El Rodeo: This layout features more technical sections, including a series of tight switchbacks and rocky outcrops. Precision braking and throttle control are crucial. Be wary of the large rocks on the inside of corners; clipping them can end your run.
Miraflores: Known for its dramatic elevation changes and challenging jumps. Approach crests with caution, especially if they lead directly into a corner. A slight lift off the throttle before a jump can help settle the car on landing.
Valle Grande: A balanced stage combining fast sections with technical, twisty stretches. The latter half includes a tricky sequence of tight left-right combinations through a forested area. Look for opportunities to cut corners where safe, but avoid the deep ruts.

Strategy Tip: For Argentina, a car with good suspension travel and responsive steering is ideal. Consider a softer suspension setup to absorb the bumps and maintain traction on the loose surfaces. Practice using the handbrake for tighter hairpins to pivot the car quickly.

Australia: New England

The Australian stages are a high-speed affair, featuring hard-packed dirt roads, iconic "jumps" (often referred to as crests), and dense eucalyptus forests. The surface provides excellent grip, but the trees lining the roads leave little room for error.

Mount Kaye Pass: A blisteringly fast stage with long straights and sweeping, high-speed corners. Focus on smooth steering inputs and precise braking points. The "Kaye Jump" midway through requires careful throttle control to avoid overshooting the landing.
Chandler Creek: This layout introduces more technical sections with tighter turns and a few water splashes. The water can momentarily reduce grip, so anticipate this effect. The final sector has a series of fast chicanes that demand quick reflexes.
Taylor Farm Sprint: A shorter, more intense sprint stage. It's a mix of fast sections and sudden, sharp turns. Mastering the rhythm of the quick left-right transitions is key to a good time.
Rollercoaster: True to its name, this stage is a thrilling ride of undulating terrain and blind crests. The challenge lies in trusting your co-driver and committing to corners you can't see the exit of. Lift off the throttle slightly before crests to keep the car stable.

Strategy Tip: Australian stages reward aggressive driving but punish mistakes severely. A car with good top speed and stable handling at high speeds is recommended. Harder suspension settings can help maintain stability over jumps and through fast corners, but be mindful of how this affects grip on the few looser sections.

New Zealand: Hawke's Bay

New Zealand offers incredibly fast, flowing gravel roads, often lined by steep embankments and lush greenery. The surface is generally hard-packed, providing excellent grip, but the narrowness of the roads and the sheer speed make it a high-risk, high-reward location.

Waimarama Point: A classic New Zealand stage with long, sweeping corners and exhilarating crests. Maintaining a high average speed is crucial. Look for opportunities to cut corners where the co-driver indicates "don't cut" or "cut small" to gain an advantage.
Te Awanga Sprint: A shorter, more intense stage with a focus on quick transitions between fast and medium-speed corners. The gravel surface can be quite loose in places, so be prepared for some sliding.
Ocean Beach Sprint: This layout features more open sections, allowing for higher top speeds. However, it also includes some tricky off-camber corners that can catch you out if you carry too much speed.
Motu Road: Considered one of the most challenging stages in New Zealand, Motu Road is long, technical, and features numerous blind crests leading into corners. Trusting your pace notes and precise car placement are paramount.

Strategy Tip: For New Zealand, prioritize a car with excellent acceleration and stable handling at high speeds. A slightly stiffer suspension setup can be beneficial for maintaining control through the fast, flowing sections. Focus on smooth steering and throttle inputs to avoid unsettling the car on the high-grip surface.

Spain: Ribadelles

Spain's rally stages are unique, featuring smooth, high-grip tarmac roads that demand precision and a different driving style compared to gravel. The narrow, winding roads through vineyards and villages offer little margin for error, and the surface can become treacherous in wet conditions.

Comptat: A fast tarmac stage with a mix of medium and high-speed corners. Braking points are critical here, as is maintaining a clean racing line. Watch out for the occasional gravel patches on the outside of corners, especially after cuts.
Montes del Cid: This layout features more technical sections with tighter hairpins and chicanes. Mastering trail braking is essential to carry speed through these complex sequences. The co-driver's calls for "tightens" are particularly important.
Camino de la Costa: A scenic but challenging stage with long, flowing sections interspersed with sudden, sharp turns. The road surface can vary, with some older tarmac sections offering less grip.
Centenera: This stage is known for its elevation changes and a series of fast, sweeping corners that demand absolute commitment. The final sector includes a tricky downhill section with multiple tight turns.

Strategy Tip: For Spain, a car with excellent braking performance and precise steering is paramount. A stiff suspension setup is generally preferred for tarmac to minimize body roll and maximize grip. Focus on smooth, consistent lines and avoid aggressive steering inputs that can break traction. In wet conditions, adjust your braking points significantly and be gentler with the throttle to prevent wheelspin.

USA: New England

The USA stages in New England present a unique challenge with their mixed surfaces: a combination of loose gravel, hard-packed dirt, and occasional tarmac sections. Expect tight, technical forest roads, blind crests, and plenty of opportunities to cut corners.

Fuller Mountain: A fast and flowing stage with a good mix of hard-packed dirt and loose gravel. The key here is to adapt quickly to the changing grip levels. There are several blind crests that lead directly into corners, making co-driver calls crucial.
North Fork Pass: This layout features more technical sections, including tight hairpins and narrow passages through dense trees. Precision is key to avoiding impact with the unforgiving environment. Look for opportunities to cut corners where indicated by your co-driver.
Hancock Hill: A shorter, sprint-focused stage that demands aggressive driving. It's a rapid succession of medium-speed corners and short straights. Maintaining momentum is vital for a strong time.
Wicklow Lake: This stage is characterized by its undulating terrain and a few tricky water splashes. The water can significantly reduce grip, so be prepared to adjust your braking and throttle inputs. The final sector has a series of fast, sweeping turns.

Strategy Tip: For the USA, a versatile car with good all-around performance is recommended. A medium suspension setup can provide a good balance between absorbing bumps on loose gravel and maintaining stability on harder surfaces. Pay close attention to your co-driver's surface calls and adjust your driving style accordingly.

Poland: Jämsä

Poland's stages are incredibly fast, featuring wide, flowing gravel roads that allow for sustained high speeds. The surface is generally hard-packed, offering good grip, but the numerous crests and jumps demand precise car control and bravery.

Czarny Las: A high-speed stage with long straights and sweeping corners. The challenge lies in maintaining maximum speed through the fast sections while accurately judging braking points for the occasional tighter turns.
Zagorze: This layout introduces more technical elements, including a series of fast chicanes and some tighter sections through forested areas. Precision steering and quick reflexes are essential.
Kopna Góra: Known for its numerous jumps and crests. Mastering the art of "floating" over these without losing control is key. A slight lift off the throttle before a jump can help settle the car on landing.
Biale Błota: A balanced stage combining fast, open sections with more technical, twisty stretches. The latter half includes a challenging sequence of medium-speed corners that require careful throttle modulation.

Strategy Tip: Poland rewards aggressive, high-speed driving. A car with excellent top speed and stable handling over jumps is ideal. A slightly stiffer suspension can help maintain stability, but ensure it's not so stiff that it compromises grip on the few looser sections. Trust your co-driver's jump calls implicitly.