Pretty much every rally highlight video in existence includes some hero pinning it over a crest, engine bouncing off the rev limiter, all four wheels spinning through the atmosphere. It doesn’t get much more dramatic than jumping a car, but as Team O’Neil explains in this 6-minute video, there’s a bit more to it than planting your foot and death-gripping the steering wheel.

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First and foremost, it has to be said - if you’re interested in trying any of this for yourself, don’t be an idiot about it. Make sure you do it in a safe, controlled environment.

Okay, onto the lesson! Rally racing is hugely complex, and that extends to a proper car jump, but Team O’Neil does a good job summing up the basics. The video starts off with how the car will behave in the air, and the best strategies to keep the nose from digging into the ground.

The video also talks about what to expect in terms of the mechanical bits under the skin. If you’re lucky enough to have a bonafide race car at your disposal, then odds are you got nothing to worry about.

Finally, the vid talks about taking a jump around a corner, which is even more complicated.

All told, this video is far from in-depth, but it does provide a good baseline on the subject. And, of course, you gotta love all those glory shots of flying rally cars!

Further Reading

Team O’Neil Rally School Explains Early, Traditional, and Late Apexes: Video

Team O’Neil Rally School Gives a Brief Lesson on How To Execute a Pendulum Turn: Video

Read our full review on the 2018 Subaru WRX STI.