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Recognition guides on this site have been created for purpose of helping fans to tell apart different versions of the cars. It is assumed that make and model is already known and question remains about the version or evolution of the given car.
Note that for works cars paint schemes, competition numbers, crew names and event stickers present the easiest way of identification. Those are not covered in recognition guides since variations are too numerous and besides, it is relatively easy to compare to pictures readily available in the internet. For tips see next chapter.
For privateer cars matter is slightly more complicated as there are less photographs available for necessary comparison and pictures often are not of as high quality.
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As stated above, there are many undirect ways to deduct driver and car. Some tips follow.
Competition number
In modern times this is the best tip since competition numbers, in most cases, have been the same for all year plus that with competition number you can always check from entry list if you know the event in question. Take care however because in some rallies there have been one-off entries for visiting drivers though competition number has remained the same (for example Marcus Gronholm in number Two Mitsubishi Lancer, Portugal 1999 in place of Freddy Loix). Also, third drivers have had fixed competition number even if driver changed between events (for example in 2002-2003 seasons). And in the old times when competition number was dependent on result in the event of the previous edition, last year's winner having number one and so on.
Event stickers
Another great recognition aid, in modern times every event has a title sponsor whose name is visible on top of the competition number. For some long-standing sponsors this is a easily distinguishable logo, for example Lineltex in Monte Carlo or Neste in Finland.
Paint schemes
This is a bit more difficult because not all cars of the team always had the same paint scheme, good example of this being Ford's two cars in 2004, both having different scheme. On the other hand, that is also an opportunity to distinguish between two drivers of the same team. And if car is easy to recognize, paint scheme can help to place the date of a picture, like with Marlboro. Pre-1999 Mitsubishi was painted in factory colors, between 1999 and 2002 in Marlboro red and white after which Marlboro switched to Peugeot.
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Gronholm replaced Loix in 1999 Portugal, competition number two being not a good clue here.
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Sainz at Monte Carlo 1998, Lineltex being the long-standing sponsor of the event.
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Ford 2004 paint scheme, different for each cars.
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