Backseat Rally Keyboard Controls, Tutorial and Driving Basics

Driving and menu shortcuts

In the Play menu, Drive brings out a car, Continue closes the menu and resumes driving your current car, and Free Roam lets you walk around. For handling options and assists, see driving settings.

Recovery keys depend on the current state

Use the HUD label to distinguish checkpoint recovery from returning to the start. The recovery section explains which action fits each situation.

When Driver Basics appears, complete the input shown at the bottom of the screen:

1. Accelerate: Hold W until the progress bar fills and W turns green.
2. Steer: Complete both A and D inputs. Watch for both directions to register as completed before moving on.
3. Brake: Hold S when the prompt says HOLD S TO CONTINUE.
4. Handbrake: Press Space when the prompt says PRESS SPACE TO CONTINUE.

If the tutorial stays on Brake, keep following its S input requirement. Driving farther or passing another checkpoint does not replace that input. Likewise, respond to the Space prompt when the Handbrake lesson appears.

1. Hold S until the car stops.
2. Keep holding S to reverse away from the obstacle.
3. Release S once you have enough room to reposition, then steer and use W to move forward.

Reverse when you only need a small adjustment, such as backing away from something blocking the front of the car. If you need to return to the route or begin again, use the checkpoint or restart options.

To initiate a drift, press Space while steering into a turn. For a hairpin, prepare before you reach the tightest part of the corner:

1. Look ahead at the bend direction and listen to your co-driver's call.
2. Brake early with S to slow the car before the hairpin.
3. Steer into the bend with A or D, then use Space to help rotate the car through it.

On Alpine Pass, the mountain road leads into snowy sections with tight bends. Give yourself room to slow down before turning, especially when a sharp-turn cue appears. A HARD left arrow calls for a sharp left turn; use that warning to prepare your braking and steering. The co-driver guide explains direction and severity calls, while the stage guide covers the routes.

Choose based on where you want the car to go:

• Continue from a checkpoint: During a timed stage, press R when it is labeled Last checkpoint. Use this when you need to recover to the route and continue the attempt.
• Begin the stage again: Hold Backspace for Restart: start box. Choose this when you want a fresh attempt from the start.
• Return after missing the start box: Before the run, press R when MISSED THE START BOX and Back to the box appear. Holding Backspace is also available when labeled To the start box.

To start again, move into the marked box and use S to stop. STOP IN THE START BOX means you need to park inside it; BRAKE TO A STOP means you still need to stop moving. When START STAGE appears, press Enter. If the panel already shows STARTING IN, wait through the countdown for the green GO signal.

For the full start sequence and multiplayer options, see starting a stage and configuring races.