What is a digital roadbook, and why is it better than paper?
A roadbook is the document that guides the rider through a stage of a rally or raid. Traditionally it's printed on a paper roll, fitted into a mechanical roadbook holder on the handlebars. The rider winds it on with a controller, reading each note as they go.
It works. It has done for decades. But it has real problems any rider knows: printing errors that can't be fixed once the rolls are out, paper that gets wet or torn, holders that fail mid-stage, and no way of updating anything if the route changes last minute.
The digital roadbook sorts all of that. Instead of a paper roll, the rider carries the roadbook on a phone or tablet, mounted in the same spot the paper holder would sit. The advantages are direct:
- Real-time updates. If the organiser spots an error or needs to change the route, they upload a new version and the rider gets it before the start. No reprinting, no handing sheets out.
- No printing errors. The PDF the rider sees is exactly what the organiser prepared. No ink, no cutting, no mounting hassle.
- Scheduled release by stage. The organiser decides when each roadbook goes live — the night before, a specific hour, just like a professional rally.
- Offline download. The rider downloads the roadbook while they have signal and has it for the whole stage, no coverage required.
- No extra hardware. You don't need a mechanical roadbook holder — just a mount for your device.
This isn't digitising for the sake of it. It's cutting out failure points that have been causing problems in real events for years.
How WildTrack's PRO digital roadbook works
WildTrack isn't just a PDF viewer. It's a tool built specifically for roadbook navigation on bikes and 4x4s, with features designed for real race conditions.
Roadbook viewer optimised for tablet
The roadbook is shown in vertical format, tuned for tablets mounted on the bars or dashboard. The interface is built to be read at a glance, with clear typography and high contrast. Zoom, scroll manually or let the system wind it on for you.
Automatic scroll synced to your position
WildTrack syncs the roadbook to the rider's GPS. As you work through the stage, the roadbook winds on to the right note. No controllers, no distractions. You can nudge it back or forward manually whenever you need.
Configurable cockpit with instruments
Alongside the roadbook, the rider has a cockpit with the data that actually matters mid-stage: speed, partial and total distance, heading, time and altitude. Instruments are configurable — show only what's relevant for the stage.
Secure download before the event
Roadbooks are downloaded ahead of the stage while you have signal, then stored on the device. During the race you don't need coverage. The viewer, auto-scroll, instruments and GPS navigation all work offline.
Roadbooks by rider category
The organiser can assign different roadbooks by category. If there are separate routes for bikes and 4x4s, or for amateur and pro categories, each rider automatically gets the right one. No confusion, no distribution slip-ups.
Rally Intelligence™
Rally Intelligence™ is WildTrack's analysis engine. Before the rider heads out, the system reads the full roadbook to pick up likely incidents and points of attention across the stage.
The idea is to give the rider a layer of information the roadbook alone doesn't provide. It doesn't replace reading the roadbook or the rider's own navigation — it adds useful context so you can prep the stage with more judgement.
Rally Intelligence™ is built into WildTrack. It needs no configuration from the rider or the organiser. It runs automatically on any roadbook uploaded to the system.
Real-time rider tracking
One of the biggest operational headaches in a rally is knowing where each rider is at any given moment. With a paper roadbook, the organiser only has visibility at control points. In between, they've no idea whether a rider has stopped, retired or needs help.
WildTrack solves this with built-in GPS tracking. While the rider is navigating on the digital roadbook, their position is sent to the organiser's Control Centre. No extra hardware, no separate tracker. The same phone or tablet showing the roadbook is doing the reporting.
The organiser sees every rider on the map in real time. They can spot situations like:
- Stopped rider. If a rider has been stationary for a while, the system flags it. The organiser can decide whether help is needed.
- Off-route. If a rider strays from the roadbook trace, it shows on the organiser's map.
- Reported incidents. The rider can raise an incident straight from the app, which lands in the Control Centre with their exact position.
Tracking works whenever there's data coverage. In signal-free areas, positions are cached locally and sent as soon as the device reconnects.
Control Centre for organisers
Running a rally means coordinating riders, stages, roadbooks, categories, safety and logistics. WildTrack pulls all of that into a professional management panel that runs in the browser.
The Control Centre lets the organiser:
- Manage stages and categories. Create event stages, assign roadbooks per category, schedule releases and run the full calendar.
- Manage entrants. See the list of registered riders, their categories, whether they've downloaded their roadbooks and where they are during the race.
- Real-time monitoring. Follow every rider on the map through each stage, with status indicators and automatic alerts.
- Handle incidents. Receive and manage rider alerts, coordinate assistance and log what happened.
- Safety tools. Operational alerts for riders stopped, off-route or yet to start. All on one panel.
The Control Centre is designed so a small team can run a full event without juggling tools or spreadsheets. If you organise rallies, raids or timed routes, this is your command post.
You can see the full Control Centre and everything on offer for organisers on the organisers page.
WildTrack vs generic roadbook apps
A handful of apps will show a roadbook in digital form. Most stop at the PDF and little else. WildTrack is built for the operational side of a real rally, with tools for both riders and organisers.
| Feature | WildTrack | Generic apps |
|---|---|---|
| Off-road GPX navigation | Yes | Variable |
| Real-time tracking | Yes | No |
| Weather en route | Yes | No |
| iOS + Android | Yes | Variable |
| No special hardware | Yes | Variable |
| Control Centre for organiser | Yes | No |
The real difference isn't in the roadbook viewer. It's everything around it: tracking, event management, operational safety and the analysis tools. WildTrack isn't just a rider app; it's a full platform for both riders and organisers.
For riders and for organisers
WildTrack is built for both sides of a rally — the one riding and the one running it. Your next step depends on your role.