In rally racing, what is the difference between a Special Stage and a Super Special Stage?

Special Stage

This is what you probably imagine when someone says "rally". A special stage is rally's basic element. It takes place on a piece of road or track that's closed to public and ranges from a couple of kilometres to several tens of kilometres in length. The cars enter the stage in a set interval, usually a minute or two, and each run is timed. The total time from all special stages is what decides the result of the rally - obviously, the crew with fastest time wins.

Super Special Stage

In WRC, this is typically the first stage of the rally, held on the very first day of the event, usually Thursday evening. It counts as other special stages, but it takes place on a shorter track, often on a racing circuit or in a city centre, and is designed to be more spectator-friendly, sometimes with the whole course visible from one spot.