This is a contest of precision, not a race. If you are late at one control, you can not make up for it by being early at the next. The score for each leg is separate. And, just as in golf, it takes practice to get very good scores. Regardless of whether you get very good scores, or just scores, rallying is a lot of fun if you like to spend time in your car, see some scenery and spend time with congenial people.
Rallies usually end at a location where munchies and beverages are available.
You can join the rest of the crowd in discussing how the event went and how you did, while waiting for the final scores to be calculated and trophies to be awarded. A typical national tour rally with a minumum of 24 controls is won with less than one point per control average. Here the contest is more mental.