diff --git a/include/g_local.h b/include/g_local.h
index bddd24b0..1b3ae894 100644
--- a/include/g_local.h
+++ b/include/g_local.h
@@ -974,6 +974,7 @@ typedef struct race_stats_score_s
 qbool isRACE(void);
 void apply_race_settings(void);
 void ToggleRace(void);
+void RaceCountdownChange(float t);
 void StartDemoRecord();
 
 qbool race_weapon_allowed(gedict_t *p);
diff --git a/src/commands.c b/src/commands.c
index fca233a2..7df3c715 100644
--- a/src/commands.c
+++ b/src/commands.c
@@ -607,6 +607,8 @@ const char CD_NODESC[] = "no desc";
 #define CD_PAUSE			"toggle pause"
 // { RACE
 #define CD_RACE				"toggle race mode"
+#define	CD_R_COUNTDOWN_UP		"+1 sec race cowntdown time"
+#define	CD_R_COUNTDOWN_DOWN		"-1 sec race cowntdown time"
 #define CD_R_SSET			"set race start checkpoint"
 #define CD_R_CSET			"set race checkpoint"
 #define CD_R_ESET			"set race end checkpoint"
@@ -679,6 +681,8 @@ void redirect();
 cmd_t cmds[] =
 {
 	{ "race", 						ToggleRace, 					0, 			CF_PLAYER | CF_SPC_ADMIN, 												CD_RACE },
+	{ "race_countdown_up",					DEF(RaceCountdownChange),			1,			CF_PLAYER | CF_SPC_ADMIN,												CD_R_COUNTDOWN_UP},
+	{ "race_countdown_down",				DEF(RaceCountdownChange),			-1,			CF_PLAYER | CF_SPC_ADMIN,												CD_R_COUNTDOWN_DOWN},
 	{ "cm", 						SelectMap, 						0, 			CF_BOTH | CF_MATCHLESS | CF_NOALIAS, 									CD_NODESC },
 	{ "mapslist_dl", 				mapslist_dl, 					0, 			CF_BOTH | CF_MATCHLESS | CF_PARAMS | CF_NOALIAS | CF_CONNECTION_FLOOD, 	CD_MAPSLIST_DL },
 	{ "cmdslist_dl", 				cmdslist_dl, 					0, 			CF_BOTH | CF_MATCHLESS | CF_PARAMS | CF_NOALIAS | CF_CONNECTION_FLOOD, 	CD_CMDSLIST_DL },
diff --git a/src/race.c b/src/race.c
index 8d2d2df1..d1c12daa 100644
--- a/src/race.c
+++ b/src/race.c
@@ -271,6 +271,24 @@ void ToggleRace(void)
 	apply_race_settings();
 }
 
+void RaceCountdownChange(float t)
+{
+	float rcd = cvar("k_race_countdown") + t;
+
+	if (match_in_progress || !isRACE() || race_is_started())
+        {
+		return;
+	}
+
+	if ((rcd < 6) && (rcd > 0))
+	{
+		cvar_fset("k_race_countdown", (int)rcd);
+		G_bprint(2, "%s %s %s\n", redtext("Race countdown length set to"), dig3(rcd), redtext("seconds"));
+		return;
+	}
+	G_sprint(self, 2, "%s still %s\n", redtext("race countdown"), dig3(rcd - t));
+}
+
 // hard coded default settings for RACE
 static char race_settings[] =
 	"sv_silentrecord 1\n"
@@ -2039,7 +2057,7 @@ static void race_start(qbool cancelrecord, const char *fmt, ...)
 	race.status = raceCD;
 
 	// set countdown timer
-	race.cd_cnt = 3;
+	race.cd_cnt = cvar("k_race_countdown");
 
 	race.cd_next_think = g_globalvars.time;
 
diff --git a/src/world.c b/src/world.c
index 841d86a5..afb17908 100644
--- a/src/world.c
+++ b/src/world.c
@@ -896,6 +896,7 @@ void FirstFrame()
 // }
 // { race
 	RegisterCvarEx("k_race", "0");
+	RegisterCvarEx("k_race_countdown", "2");
 	RegisterCvarEx("k_race_custom_models", "0");
 	RegisterCvarEx("k_race_autorecord", "1");
 	RegisterCvarEx("k_race_times_per_port", "0");