Abstract: A process whereby, as a function of the speed and the load of the engine, at least two operating zones are determined, namely a critical zone and a noncritical zone and, in case of detection of pinging in the critical zone, the ignition advance generated during at least one of the following engine strokes is delayed. More precisely, in response to the detection of pinging of a cylinder in the critical zone, the ignition advance of the cylinder is delayed by n.sub.1 +n.sub.2 degrees in relation to the programmed law of advance and the return to the programmed advance of said cylinder is controlled at a fast rate of return and a slow rate of return by decrement of n.sub.1 at a high speed and of n.sub.2 at a slow speed respectively and, in the presence of a fast rate and/or slow rate correction during a passage from the critical zone to the noncritical zone, the fast rate of return correction is cancelled, the slow rate state is stored, and the advance correction and the decrement of n.sub.