Welcome to the world of rally co-driving. Don't be fooled, the right seat in a rally car is every bit as hard as the left if not harder. Co-drivers are responsible for managing everything that happens in the car including navigating to the competitive stages through the road sections or "transits" and reciting navigational instructions on the competitive course. Some co-drivers also prepare an itinerary and schedule for getting to the rally and through the rally weekend called a Movement Plan. Not only would the team be completely lost without the co-driver but the driver would never be able to memorize the thousands of corners and would surely make a mistake without the co-drivers invaluable instructions.
The most commonly known part of the co-drivers job is what he or she does on the competitive stages. As a co-driver, you're responsible for reciting a series of directions in one of many formats to help guide the driver through the course. These instructions can be in one of the following formats:
A.- Route Book: Contains important information such as junctions and hazards, doesnt describe every corner. Used for transits between stages and for beginners.
B.- Stage Notes: Computer-generated notes that describe each corner and many details of the course. These are available in US rally for purchase at most events.
C.- Pace Notes: These are the most descriptive notes that the driver and co-driver make together when they see the roads they'll be competing on. These are standard in international rallying and the World Rally Championship. To see how descriptive and incredible these custom-made instructions can be, check out the video to the left.
A.- Route Book: Contains important information such as junctions and hazards, doesnt describe every corner. Used for transits between stages and for beginners.
B.- Stage Notes: Computer-generated notes that describe each corner and many details of the course. These are available in US rally for purchase at most events.
C.- Pace Notes: These are the most descriptive notes that the driver and co-driver make together when they see the roads they'll be competing on. These are standard in international rallying and the World Rally Championship. To see how descriptive and incredible these custom-made instructions can be, check out the video to the left.
