Why do rally drivers need co drivers?
4 min read
Asked by: Beau Fisher
A co-driver is the navigator of a rally car in the sport of rallying, who sits in the front passenger seat. The co-driver’s job is to navigate, commonly by reading off a set of pacenotes to the driver (what lies ahead, where to turn, the severity of the turn, and what obstacles to look out for).
Do rally drivers need co drivers?
Just like airplane pilots have their copilots, rally drivers have a co-driver sitting right next to them during each race. The codriver’s main job is to read out loud a series of prewritten directions called “pacenotes” that the driver uses to navigate each stage.
Why do rally drivers need co drivers Reddit?
On the absolute surface level, the co driver is there to provide the driver with a picture of what is ahead on stage by means of calling out “pace-notes”. When you have for example a 30km stage, with potentially 100’s of different corners; even the best drivers in the world will struggle to memorise what’s ahead.
Why is there a co-driver?
Co-drivers are also considered the first line of communication in a rally, like if any other cars are broken down on or have gone off the road. They will need to note the car number and mileage of where car is on the stage and communicate that information to the officials at the finish.
Why do rally co drivers say maybe?
In rally racing pacenotes, “maybe”, denoted in the pacenotes with a ?, denotes something that lacks confidence and thus is left to the driver to decide how to deal with.
How much do rally co drivers make?
How much does a Rally Driver make? As of Jun 16, 2022, the average annual pay for a Rally Driver in the United States is $58,144 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $27.95 an hour. This is the equivalent of $1,118/week or $4,845/month.
Who is the best rally driver ever?
The top 10 greatest WRC drivers
- Juha Kankkunen. Titles: 4 (86, 87, 91, 93)
- Tommi Mäkinen. Titles: 4 (96, 97, 98, 99) …
- Carlos Sainz. Titles: 2 (90, 92) …
- Colin McRae. Titles: 1 (95) …
- Marcus Grönholm. Titles: 2 (00,02) …
- Walter Röhrl. Titles: 2 (80,82) …
- Markku Alén. Titles: – …
- Miki Biasion. Titles: 2 (88,89) Wins: 17 (21.7%) …
Do rally drivers memorize the track?
Yes they do. The normal procedure of a rally weekend goes as follows: Friday : Reporting and formalities completed.
Why do rally drivers sit so close?
They sit close to the wheel for comfort reasons, as one is able to use shoulder muscles when sitting that close. In CUP, it’s always comfort over safety.
Do rally drivers listen to music?
In NASCAR, drivers do not listen to music while they drive. The sport of NASCAR is one that requires the absolute focus of every driver involved in a race.
What does don’t cut mean in rally?
If they tell you “don’t cut” when describing a corner, don’t cut. They are warning you that there is potential danger to be found, whether that’s a hidden rock on the inside of the corner, or just a nasty bump that might launch your car into a barrel roll.
How do you read a rally co-driver?
Right. These instructions quite simply tell you which direction the corner that's being described as going. And how tight or open that corner is one means that the corner is really tight.
What do pacenotes mean?
In rallying, pacenotes are a commonly used method of accurately describing a rallying route to be driven in extreme detail. As well as dictating the general route to be taken, in terms of turnings, junctions, etc., all notable features of the route which might affect the way it is driven at speed are included.
What do the rally callouts mean?
1,2,3,4,5,6: The number refers to the severity of a corner ahead. The spectrum goes from 1, referring to a slower, first-gear hairpin, to 6, which refers to a flat-out, sixth-gear sweeper. +, -: Modifiers that adjust the above numbers slightly, giving the driver more detailed information.
Do rally Drivers use handbrake?
Most rally cars use a hydraulic handbrake. The purpose of the handbrake maneuver is to turn a car around a very tight corner by locking up the rear wheels aiding in the rotation of the car around the corner.
