RecceLabHow to become a rally co-driver: a complete guide
The co-driver is the other half of every rally crew: navigator, timekeeper, administrator and the voice that reads the pace notes at full speed. It is also one of the most accessible ways into rallying, because you do not need your own car to start. This guide explains what the job involves and how to get your first seat.
What does a rally co-driver do?
A co-driver's work starts long before the stage and ends long after it:
- Before the rally: reading the regulations, handling entries and paperwork, planning the recce and the hotel, preparing notebooks and equipment.
- On recce: writing the pace notes as the driver calls the road, then checking them on the second pass. See how a recce works.
- On road sections: navigating with the road book, calculating target times and checking in at every time control at the right minute.
- On special stages: reading the notes with the right rhythm, keeping track of the position with the trip meter and landmarks, and staying calm when something goes wrong.
- At service: passing information between the crew and the team, watching the clock and keeping the time card safe.
In other words, the driver drives and the co-driver runs everything else. A crew can lose a rally on a stage, but it can lose it just as easily with a mistake on the time card.
Skills a good co-driver needs
- Resistance to motion sickness. Reading while being thrown around a rally car is not for everyone. Try it before you commit.
- A sense of rhythm. The notes must arrive at the right moment: early enough to prepare for, late enough to remember.
- Organisation and precision. Timetables, penalties, paperwork and schedules are the co-driver's responsibility.
- Calm under pressure. After a mistake or a spin, the co-driver's steady voice gets the crew back on track.
- Clear, consistent communication. The same word must always mean the same thing.
- Physical fitness. Long days, heat, cold and heavy braking forces are tiring for the passenger too.
How to get started, step by step
- Learn the language. Study how pace notes work and learn the common terms. Our rally glossary covers the essentials.
- Practise reading. Read notes along with onboard videos until the rhythm feels natural. Many co-drivers practise this way for months before their first event.
- Join a motor club. Local clubs run navigation events, training days and small rallies, and they are where drivers look for co-drivers.
- Volunteer as a marshal or service helper. It is the best way to see how a rally works from the inside and to meet crews.
- Get a licence. Competing requires a competition licence from your national motorsport federation. Requirements such as minimum age, courses and medical checks differ from country to country.
- Buy the safety equipment. See the list below.
- Find a driver. Start with club drivers at a similar level. Many drivers need a co-driver for one event at short notice, so let people know you are available.
- Start small. Shorter national or club events are a better place to learn than a long international rally.
Safety equipment for co-drivers
Crews in stage rallies must wear FIA-approved safety equipment. The exact rules depend on the event and championship, but the core items are:
| Item | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Helmet | FIA-homologated and compatible with your head and neck restraint. Rally helmets usually have an intercom fitted. |
| Frontal head restraint (FHR) | A HANS or similar FIA-approved device. |
| Race suit | FIA-homologated fire-resistant overalls. |
| Underwear, balaclava, socks | FIA-homologated fire-resistant layers. |
| Boots | FIA-homologated boots. |
Check the homologation expiry dates: safety equipment has a limited validity and scrutineers check it. In addition, co-drivers carry their own tools of the trade: notebooks, pencils, a board or clip, and often a stopwatch or rally clock.
A co-driver's rally, from recce to finish
Before the event
Read the supplementary regulations carefully, especially the timetable, recce rules and time control procedures. Calibrate the trip meter to the road book at the first opportunity and prepare clean notebooks for each stage.
On road sections
Every road section has a target time. Arriving early or late at a time control is penalised; under FIA-based rules the penalty is typically counted per minute, and being very late can lead to exclusion. The exact penalties are in each event's regulations. The co-driver calculates when to leave, when to arrive and how much time is left for tyre changes or repairs.
On the stage
Read ahead, keep the rhythm and always know where you are in the notes. If you lose your place, use distances and landmarks to find it again, and tell the driver clearly.
After the stage
Check the time written on the card, note anything that needs changing in the notes for the second pass, and prepare for the next time control.
The driver–co-driver relationship
Trust is everything. The driver must believe every note, and the co-driver must trust the driver to commit to it. Agree the note system, the intercom volume and how you will handle mistakes before the first stage. After each day, review the notes together honestly, without blame.
Common mistakes new co-drivers make
- Reading too late, or so early that the driver forgets the note.
- Losing the place in the notes and not recovering quickly.
- Miscalculating a time control and collecting penalties.
- Writing notes that are too detailed to read at speed.
- Not checking the time card after each control.
- Keeping quiet about motion sickness or tiredness instead of preparing for it.
Train as a co-driver with RecceLab
RecceLab was built with co-drivers in mind. You can write notes on recce with GPS, draft notes from a GPX route, and practise reading them in time with onboard video in the Studio, which is an ideal way to build rhythm before your first rally.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a driving licence to be a co-driver?
Requirements depend on your national federation. Some allow co-drivers to hold a competition licence before they have a road driving licence; others require one. Check with your federation.
Can you become a co-driver without experience?
Yes. Many co-drivers start at club events with no competition experience. Preparation, practice reading notes and a willing driver matter most.
Is co-driving easier than driving?
It is different, not easier. The co-driver has no steering wheel but carries the responsibility for navigation, timing and the notes the driver relies on.
How do I find a driver to co-drive for?
Join a motor club, volunteer at rallies, and let local drivers know you are available. Being well prepared and reliable is the best advertisement.