Andrew Bargery - Rally Co-Driver

Introduction | Basic Co-Driving | More Advanced | Paperwork | Tips

Introduction

This guide is not intended to provide a complete course in co-driving - there are already several excellent books that cover this (see "Further Reading" for more details). Rather, this guide is intended to cover some of the essential topics, together with a large number of "Top Tips" and samples of paper work, check lists etc.

Being a good co-driver is 95% experience (and, by all accounts, 5% insanity). While there is no substitute for actually competing on events, it will still take a long time before you become expert in all areas of being a co-driver.

Therefore, if you are serious about your co-driving, you need to find other ways to gain experience. Talking to other co-drivers is obviously one of the best ways. Also, you can learn many of the skills by competing on local "12 car" events or marshalling, time-keeping or even just spectating on other rallies. And other course this guide and others like it should be useful.

Although many of the rules and duties of a co-driver are clear-cut, a lot of the co-driver’s art is very personal and you may frequently find that different people will offer you conflicting advice. Sometimes you just have to try different things and find what works for you. Keep an open mind and remember that even the very best World Championship co-drivers (particularly the very best World Championship co-drivers) are always trying new ideas and learning new things.

Andrew Bargery / Stella Boyles

(c) February 1999

Introduction

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