Co-driver tips for regularity rallies

As a co-driver you are navigator, timekeeper and the calm voice in the car all at once. Good co-drivers prepare thoroughly, make clear calls early and keep the cockpit tidy. These tips will help you stay on top of things, even on the third test of the day.

Before the rally: half the battle

Most mistakes happen before you ever reach the route. As co-driver, give yourself time with the paperwork.

• Read the regulations. What controls are there? How is timing done? What equipment is allowed?
• Go through the roadbook. As soon as you have the roadbook, read it once from cover to cover.
• Highlight. Use fixed colours: one for tests, one for time controls, one for speed changes.
• Work out target times in advance. Anything you calculate beforehand is one less sum on the road. The average speed calculator saves time here.
• Plan for calibration. Without a clean calibration, no distance will match. See How to calibrate your odometer.

A tidy cockpit

In a moving car you will only find what has a fixed place. Set everything up before the start.

Item	Why
Clipboard or roadbook holder	Roadbook stays put, even in bends
Pencil, eraser, highlighter	Notes, corrections, marks
Second stopwatch	Backup if the main one fails
Reading light	Night sections and tunnels
Clear sleeve for the time card	Protection from rain and coffee
Charging cable and mount	Phone secure and charged
Water and a small snack	Focus that lasts all day

Sync every clock with the official time before the start. A watch that is ten seconds out turns every time control into a gamble.

Clear calls to your driver

Teamwork in the car matters more than any gadget. Agree on the basics beforehand.

• Fixed words. Agree on terms for directions and distances. "Right" always means right, not "over there somewhere".
• Call early. "Right in 300 metres" gives the driver time. "Right, now!" does not.
• Keep it short. Direction and distance are enough. Explanations can wait for the road section.
• Correct pace calmly. "Two seconds early, ease off a little" works better than panic.
• Admit doubt. Say "not sure, slow down" rather than taking the wrong turn.

Many crews call out how they stand against target at regular intervals during a test. A fixed rhythm, say at every roadbook point, helps the driver keep an even pace.

During the test

This is where you juggle distance and time.

• Read ahead. Always keep the next point and the one after in view. Whether it is a tulip diagram, Chinese signs or a herringbone, call the next instruction before you reach it.
• Hold the average. At clear landmarks, check whether you are early or late. An average speed table gives you target times for set distances.
• Think about secret checks. A secret check can be anywhere. Drive evenly instead of catching up at the end.
• Do not miss speed changes. Mark them in the roadbook so you cannot overlook them.

When you take a wrong turn

It happens to everyone. What matters is what you do next.

1. Stay calm. Panic costs more time than the mistake.
2. Stop somewhere safe. Normal traffic rules still apply on a rally.
3. Find the last known point. Where did the roadbook last match?
4. Get back on the route. Losing time beats missing a control. A missing stamp often costs more than being late.
5. Let it go. The next test counts just as much. Do not carry the mistake with you.

For longer detours, solid map reading helps. A road map in the glovebox is not a bad backup.

Head and body

A rally day is long. Reading in a swaying car can bring on motion sickness. Look up at the road now and then, get some fresh air and eat something light. Drink regularly. Use breaks at time controls to step out for a minute.

Your quick checklist

• Roadbook highlighted, target times worked out
• Clocks synced with official time
• Time card in its sleeve, pen within reach
• Calls agreed with your driver
• Backups for stopwatch and light on board

Read more about the roadbook in Reading the roadbook and about controls and scoring in Time controls, time cards and penalty points. Looking for an event to practise on? Check the rally calendar. With Rally Co-Pilot, the countdown and time deviation also appear on your Apple Watch while the iPhone stays in its mount.