Co-Driver

Julie Murphy

I live with my partner Keith and two boys James and Jason from Highworth Nr Swindon and joined the Shelly Taunt Rallying Team at the start of 2004. This was my first year rallying and what a fantastic year it was, finishing on a double high with the Dunlop ladies driver and co-driver titles.

Having completed over 40 rallies, both on tarmac and gravel, I have gained a tremendous amount of valuable experience over the past few years, sometimes finding things out the hard way. Co-driving is by no means an easy job, but very rewarding when you get it right. It is all about team work and Shelly and I have found our own system over the years that works for us.

I have known Shelly for many years and when we were younger we used to occasionally go to rallies, either Marshalling or spectating.

I am fortunate to have a family that is very supportive and understanding, as rallying takes up a great deal of time organising and then spending time away from home on events.

It is a fantastic opportunity and great fun and if you are thinking about having a go I would say do it. There is a lot to the job, but the sheer exhilaration I experience is second to none. Read further to find out what the job entails. If you are considering taking the sport up, I will be only too happy to share my experiences and give some valuable tips.

The role of the co-driver or sometimes called the navigator is basically the manager in the car. They are responsible for collating all the information together before an event and organising where everyone needs to be and when.

Firstly the co-driver reads through the regulations and makes sure that anything that is not standard out of the 'Blue Book' which is the motor sport bible is made known to the relevant people in the team. For example ground sheets must be used in service areas, penalties times for lateness and cumulative lateness rules made known to driver.

The next job is to plot the references on the required maps showing stage starts, finishes, passage controls and service areas and these will be supplied prior to the event, either on the day of signing on and documentation or a couple of days before at the earliest.

The co-driver needs to make sure the car is available for noise testing and scruitineering at the correct place and time. The car is throughly checked to make sure it meets the required standards and stipulations of the class it has been entered for. Once this has been passed the driver and co-driver need to sign on and receive all the final documentation.

The service crew need to understand where the service areas are and during what times they are allowed to enter them. They need to understand when the car will be coming into service and how long they have to do their job.

The co-driver should have already obtained the subjective route notes prior to the event in the system that the team use. There are three different systems which are either descriptive, numbers 1 - 9 (being the degree of the corner) or 6 being the fastest gear. The co-driver needs to familarise themself with the notes for each stage and note where caution should be noted beforehand. These notes will be called to the driver at the relevant time on stage in order for them to position the car to get around the stage as quickly and safely as possible.

The co-driver will also have a road book which is to get the team to and from each stage via the stipulated route and within a certain timescale. Penalties are incurred if the rules and times are not followed.Timecards are given to the co-driver at signing on and documentation and these must be used throughout the event. There are timing rules for entering a stage and if not followed you will be penalised and this will impair your chances of getting a good time out on the stage.

Want to ask a question about co-driving?
I am only to happy to respond,
e-mail mjsmurfy@aol

Achievements & Awards

2004

3rd in class Oakington Stages
Spirit Of The Rally Award Oakington Stages
DDMC Best Stage Rally Co-Driver Award

BTRDA 2nd o/a Best Improvers

BTRDA Lady Co-Driver Champion

2006

2nd in class Pirelli National Rally
1st in class Trackrod National Rally

BRC RallyMaster Production Cup Champion
BRC RallyMasters Runner-Up

2007

1st o/a Lady Co-Driver Wydean Rally
2nd in class N1 Red Dragon Rally
1st in class N1 Swansea Bay Rally
3rd in class Rally Of The Midlands

BRC RallyMasters o/a Co-Driver Champion
BRC RallyMasters Production Class Champion
BRC RallyMaster, GravelMasters Champion
BRC RallyMaster, AsphaltMasters Champion

BTRDA Rally Challenge o/a Co-Driver Champion
BTRDA English Championship 2nd o/a Class E5

2008

3rd in class Robin Hood Forest Rally