codriver

A codriver, often written as co-driver, is the teammate in a two-person race car who serves as the navigator and secondary driver. The term is most common in rallying, rally raid, and endurance events, where upcoming terrain, route details, and timing must be communicated clearly to the driver.

Role and responsibilities: The codriver reads and relays pace notes—brief, standardized descriptions of upcoming turns, gradients, surface changes, and hazards—while keeping track of the route and time. They call out distances and estimated times, manage the pace to match the planned schedule, and alert the driver to dangers or changes in course conditions. Safety briefings and emergency procedures are also part of the job.

Skills and training: Successful codrivers combine rapid, precise communication with strong navigation and map reading abilities. They must stay calm under pressure, maintain focus over long stages, and coordinate closely with the driver. Many are multilingual and have experience recceing routes; practice with note-taking systems and baseline pacing is common.

Process: During reconnaissance (recce), the codriver and driver create pace notes and agree on call cues. On the stage, the codriver delivers notes at exact moments so the driver can anticipate turns and hazards. After events, notes are refined based on feedback and results.

Notable figures: Daniel Elena, longtime co-driver to Sébastien Loeb, and Julien Ingrassia, partner of Sébastien Ogier, are among the most successful. The role is highly valued for its expertise and teamwork.