What Are the Rally Co-Driver Terminology?
2 Answers
One indicates very sharp, Six indicates very gentle, the numbers represent the gear allowed for that corner, Don't Cut indicates there is an obstacle on the inside of the corner and the car is strictly prohibited from cutting sharply through the turn, Middle means the car should stay in the center of the road, Inside means the car should stay on the inside of the corner, Outside means the car should stay on the outside of the corner, Into means "immediately following," serving as a conjunction between the description of the previous corner and the next corner, etc. Below are specific details about rally racing: Overview: Rally racing is a long-distance competition conducted on dirt roads, gravel roads, or asphalt roads with roadbeds, held within a country or across several countries, testing both the performance and quality of the vehicles and the driving skills of the drivers. Competition Format: The race is divided into several stages over specified dates, with each stage consisting of several special speed-testing sections connected by transit stages, alternating between driving and racing sections, with each special section not exceeding 30 kilometers in length. The race uses an interval start format, with participants competing in teams, each consisting of 1 driver and 1 co-driver (navigator), and the team with the least time wins.
I used to be a rally fan and participated in several amateur races with friends. The co-driver's terminology is like a navigation code. For example, 'left 4' means a left turn, with the number indicating the difficulty of the corner from 1 to 6, where 6 is a sharp turn; 'hairpin' refers to a hairpin bend with a particularly tight angle; 'crest' indicates a hilltop, warning the driver of a potential jump; 'caution' signals danger, such as slippery road conditions. These terms are simple and efficient, helping drivers react quickly on unfamiliar mountain roads. Without them, the race would descend into chaos, making crashes highly likely. I remember that time on a muddy section, the co-driver shouted 'right 3, bump!' and we passed through safely. The terms aren’t hard to memorize—watching more race videos can get you started—but using them requires precise timing, or misjudgments can occur. For beginners, practicing basic commands is crucial, as it affects the entire team's safety and efficiency.
