Rally Raid
This is what it takes to be a top rally raid co-driver
Some of the best road book interpreters in rally raid, including Timo Gottschalk, Dani Oliveras and Andrea Peterhansel, explain what it's like sitting in the co-pilot seat during a desert race.
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Being a co-driver is one of the most thankless tasks in motorsport. All the glory of winning is the driver's, while the blame for taking a wrong turn and finishing well off the pace lands squarely at the co-driver's feet.
However, every rally raid and cross-country driving star needs that special person to tell them where to go, and how to get there as quickly as possible. If you've ever been asked a last-minute navigational question while sat in the passenger seat on a day out with friends or family, you'll have the smallest appreciation of the pressure facing top co-pilots.
The recent Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge brought new challenges for three top co-drivers. Andrea Peterhansel was teaming up with her husband, Stéphane, for the very first time, while Timo Gottschalk and Dani Oliveras were co-driving for Jakub Przygoński and Cyril Despres for the first time, too.
Somewhere deep in the dunes of the Rub' al Khali desert, we caught up with the Mini X-Raid team's co-drivers to find out what it's like being the navigator in the pressure-cooker environment of a major rally.
Dani Oliveras
Cyril Despres and his co-driver Dani Oliveras
© Naim Chidiac/Red Bull Content Pool
Dani Oliveras joined the Mini X-Raid team as Dakar legend Cyril Despres's co-pilot at this year's Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. The Catalan, who got his break as a co-pilot alongside Gerard Farres in the 2019 Dakar, competed in the Dakar five times on a bike before switching roles.
What's the main job of a rally raid co-driver?
The communication has to be on-point. When I pass the information to the pilot, he needs to understand me perfectly. There's no place for a power cut in the cockpit. The fact we both come from motorcycle racing helps a lot. We share the same understanding of the desert. Besides that, I'm pretty lucky that Cyril speaks Catalan. With my French not being great, it would be one challenge too many.
What specific skills does a co-pilot require?
First of all, a rally raid co-pilot needs to have excellent knowledge of navigation. It helps not to get travel sick while interpreting the road book, too. Being a good mechanic doesn't hurt either. However, all of this is useless if you don't have passion. Learning in the desert is a never-ending process, and to be able to make quick decisions requires a lot of experience.
Andrea Peterhansel
Stéphane Peterhansel and Andrea Peterhansel
© Naim Chidiac/Red Bull Content Pool
Andrea Peterhansel – née Meyer – is one of the most versatile athletes in the world of cross-country rallies. She's raced 100-plus events on motorcycles, quads, cars and trucks, and made the first of 10 Dakar appearances in 1996. She's also married to 13-time Dakar champion Stéphane Peterhansel and her goal is to co-pilot him at the next edition of the Dakar. With the pair winning the 2019 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, it might just be a recipe for success.
What's the main job of a rally raid co-driver?
For a co-driver, it's fundamental to master navigation. I already know a lot from racing on bikes, where you ride and navigate at the same time. But as a co-driver, there are different challenges.
I need to communicate to Stéphane in French, which means I'm translating and communicating at the same time. I also need to reduce and select the information to make it efficient. It's up to me to choose what to tell him, and what isn't necessary.
Of course, I need to do all that super fast – firm and precise. It's best to be precise to every 100m for all the dangers and obstacles. It's always tricky in the desert, finding the best line and following the cap at the same time.
What's the atmosphere like in the Peterhansel cockpit?
You really need to speak the same language. What's really helpful is that we both come from motorcycle racing, and we know each other very well. For sure, when we get in the car, our private life needs to stay outside. I shouldn't even think that Stéphane's my husband!"
What's the biggest challenge for a co-driver?
For me, the biggest challenge is how not to feel the motion sickness. I had some problems in the last year, but since then I've been doing physiotherapy for the inner ear. Basically, I sit in a spinning chair whilst reading a road book. It looks like it's helping.
Timo Gottschalk
Jakub Przygonski and his co-driver Timo Gottschalk
© Naim Chidiac/Red Bull Content Pool
Germany's Timo Gottschalk – Jakub Przygoński's co-driver at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge – is one the best in the business. He made his Dakar debut in 2007, and went on to win it in 2011 at the side of Nasser Al-Attiyah. After 25 years of co-driving, Gottschalk remains philosophical about both the praise and criticism that co-drivers receive. "The media doesn't care less about you as co-driver, unless you make a big mistake. Then you get your headlines. I've had a few of my own in 25 years of co-driving," he laughs.
What's the main job of a rally raid co-driver?
Being a co-driver means multi-tasking to the max. If everything is running smoothly, you have to read your road book and navigate, but if problems arise, you'll find yourself quickly changing tyres and doing other repairs.
You don't just read the road book you saw for the first time a day before – you need to interpret the information and pass it on efficiently. To be the best you can on any stage, you need to roll your sleeves up the day before and study the book down to the finest detail.
What specific skills does a co-pilot require?
"ou need to keep a cool head under pressure. If you stress, the driver will stress, and things will go downhill quickly. Under stress, you automatically make more mistakes. You need to stay focused at all times, scanning the terrain and paying attention to every detail.
What's the atmosphere like in the cockpit?
I'm a lucky guy, because Kuba is so easy going. There's no shouting or swearing in our car, just concentration, a good mood, and respect.
27 min
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