In the second part of the interview, Viinikka delves into the secrets of pacenote preparation and development. The first part, which you can read here, covered the fundamental equipment of a co-driver.
A co-driver is always going through a constant process of improvement throughout their career. Viinikka’s handwriting style has changed significantly over the years, but so has the ever-evolving pacenote system of his driver, which also pushes the co-driver forward.
“My writing style has changed a lot. I have thought about it a lot and worked on improving it. I try to make it as clear as possible.”
“For example, in this pacenote, there are three modifiers: long, opens, and over at the end. In the past, they might have been written all over the place, but now they are clearly aligned vertically and read from top to bottom. And if a modifier needs to be said before a corner, it is also written before the corner.”
Since some time has passed between this interview and its publication, one trick Viinikka shared has already become part of my own workflow during the winter rallies.
“I have this habit of writing the first pacenote of the next page in parentheses at the bottom of the current page. That way, I can buy myself a moment of time in case the page doesn’t turn immediately. It also ensures I always turn to the correct page.”
One constantly developing aspect of pacenote writing is clarity. Co-drivers have come up with various tools to improve this, ranging from pillows to wooden writing boards that rest on the lap.
“Especially abroad, it’s useful to have a laptop tray on your knees. I actually bought one from IKEA. In rough rallies abroad, it’s absolutely essential – for example, in Portugal. And now that I’m used to it, I can write much more clearly during pacenotes. I even use it in Finland nowadays.
There are always corrections to be made in pacenotes, but the less cleaning up required, the easier the rally week becomes for the co-driver. Viinikka makes the most of every moment available to get things done.
“I try to correct the pacenotes during road sections already during reconnaissance. The more I can fix then, the less night work I have to do, and the notebook is ready when we go over the videos.”
Video technology has revolutionised rallying, and its benefits are not just for the driver – co-drivers also gain valuable insights. Different drivers have different approaches to reviewing videos, and in some cases, over-reliance on them can be counterproductive.
Viinikka and Korhonen have found a balanced approach to using them.
“We watch every stage at least once together on video. It helps the co-driver as well, reinforcing memory of key spots and ensuring the correct timing in pacenote delivery.”
“But we’ve also prioritised sleep, so we don’t stay up all night watching videos.”
Preparation never stops
In co-driving, preparation is key. A well-prepared co-driver is calmer, and that calmness naturally transfers to the driver throughout the rally week.
Viinikka’s preparation follows a fairly consistent routine. A co-driver can never be too prepared, but it’s crucial to prioritise tasks and focus on the most important aspects.
“There are a lot of things a co-driver can do in advance. For example, I check transits and rest stops for recce on Google Maps. But you have to prioritise, and sometimes only do the essentials beforehand.”
Even pacenote preparation should start early whenever possible.
“If I have old pacenotes from a rally, I rewrite them neatly in a new notebook at home at my desk. That makes it much easier to use them for recce. I try to get everything as ready as possible in advance.”
Developing pacenotes is teamwork
Just as a co-driver’s skills are never fully developed, neither is a driver’s pacenote system. Co-drivers play a big role in refining the quality and accuracy of pacenotes.
“We’ve improved our system a lot over the past few years. Of course, the car has evolved, but the pacenotes have also changed a lot. If a pacenote is two or three years old, we now have to carefully assess whether it’s still relevant.”
How has your pacenote system changed?
“We’ve added more speed classifications in just the past two years. That’s the biggest change. Another area we’ve focused on is the location of the apex in corners. Is it at the beginning, middle, or end of the turn? It doesn’t matter how fast you enter a corner – what matters is how fast you can exit.”
“We’ve put a lot of effort into developing the pacenote system together. Sometimes, we identify a problem, but there’s no immediate solution. It might take several rallies before we come up with a way to improve it. We always strive for simplicity, making it easier for both of us to absorb the information quickly.”
For drivers who are just starting out with pacenotes, Viinikka has a simple yet crucial piece of advice.
“The less experience you have, the simpler your pacenote system should be. At first, keep speed classifications minimal so that you can fully understand the pacenotes. Clear distances and speed categories are essential. Even a five-level scale works well at the beginning. Tero Savonen and I once finished fourth in Vetomies event using just five speed levels. And we didn’t even watch videos.”
“The key is to develop pacenotes gradually. Only introduce new elements once the existing system is 100% mastered. It’s also important to think about your goals as a driver – how much you’re willing to practice and what level you want to reach.”
Read all published parts of the “From fan to co-driver” feature here.
