In RallyJournal.com’s new feature, our journalist Eemeli Aho fulfils his long-time dream and steps into the world of rallying, starting his journey in the co-driver’s seat in Finland.
Aho starts as a co-driver with the same level of experience as a typical rally fan, having only sat in a real rally car once before – and that was on a wide rallycross track.
“Rallying has always been close to my heart alongside ice hockey. My first memories of the sport are from the special stages in Valkola and Myhinpää, sitting on the bank with my dad and brothers. The notes and the language of the notes have always fascinated me, and I’ve been watching incar videos of different drivers since I was a child. Jarmo Lehtinen‘s note reading was music to my ears even at the age of ten,” Aho explains.
“I’ve been pondering for a long time that I should try co-driving someday. The speed and adrenaline are the real draw in this hobby. At the same time, I want to challenge myself and find out if reading the notes is really that difficult,” Aho laughs.
In the feature ‘From fan to co-driver’, we’ll explore what it takes to start in this sport. The first part will be published in the coming days, where Aho will explain to readers what qualifications are required. In the following parts, we’ll go through the necessary equipment and how to practice reading the notes.
Later in the feature, we’ll delve into the competition process from the co-driver’s perspective. This includes reading the roadbook, handling time cards, making the notes, and checking them. We’ll also explain the phases of the competition in a broader sense, as among our readers there are likely to be future drivers as well.
Aho is intentionally putting himself to a tough test. The easiest route at the beginning of his co-driving career would be through “blind rallies” where no pace notes are read. The co-driver tells the driver only what the road ahead looks like. However, as a passionate rally enthusiast, Aho wants to jump straight into reading real pace notes.
Aho’s first rally will be the F-Cup event in Mynämäki, Finland on 8 June, where he will co-drive for Jarmo Vesterinen in a gravel-spraying BMW M3.
