World Rally Championship: How to be a rally driver
Image credit: Wales rally gb
No motorsport is as exciting and as adventurous as rally, where drivers tackle remote, rugged terrain in million-pound cars that hit 0-60mph in less than three seconds. It’s popular across the world, and no matter where you are the concept is the same: drivers and co-drivers have to complete tough, challenging sections of road in the fastest time possible – and keep their cars in one piece so they can tackle the public roads in between their timed runs.
Drivers are joined by co-drivers, who call out instructions during the stage. It’s a tough gig, bellowing notes at more than 100 miles per hour, but it’s vital – if a driver has accurate notes, they can attack the road as quickly as possible. Rallying isn’t just a partnership between driver and co-driver though – like other motorsports, it’s a team game. Rally cars are maintained by teams of expert mechanics at a central service park. Servicing is important because cars get battered and bruised on stages, and engineers can fit new parts to make the cars faster on different types of terrain.
This article was originally published in How It Works issue 134, written by Mike Jennings
For more science and technology articles, pick up the latest copy of How It Works from all good retailers or from our website now. If you have a tablet or smartphone, you can also download the digital version onto your iOS or Android device. To make sure you never miss an issue of How It Works magazine, subscribe today!
