Phil explains pace notes - click here

8/6/04

How do you make the pace notes?
Pace notes for an event are made during the recce when the drivers and co-drivers make two passes through the stages and speed is limited to a maximum of 90kph. During the first pass, Petter describes the road to me, including the road surface and every twist and turn, and I write his comments down in shorthand. During the second pass I read the notes back to Petter and he'll make any amendments he feels necessary.

Do all co-drivers make pace notes in the same way?
Yes, it's similar in the fact that we all have a book and write down how the driver sees the road, but all co-drivers have their own style. Shorthand techniques vary and while some will put eight lines on a page, some will put three. Could I read someone else's notes? Perhaps, co-drivers all use the same shorthand language and symbols, but you'd have to give me a few minutes to study it first!

Is there more work for a co-driver at a new event?
Yes. We didn't have any previous pace notes from any sections of the road and so I arrived with five new empty pace note books. I used to re-write all my notes in the evening after each day of the recce, but with the new format there's no time to do that so we're having to use our original recce notes for this event.

What differences will the new 2+3 format make to your job?
It's almost impossible to make any fresh notes in the evenings due to the shorter time scale. We're using the original corrected notes made during the recce for this event.

What's the best feature of Mexico?
It's an exciting country and a new challenge. Sebastien (Loeb) and Harri (Rovanpera) had been here before so they had a slight advantage at the start, knowing something about tyre wear and temperatures, but for us it was a bit of journey into the unknown.

WRC Mexico 2004
14/3/04

Off to Spain for gravel testing now and then on to The French Alps for Monte Carlo testing and will be back home around Dec 20!

Stay in touch.............Phil.

Team orders are to drive steady and not to do any damage - for this year, anyway!

Malcolm Wilson has given Petter and Phil more of a free hand to go for it on this event so Petter has told Phil to make sure his seatbelts are securely fastened!

Go for it, lads!

Subaru WRT
15/1/03