FEATURE
Nicky Grist Co-Driver Academy
Have you fancied yourself as the next world champion co-driver in the elk of Nicky Grist, Robert Reid or Phil Mills but didn’t know how to get started?
Then read on…
Up until now, there have been several BARS registered rally schools in the UK but there has never been a school for co-drivers to learn or to improve their skills. It’s amazing that co-drivers have never had anything like this as they are an integral part of any rally car, if the navigator gets the notes wrong then it can all end in tears.
GwynneSpeed Rally school has joined Nicky Grist to make the academy become a reality. The inspiration for GwynneSpeed to get involved came from Holly Robinson who is the project manager at the rally school. Holly Robinson said “My first rally was one of the most nerve racking things I have ever done! I remember having so many questions about what to do on a rally with nowhere and no-one to turn to, or answer them. My first rally was a complete learning curve and luckily I made no mistakes. The co-driver Academy is therefore a brilliant initiative to eliminate all of this anxiety and fill a massive hole that is currently in the help and support network that is readily available to, not only amateur co-drivers but also to those aspiring to become professionals.”
“More than any other form of motor sport, rallying is a team effort,” said Nicky Grist, the winner of 21 World Championship events and founder of the Academy. “The synergy between driver, co-driver and car is what makes the difference between winnning and losing. So far there has been no specialist academy for up and coming young co-drivers but I’d like to pass on my experience and teach everybody who is interested in the tricks of the trade in co-driving.”
These courses unravel the mystic art of co-driving, through a well-balanced mixture of theoreitical and practical instruction. The academy is ideal for those who are serious about making it to the top level of co-driving as well as those who compete for fun on an amarteur basis – or even for people with little or no experience but just want to give it a go or see what it’s like to be shout notes with the scenery flying by at crazy speeds.
Nicky Grist said, “We want this school to become MSA accredited. Having a mechanism like this can only improve competitors and get them ready for the world stage if they good enough.”
When you sign up for a course, you’ll get a membership card, and a specific password to the academy, which allows you to enter a behind the scenes forum where you can raise issues that crop up throughout your career and you’ll also get discounted items through www.nickygrist.com
The aim of this course is that through time we will take on proteges, maybe up to half a dozen in any given year to get them ready to compete in the World Rally Championship.
Grist said that he personally will look after the Professional Academy as he’ll be able to spot the talent that is coming through the ranks and get them ready to compete at the highest level of the sport.
Grist said “We want an approved school europe wide, we have already had great success in the middle east and the USA, if we get get a approved school to cover all FIA durisdictions would be amazing but that is for the future, our present concern is to get the UK school up and running and make it into a success. We need to get co-drivers looking at the safety aspects, if we can get this across even at beginner level then we can improve the level of safety at all events. Making standards higher across all levels of rallying is must, inturn it will make events safer for both competitors and spectators.”
Grist continued “I’ve really enjoyed myself throughout my career but now I feel it’s time to put something back, The co-driver is a crucial part of any winning parnership yet they often do not get the recognition they deserve.”
The co-driver academy has three different levels catering for co-drivers of all experiences. The Beginner and the intermediate courses are based in Gloucestershire where they link in with GwynneSpeed rally school, here pupils get to practice what they have learnt in a rally car at speed. The professional course is hosted by Nicky himself in his home town of Abergavenny, this gives the experienced co-driver the opportunity to learn the fine art of the professional co-driver in a classroom environment.
The courses:
| Beginner Course | |
| Price: | £250 (+VAT) |
| Start time: | 09:00 |
| Finish time: | 17:00 |
| Location: | Near Cirenchester, Gloucestershire |
What’s included: Lunch, refreshments throughout the day, all necessary paperwork for the practical element of the course, all in-car practical time and Academy password enabling access to the member’s area of nickygristacademy.com and access to discounted equipment from Nicky Grist Motorsports Ltd.
| Intermediate Course | |
| Price: | £250 (+VAT) |
| Start time: | 09:00 |
| Finish time: | 17:15 |
| Location: | Near Cirenchester, Gloucestershire |
What’s included: Lunch, refreshments throughout the day, all necessary paperwork for the practical element of the course, all in-car practical time and Academy password enabling access to the member’s area of nickygristacademy.com and access to discounted equipment from Nicky Grist Motorsports Ltd.
| Professional Course | |
| Price: | £325(+VAT) |
| Start time: | 09:30 |
| Finish Time: | 17:00 |
| Location: | Abergavenny, Monmouthshire |
What’s included: Lunch, refreshments throughout the day, Nicky Grist Motorsports Pacenote book, Time Comparison book and Academy password enabling access to the member’s area of nickygristacademy.com and access to discounted equipment from Nicky Grist Motorsports Ltd.
The academy offers year round courses, for individual nas well as corporate clients. For more information go to www.nickygristacademy.com or contact Holly Robinson on 0871 230 9500.
Nicky Grist Highlights
Turned professional in 1990 when he partnered Malcolm Wilson in the Ford Sierra Sapphire Cosworth competing in the British Rally Championship and selected rounds of the World Rally Championship.
Partnered Juha Kankkunen in 1993 and won the World Championship.
Teamed up with Colin McRae in 1997 in a Subaru and finished second overall in the World Championship.
Retired from full time rallying in 2002 winning 21 world championship events and one world title.
2007 The Nicky Grist Co-driver Academy opens its doors.
Simon McBride
