How to train for rallies in the best and most efficient way.
Training for the Rally discipline, whether on asphalt or gravel, can sometimes be complicated and ineffective. Let’s see together now how, thanks to our experience, we have identified the best techniques for training for rallies, especially between one rally and another.
1 – Seat time with Rally cars
This is obviously the first solution, the most intuitive, but it often turns out to be the least effective and the most expensive. A rally car has a high cost per kilometer and this implies the investment of significant budgets to travel distances suitable for training. Then add the logistical complications and the difficulty, especially in a phase without sporting growth, in applying the correct driving techniques with the Rally car due to the high performance of the cars themselves. For this reason, we at Vittorio Caneva Rally School know how there can be significant other solutions that bring benefits in terms of training, improvement, with greater efficiency. Training with a rally car must be one of the training elements for a driver.
2 – Seat time with gokarts, kart crosses and other prepared vehicles
This, despite what you might think, is an excellent form of training and costs significantly less than moving a rally car. Driving with go karts involves a great deal of clean driving which will also apply to Rally driving. Another benefit is for the mind which trains at speeds and reactions that are sometimes much higher than those of a Rally car.
Driving Kart Cross (on dirt) has similar benefits to those of a go kart on asphalt, but with a preference for finding grip and controlling countersteering.
Other vehicles, such as the Subaru WRX that we have prepared, allow, in special areas such as our Gravel Rally Hub, to travel many kilometers at a controlled cost, offering the possibility of generating seat time.
In general we can say that developing experience with different vehicles and on different surfaces helps to grow a driver’s skills and brings immeasurable benefits.
3 – Physical and mental training
Physical training for a driver must be an integral part of his life as an athlete. Driving a Rally car involves a great physical effort, the temperatures in the passenger compartment are often high, the mind must process a lot of data in a stressful situation. This is why training body and mind is essential to be able to manage a great performance in the car.
4 – Driving with a road car (with or without Codriver)
It may seem strange, but low-speed (code car) driving with a street car can bring significant benefits. Training the trajectories (within your own lane) and training your vision, making these decision-making processes completely natural, can also bring important benefits on a racing car.
5 – Driving simulator
It is true. Driving Simulators are very different from driving a Rally car. But even the latter can offer benefits with a very high cost/benefit ratio. So, which video games to use? iRacing above all offers a very high level of competitiveness, requires great driving cleanliness and respect for coasting times. These are some points that allow the driver to develop particular sensitivity.
Conclusions on Rally training
As we have seen, there are many ways that help a Rally Driver to grow sportingly. They are not exclusively linked to the use of rally cars but range to involve other disciplines and solutions. Obviously among the various options available there is that of participating in Rally Courses, which offer the possibility of combining seat time with training thanks to the presence of a qualified instructor. At Vittorio Caneva Rally School we are able to support you in planning your training and sporting growth.