Scott Martin (co-driver) facts for kids
Martin at the 2023 Central European Rally
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| Personal information | |
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| Nationality |  British |
| Born | 6 November 1981 Carlisle, Cumbria, England |
Alistair Scott Martin is a famous British rally navigator. He was born on 6 November 1981 in Carlisle, England. In motorsport, a co-driver sits right beside the driver inside the car. A co-driver reads detailed notes to warn the driver about sharp turns, bumps, and dangerous jumps ahead. Scott Martin races at the highest level of motorsport in the FIA World Rally Championship. He is widely known for winning the 2026 World Rally Championship alongside Welsh driver Elfyn Evans.
Together with Evans, Martin joined Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT to battle the best rally crews on Earth. Before this big achievement, he worked with several talented drivers. These included Irish racer Craig Breen and British driver Matthew Wilson. Martin has spent over twenty years traveling across different continents. He has guided race cars across thick mud, dangerous ice, slippery asphalt, and rough gravel roads.
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What Does a Rally Co-Driver Do in the World Rally Championship?
Rally racing is a very unique type of motorsport. Unlike normal circuit racing on smooth tracks, rally cars race through wild outdoor environments. They race on slippery snow, loose gravel, rocky mountains, and narrow forest tracks. Because drivers go extremely fast on twisty public roads, they cannot see what lies around every corner. This is why a co-driver is so important.
The co-driver reads special notes called pace notes out loud through an intercom inside their helmets. These pace notes explain how sharp every curve is, when to brake, and where road hazards lie. Co-drivers also manage race timing, road books, and rules set by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. A single misread word can cause an accident. Therefore, a navigator needs incredible bravery, crystal-clear speech, sharp math skills, and total focus.
Early Life and Beginning of Racing Career
Scott Martin grew up loving cars and speedy machinery in Cumbria, England. He began his professional racing journey in 2001 by navigating for drivers in regional British contests. In 2004, he teamed up with young racer Matthew Wilson. They drove a quick Ford Focus RS together across Great Britain.
The pair performed wonderfully, finishing second overall among co-drivers in the competitive British Rally Championship. That same year, Martin entered his very first world-level contest at the 2004 Wales Rally GB with M-Sport. Because of his strong focus and great potential, Martin earned a spot in the MSA British Rally Elite Scheme. This program trained promising young British racers to become world-class athletes.
Overcoming Early Challenges and Finding Success
Motorsport can be very dangerous, and Martin faced major tests early in his career. At the 2005 Rally of Wales, his car suffered a heavy crash. Martin had to be airlifted to a hospital by an emergency helicopter. Even after such a scary moment, he never gave up on his dream. He recovered quickly and returned straight to the co-driver's seat.
Later in 2005, Martin and Wilson won their first international event at the Trackrod Rally. They also took first place at the Colin McRae Stages Rally. In 2006, Martin partnered with Scottish driver Barry Clark in a smaller Ford Fiesta ST. They earned third place in the Fiesta Sporting Trophy International and shone in the British Rally Championship. In 2007, Martin helped Clark win the Fiesta international trophy. He also joined experienced driver Mark Higgins to finish third overall in the FIA Production World Rally Championship.
Competing Around the Globe in the WRC
Between 2008 and 2011, Scott Martin became a regular face on the world stage. He teamed up again with Matthew Wilson, driving strong rally cars like the Ford Focus RS WRC and Ford Fiesta RS WRC. They raced for the famous Stobart Ford squad against legends like Sébastien Ogier.
During this period, the duo traveled across the globe. They scored valuable points in places like Jordan, Norway, and Finland. In 2009 and 2011, they finished seventh overall in the world standings. Their greatest highlight together came at the 2011 Rally Australia, where they secured a fantastic fourth-place finish.
Driving with International Stars
In 2013, Martin partnered with Sheikh Khalid Al-Qassimi from the United Arab Emirates. They competed in a sleek Citroën DS3 for the Citroën World Rally Team. Together, they raced across Europe and took second place overall in the challenging Middle East Rally Championship.
By the end of 2013, Martin had started 82 world rallies. Rankings placed him as the top British co-driver in the world. In 2014, he joined popular Irish racer Craig Breen. They piloted a nimble Peugeot 208 T16 to victory at the historic Acropolis Rally in Greece. Martin stayed alongside Breen through the 2018 WRC season, earning multiple podium finishes against the world's fastest drivers.
Partnership with Elfyn Evans and World Championship Glory
At the start of 2019, Martin began working with Welsh driver Elfyn Evans at M-Sport Ford WRT. The two connected immediately, showing amazing teamwork and speed. In 2020, both moved to the powerhouse team Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT.
Their hard work paid off right away. In icy conditions, Martin won his first career world championship rally at the 2020 Rally Sweden. Soon after, they won the dusty Rally Turkey, ending the year as world runners-up. In 2021, they claimed two more big victories at the 2021 Rally de Portugal and the speedy 2021 Rally Finland.
Chasing the Dream to the 2026 Title
Between 2020 and 2025, Martin and Evans came agonizingly close to winning the world title five times. They won thrilling events like the 2023 Croatia Rally, the rough 2025 Safari Rally in Kenya, and multiple editions of Rally Japan. They never lost hope despite finishing in second place year after year.
Their ultimate moment arrived in the 2026 World Rally Championship. Driving their hybrid Toyota GR Yaris Rally1, the crew put together an incredible season. They conquered the snowy tracks of the 2026 Rally Sweden and won on home turf for their team at the 2026 Rally Japan. After fighting through rounds like 2026 Rally Chile and 2026 Rally Sardinia, Martin and Evans finally secured the World Rally Championship crown. It was the crowning moment of Martin's career.
Leadership and Helping Fellow Drivers
Scott Martin also works hard to protect and support his fellow racers. In 2025, he helped establish the World Rally Drivers Alliance alongside former French co-driver Julien Ingrassia. They created this group so competitors could speak with one united voice to motorsport leaders.
The alliance was formed following debates over strict new rules in the International Sporting Code. Leaders wanted to penalize drivers with heavy fines when they let out frustrated words on live television broadcasts. Martin worked to help sports officials understand the high stress, danger, and emotion inside rally cars, ensuring athletes are treated fairly.
Summary of World Rally Championship Victories
Scott Martin has earned 12 major rally victories during his top-tier racing career:
- 2020 Rally Sweden – Won driving a Toyota Yaris WRC with Elfyn Evans.
- 2020 Rally Turkey – Conquered tough rocky tracks in Turkey.
- 2021 Rally de Portugal – Won on fast Portuguese gravel roads.
- 2021 Rally Finland – Mastered high-speed jumps in Finland.
- 2023 Croatia Rally – Won on tricky Croatian tarmac roads.
- 2023 Rally Finland – Scored a second famous win in Finland.
- 2023 Rally Japan – Took victory on twisting mountain roads.
- 2024 Rally Japan – Defended their title on Japanese asphalt.
- 2025 Rally Sweden – Dominated deep snow and icy forests.
- 2025 Safari Rally – Survived tough African mud and wilderness.
- 2026 Rally Sweden – Took another brilliant snow victory.
- 2026 Rally Japan – Sealed an important win during their championship season.
