In the high-speed, high-pressure world of rallying, most competitors spend years mastering either the driver’s seat or the co-driver’s pacenote book — but rarely both. That’s what makes Nikki Addison’s upcoming weekend at the Jim Clark Rally so impressive.
The Scottish talent is already making waves as co-driver to Meghan O’Kane in the British Rally Championship’s BRC4 class. The all-female crew head into this weekend leading the category, an achievement that speaks volumes about their pace, consistency, and teamwork. But Nikki isn’t just stopping there.
After completing her BRC duties on Friday and Saturday, Addison will switch roles — and seats — to drive in Sunday’s Reivers Rally, piloting her own car on the closed roads of the Scottish Borders. It’s a remarkable display of commitment, and one that sets her apart in British rallying.
While many rally fans know Addison for her work on the notes, she’s a seasoned driver in her own right, with past experience in the Protyre National Asphalt Championship and various Scottish events behind the wheel of her Honda Civic. This weekend, though, demands a whole new level of focus — transitioning from a navigator’s mindset to a driver’s rhythm with little time to reset.
“It’s not something you see very often,” she says. “Most people dedicate all their preparation to either co-driving or driving — to do both in one weekend, especially on such challenging roads, is a serious feat, but the event is fantastic and I wanted to get behind the wheel at least in part of the weekend.”
And the challenge is real. The Jim Clark Rally’s stages are notoriously fast and unforgiving, with narrow margins for error and changeable conditions. After completing two full days alongside O’Kane in a championship fight, Nikki will barely have time to decompress before refocusing for Reivers.
“I love driving too and am always looking for the opportunity to compete in events. But this year’s focus has been the BRC and co-driving with Megan, which I equally enjoy. It’s a big challenge but I’m up for it”.
