Rhianon Gelsomino

Rhianon Gelsomino is one of rally’s most experienced professional co-drivers, having navigated alongside some of motorsport’s biggest names across four continents—including her current seat next to Travis Pastrana in that famous blue Subaru.

EARLY YEARS

Born November 15, 1980, in Wedderburn, a tiny country town in Victoria, Australia, Rhianon grew up in a family where rally wasn’t just a hobby—it was the family business[1]. Her father, Mike Reeves, is a rally driver, and both her brothers, Nathan and Brendan Reeves, race as well[2]. With that much horsepower in the gene pool, it was almost inevitable she’d end up in a car doing something ridiculous.

Her first race came in 1997 behind the wheel of a go-kart[3], but it didn’t take long for her to realize she preferred reading pace notes to chasing apexes. She began co-driving in Australia and quickly discovered she had a knack for keeping her cool while hurtling sideways through forests at terrifying speeds.

OTHER INTERESTS

Before rally consumed her life entirely, Rhianon was a fully qualified PE teacher who spent six years teaching high school students in Australia[4]. Those skills—staying patient, giving clear instructions, and occasionally yelling to be heard—translate surprisingly well to rally co-driving. She’s since channeled that teaching experience into OzRallyPro, a co-driving school she runs with her husband, Alessandro (Alex) Gelsomino, out of their home in Idaho[5]. Since launching in December 2013, they’ve trained over 200 students[6], proving that rally education is just as important as rally glory.

When she’s not strapped into a race car or teaching someone else how to do it, Gelsomino lives on 40 acres in the rolling mountains of Idaho—a landscape she describes as remarkably similar to New Zealand, with perfect driving roads winding through the property[7]. It’s the kind of place where you can practice your pace notes on the way to check the mail.

EARLY SUCCESS

Gelsomino’s co-driving career began in earnest over 16 years ago in Australia[8], and she wasted no time racking up wins. She’s claimed victories across Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, Scotland, and the United States[9]—a travel itinerary that would make most people exhausted just reading it.

In 2010, she won the FIA Pacific Cup championship[10], establishing herself as a serious force in the co-driver’s seat. Her ability to stay sharp under pressure and her meticulous preparation earned her a reputation as one of the best navigators outside the World Rally Championship.

But rallying isn’t all podiums and champagne. In 2009, Gelsomino faced a life-altering moment during Rally South Australia when she was involved in a serious crash[11]. The accident could have been a career-ender, but instead, it became a turning point. Quitting was never an option[12]. She came back stronger, more determined, and with an even sharper focus on precision and safety.

Then, in 2011, came an incident that tested her resolve even further. While co-driving for Nick Roberts at the Oregon Trail Rally in the Rally America Series, their car caught fire and burst into flames mid-stage[13]. Gelsomino suffered second-degree burns[14] but walked away. The fact that she returned to competition after surviving a literal fireball says everything you need to know about her grit.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2010: FIA Pacific Cup champion[15]
• 2013: ARA 2WD champion[16]
• 2016: Won a round of the Scottish Rally Championship with John MacCrone[17]
• 2017: ARA 2WD champion with Ryan Millen in the Toyota Rally RAV4, clinching the title at the New England Forest Rally[18]
• 2021: Won the American Rally Association National Championship alongside Travis Pastrana, capturing three consecutive overall victories to open the season[19]
• 2024: Won the Ojibwe Forests Rally with Travis Pastrana[20]
• 2025: Won the Lake Superior Performance Rally with Travis Pastrana[21]

INSPIRATIONS

Growing up, Gelsomino idolized Michèle Mouton, the legendary French rally driver who dominated the Group B era and remains the only woman to win a World Rally Championship event[22]. Mouton’s fearlessness and skill left a lasting impression on the young Australian, and Gelsomino has said she’d love to own one of those classic Group B machines just to experience what her hero drove[23].

REPUTATION

Rhianon Gelsomino is widely regarded as one of the most experienced and dedicated co-drivers in rally today[24]. She’s part of an incredibly rare breed: a full-time professional navigator outside the WRC. Her marriage to Alex Gelsomino—Ken Block’s longtime co-driver—makes them arguably the most experienced co-driver couple in the world[25]. They’ve literally gone head-to-head for championships, competing against each other in the ARA while sharing a home and a rally school[26]. It’s the kind of dynamic that could either destroy a relationship or make it bulletproof. Clearly, they chose the latter.

Her reputation isn’t just built on talent—it’s built on survival. She’s endured horrific crashes, including a 180 kph impact with a tree[27] and a car fire that left her with serious burns. She’s faced long recoveries, back injuries, and moments that would have sent most people running for a safer career[28]. Yet she keeps coming back, calm under pressure, precise in her notes, and unflinching in her commitment to the sport.

Travis Pastrana, a man not easily impressed, has praised her trust and teamwork as essential to their championship success[29]. And when you’re sitting beside someone who’s known for launching cars off cliffs and into lakes, that kind of trust isn’t given lightly.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

In 2025, Gelsomino is entering the ARA season alongside Travis Pastrana, but not in the familiar WRX. Instead, they’ll be debuting an all-new rally car developed with Subaru Motorsports USA, starting at the Olympus Rally[30]. It’s a fresh challenge for a driver-co-driver pairing that’s already proven they can win just about anything on four wheels.

REFERENCES

[1] 5 minutes with … Rhianon Gelsomino – RallySport Magazine
[2] Q&A with Alex and Rhianon Gelsomino – iHeartFast.com
[3] Decoding Professional Co-Driver Rhianon Gelsomino – Road & Track
[4] Travis Pastrana’s Rally Co Driver Shares Horrific 180kph Tree Crash Story – Icons Uncovered Podcast
[5] Learn to co-drive with the Gelsominos! – DirtFish
[6] Q&A with Alex and Rhianon Gelsomino – iHeartFast.com
[7] Dream Garage: Rhianon Gelsomino, rally co-driver – Torquecafe.com
[8] Gloves Off: Rhianon Gelsomino – DirtFish
[9] Rhianon Gelsomino – Canadian Rally Championship
[10] Decoding Professional Co-Driver Rhianon Gelsomino – Road & Track
[11] How a crash convinced Gelsomino to go rallying – DirtFish
[12] Decoding Professional Co-Driver Rhianon Gelsomino – Road & Track
[13] ARC leader has lucky escape from inferno – Speedcafe.com
[14] Rhianon recovering after fiery incident in America – Brendan Reeves
[15] Decoding Professional Co-Driver Rhianon Gelsomino – Road & Track
[16] Decoding Professional Co-Driver Rhianon Gelsomino – Road & Track
[17] Q&A with Alex and Rhianon Gelsomino – iHeartFast.com
[18] 2017 New England Forest Rally – So Freakin’ Rav! – MotorTrend
[19] SUBARU AND TRAVIS PASTRANA CAPTURE THIRD CONSECUTIVE RALLY WIN – Subaru Media
[20] PASTRANA PICKS UP FIRST SEASON WIN AT CHALLENGING OJIBWE – Subaru Media
[21] Gelsomino Rhianon – eWRC-results.com
[22] Dream Garage: Rhianon Gelsomino, rally co-driver – Torquecafe.com
[23] Dream Garage: Rhianon Gelsomino, rally co-driver – Torquecafe.com
[24] Gloves Off: Rhianon Gelsomino – DirtFish
[25] Q&A with Alex and Rhianon Gelsomino – iHeartFast.com
[26] Gelsomino vs Gelsomino: The couple fighting for the ARA title – DirtFish
[27] Travis Pastrana’s Rally Co Driver Shares Horrific 180kph Tree Crash Story – Icons Uncovered Podcast
[28] “I’m so lucky” says Aussie co-driver after miraculous escape – RallySport Magazine
[29] Rhianon Gelsomino and Travis Pastrana Work Together To Win Championship – YouTube
[30] PASTRANA TO ENTER 2025 ARA SEASON AT OLYMPUS RALLY – Subaru Media