Racing Drivers – More Than Just Driving

What do racing drivers really do, after all they must do something other than just driving all day, right?

The majority of people, when asked about the job role of a racing driver, will assume all that a racer has to do is fling a car around the circuit as quickly as possible, collect their paycheque, and leave. Well, we all know what happens when you assume…

Contrary to said belief, the modern racing driver needs to be able to perform in many different aspects to be a true asset to both their team and sponsors. From technical feedback, to media relations, to interactions with the crowd, to a positive, engaging social media outlook, there are many, many subsidiary aspects to a racing driver’s job. But what exactly makes a good driver personality? Let’s have a look at what, other than outright speed, is desirable in a modern-day driver.

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First and foremost, any team will be looking for someone that has the ability to improve the car. After all, a slow car is a slow car, and won’t challenge for victories even if its pilot is the quickest in the field. If, however, a race team has the option of a second driver that, whilst only 90% as quick, has the technical ability to improve the car during testing and effectively set the car up on race day, that’s who the seat is going to. From a team perspective, drivers are disposable, so whilst a quick driver may be a good short-term solution, an improvement in the car will see a longer-lasting change of fortunes.

Next up, you’ve got to bring the funds in, so you’ve got to be a perfect match for your sponsors. Now, there’s quite a few different ways you can appease those who assist your racing career, from slapping their stickers on your motor through to full-on brand ambassadorial roles, but the absolute key is to be excited by their product. So far, in my own quest to go racing in 2021, I’ve been approaching companies where I myself have been a consistent customer, as I feel like I can empathise with the brand, and therefore market it well.

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All too often we see people of influence posing for a picture with random tat they’ve never seen before, and it’s simple for the public to see straight through. Therefore, it’s vital to be able to prove to sponsors you can genuinely help them out. This doesn’t just have to be a sticker on the car and a social media shoutout too, it could be things like public speaking on their behalf, or anything you can think of really!

So, once you’re in the sponsors’ good books, it’s time to win over the media. Depending on the status of your race series, this will mean one of two things. If you’re in a small, grassroots championship, an ability to weave your achievements into the press will give you an unrivalled affinity within the paddock, whereas if you’re partaking in a more widespread series where the press is actively following you, it’s imperative you’re staying on it’s good side.

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Whilst in some industries the term “any publicity is good publicity” most certainly applies, motor racing is not one of them. Just ask Daniel Abt, for example. He thought it would be a good idea to “publicise” the skills of a professional e-sports driver when Abt himself should have been driving, yet those exact actions cost him his job. Admittedly the consequences may have been exaggerated because Audi and the rest of the VW Group are trying to get away from the whole “cheat” association, but still.

At the beating heart of motor racing sit these automakers, and if you do something to infuriate them, you will be thrown out the door at a moments’ notice. There are thousands of racing drivers, meaning you’re very much disposable. If you get on the bad side of the media, you’ll have a tough time trying to land a new ride.

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Finally, there’s your own, personal social media. Having a strong social media following can help prove to both teams and sponsors that you’re very much a well-liked personality. The way you build your following matters to a much lesser extent, as whether you do it through an entertaining personality or by making the most of your appearance won’t affect too much, as either way it proves to potential employers you can build a loyal, engaged fan base, which is a valuable trait to have.

Of course, there’s a common aspect to most of the points I’ve listed above, and that’s being a nice, likeable person. Generally, in life, if you’re nice to people, it pays off in the long run, and when it comes to motor racing the rewards might just be that bit better still.

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Driving fast whilst in close proximity to others takes a lot of mental capacity to ensure there’s not a resulting bonfire. So how do I train my brain?

Everybody’s aware of the stereotype that men can’t multitask, and for the most part, with myself at least, I would say it’s true. Take cooking for example. At the outset, having three or four individual foods all requiring different cooking methods for varying lengths of time doesn’t seem particularly difficult, it just needs a little bit of organisation. However, in practice, it never quite seems to work out. Maybe it’s a saucepan boiling over whilst I’m turning over what’s under the grille, alternatively that’s the moment when the microwave starts yelling it’s (thankfully pre-bleeped) expletives at me. Finally, regardless of what else happens, I can almost guarantee that the one thing in the oven won’t be ready when everything else is already dished up. If you hadn’t worked it out yet, I don’t cook much…

Luckily for me, this week’s episode isn’t about cooking. It is however, about multitasking, mental agility and decision making. A lot can happen very quickly whilst on track with a grid of other racers, meaning not only must I be able to focus on what my car is doing, but I also have to be aware of what’s going through the minds of those around me. Am I catching the car ahead? Will they try to defend their position? Is there someone behind me who I’ll have to be wary of? Are they trying to dive-bomb me?

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Whilst taking part in a race there are hundreds of variables that could curtail my fortunes in an instant, so it’s in my best interests to be aware of these potential problems, to be able to actively avoid them. A lot of accidents happen due to a lack of awareness, particularly when novice drivers and standing starts are involved. It takes time to learn the skills of awareness and anticipation, yet they’re two of the most key in the world of motorsport.

Luckily, considering my lack of actual race seat for 2020, I have a fair amount of time to train these skills. This should mean that, when the opportunity does present itself to climb in the car, I will have had ample preparation, and therefore should possess a slight advantage over the competition. An easy way to begin training my brain to be more aligned to the skill set required is through the use of brain training apps, however they’re designed for the average person to test themselves, rather than being tailored specifically for sports-related mental agility.

A novel idea that’s more racing-focused could be to watch onboard footage from actual races. For example, watching onboard footage of an LMP2 prototype during a WEC race would give me a look into the thought process of a driver who has to manage weaving through the slower sportscars, avoiding their charging LMP1 counterparts and maximising their own strategy all at once. The busy field during an event can make a race mentally fatiguing, yet drivers must still be able to pick their way through without any mistakes. Having prior knowledge of when and when not to pass will accelerate the learning curve during my future on-track experiences, leading to better race-craft and hopefully less chance of a crash.

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To wrap things up, whilst cooking may not be a vital weapon in a racing driver’s armoury, multitasking certainly is. The ability to not only focus on your race but the races of those around you is an invaluable asset to avoid on-track altercations, and one that I must possess to stand any chance of being a successful driver regardless of what series I am competing in. To prepare myself brain training is a must, yet in the absence of on-track acclimatisation I need to think of some unconventional alternatives. No matter how disconnected the method may be, it will prove to be fruitful, as it’s all in the name of the #RacingGrind!

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Enjoyed reading this article? Let us know your thoughts with a comment below! All that’s needed is an email address, and don’t worry, there’ll be no junk mail!

Excited about the #RacingGrind? Sign up to our mailing list to receive every new post straight to your inbox, as soon as it’s published!

Tag: Racing Driver Mentality

Episode 26

Racing Drivers – More Than Just Driving

Episode 04