Why Use A Driver Coach?

Written by Wes McDougall


“I don't need a Driver Coach - I'm fast enough.......It's the car that's the problem!”



Australia alone has some 19 million registered drivers on the roads. That is an impressive number of licence holders for a country of 26 million individuals. It's something that most of us do every week, if not everyday - that is, we drive. As a result, driving and cars are ingrained into our psyche and culture. And to some, the leap between driving an everyday car and a racecar isn't that large....

Race driving in competition is increasing at a rapid rate too - month on month averages are increasing and Motorsport Australia witnessed record signups to the sport in 2023.

So, with plenty of drivers signing up - and many pathways existing for racers to follow their dreams - there's no better time than now to talk about Driver Coaching. 

And there is no better time either, to break down some of the major inhibiting factors stopping people from hiring driver coaches, which are:

1. Everyone knows how to drive a car - I just need to drive it 'fast', and 

2. It is better to spend my money on making the car go faster - I'm fast enough already!

3. I only drive for fun - I don't need a professional telling me what to do!



BUSTING THE MYTHS 

1. "Everyone knows how to drive a car - I just need to drive it 'fast'"

Sure, there is some correlation between driving a regular car on the street and what happens on the racetrack - both disciplines require turning a steering wheel and pressing some pedals. But, there is certainly something different between the two, and no......I'm not talking about roundabouts.......

Correctly driving a racecar is all about maximizing speed and grip - It sounds simple, but its true. It is about maximizing the potential of the racecar at every stage of the corner, and indeed every section of the track. 

It is not as simple as just doing things 3 times faster than what you might do on the road- far from it. At no point are you maximizing the cars potential when you drive it on the road. Simply translating how you drive a car with roundabouts, traffic lights and stop signs, just doesn't form a basis of the fundamentals, in what you need to do in racecar driving.

Most of us walk everyday, but it doesn't mean we are expert sprinters, ready to take on the 100m dash and compete in the Olympics. No, rather we recognise that there are techniques, nuances , discipline and training required to race in athletic events. The same goes for driving a racecar. It is often a hard thing to do, but having solid training in the fundamentals of driving a racecar will put you in much better stead than simply just 'driving fast'. Getting into the mindset before you drive the racecar of ensuring that you are maximizing the grip available is what is important. And using a driving coach is the way to get yourself in the correct headspace, and to use the right techniques, instead of just 'driving fast'. 

It is also much safer for you, and those who share the track around you.

A driving coach will essentially be able to pre-emptively apply known techniques to suit your car ahead of you driving it, and also to subsequently analyse your driving post you recording some laps. This continuing loop of prepare->drive->analyse->understand>adapt->prepare->drive will boost your learning and driving, and your laptimes will head in the right direction.



BUSTING THE MYTHS 

2. "It is better to spend my money on making the car go faster - I'm fast enough already!"

Unlike a lot of other sports, motorsport is a complex mix of driver and machine, and unlike traditional ball sports - equipment has a massive impact of performance and results. Hence, a lot of focus is naturally and understandably directed at the racecar, whether that is making it lighter, improving suspension parameters, adding downforce or any other type of seemingly limitless 'upgrades'. But if you cannot 'maximise' the racecar, all of these 'upgrades' become effectively useless.

Consider the scenario where a driver is simply driving 'fast', and thrashing the car with their newly installed $10,000 engine 'upgrade' that is "guaranteed" to make the car half a second a lap quicker. 

That $10,000 is going to be worth absolutely zero, when said driver just tries to drive the car 'fast' without any system or technique in place. Sure, they might go faster on one lap, but without having the necessary fundamentals in place, it will be like trying to eat soup with a fork - no matter how fast they go, it will end up being slow and messy. 

Having solid grounding in driving a racecar through a set of principles and fundamentals will put you in good stead EVERY TIME you drive a race car, whether that is at a test day. 

Whilst upgrades and improvements to your car are always going to nudge the 'performance envelope' towards more potential - it is often worth stopping and thinking whether you can fully extract the potential of the car with your driving. I mean, I get it, driving is fun, and driving fast cars is fun. I'm not denying that. I'm simply acknowledging the fact that to drive a racecar as fast as it is possible to do so requires a realisation that you, as a driver, should understand the fundamentals of race driving, to truly be a fast, safe, consistent and competitive race driver.

This is where a driver coach can step in and truly have an impact. Installed a more power engine? A driver coach can help you change the way you drive to make use of all that power - to "Vee" the tight corners and make effectively lengthen the straight to take advantage of the upgrade. Or perhaps you have installed better brakes, or a bigger wing -  knowing how the car should be driven and maximised is what a driver coach can convey to you.


BUSTING THE MYTHS 

3. "I only drive for fun - I don't need a professional telling me what to do!"

Believe it or not, having your roots grounded in the fundamentals and thoughtful approach of racecar driving is fun. I know that enrolling in an online course or using a driver coach might seem like hard work or like you are back at school(!), but I guarantee you that if you know how to drive correctly - driving will become not only easier, but more fun too. Who doesn't like being competitive and winning?

The reason why it becomes fun? As I have mentioned many, many times already  - it is all linked to the subconscious section of your brain. When you learn and absorb the right way to drive a racecar, this information gets stored into your subconscious - leaving the conscious part of your brain with more processing power to think about all the other crucial aspects of racing - not just driving.  If you are not consciously having to think about every single braking point, apex, throttle crack and exit, then you give you brain more power to think of the racing aspect of being a race driver, and being able to think of things such as:

  • Is now the right time to try and overtake, or should I wait when their tyres go off?
  • I need to not take any risks for the first two laps whilst the tyres come up to temperature......
  • They're really weak under brakes into Turn 3, that's where I'll make my move....
  • I'm leading by 5 seconds - I don't need to take any risks.....


By having a driver coach show you the ropes, suddenly driving becomes somewhat easier, allowing frustration to give way to fun - which, if you are purely driving as an amateur for yourself - is exactly what you are looking for in the first place.


WHAT THE COMPLETE RACE DRIVER COACHING CAN DO FOR YOU 

The Complete Race Driver can tailor a specific coaching program for you, whether you are an amateur driving for fun, or a seasoned pro looking to get that extra edge on the competition. 

The Complete Race Driver method uses a combination of data driven engineering knowledge as well as practical experience to deliver proven results to help you on your journey of racing, enjoying driving, and improving your competitiveness.  

Some Testimonials from The Complete Race Driver Coaching:

"Thanks for helping me mentally and physically on and off the track....It's definitely improving my skills to give better feedback to the engineers - Thank you!" - A.C. 

"What a great idea! (The Complete Race Driver Course) Certainly helpful - thank you!" -C.L.

"Thank you for explaining things in a simple, clear manner - I really appreciate it!" - R.S.

"Thanks for braking down what I needed to do with my braking - watching your course has helped complete the circle with what you are telling me at the track." - D.B.


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