Are you up to the challenge of making it on the world’s fastest race tracks? To be a competitive race car driver, such as for NASCAR or Formula One, or more recently, Formula E, it takes an enormous amount of practice and dedication. In spite of the fact that it can help to start out early with kart racing at a local track before getting a racing license at a racing school, aspiring racers should never give up if they truly commit to the process. You need to acquire following crucial skills if you wish to become a racecar driver.
Driving Skills
A driver must have technical driving skills in order to remain in control at high speeds. Then you need to be able to take corners, use your competitors’ slipstreams in your favor, and to brake and accelerate efficiently. Drivers who are professionals know how to scan ahead of time the places they need to be and get there in the shortest possible distance in the shortest amount of time. The movements you make have to become second nature since you don’t have time to second guess yourself when you’re making decisions at well over 200 mph.
Understanding of Mechanics
It is essential that a professional racecar driver knows their vehicle thoroughly. Understanding the hundreds of parts that go into a race car is crucial to getting the best performance from it. The knowledge of mechanics allows you to adjust to changing conditions and to do preventative maintenance before an event. When a driver is in tune with their car, he can sense when something is wrong and give direction to the engineers.
Mental & Emotional Strength
To succeed in a race, a racing driver must have both mental and emotional endurance, as well as physical endurance. It takes mental fortitude to stay cool under pressure – and that’s not just physical pressure. The pressure on drivers comes from sponsors, teams, and fans, all of whom expect them to perform well and win races. In a race, letting your feelings get the best of you can lead to costly errors – like getting angry when someone passes you, feeling stressed about errors, or getting too excited before you’ve actually won.
A Teamwork Mindset
While you may be the one in the driver’s seat, you can’t get very far without your team. Your success on and off the track is dependent on many factors, including pit crew, engineering team, crew chief, team manager, and event sponsors. It is important that the driver is able to effectively communicate with these people so he or she can analyze and optimize performance, modify or repair the vehicle appropriately, and secure financing for repairs or improvements.