A driver’s mindset: how to improve your sim racing mentality

Sim racing is fast becoming one of the most popular eSports in the world, with numerous competitions and thousands of drivers applying their skills to the craft. But given that sim racing is so similar to actual racing, it’s important that a driver has the right mentality when entering competition.

So, the next time you jump on your racing car simulator, ready to take on opponents from around the world, consider these tips about your racing mentality and you might just improve your skills, times and positions.

Mindset is key to great racing

One of the things that makes sim racing so popular for amateurs and professionals alike is its ability to help passionate motorists train their minds. There are a range of mental states that come into sim racing, as it is designed to replicate the intensity and power of actual professional racing.

Many people find the mental challenge behind racing far more intense than that of the physicality behind the sport. As such, a racer should always be thinking about their mental state on the road, whether in real life on the simulator.

Mental intensity isn’t unlike your qualifying mindset: it is full of intensity when it comes to perfecting the lap, but it may not be viable over a longer time period. You need mental endurance to be consistent on the simulator. You have to be able to maneuver vehicle with skill and agility, but you also need to be aware of any potential mistakes in your driving.

How to improve your mental intensity on sim racing

You should see improving your mental intensity as similar to practice qualifying. To do this, it’s important to keep your runs and the whole practice short so as to allow your skills to improve over time. You can simply go out for two laps to begin with.

It’s important to focus on the following:

• * Quickly gaining speed

• * Working toward the “perfect lap”

• * Sticking with the fundamentals of good driving

You want to complete qualifying “reps” to build these skills. Set the vehicle up for a low fuel and complete an eight to 15 minute session, with at least three reps of such qualifying practices.

What makes the racing simulator so fantastic is the way you can utilise it to get on-the-spot responses for biofeedback training. Every racer is different, and racers perform their best in different mentalities. Some racers might want to focus on their breathing, almost entering a meditative state before racing. What is important is finding that “mod” - the place where you know you are ready to race and do it to the best of your ability.

It’s best to see what works for you: to continue to find what puts you in the mode while working on your qualifying times. You should soon start to realise better results. Throughout your qualifying runs, notice your best overall lap time, how close your next laps were to your fastest lap and how fast you were able to come up to speed.

You might make a lot of mistakes when starting out - just be prepared to put in the effort and keep working. Throughout these practice sessions, you may become somewhat drained and, at times, frustrated. But this is all just part of becoming a better, mentally stronger driver, and one that is ready to take on the track in ways they didn’t think was possible in previous times.

Find what works for you, and keep working on your skill until you develop a strong mental intensity for racing.