Stop Worshipping 'Superior' Drivers

How to flip-reverse how you perceive the racing hierarchy, so you don't sabotage your own speedy climb to the top.

This week's dive is into a problem I've been hashing out with a mate of mine, a team manager. We're looking at a common yet tricky issue in kart racing: drivers who've got the speed, they've got the skills, they're smashing it in practice, but come race day, they're struggling.

Big scary alpha status drivers - how to flip-reverse it.

This isn't about their technical chops – these drivers are on point there. The crux of the problem? They're showing too much respect to drivers they see as above them.

They've got the skills, but they might still feel green, a bit of a rookie in their heads, even though they're anything but. So, when they're up against the big names, the top dogs, they're hitting a psychological wall. It's like:

"Can I really take these guys on?"

And that's a real head-scratcher because the timings, the data – it's all there saying they can. Yet, here they are, not making the moves they should be making.

It's a tough spot for a driver. You're out there, and you're not going to admit, "Hey, I'm just not ready to mix it up with these guys." But that's the reality, even when the lap times from Friday practice are screaming that they're every bit as good.

So you've got this stalemate where the driver is stuck, not breaking through, and it's a real pain for everyone involved.

It’s Natural to be Scared of Taking Down the Alpha drivers!

Now, I reckon this is more than just respect. It's almost like a primal, tribal thing – this hierarchy where you've slotted yourself into the beta role. Your physiology is screaming:

"Hold up, not ready for this war yet."

And that's despite your brain trying to rationalise:

"Why the hell am I holding back?"

Inside, there's this ancient programming trying to keep you from getting your head bashed in, which makes sense in a prehistoric context but not so much on the racetrack. On the track, your kart's as good as anyone's. You're as strong as any other racer out there in your little society on the circuit.

So, what's this article about? It's about giving you a different lens to look at these situations. Those drivers you're respecting too much? Sure, they're good, but it's about how you view them in relation to yourself, what they mean to you.

It's about shifting your perspective to see them not as barriers but as stepping stones to your own growth.

Example: Mark Litchfield had Alpha Power

Mark Litchfield dominated British karting for a lot of consecutive years. He should have taken the world championship but blew his motor, a massive deal considering he wasn’t with a factory team. But, it wasn’t just his driving that made him a force to be reckoned with.

Intimidation

Here's the thing: young, talented drivers, the kind with raw speed and skill, were holding back against Litchfield. Not because they lacked the pace, but because they were psychologically caged. They saw Litchfield and thought:

“This guy’s the benchmark, let’s not push too hard, let’s learn from him.”

That’s where they got it wrong. Racing isn’t a classroom; it’s a battleground.

I remember races where drivers had Litchfield in their sights. They could have taken him on, could have made a real race of it. But they didn’t. They’d stick behind, as if following some unwritten rule that you don’t challenge the king of the hill. Litchfield, on his part, played it cool, stayed at the front, and the others?

They just let him slip away. He was down the road before they decided they could bust a move!

This isn’t about disrespecting Litchfield’s skills. The guy was a maestro. But the problem lies in how other drivers perceived him. Instead of seeing a competitor, they saw an untouchable figure. That’s not racing, that’s surrendering. You're there to race, not to idolise.

Litchfield’s dominance was as much about the mental hold he had on others as it was about his racing prowess.

Factory Teams - How Alpha Drivers Used to Work to Raise Everyone’s Game

Back in the day, the karting scene was a different beast, especially when it came to factory teams. These teams were packed not just with minted hotshot young drivers, but with the old guard too. These weren’t just seasoned racers; they were part of the furniture. Integrated with the factories, they knew the ins and outs of the karts like nobody else. They weren’t chasing an F4 academy drive; their job was to showcase the factory's prowess, and they did it by being magnificent at racing.

For young drivers coming up, these old pros were more than just competitors; they were benchmarks. When you're a young gun, going toe-to-toe with these guys wasn't just about proving you could race; it was about proving you could race against the best. They were the measuring stick. You beat them, or even just ran with them, and people noticed. That was the way you made a name for yourself in racing.

Here's the thing – for a hungry, ambitious driver, these guys weren't something to be daunted by. They were a challenge, a marker. You didn’t look at them and think, “I can’t beat these guys.” You looked at them and thought, “That’s where I need to be. That’s the level I have to reach.” They weren’t there to intimidate; they were there to be surpassed.

This dynamic is something we're missing at the tippety-top. The focus has shifted, become more about paying to make your kid look good. But back then, there was a clear path. You knew who you had to beat to prove yourself. And it wasn't about being scared or overly respectful of these old pros. It was about seeing them as the final boss in a video game – the one you had to beat to complete the level. They were your ticket to the next level, your gateway to making it big.

How to Flip Reverse Being Intimidated - You Own the Alpha Drivers. They Serve You!