Sim racing, Karting and Car racing, why preparation matters

Starting the 2026 season, I haven’t spent as much time on the simulator as I would have liked. Between working in the workshop and helping prepare the race cars at Shaws Motorsport, time disappears quickly.

However, preparing the cars is only one side of racing. A driver also needs to prepare themselves in the same way. Just like a race car, if the preparation isn’t done properly beforehand, it becomes very difficult to perform when it matters.

While simulator driving, karting and Formula Ford are very different disciplines, the approach to preparation for each of them is actually quite similar. They all rely on the same core principles: remaining calm before a session, setting clear objectives for what you want to achieve, and reviewing mistakes objectively in order to improve.

Even though the machinery changes, the mindset and preparation remain the same.

The main differences between these disciplines come from the cost of mistakes, the physical load, and the level of risk involved.

Simulator

Starting with the simulator, mistakes still matter, but the consequences are reduced.

I try to make the environment feel as relevant and realistic as possible. I put on my racing boots and my sim gloves, set my mindset and focus on getting calm before the session begins.

Before driving, I look at what I want to achieve, where I can push, and where I need to be careful. Simulator starts can be chaotic. You can lose a lot at the start through car damage, and multi-class racing can become very complicated when lapping traffic. If I have teammates, I make sure we have a clear plan, the timings understood, and even a plan B if things change.

You might lose positions in a race or ruin a lap, but there is no financial cost and you can restart a session with the press of a button.

The physical demands can still be high during longer races, but they are nowhere near the level of

karting or Formula Ford because you are not experiencing real G-forces. Fatigue can still become an issue though. Lack of focus or concentration can ruin a race just as easily as a mistake on track.

While the physical risk is low, you still need to prepare properly to stay calm and alert. Driving while angry can lead to very poor decisions. Things drivers would never do in real life sometimes happen in sim racing because the danger is lower, but that behaviour still creates bad habits.

Karting

Karting is very different.

The cost of mistakes increases significantly because you cannot simply restart a race. Losing positions, running wide, or getting involved in an incident can easily end your race.

The physical load is also much higher. Karts have no suspension and you sit just centimetres from the ground, so you feel every bump and every G-force. Without seatbelts your body has to hold itself in position, which makes karting extremely physical over a full race weekend.

The financial and mechanical risks are also higher, as damage to a kart or a bent chassis can cost thousands of pounds to repair.

The karting paddock can also be very noisy and busy. Awnings are full of drivers, mechanics and conversations. If other people around you are having a bad day it can influence the atmosphere. As a driver you need to manage that environment and keep your focus.

Preparation becomes very important because track time is limited compared to simulator work. There is no reset button if you make a mistake.

Before sessions I would often take time to clear my head, agree with the team what we were focusing on, and visualise different scenarios. I would run through lines for certain corners, imagine race starts, and repeat these situations mentally so that when they happened on track they already felt familiar.

Fitness is also very important. If you become tired you will make mistakes, lose tenths, attempt rash overtakes or hit the wrong kerb. I often see drivers testing heavily before a race weekend, but by finals day their performance drops because they are mentally and physically exhausted.

Formula Ford

Formula Ford brings its own challenges.

Like karting, the cost of mistakes is high because the racing is close and damage can be extremely expensive, particularly in classic Formula Fords where parts are limited.

The physical load differs from karting because you are tightly strapped into the car, but the higher speeds mean you experience greater sustained G-forces.

Track time is also very limited, which means you need to be at your best every time you get behind the wheel.

Before sessions I spend as much time as possible focusing on my objectives and making sure I am calm and ready to perform. If needed I use certain exercises to prepare myself properly before going out.

I also follow a routine with specific steps in it, making sure I am always aware of timings and when we are due to go out. As a driver I can only control certain things. I focus on those and leave the rest to the team.

Learning from Mistakes

Mistakes are an important part of the process. Every driver makes them, but what matters is reviewing them honestly and understanding why they happened.

That reflection allows you to improve the next time you go out on track.

Preparation reduces the chance of mistakes happening in the first place. The more prepared you are before getting in the car, the more you can focus purely on driving when the visor goes down.

Reviewing performance afterwards, whether it is on the simulator, in karting or in a car, also becomes part of preparation for the next race.

Karting continues to establish itself as one of the best proving grounds for drivers, while simulator work can amplify development and learning before stepping into a real car.

A combination of both, in my opinion, makes you a stronger and more adaptable driver.

Although the machinery may change, the responsibility for preparation always stays with the driver.