Treating a panel like a race

This weekend I had the privilege of promoting the BRSCC Formula Ford Super Classic Championship on stage at Race Retro as part of “The Future of Motorsport,” alongside a fellow driver and engineers.

The weekend gave me my first experience of a live panel — on stage in front of at least a hundred people. With the questions unknown in advance, there’s no doubt my nerves were high. With only 15 minutes to get my point across, while the engineers and other driver did the same, it was quick-paced and quite daunting.

Over the three days, I had 15 minutes on stage each day.

Starting with Friday, it was a bumpy start to say the least. With no knowledge of the questions and the engineers being PR-trained, it proved difficult to get a word in. Managing to answer only two questions wasn’t ideal, but you have to start somewhere.

From that experience, I realised something important — on a live panel you have to speak early and clearly. If you hesitate, you don’t get space. I also realised that public speaking is a hard skill. I needed to calm myself properly, keep my “bucket low,” and stop hesitating when I knew I had something to say.

Moving onto Saturday, it was a mix of a bad performance and a loss of structure. We were told we had 30 minutes, so I tried to pace myself — answer early but not burn out too quickly. That didn’t go to plan. The session was cut short to 10 minutes and once again I only managed a few answers.

The engineers dominated again and answered most of the questions. After the panel, I asked the interviewer what had happened, but the feedback wasn’t particularly useful.

Nevertheless, I brushed myself off and reviewed what happened and how I could improve.

I decided to treat it like a bad qualifying session. Mistakes were made, but the weekend wasn’t over. There was still another chance.

My dad has a lot of experience in public speaking, so he gave me some tips and ideas on how to improve and take more control on stage. But more importantly, I accepted that it had been a poor performance and that I had to improve. There’s no point in being emotional or shifting blame — it doesn’t make you better.

Before Sunday, I changed my preparation.

From the past two days, I had learned how the panel flowed and the type of questions being asked. I prepared like I would for a race. I kept my state calm, reviewed what I wanted to say, and thought about how I would deliver it — clear, authoritative and professional.

Sunday was different.

I spoke earlier. I filled in my own points about the off-season, simulator work, discipline and the Super Classic series. I ended my section on my own terms, rounding up my points instead of letting the panel close without my input.

It wasn’t about being the loudest person on stage. It was about being the clearest.

Comparing a panel to a race might sound like a stretch, but it isn’t.

Racing requires preparation to perform. So does public speaking. If you don’t prepare, it’s obvious.

Mistakes in either environment aren’t negative — as long as you learn from them. Taking the time to reflect properly is what allows you to improve.

One key lesson I’ve taken from the weekend is the importance of clear communication.

On stage, you need to get your point across in a structured and confident way. In racing, you need to communicate clearly with your team about what the car is doing and what changes you want made. You can’t leave it vague — you have to be precise.

Both require preparation.

Both require control.

Both reward clarity.

Pictures from PPM Photography