Why is analysing a driver’s performance so often overlooked in professional motorsport?
Julian Thomas, MD at Racelogic and keen amateur racing driver, comments: “Race teams understand the mechanical aspects of race cars and so are happy to spend money on fine-tuning an engine and spending time tweaking the chassis setup. When it comes to tuning the person behind the wheel however, they are unsure of how to offer the driver any useful help, and in the case of professional drivers, they often assume the driver is doing the best job they can.”
Many racing drivers shy away from Data analysis because they fear it will take a long time to learn new systems and require advanced computer skills to operate effectively. However, with the advent of software aimed squarely at drivers rather than engineers, and systems which are easily moved from car to car, this is certainly no longer the case.
You now don’t need to be a computer whizzkid to work out where you are going wrong, and the simple remedies you can apply to get it right. He continues: “If you talk to any driver coach they will tell you that success in motorsport can only be reached through constant improvement. The best way to achieve this is by using your own in-car video and data, and ideally, data from somebody faster than yourself. To make this process as quick and rewarding as possible we created Circuit Tools.”
Julian Thomas, MD at Racelogic and racing fanatic, using Circuit Tools to analyse data with fellow drivers.
“Circuit Tools is designed to be understood by racing drivers as well as engineers. It automatically scans the logged data and then presents the most relevant information in a clear and concise format. Clever data-syncing routines simplify the process so you can quickly see what you need to do on track in order to gain valuable lap-time.
“When you use synchronised video for the first time, it is like a cloud being lifted from in front of the data, and it all begins to make sense.”
Circuit Tools data analysis software provides drivers with the crucial information needed to improve lap times.
In a recent interview with race winning GT driver and ARDS S class coach, Rob Barff, he explains how he uses data analysis to speed up the learning process.
“Practice does make perfect with good coaching, but with the latest data-logging techniques, we now get a very detailed analysis on a lap by lap basis with the added benefit of video to jog the memory. In days gone by, when driver coaches were just sitting alongside the clients, the clients only got a general overview from the coach. Now they can get a broad perspective plus - over a cup of tea and in a very much more productive state of mind – they can analyse driving patterns, areas of competence that can be left well alone and more importantly, areas of concern.”
Simple software, and clever ‘behind the scenes’ processing has meant that Data analysis has moved out of the dark and mysterious ages and become accessible to drivers at all levels, who are now using it to turn in a winning performance on track.