Coaching
Driver coaching
Beeing in the car with the driver, seeing how he/she drives and then giving ideas and points about how to improve driving overall. Trying to make driving better step by step is the way to work in my opinion. During testdays or coaching session 95% driving is the key to improve base driving and also really understand why changes have actually have made the driving and setup better. There is a time to drive as fast as possible but thats in the rallies.
- Analyzing videos to point areas to work on, what can be done better. This is done together with driver/codriver in training sessions and during rallies.
- Using data to show driver comparison between runs , breaking, apex, corners and exits. How to get the best result and why it's important. How to use the road ”correctly”, to be able to carry max minimum speed out of the corners and to have good flow in driving. The car should do the work for the driver and not the other way around.
- Being in the car with the driver is the only way for me to really be able to teach a driver, show the areas we need to focus on and together see the results.
Notes
How to make notes the ”correct” way in my opinion. What is needed to make notes so that it gives the driver all needed information, so that he/she can just listen to the codriver and drive as fast as ever possible. The starting point is always the drivers current system, that we then might modify or even make a totally new system. It is number or words is personal.
- 100% descriptive notes with additional words used to describe the road and corners more in detail, to give all the necessary information. Consistant angles, distance of corners and distance from corner to next are the key points.
- Languages for notes: Finnish, English, German. Language is not a factor in anyway.
Mental
- Mental coaching before and during the rallies, tests or coaching sessions
- every driver has a different personality and unique way of handling pressure, concentration. Preparation in the morning before the days start is hugely important. To be mentally and physically ready for the work.
- Mental coaching and awareness is a really big part of the driving and handling the pressures, disappointments, expectations and everything that is included in this sport.
Drivers I have coached
Gus Greensmith, Sami Pajari, Teemu Asunmaa, Lauri Joona, Julius Tannert, Tomas Smagarys, Ricardo Cordero, Charlie Garcia, Russell Hewitt, Joonas Ojala, Isak Hatanmaa, Lauri Halonen, Toni Herranen, Kai Ahola, Pekka Vihma, Tuomas Välilä, Piotr Parys, Piotrek Maluszynski, Michal Maluszynski, Michal Jankowski, Adrian Chwietczuk, Richard Palomino and many others. During the 10 yrs of my coaching career I have worked with over 70 drivers around the world.
ABOUT ME
I've been a professional rally driver for many years and my active years were between 1997 and 2014. I still havent stopped to dream about driving some rallies in the future. I competed in WRC in over 30 rallies and my best result in PWRC was 2002, finishing second in the Championship. I was Mitsubishi's factory driver between 2003-2005 and my best result in WRC rally was 6th overall in Sardegna 2006.
After my active career I still drive quite often in coaching sessions to have the feeling about current cars and setups. Motorsport has always been my passion. To be able to work in the sport, teach drivers and co-drivers to become better in their job or hobby and to see the results is the best feeling and price for the work we have done. To have the chance to work with drivers that have different strenghts, weaknessis is something that motivates me every single day. After my active career which ended too soon, it was clear in my mind that I want to be in the sport and do coaching . I started coaching in 2013 in a professional level and since then I have worked with over 50 drivers.
I have worked with drivers that have become National, European and World Champions over the last 10 years. Coaching is an ongoing process. There is a need tp repeat the new learned driving skills in time as there is a limit in how much humanbrain can handle in a day or two. You can always improve something in driving, notes or preparqtion, to be a better driver. I will always give my undivided attention to every driver I work with, 100% honesty to get most out of thw training sessions.
