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LEFT FOOT BRAKING
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SEARCH FOR NEXT WRC DRIVER FROM THE UK The plan to find and coach British rally drivers to WRC: The History in UK There have been halfhearted efforts like Shell, Peugeot, Ford, Seat, etc. These all have more or less failed for various reasons, which are important to know so not repeat the same mistakes but to learn from them. Here are some of mistakes; -vested interests, -not good enough talent spotting, -too much biased for not so important matters, -no proper support and clear path afterwards. And the biggest mistake was not to concentrate to the most important aspect. To make them go fast and yet reliably. The History in Finland Jouhki (pioneer) method has been the only one with great succes. Juha Kankkunen, Tommi Makinen, Harri Rovanpera, Toni Gardermeister, Mikko Hirvonen and Jari-Matti Latvala. But even his system has weak points and I know those and how to improve. In last few years there has been other wealthy businessmen wanting to follow Jouhki's success. These have failed for two reasons. Vested interest and the lack of coaching. The official talent spotting (not well done) and training from Finnish AKK (FIA office) has been total disaster. It has been controversial from the start and concentrated into not so vital training like how to do TV interviews and trying to change personalities. This is my plan MSA informs rally clubs about this scheme and ask them supply the names and history with this year's plan of events and cars for one or two best/fastest drivers of who they know. These don't need to be their members. The idea here is to please all and give them some responsibilities and say. The whole idea here is to find the best drivers of the country. With this list and added names from other sources (like press; partly to keep them happy) I would start to follow their driving. I would also go myself to many rallies. It is very easy to spot talents in fast tightening long loose surface corner. Far easier than in racing. I might spot a bloke with old Lada driving magnificently but he would never be in top results because of his car. Of course it could be a girl also. With the results we would invite 10-50 (depends on budget) best with their cars to my place near Oxford. I can do ten a day. This is how that works: - They drive their cars as fast they can using their normal methods and I sit next to them!!! This gives me good idea there I can help him or her the most. We don't waste time in things, which they can do already well. With my past experience I would not expect them having the latest driving technique. Mikko and Jari-Matti certainly did not have that. But they learned. The same here. I then drive their car to find out that I am not teaching something, which is impossible to do in that car. For example the brake balance might be totally wrong. So this means I can try to improve this car as well. Once this has been done (explaining how and why) I then drive car hard the pupil sitting now next to me. This is the best way and quickest way to learn then you see me driving that car. Then he/she drives slowish (better to learn walk before running) and then hard, with me sitting next. Only after this I do my first judging (not after the first appearance). - pupils can go after the experience with me to the other training track on my site driving themselves or with their co drivers.. - then the next do the same as above This process might take few days. Some time afterwards we invite say 5-10 best drivers to drive again with me. This is important because from my vast experience (over 9000 pupils and over 55 national and international champions) some people are better in second time but some have forgotten a lot. We then choose the fastest one or two (budget). If in doubt who is fastest we choose an other criteria like good in interviews. BUT THE WHOLE AIM IS TO FIND AND SUPPORT ONE OR TWO NEXT BRITISH DRIVERS TO WRC. This is not a beauty contest! Those who were not chosen have be explained honestly why. Who knows they might still succeed and also it is good pr. The next step is to find indeed a place in a team and a programme. Which team, which rallies, which cars? These situations often change and have to be carefully thought at the time. One wrong move and it can be curtains. So far I have been helping to find a talent and some training (every body who were invited originally have already benefited a lot from this project, politically important as well). Now the hard stuff starts. I will train them more. A lot more. Like learning lines, how to drive with puncture, how to change tyres, car settings, notes making, how to read them, how to practise notes, how to treat mechanics and others, press, how to sleep, safety (you drive better and faster if your surroundings are safe (paddings, not sharp objects etc. - try without helmet!), psychology etc. At this point I am like tennis coach, who has teached how to hit a ball. He then also has to go most matches to see how he or she performs. This is easy to see in rallies and in service to address. But I have to be a cheerleader as well. "You are doing fine but how about trying this and that" It is vital for the programme that I am at least in some early rallies to stop mistakes before they come. I have seen this so often. I just tell one example. I always tell my rally (I do racing drivers too) drivers to carry 7 meters long hand friendly rope with knots every 70 cm to allow at least ten spectators to pull you out from trouble. But then you see them in next rally no rope. Amazing. So I have to be there to check. The motto: NO COMPROMISE It is hard but totally possible to achieve our aim. Most, if not all WRC drivers have weak points. It's us to benefit from that. Pace note system is a good example. At the moment none of the systems in WRC is very good. The most poor. Yet this is coming more and more important with latest rules. The summary: Good way find talents No vested interests Cost effective Politically correct Every body benefits Counted from experience of other schemes Pentti's track record Complete programme No nonsense No compromise Totally doable Can start now
Contact details: Pentti Airikkala 2 Beaufort Place Bray Berks SL6 2BS Mobile 07711 232332 Land 01628 778808 Fax 01628 777015 |
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