Rituals & Superstitions

Those little rituals you have before or during an event help you to KICK UP A GEAR.
They get you to re-focus and re-energise and are a great tool for preparation and competition.

The Art Of Rituals

There are two key times to use rituals: mental preparation before the start of the event and during the event during breaks in the action. The key is to know what works best for you and to apply that ritual consistently. Remember that even not thinking about the upcoming event is a legitimate style of preparing if you use it consistently across all your performances.¹

Our Pros Talk Rituals & Superstitions

I have a small Shamu teddy my wife got me from Florida and I have to take it out of my kit bag and have it facing the direction of the circuit. I have a routine of taking off my clothes, folding them the same way every time and placing my watch, phone and pass on top the same way every time and then I put my gear on the same every time, right boot first, right glove first etc.

Superstitions?
I have to have all the fasteners that hold the fairing on pointing backwards, and I have to touch fists with my mechanics on the grid and say 'Shake n bake' to my wife on the grid, but that’s about it.

- James Ellison

Stretch; make sure I'm warmed up. I then walk into the pit lane and make sure my knee sliders are in the correct position, my boots and gloves are on right, and then shut my visor. I always do it in a particular order. And then I’ll have some Airwaves gum just before a race.

Superstitions?
No, and I don’t want any. I think superstitions can only have a negative effect and I don’t want anything getting in to my head that’s going to potentially take away my focus.

- Leon Camier

There is a set routine I go through before hitting the accelerator in earnest. I put my helmet on, check my belts and I always put my right glove on before my left glove!

Superstitions?
I don’t really have superstitions as such but it is vitally important to know the car inside out. I reckon I would be able to spot even the smallest change of detail in the cockpit and with the cars performance. I have to be able to do this so I know in my mind that the car is right and ready to go.

- Matt Wilson

I try to put my helmet on before I get in the car rather when I am already strapped in and I always put on my left glove before my right one.

Superstitions?
I don't have any major ones. I trust that the mechanics will do the job to get the car tight and ready for racing.

- Jonny Adam

I have to get out of bed on the right hand side. Even in a hotel when the bed is against the wall I have to push the bed away from the wall and then get out.

Superstitions?
I have a habit of not changing certain items of clothing if they become 'lucky' for me. Last year, it was my t-shirt and balaclava from race 2 at Brands Hatch.